It’s January’s Guild Member Of The Month Beth K.!
1. What motivated your interest in quilting?
I think It would have to have been watching my Grammy quilt. She enjoyed It a lot and she made quilts for every one of her Children, Grandchildren, and Great Grandchildren. Everyone was always so happy to get the quilt and I wanted to be a part of that.
2. Who taught you to quilt?
My Grammy Eunice Hubbert. She raised me and I spent pretty much every single day with her up until she passed due to Cancer. She was always sewing clothes for the family, piecing a quilt top or hand quilting every single day of her life. There was many a time when she would be piecing a quilt with myself setting on the floor next to her & when she would make a mistake she would have me use a knife to remove the stitches! Still to this day I will use a knife over a seam ripper any day! I made my first quilt when I was 9. I picked out the pattern & fabrics, then I used cardboard templates to draw each and every piece on the fabric and cut them out with scissors. Grammy tried to show me how to hand quilt once It was completed, and I was always amazed when I went to school my stitches were um… “less than perfect”, but when I got home they looked just as good as Grammy’s did. It took a few day before I figured out she was restitching what I had done the night before and when I talked to her about It she just patted me on the back and said “Some people just don’t have the quilting touch, why don’t you go use the sewing machine and let me work on this” She was right, my hand work was horrid and It still Is! For the life of me I just can’t figure It out!
3.What/Who has influenced a change in your sewing/quilting styles since you started?
I’ve changed?! i hadn’t really thought much about my style changing but when asked this question I took a look back at the quilts I have made and yes I have changed a lot! I would have to say the Internet and all the quilting blogs I read have changed me more than anything. Back when I started quilting I was into only traditional quilt patterns and styles, now I prefer to make something that is going to stand out from what everyone else makes. I refuse to use fabric that is big on floral designs unless i am going to do some fussy cutting
4. What the most difficult quilt pattern you’ve done and would you do It again?
Double Wedding Ring, and maybe! I was Inspired by a double wedding ring quilt I saw on the Internet this past year that was made In bold bright prints that has me thinking I just might want to tackle the pattern one more time!
5. What is the one quilt you have started and never finished?
I only have to name one?! OK that’s easy it would be a little number called Not Your Grandmother’s Log Cabin! The pattern book is a big pain in the tushy! One page says to cut the strips on way then you turn the page and it tells you half of them have to be cut at another angle. I gave up on it the third time I had to buy Charcoal colored fabric because I cut the strips wrong for a second time in a row! The fabric and few pieces I have gotten together are in the drawers on my cutting table gathering dust for the past two years!
6. Where do you see this industry going in the next 30 – 50 years?
I try not to think that far ahead…. then again I try not to think at all! :O)
7. Do you prefer the piecing or the quilting process better?
Well I use to enjoy piecing the best, but then I got my first quilting machine and well lets just say the amount of quilt tops I would make in a year dropped substantially!
8. When did you know you wanted to do long arm quilting as a “profession”?
To be honest It just sort of fell into my lap. My aunt and I purchased my first machine a few months after my Grammy had passed away with the soul purpose to use it to finish up the multitude of quilt tops she left un-quilted. After a year or so I was asked by a relative if I would quilt a quilt for her and I said sure why not. A few days after that I got a call from a neighbor to quilt a small quilt for her. At that time I worked totally for cookies! One quilt, one batch of cookies… I think you can figure out about what time I gained all my weight huh?! It wasn’t long after that when Mrs. Dust sold her quilt shop and it reopened in Effingham as Angie’s Nine Patch. My aunt and I would make a trip inside every couple of weeks and one Saturday (not sure exactly what year It was) when I walked in Angie said something about me not leaving until Karie (one of her employees) could get to the shop, Karie wanted me to quilt a quilt for her. I was a bit shocked, someone I didn’t know all that well and I wasn’t related to wanted me to quilt a quilt for her? When Karie came rushing into the shop, apparently on a break from her other job, I said I would quilt the top for her no problem. Karie was my first non family member that I quilted for & got real money from! Things just kind of went from there, it wasn’t ever truly going to be a “job” for me but it didn’t take long before I decided that I loved It a lot and If I worked for myself I could sleep in late and never change out of my P.J.’s! It was perfect for me!
9. Have you ever been “stuck” on what to quilt on a quilt?
YES! Most quilts are pretty easy enough to come up with quilting designs for but some quilts just don’t “speak to me.” My Aunt Geneva has said she can tell right away when I am having problems deciding on a quilting design when she looks into my studio room. Apparently I like to set on the floor a few feet away from the quilt in question and glare at it! I have never noticed myself doing it but she has given me photographic proof.
10. What Is your favorite color to use in a quilt?
Black! I think a little touch of black or charcoal can really make a quilt pop…. unless it’s a quilt made of all neutrals of course!
11. What sparked your interest in miniatures?
On my first ever trip to the Paducah KY. AQS QuIlt Show I saw my first real miniature quilts. It was love at first sight! I bought a few paper piecing mini quilt patterns that same day. But when I got home I decided It would just be easy to convert a regular pattern to a mini version than to go with the paper piecing. I have purchased a few mini quilt kits the past couple years…. now If I could just remember were It was I put them?!
12. What pet peeves do have about quilting?
Were do I start! I have a few but I think the one that drives me nuts the most would be Wavy Borders! As a Machine Quilter I see a lot of them and have a few different ways to deal with them but sometimes they just have to much of a wave and I have to remove the border, remeasure, and re-sew It back In place. If you have a problem with borders you can find help online just google It!
13. What techniques or new Ideas are you hoping In the next two years to try?
I just purchased the Quick Curves Ruler and a few of the patterns to go along with It. I have never done any curved piecing before so It’s something new for me to try out along with the new ruler. The ruler designer Jenny Pedigo of Sew Kind Of Wonderful, has some videos on her blog that I have watched a few time now so I think I can figure It out. I love the patterns she has designed to go with the ruler and I hope to have at least one of them ready to go into our guild quilt show this September!
14. What five favorite quilting tools do you like?
man I never knew how hard this question was when I asked it to all the other quilters of the month! Narrowing It down to just 5 is HARD!
5. my cutting table. I added wheels to the legs for easy moving and the wheels made It the perfect height for me to cut! It was my Aunts office desk at the school but before that It was a classroom desk!
4. my big Ironing Board cover, every quilter needs one trust me!
3. a SHARP rotary cutter blade! I change to a new blade before EVERY new project, It helps me get better precision cut pieces.
2. a Steam Iron that doesn’t leak!
1. my design wall! I can’t live without Its 7 ¾’ x 8’ of It! It was the best thing I added to my sewing room when we remodeled a few years back and It has a secret! It Is hinged to the wall like doors and I store my rulers & cutting mats behind the wall to keep them all organised!
enlarge this photo by clicking on it!
15. Do you like the trend of “solid colors” of today?
Yes… I think?! I love solid colors and I think every quilt needs a little solid color fabric to give your eyes a resting spot. Some of the modern quilts on the Internet really draw my eye but I am just not sure I would ever make one for myself. Time will only tell!
16. How much time do you spend on the Internet researching quilting Ideas?
More time than I want to think about! I love reading quilting Blogs and checking out the websites of quilt magazines & fabric company’s. You can find some great free patterns and lots of inspiration online. I have been known to post a multitude of links on my Facebook wall and some nights I stay up way to late, but one advantage to working from home Is the advantage to set my own hours!
At this point of the interview i noramly ask if there is something the quilter of the month would like to end the post with! Instead i think i’m going to ask myself a question… yap had to do it!
17. Can I tell the group something about me that they may not know?
Sure I can, no problem! Did you know that I love Photography? I am just starting to get into it really and I know I still need tons of practice but i love it all the same. I need a new camera for starters but i am finding it doesn’t take a fancy setup to get a good photo. Some of my favorites i have taken with my cell phone! Want to see some of them? No of course not, but here they are anyway! Oh and thanks for reading!
Monday night was guild night!
Show Book Add Sales must be turned in to Karen R. by August 15th… NO EXCEPTIONS!
Be sure to bring in your extra fat quarters or yardage and hand them over to Helen M. who will be in charge of collecting the 400+ fat quarters this year. We will purchase fabric if we do not get enough donations from the guild members. Helen would like to get the fat quarters ready to go as soon as possible to save time for more tasks when we get closer to show time!
Michelle B. will be printing sticky tags to put on our Pink gift bags. She has been given the ok to order the tags from Staples and get started!
This years Bed Turning will feature Antique Quilts. If you have a antiques quilt you wouldn’t mind to share at the Bed Turning this year be sure to talk to Rita N., who has agreed to be in charge of the turning again this! Rita would like to have around 15 quilts for the show. Please remember that quilts 50 years or older are considered antiques at our show!
The Guild’s Challenge Quilt project was announced and colors were picked by the members. More info on the challenge can be found here on the blog! 2012 Guild Challenge
Blanketing Effingham With Quilts will take place again this year. Be sure to start thinking about what business you would like to ask to display a quilt in their shop. These quilts will be donated to Project Linus when the show is over, and they WILL BE JUDGED!
Becky H. reported to the group that last year we made, 37 WIC quilts, 263 Linus Quilts, 13 pillow cases, and 116 do-rags all for donation! These numbers include only the ones that were recorded, and we are sure a large number of quilts were missed but great work!
We will be making Red & White Prairie Point Swags to decorate the doorways and entry areas. If anyone has and red and White scraps at least 6” square in size please bring them to a guild meeting and give them to Beth K. or Colette F.
Next month we will have the Entry Forms ready for the show, as well as the show fliers so we can start getting them set to shops, guilds, and our vendors. We would also like to get the dates changed on the large outdoors signs next month at the regular night meeting.
At the regular night Meeting Sue W. showed us this years Raffle Quilt, a Nine patch on Point made from Batik fabrics. Get your money out girls cause this one is a beauty! Sue handed the quilt off to Beth K. for machine quilting.We will be purchasing two boxes (4 rolls) of batting for Project Linus as we are once again out of batting! This means the group and others are making lots of donation quilts, so keep lets it up! last Friday Linus held a sew day at The First Christian Church. With the bad weather and the short notice not many were able to attend. Those that were there pieced a few quilt tops, cut lots of fabric, and bagged up even more quilt kits. Most of the kits that were put together that day were taken home by the ladies attending to finish up and return at next months sew day. Beth K. brought home a large box of sports themed fabric to cut and bag into kits. the kits were available at the guild meeting for anyone who wanted to finish them up. A sign up list was used so we knew who took kits and how many kits they have. Linus has decide that this is a good way to keep track of pre cut kits & fabrics so when things go missing we might be able to find them easier!
The refreshments sign up sheet was passed around, this months hostesses were Karie W. & Beth K. Next month Sharon D. & Irene V. will be the meeting hostesses.
It was decided to go back to having the refreshments at the end of the Program as many people were leaving at after refreshments and not taking part in the programs. Guild members work hard putting a program together and it would be nice if everyone would stay, not talk, and listen up! Sue W., our Program Charman let us know that Lori’s Pins & Needles will be coming to our July meeting for a Trunk show to share with us new quilt market items!
Sharon D. talked to us about having a two day retreat at the Untied Methodist Church in Watson. It would be a Day Retreat meaning we would come in the morning, sew all day, and go home to sleep at night. Any items brought the first day can be left overnight at the church as there is a security system at the church. A Full kitchen is available and The Hanger Restaurant is located not that far away. The dates of February 6-7 were chosen for the retreat and Sharon D. has volunteered to make a soup for the first day of the retreat. Sandwich making items, deserts, and snacks will be needed.
Debra G. Henninger, author of the book “Hobo Quilts” will be coming in July for a lecture on Hobo Quilts and the meanings of the symbols used by the Hobo’s. We will be checking on a room at the KC Hall for the lecture and will be inviting other guilds and the public to attend. Cost of the lecture will be determined at a later time.
The nights program was from Rita N. who gave a quick but informative lecture on Batik fabrics. Lots of samples were available to see and the information was very well received. Thanks Rita for the program!
Rita N. passing around samples of Batik fabric
Simply Sashed Turning Twenty in Black & White made by Sue W.
Nita's Fat Quarter Linus Challenge Quilt!
Large China Coin Quilt made by Joyce C. for Project Linus!
Joyce also brought along a second Linus Quilt, A Simple Strip Quilt!
A Fat Quarter Linus Challenge Quilt
Tossed Nine Patch made by Ivy M.
Finally the finished Spool quilt from Gwen!
Gwen shared with us her paper pieced Snowflake wall hanging
2012 Guild Challenge!
You may or may not have noticed the newest page here on the blog: 2012 Guild Challenge!
Just click on the 2012 Guild Challenge link on the title bar above to see what is in store for this year!
On this page you can find all the info needed to complete in this years Crossroads Guild members challenge quilt. Please remember that the finished quilts will be displayed and judged at this years upcoming quilt show at The Keller Convention Center located in Effingham IL. So be sure to get started because this year the challenge is a true challenge!
Project Linus Sew Day this Friday January 13th!
Hi everyone,
Project Linus Sew days will be on the 2nd Friday of the month at the First Christian Church from 8:30-2:00. Some of the sew dates are:
January 13th
February 10
March 9th
Lunch: The lunch will be a sack lunch or anyone can enjoy lunch at any of the surrounding resturants.
There will be a dinner on February 17th and all proceeds will be going to our Linus Chapter for batting and any other supplies that are needed more information will follow at a closer date.
Project Linus mystery bag challenge end in February the bags are located at Angie’s Nine Patch. You can drop off finished blankets at Angies with your name, phone number attached to your quilt to be entered into a drawing for prizes. You can complete more than one if you wish.
Thank you,
Hey Ladies!
Time For Another Guild Member Of The Month!
Every month during meeting nights Show & tell, we are always in awe of the many project our fellow quilters have to made for themselves and others! We at the Crossroads Quilters Guild are also lucky to have a large number of quilters in our group that quilt for charity, and this months member is one of the most generous of them all. Every months she takes the time to set down at her sewing machine and make a few quilts and crocheted afghans for Project Linus & W.I.C. She has also been know to bring in a few dozen completed Doo-Rags for the local cancer center as well!
Lets all give a big hello to this months featured guild member Joyce C.!
Joyce C.
1. Joyce, Can you please tell us how long you have been a member of the Crossroads Quilters Guild and why you decided to join?
As I can recall, I think I have been a member since 2004 after seeing in the EDN (Effingham Daily News) that the guild meeting was on third Monday of the month and to contact Sharon D. for info and I did attend the next meeting
2. How and when did you become interested in the art of quilting?
After retiring and getting bored, I decided to find out how to get started quilting. Went to Angies and picked out Eleanor Burns “Log Cabin” book and got started I was hooked and made several quilts before branching out.
3. If given a choice would you rather quilt by your self or with a friend/group of friends and why?
I really enjoy sewing with others but tend to get more done by myself. Wonder why!!!
4. What do you look for to inspire you when you start a new quilting project?
Fabric and quilt magazines.
5. Do you have a color of fabric that you just can’t stand to use in your quilts? If yes, can you let us know why?
(I) Do not have any special color I don’t like.
6. Do you do any other crafting besides quilting? What kind of items do you like to make?
I do crochet while watching TV and have made several prayer shawls, afghans etc. and now am trying to make some poncho’s for my small great granddaughters
7. Have you been able to pass on your art of quilting to a new generation of quilters?
I also have sewn with the Dietrich grade school third graders helping them sew blocks together to make quilts for foster kids. What a joy that is!!
8. Have you seen any new quilting patterns lately that you are interested in trying out?
Have made a “Bargello” quilt recently but don’t think I will attempt another one anytime soon.
9. The internet is playing a large part in the quilting world today, do you use the internet in anyway (such as shopping) for you quilting?
I do buy online for fabric and yarn . Very convenient especially this past year when I couldn’t leave my husband alone very long.
10. Do you have a favorite internet web site or blog that you like to visit?
I am on “face book” and have several quilting “likes” on there and enjoy reading what others are making.
Joyce C.
11. Who do you make quilts for? Family? Friends? Charity Donation?
All of them but like doing for charity as I know some child might really need one.
12. Joyce, you are very involved with making quilts and other items for donation to the local W.I.C & Project Linus Organizations, can you tell us a bit about why you love to donate your time a skills to help others?
Its just my way of giving back and feel that its what God me to do. Give back your time and talent.
13. Can you take a guess at how many quilts you have donated over the years?
I have never kept count but in all the years I suppose have made several hundred.
14. What do you enjoy the least about quilt making?
Layering quilts is not my favorite thing
15. What do you enjoy the least?
Love piecing quilts and trying new patterns and reading my quilt magazines!
Thank you so much for taking part in our Quilter of the Month post here on the guild blog Joyce!!! Are there any closing comments you might like to add?
Thanks Beth for asking me to be a “Quilter of the Month”
This month I leave you with a few photos of quilts Joyce has made and entered into our guild quilts shows! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Log Cabin Star, Joyce C.
Chinese Coins, Joyce C.
Spinning Spools, Joyce C.
Homemade Caramels!
At this years White Elephant Auction guild member Harvy G. donated a bag of her homemade Caramels and the winning bidder paid top dollar for them! Now i will not say my recipe is as good as harvy’s but i thought i would share it with all of you that were outbid this past Monday night! Just be warned… they are easy to make but a real pain in the tush when it come time to wrap them all up in wax paper! 
Soft Caramels
1 1/2c. Sugar (i use C&H brand!)
1c. White Corn Syrup
1/2c. REAL Butter (1 stick, MUST be REAL BUTTER!)
1c. Heavy Whipping Cream
1tsp. Vanilla
1c. Powdered Sugar
Wax Paper
Candy Thermometer
- line a 8″x8″ pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray
- mix first 4 ingredients together in a heavy pan
- place over Medium Low heat and stir until butter is completely melted and ingredients are well combined.
- using a CANDY THERMOMETER, bring the mix to 238 degrees
- remove from heat and quickly mix in the VANILLA
- pour into your foil lined pan and let cool completely.
- remove the caramel from the pan (the foil makes this MUCH easier!) and cut into desired size pieces
- roll each piece into the POWDERED SUGAR and then wrap in a piece of WAX PAPER.
Tips from Beth:
- i have made this candy for a number of years now and have learned a few things when working with it!
- first off once you add in the candy thermometer you no longer need to stand over the pan stirring as long as you use LOW heat!
- did your caramel not set up solid enough to cut & wrap it? Store it in a sealed plastic bowl and use it as a CARAMEL APPLE DIP instead… YUMMY! (cook to only 200 degrees to always get apple dip consistency!!!)
- did your caramel set up to solid to cut? Use a CLEAN meat tenderizer hammer and break it into pieces then roll in sugar and wrap. Now you have HARD CARAMEL CANDY! (cook to 300 degrees to always get hard caramel!)
- do NOT cut all the candy into small pieces then walk away from it for very long…. it will melt back together! It’s not called SOFT CARAMEL for nothing!
- i hate, hate, HATE wrapping the caramels in wax paper and i must admit when it comes time to doing that step i skip it all together! I make the caramel in a toss away foil pan, sprayed with nonstick spray. I dust the top with some powdered sugar (for looks only!) and tape a plastic knife to the lid of the pan. I let them know to keep it nice and cool, never let it get to hot. Yes i give a complete batch away when i make it for friends, its easier and not once have i heard a complaint!
- If you want smaller pieces but don’t want to mess with the wax paper try this:
2c. Milk Chocolate Chips (11.5oz.)
- line a large cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper
- cut the caramel into 1″ squares, place on the cookie sheet leaving a little space between each piece then place in the refrigerator until they are solid (1hour)
- melt chips in a small Crock-Pot on LOW (or in the Microwave until melted, string every 30 seconds)
- dip each square into the chocolate then place onto the cookie sheet leave a little space in between each piece and place back into the refrigerator until the chocolate is set.
- at this point you are pretty safe to leave them out at room temp without wrapping them individually and they will not melt back together. Just don’t let them get to warm! Now you have CHOCOLATE CARAMEL SQUARES!
Apple Cake!
A few months back, guild member Adice F. shared her Apple Cake with us during break time at a night;y guild meeting. You may remember the tasty caramel topping the cake had! Here is a receipe that is very very close to the same one she shared! The recipe is quite old but I beleve the only difrence is how long you let the apples & sugar set before you make the cake!
Enjoy!
Apple Cake
4c. Apples, pealed and chopped into very small pieces
2c. Sugar
- mix the first to ingredients, cover and let set for 1 hour.
- preheat oven to 350 degrees
2 Eggs, beaten
2c. Flour
2tsp. Baking Soda
2tbl. Cinnamon
1c. Butter
1c. Chopped Walnuts (optional)
- add EGGS to the APPLES and mix
- Add ALL OTHER INGREDIENTS and blend on medium speed
- Pour into a greased 9″x13″ cake pan
- Bake cake at 350 for 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean
Caramel Topping
1/2c. firm packed Brown Sugar
1/2c. White Sugar
1c. Water
4tbl. Flour
- Mix all ingredients together and cook over a Medium-Low flame until thickened.
- Pour over the cake while both cake & sauce are still hot.
