Turtle Creek Shoppers Guild!

What a great pre-holiday meeting today!!  Nancy Ball, one of our members and founder of an online quilting business TodaysQuilting.com spoke about how she started her online store and the "real dirt" on running it.  She gave us a lot of insight into how she does it all, from dealing with the large fabric designers, to shipping, to  promotions, and she still finds a little time for her own work.  I was very impressed!! 

We then had the opportunity we were waiting for  - we shopped until we dropped! Nancy brought beautiful merchandise including layer cakes, jelly rolls, books, gadgets, and more.  I think we are all ready for the holidays (I bought several gifts just for me), and our block of the year project. 

Thanks so much Nancy!
 

February Workshop with Rayna Gilman - Cinderella Blocks - Reinventing the UFO

I am pleased to announce that we will be having a workshop and lecture with New Jersey quilter and teacher, Rayna Gilman.  She got rave reviews from the other Guilds that attend MAQNET.  The workshop she will be presenting will demonstrate how to take your "orphan" blocks  (you know, the ones that are left over from projects or those that you ended up not liking...... I have plenty) and transform them into beautiful new projects. 

The workshop will be February 18th from 9:30 to 4:30.  The tentative location is the Switlik Center.  The cost is $60.

Here is a link to her website. http://www.studio78.net/ 

Playing with Paintstiks

I spent the morning working with Shiva Paintstiks to make a border for a quilt I am working on.  I am enjoying using the surface design techniques that I learned in our workshop a few months ago.  I sometimes find it difficult to shop for fabric that is really going to satisfy what I have in mind for certain projects.  Instead of going to five or six quilt shops looking for something that I like, I find it easier just to make something.

Here is a photo of the border (its not sewn on yet, this was just a mock up until the fabric dries).  In several of the blocks, I used other techniques that I learned including silk screening and dye discharge. 

I'd love to hear what others are working on - please feel free to comment or post.  If you have questions about how to do it, please email me.

Teddy Bear Quilts

Thanks to Betty Acree for photographing the window in Allentown that showcases the teddy bears and quilts made by Turtle Creek for donation to the Salvation Army.  We made 178 quilts this year - a record!!  Good job everyone.