February Work Day

February 7th "set up" and the 8th Work Day found Hope Quilters busy with a number of projects.  Friday we brought the fabric carts, the cutting mats and other notions from the storage area.  Several quilters sewed on their quilt tops while others worked on cutting out pieces or put together new quilt kits.

Saturday it was snowing - many of us wanted to stay home and look out at the beautiful, large fluffy flakes coming straight down - it looked like a giant snow globe outside.  But, quilting called us, so we came in to do what quilters do - meet, greet and have fellowship with each other as we tackled our projects.  Of course there is always "show and tell" after devotions and a short business meeting.



 What a great use of a panel - all of the blocks were snowmen on motorcycles! 

And then not to let any fabric be wasted, use the leftovers in a tote bag - this is one "in progress"

 

A number of quilts have been completed, some for our mission ministries, and several personal quilts to show each other what we've been working on at home.  Quilters are always busy.

 

 

 

 

On the left below is a quilter's own quilt with

embroidered blocks centered in homespun squares.

In the center are pillow cases made with selvages, another

quilter's work at home.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Using fabric ironed on to freezer paper,
this project for the One Body Ministry
will copy drawings on to the fabric to be made into a quilt.

 

 

 

 

January 2014

Happy New Year quilters!  The weather finally warmed up a bit - just in time for Hope Quilters January work day.  The quilters brought some completed quilts and several quilt tops ready to be quilted.  More tote bags were completed and given to Care Ministry. 

Hope Quilters Retreats - watch for news about new quarterly quilt retreats - held at Hope.  We'll be able to use our Hope Quilters ironing boards, cutting mats, etc.  And - lots of room to spread out!  More to come about the dates and time when scheduled.

Now, for the January pictures -

 
 

Kokopelli fabric really stands out in this quilt

More tote bags made by Hope Quilters

 
 
 
 
Look at the bright colors in these tote bags.  They'll be given to LCOH members by the Care Ministry

Hope Quilters is blessed with another substantial fabric donation.  Just when we need additional fabrics for our mission quilts, God oversees to provide the necessary materials for us to continue to provide quilts for those in need.  Take a look at this latest group.

Kaleidoscope blocks from 30's fabrics - Linda will finish this basket of donated fabrics

 

Working quilters

 

Jody re-writing pattern directions to use our 6 1/2 inch blocks and our "loaves" (3 1/2 x 6 1/2 )  The original pattern called for five inch charm packs.

Pinwheel blocks from HST

Tiffany is cutting fabrics to make another tote bag

Patterns and fabric selections - can't wait to see the quilts that come from these fabrics

 

 

 

 

 

 

December Meeting

 

Hope Quilters are using fabrics from Ghana to make altar cloths for the new churches in Ghana,

These ten are ready for the next mission trip in 2014

 

 

Hand work and disscussion

Laying out the fabrics - "auditioning" colors

Seams to be pressed

 

A finished quilt top and a closeup

 

More quilts for the children in the PICU

Hope Quilters makes tote bags for LCOH Care Ministry

 

This tag is enclosed with each tote bag.

 

Another tote bag in progress    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November Work Day

The day began with Hope Quilters planning on learning a new pattern to make tote bags for LCOH's Care Ministry.  The ministry distributes these totes to members who need something to hold their items while undergoing chemo, etc. 

We welcomed first time attendee Cheryl M. to the group.  Devotions and a bit of business followed.

But first we were honored to present a quilt to David M. a Hope members who is on the board of Family Promise of Greater Des Moines.  Formerly known as the Interfaith Alliance, it is a unique shelter program run by 14 congregations (including LCOH) in the Des Moines area, which has provided 3,300 nights of shelter and 10,000 meals to families in need, according to an article in the Des Moines Register.

This is the quilt donated by Hope Quilters for an auction to raise much needed funding for the Family Promise program.

The planned day then moved in a different, God-driven direction as Karen R. brought in her entire collection of fabrics, along with a sewing machine, books, patterns and notions.  I cannot properly express our thanks for her donation to Hope Quilters.  We were understandably overwhelmed by Karen's generosity.  As the church always says, "It's a God thing!".  And it truly is.  There is no other way to put it when God is at the heart of how we live our life story.  God brought Karen to Hope Quilters.  We will use her generous gifts to make the quilts, totes, breast cancer pillows and other items to bring comfort and warm those in need.  PRAISE GOD!!

We did pick out fabrics for the tote bags, and several cut out the pieces and will make them at home.  Tiffany worked on the Ghana altar cloth she started.  Linda B. selected backing for another Mercy PICU quilt.  Rachel S. found several fabrics for the backing for a larger quilt top made by Jean D.  Several HQers sorted and put away the newly donated fabrics and other items.

Pictures tell the story of Karen's donation to Hope Quilters.
Thank you again for your generous gift to Hope Quilters and our projects.

This is a quilt top, batting and backing donated by Karen R. which is ready to be quilted.