Friends With Benefits

Yesterday was a get together with a group of my quilting friends. We were all excited to hear about Terry's trip to India. She went to an Indian wedding and had teased us with some photos in her e-mails. I couldn't wait to hear about the rest of the trip. She started with Show & Tell with all the beautiful silk shawls and a real pashmina scarf. Then she showed us the Indian clothing that the wedding couple had custom made for them to wear. (I wish I had thought to take photos, but I was too dazzled by it all.)
The photos that followed were just amazing, including one of Terry and her husband on a painted elephant. We had the added delight that Sujata of The Root Connection is one of our gang.  Being from India, she definitely added some commentary and explanations that were so enlightening.

Our group has a tradition of gift giving during a  nice holiday lunch after our guild meeting in December. If time allows, we try to make a handmade gift -sometimes edible. Terry had dropped some hints that her holiday gift this year was from India. I thought she brought us back a bit of silk or some type of Indian fabric. I was speechless when she gave each of us in our favorite colors (of course mine was blue), this:

And here are some close-ups:

Here are a couple more. Each of them are made from bits and pieces of saris. Can you see the yokes?

The embroidery is gorgeous. Every time you looked, there was another wonderful design.

Local Talent

This is what my house looked like at 6:30 this morning.  We are getting a new roof and the guys start early to beat the heat.  We hired this company because they have this amazing contraption that they lift up to the roof for catching the old shingles as they are removed. Creativity takes many forms! 

And yes it was noisy.  So it was a perfect time to leave the house for a quilt guild meeting.  Last month, Terry Kramzar was our speaker.  Her talk, "Inspired By Adventure", focused on how her travels inspired her amazing quilts.  After her talk I was ready to pack my bags and head to the Grand Canyon.  You can see more of her amazing pieces at: www.TerryKramzar.com

This month Sue Reno was our speaker.  She showed a bunch of ways that she transfers images to fabric.  Nature is a huge source of inspiration for her.

Sue is from Lancaster, PA.  She started documenting the renovation of an abandoned department store that was transformed into the Lancaster Convention Center.  You have been inside this building if you have been to the Lancaster AQS quilt show.  These photos became the topic of a series of quilts.  This is one of my favorites.  You can see more of her quilts at:  www.SueReno.com

Annual Auction

Yesterday was our quilt guild's annual auction.  Calico Cutter's  annual dues do not fully finance our speakers, so we have to do some fundraising.  We started our meeting with a presentation of a check for over $3500 to the Chester County Domestic Violence Shelter.  This money was raised from our raffle quilt.  Their representative was quite overwhelmed.

We had our monthly Show & Tell.  I love this part.  Terry Kramzar brought her Ghost Orchids quilt.

It had just won Best of Show at The Quiltfest of NJ, put on by the Mancuso Brothers. Yay Terrry!!!    She made it to commemorate her Artist In Residency that she did last summer in the Everglades. 

Terry has started lecturing.  She talks about her adventures in quilting and shares her nature inspired quilts.  You can see more of her quilts at:

http://www.terrykramzar.com/

Our members bring food.  Lots of food.  Too much food.

Our members also donate items.  Local businesses and some quilt related businesses donate items.  69 Baskets were made from the items. 

My friend Chrisitine was the amazing auctioneer.

I donated some hand dyed wool and also  some cotton that I snow dyed.  It was the last basket and it brought $60!!!  Vicki was the happy winner.

A good time was had by all and we now have another year of great speakers and programs.