Yesterday three of my quilting friends came to my house to work on Quilts of Valor projects. It was our first get together for this. We pooled fabric and ideas and made one top and a back. A local long arm quilter will donate her services to quilt it. This quilt has assorted plaid four patches alternating with large squares of solid Amish style fabric. We used 9" finished blocks. It is a striking top!
We worked very well together, and enjoyed it so much we decided to do this once a month. We've already planned our July project. In fact we each have fabric to cut and pass around soon, so we can each make a couple blocks at home, before the meeting. That one will be a block called Purple Heart. We also decided to use the Warm Wishes pattern for a couple tops, starting in August. The assignment is to search our stashes for appropriate focus fabric and some accent pieces. This was so much fun, and worthwhile. We are honored to make quilts for wounded service members.
PAT in Virginia PS: We are trying to come up with a fun name for the group.
WOW! That's sounds great! And like a lot of fun ... it's always an extra nicety to be able to give back to the community AND have fun doing it! :)
Since you're talking about Amish quilts .... where in VA are you? I remember several awesome Amish shops in Southern MD if you're interested .... The stretch of 301/50 between La Plata, MD (where I used to hang my hat years ago) and Mechanicsville, MD have about 3 "hidden" Amish stores ... genuine Amish fabric. They also offer quilting service, too.
It's a free easy-to-make pattern that is designed as a crib quilt but is easily adapted to other sizes. The pattern is at . I have used this pattern a lot for gifts and for charity quilts. You can see the first one I made at . It is basically a rail fence block alternating with a plain block; I think it looks more complex than it is. There is also a larger version of the pattern at .
I'd love to hear where they are... I live about an hour north of LaPlata. Are they near Hollywood? I've been to the fun stores in Lancaster Co. PA, but So Md is much closer! grin
Now, I can't remember the directions ... I've not lived in MD for about
6 years ... but the shops should still be there and I *should* have the right addys still ... Ready? :)
And yes, they are near Hollywood ... about ten miles (?) south of Hollywood.
Stephanie Horst
41365 Friendship Ct., Mechanicsville
******The Quilt Shop******** Magdalena Stoltzfus
28635 Thompson's Corner Rd., Mechanicsville
Henry B. Stauffer
27990 Point Lookout Rd., Loveville
Zimmerman's Greenhouse
25028 Point Lookout Rd., Loveville
Katie Zimmerman
25661 Friendship School Rd., Mechanicsville
And do a search (or call for info) on:.
The Annual Amish Quilt Auction Thompson's Corner Rd., Mechanicsville
301-290-0361
The Annual Mennonite Quilt and Craft Auction Mechanicsville, MD
301-373-3573
And though it's not Amish, don't forget the "Southern MD Quilt & Needlework Show" (usually early June - but try for next year) at Sotterly Plantation.
And of course, my "old" quilt guild's (Quilter's Guild of Southern MD) show, "The Southern MD Quilt Show" held in April each year in Indian Head, MD.
*****The Quilt Shop is one of the BEST ever ... BUT IIRC it's only open on certain days. AND it's pretty much located in a small cottage on their home's property (they are either Amish or Mennonite - IIRC Mennonite) ... so you'll drive down what looks like a deserted lane, flanked by small buildings/cottages ... my DH was really freaked out. We got there later in the day (hubby dragging his feet at yet ANOTHER fabric shopping trip) and they were closed .... BUT you could FEEL them watching you behind their curtains (every once in a while, a curtain would move) ... needless to say, hubby, entertaining scenes from "Children of the Corn" in his head, never went back. But I did. And they had absolutely GORGEOUS fabrics ... not cheap, per se (perhaps a dollar or so more than "usual" fabrics from a quilt shop), but gorgeous. The jewel tones looked just that - like jewels. I bought several yards of gold, blood red, black, and a bright blue and green and made an "Amish" quilt. :)
I'll bet I know the longarmer! I'm her "personal shopper" in PA! I just sent a bag full of patriotic fabrics for borders and backs to her. There were seven other ladies from your Guild here shopping this weekend, so they agreed to deliver the fabrics for me.
Prices here average about $5.00/yard; a little less than the prices in Virginia! Right?
Yep, you DO know that long armer! Grins. She has really done very well with that machine in a relatively short time. Plus, she and some other l a quilters are generous to donate their services for community service projects.
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