VSQ Tidbits
Here are new lyrics forwarded by Abby Shipper
(originally sent by Jill from the County Line Quilt Guild in Southboro, MA)
"Let Me Sew" (sung to "Let It Snow")
Oh
the weather outside is frightful
But
the fabric is so delightful
I
wish I'd no place to go
Let
me sew, let me sew, let me sew.
My
kitchen floor needs some mopping
But
I've bought some beads for topping
I've
got to finish my UFO
Let
me sew, let me sew, let me sew!
When
I finally sit at the seat
I'll
forget all about my home
My
family will want to eat
They'd
better call for pizza on the phone
The
stitches are finally flying
And
the seams are flatly lying
If
they really do love me so
They'll
let me sew, let me sew, let me sew!!!
After a wonderfully successful show (and months of hard work) it seems a little humor is in order:
You know you are a quilter if……..
There’s more fabric in the house than food.
Fat quarters are not the heaviest part of your body.
Your ironing board is always set up but you never iron clothes.
You think of your job as an interruption of your quilting time.
You pet fabric.
People are always picking threads off you.
You can measure a scant ¼" by eye.
¯Featherweight. doesn’t mean boxer.
Your UFOs are not from outer space.
You clean up your sewing room and they think you are leaving.
Source: http://www.quiltvisionusa.com
Some Hints from Sandra Parrott: How to clean a sticky iron……. I have a product from Bed Bath and Beyond that works fine. It is called "Hot Iron Cleaner," made by "Faultless," costs $3.99 for two cleanings. They have it near the spot where they sell irons. It works on melted fusibles; just follow the directions (I open a window because I don't like the fumes) (Editor’s note: Have you considered using a gas mask?). This may be obvious to everyone, but........ I keep a tube of hand cream near the entrance to my quilting area, thick and non greasy. I try to remember to put some on whenever I enter the room, and wipe off the excess on an old towel. It helps get a grip on fabric and pins, especially when doing free motion quilting.
Mini-Groups: There is a definite interest among our members to forming mini-groups. Some have asked how to go about organizing such a group and so here is what I know (which is not much). These groups are common among guilds and usually consist of 6-8 members which is a comfortable number to meet in members’ homes. They generally meet once a month at various members’ homes to quilt or just exchange ideas. Some offer food; some don’t. Every group is probably unique – you can organize around a particular type of quilting (for instance, “Dear Jane” quilts or hand appliqué; you can organize a group making quilts for outreach charities; groups can work on challenges or “mystery” quilts; or everyone can do their own thing and meet for company and advice from fellow quilters -- the choice is The next step is for you to contact others on the list; call a meeting, and get going. So, here are those who would like to join such a group. Even if your name is not listed, if you are interested, just send an email or make a call to someone already on the list.
Ironing Tip from Abby Shipper: As many of you know, I went to a quilt retreat in Winslow, Arkansas in March and, while there, I discovered a wonderful ironing product: Mary Ellen’s Best Press. This is a spray-on liquid that smoothes out all wrinkles (ed. except on one’s face) and crinkles in one’s quilting fabrics. It works like a starch, but isn’t, and it does not leave any residue or stiffness in quilt fabric or pieces. I used it to smooth every piece of fabric I brought with me (over 500) and was very pleased with the effect. I spoke with Barbara Heitel at Hartsdale Fabrics and the store is now carrying Best Press. Give her a call at 914-428-7780 to make sure she still has stock before you run in to buy this wonderful quilting aid!
Delicous
Cookies from Ellen Belson
From Linda
Goldberg – Grandma Mollie’s Cookies
Currently, the cookies are known as "Grandma
Mollie's Cookies" as my daughter calls them,
though she never met my mother. My cousins all call
them "Aunt Mollie's Cookies" and I just
call them my mother's butter cookies. I started
'helping' my mother make them when I was
about two years of age, and they are fun to make with
kids because the shapes don't really
matter...they taste good no matter what they look
like! I've been known to get neighborhood
kids in to 'help' when my own kid wasn't around.
Enjoy!
Butter Cookies
½ lb. sweet (unsalted) butter softened to room temp.
½ cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2½ cups sifted flour (I use unbleached)
2 tbs. cold water
2 cups chopped walnuts
A "dash" of salt
Confectioner's sugar & cinnamon
Cream the sugar & butter, add vanilla and flour,
salt and water. Add walnuts. Dough will be
stiff. Shape like fingers and roll in a mixture of
sifted confectioner's sugar and cinnamon. Place
about 1" apart on cookie sheets (you can use
aluminum foil on them) which have a thin coating
of Crisco (remember Spry?). Bake at 325F for 25-30
minutes - adjust time to how crispy or
soft you like them. Cool on rack. They do freeze well,
and are good straight out of the freezer!