Hurrah for the Red, White and Blue

 

The July challenge promoted by Betts was to celebrate the 4th of July. Suggestions included tales of memorable celebrations, items like the ones above, or even being decked out in those colors. Numerous photos in this post will show the challenge was a success.

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August 10 Meeting. We will be meeting at Marcella's. Drop-in social get-together will start at 11:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. Business meeting will start at 1:30 P.M. The enrichment for August will be led by Daisy. We will be using Mod Podge to adorn paper dolls with fabric, ribbon, and other embellishments. Refer to the recent newsletter and emails for materials that will be supplied and others that you might want to bring with you. Also remember to bring your August challenge which will be something made with the card and tags Betts has supplied (see photos and info in Show and Tell).

Show and Tell  

While these photos from Geri were taken before the advent of color photography, they show the joyful memories from family 4th of July celebrations.

Suzanne D displayed her happy 4th of July doll which was made from a Patti Culea pattern.

Marcella contributed a wealth of 4th of July mementos. 

Barbara is clothed in celebration colors featuring the lovely red silk fabric necklace she made.

Colorful fabrics were displayed.

As well as wonderful possible embellishments.

For the August challenge, Betts has supplied a card and some tags. Actually, there are no rules or limits in this challenge. Make something original.  For example, perhaps use 4 letters or four words, or express a special theme or a new idea by using your own choice of materials or embellishments.

The Phoebes have volunteered to make place mats for Meals on Wheels. It will be an ongoing project. In June members gathered fabrics from their stashes, cut out kits, and eagerly began assembling and sewing together the mats. 

At the July meeting a total of 44 mats had been completed and gathered to deliver. Many more will be completed over the coming months. This example was sewn by Donna.

Suzanne R has turned into an avid card maker. 

Among her favorite subjects are animals that she sees often as a docent at the Oakland Zoo.

Great job!

Betts, the Queen of button collecting, recently displayed these unusual buttons from her collection that have an interesting history. 

Betts also shared a very creative fabric sculpture she made as an homage to spirits and sayings of indigenous American tribes. This wall hanger was made with paper and fabric on quilted soft fabric. 

Donna displayed her wine bottle decoupaged by using white chalk paint, Mod Podge, 1 layer of a 3-ply printed paper napkin, and a bit of bling.

Suzanne R also displayed her beautiful bottle decoupaged with a lacy rice paper and decorated with a delicate leaf. 

Barbara is working on a new project which will have three die cut embellished panels. She said "sweet image of a vintage armoire, underpinning garment and a fancy out on the town dress! Using my vintage treasures is the best part!" 

Caroline made this lovely brown beaded necklace. 

And, here are two more photos of her very useful shoulder bags. Great for your cellphone and other necessary small items. 

She also made this very cute little pin by using a painted cork and some fibers. Clever idea!

Suzanne D held up this large quilt top she recently completed. It's not only joyfully colorful, but also a complicated design that displays her advanced quilting skills.  

Donna recently completed this watercolor which is basically a technical challenge to use her new masking fluid (blue, for easier removal) in order to paint the background first, and also practice building layers of colors from light to dark. 

Our former Phoebe (Judy who now lives in Florida) has recently completed this terrific oil painting. Our thanks go out to her for keeping in touch and sharing her amazing talent. 

Our dear Rosie shared this photo of young girls in Thailand wearing the cute dresses her sewing group has been assembling and sending around the world. A big thank you goes out to all the Phoebes who have combed their fabric stashes and contributed A LOT of lovely fabrics to the cause. 

Rosie also shared her latest alcohol ink paintings. So lovely and detailed. 

Thank you, Rosie! 

An Assembly Line of Placemats

 
It was another lovely sunny day for our meeting on Marcella's patio. It was actually a partial meeting combined with a very serious workday spent cutting fabric and batting for the Meals on Wheels placemat project. Our attendance was only 10 instead of our usual 20+, due to various medical issues, travel, and other reasons. Best wishes to everyone who was absent and we hope to see you next month.

Our skilled quilting ladies donated huge stacks of batting and colorful fabrics, and some brought cutting mats and rotary cutters to cut out the pattern pieces. Several brought their sewing machines and immediately started sewing. All ended up taking the cut materials to sew together at home. There should be an amazing number of finished examples to photograph at the July meeting. The meeting ended with "a Show and Tell" session on a sunny part of the patio. 

If you were unable to attend the June meeting and you have the materials to make some placemats at home, please visit the "Quick and Easy Placemats and Napkins" YouTube video that Jennifer listed in the June 2 RSVP email attendance request. We decided to cut the pieces 14'x18'. This will be an on-going project for the Phoebes.

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July 11 Meeting, (Saturday). We will be meeting at Marcella's. Drop-in social get-together will start at 11:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. Business meeting will start at 1:30 P.M. The enrichment for July will be led by Sally, who will guide us as we make a beautiful bound booklet. An example is shown below under Show and Tell.

Show and Tell

Betts' last month's challenge was to make "favour" pins. Donna assembled various types of items from ribbon, junk jewelry, buttons, and pieces of artificial flowers. 

These examples, as well as the following ones demonstrate the diversity of imagination and materials that went into their creation. Maybe we can see some more next month?

Marcella displayed some that looked vintage and were made with wonderful striped ribbons. 

Our challenge leader, Betts, proudly displays another of her "favour"designs. This one is made with ribbon in the colors of her Scottish clan tartan. It was a great challenge idea and some of us became addicted to it. Thanks Betts!

Betts's also shared her button ball, made with antique lace, buttons and trims.  

Colleen unfolded a brilliant orange quilt she has completed

It is a very complex design that

only an expert like her could execute.

And, she has been making fabulous cards that feature her wonderful art. 

They are adorable! 

Colleen also displayed this painted canvas with a fabric turtle applique.

This photo is a sample book like the one Sally will be instructing next month.

Just look at all the wonderful new cards Geri has completed. 

A big thank you to the members who donated these fabrics to Rosie's "Dress a Girl Around the World" group. 

Here are three photos of the terrific ceramic jars Anne has been turning out. With a touch of wonder and a touch of whimsey she is in the top tier of artistic creation. 

A lovely warm and sunny day creating decorated bottles

This is a photo of an embellished bottle Betts made to give to Sue prior to the May meeting. Betts brought buttons to the April meeting and discussed using them as embellishments. When some of the buttons appeared to be misplaced, Sue found them and was rewarded by this thank you gift from Betts. 
 The May meeting was held outside on Marcella's patio and the special activity of the day was the enrichment session. Sue presented examples of decorated bottles and jars she and her granddaughter had finished (shown on last month's blog post), and she shared her knowledge of the many techniques and materials that could be incorporated. Sue, Geri and Donna contributed a huge array of materials to choose from—fabrics, trims, prints, jewels, fancy papers, and more—so, the possibilities are endless. Don't forget to bring your completed bottles to the May meeting so that all of us may admire them! 

Calendar

June 8 Meeting, (Saturday). We will be meeting at Marcella's. Drop-in social get-together will start at 11:30 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. Business meeting will start at 1:30 P.M. The enrichment for June has not yet been announced. We may be sewing placemats for Meals on Wheels in either June and/or July. To be determined!

Everyone should have received Bett's information pertaining to the June challenge. We will be creating Scottish "Favours." When a gentleman offered kindness or a heroic deed to someone, they thanked him with a brooch made with a family pin, photo or button, and embellished with striped or plaid ribbons. They are small and could be pinned on a lapel or a tartan. Examples are shown below. Bring your finished items to the June meeting.

Show and Tell

 Kathy made a "Monster Box" as she calls it, which she put in her front yard. She made some tiny dolls to put in it and invited the neighborhood children to do so also. It is changed regularly, and it has been a huge success! The kids love to make their own original creations and see what others have added. It's truly fun for all!

 Jennifer brought this placemat as an example of what we could sew and donate to Meals on Wheels. We are still in the planning stage but hope to be able to find a suitable place to set up multiple sewing machines. Marcella's home is always available. We may make up some kits for those who just want to assemble and sew. Any ideas or fabric and notions donations will be much appreciated.

Geri has been working on pages for a large scrapbook she is assembling. She is using her fabulous die cuts to form pockets and embellishments. It will certainly be beautiful!

Bonnie gets together with her neighborhood craft group on a regular basis. They have new challenges each time they meet. Bonnie's specialty is incorporating buttons in her designs.   

The originality and numbers of button she has made are amazing.

Daisy recently spent two weekends at her annual Girl Scout Jamboree. Each year she spends days making special items for the event, including unique flags for each individual group. This year they were based on different animals found in Africa. Soon the troupes will be visiting the Oakland Zoo and proudly exhibiting their animal flags.

Shawn brought a part of her collection of uniquely shaped bottles and jars. They can be used in a lot of different art projects. 

Colleen brought one of her recent paintings—

it is so colorful and is a great abstract design.  Nice job!

Marcella displayed some little stands she made on which to hang small items or jewelry.

Donna brought a few of her decorated bottles she made in past years. She also brought an interesting jar a granddaughter decorated with polymer clay flowers.