K-State Libraries: Scholarly Stitchers

New Quilt Project

The new quilt project is made up of scrappy crazy quilt blocks separated with a brownish color sashing.  Each block has a little bit of embroidery.

More about this quilt will come later.

Happy Crafters Quilt Shop

The June/July 2008 The Country Register, page 27 has an interesting article titled "Cure for the cutting blues."  This is article is about the Happy Crafters Quilt Shop in Osawatomie, Kansas. 

Here are the first couple of paragraphs from the article:

"Do you love to make quilts, but hate to do the cutting?  Well, Happy Crafters Quilt Shop in Osawatomie, Kansas has a great new service for their customers--they will do the cutting for them?

"They were just like you -- they needed to get quilts made but hated the cutting.  Seemed like the blade in the cutter always needed replaced or the ruler moved just as they were cutting that much needed last piece.

"Well, they started doing some research and, low and behold, there is such a thing as a cutting machine!!  The ladies at Happy Crafters have had their AccuCut machine for about seven months now and they love it!  They have found that it is much more accurate and also a lot faster and easier.  At their shop, they do a lot of strip clubs and it was always a challenge to get all the strips cut--well, not any more.  They can cut up to ten kits in about two hours and still wait on their customers."

There is more to the article--Happy Crafters now offer this service to their customers.

For more information, please view the links provided in this blog.

Relay for Life Quilt

When Quilters quilt, they always have more than one project in the works.  At least, that is the way it is for Scholarly Stitcher "Recycle." Recycle (also a member of the Rainbow Warriors), made this lovely quilt for the "Rainbow Warriors" Relay for Life Team.  You could be the lucky winner of this snuggly cuddly quilt made by Recycle and this huggable angel made by a member of the Rainbow Warriors team.  The team is offering chances at $1 per chance or 6 chances for $5.  Proceeds goes to the "Rainbow Warriors" Relay for Life Time to be passed on to the American Cancer Society.

See a member of the "Rainbow Warriors" to purchase your chance to win!

OR

For more information, Download quilt_poster.pdf

Download tickets here Download relay_for_life_quilt_drawing.pdf

And the Winner Is...

Today the drawing took place for our beautiful Kansas Treasures quilt.  The winner is KENT SMITH, former technology librarian at Manhattan High School.  Smith's wife, Sharon, was the librarian at Amanda Arnold Elementary School for several years.  Both retired in the 1990s.

We think it is absolutely fascinating that a former librarian won the Scholarly Stitchers Quilt made by librarians! 

In addition, two of the Scholarly Stitchers used to work for Sharon Smith.

Now, how cool is that?

Congratulations, Kent Smith!

First of April: Links for Quilters

If you all are like me, you are wondering where has the first three months of 2008 gone.  I have been busy with research, writing, and editing on my manuscript and working up the endnotes, which the publishing company is having me do in a way I never did them before.  LOL!  This too shall pass.

While I have had no time for sewing, I keep buying fabric and stacking magazines near my sewing table in hopes that someday I will have the time to look through them and sew up something pretty.  I also keep bookmarking webpages and decided that I would share some with you.

Stitchin' Heaven - where you will be welcomed to The Quilt Saloon

Patchwork Party 2008

Quilters Warehouse

Pat Sloan's Quilter's Home a place for fun

I have to include World Wide Quilting Page celebrating 12 years on the web

Keepsake Quilting-- couldn't ask for a better name since our sewing projects are wonderful keepsake

And what about Quilt University where you can take more than 120 online classes

I purchased my Stairway to Cat Heaven pattern from McCall's Quilting and it is partially finished and someday I will finish it

Of course, I could add more links, but why...you probably won't have time to view all that I have listed!

Chance for a Quilt

Time is drawing near!  On May 21, the drawing will be held for the beautiful "Kansas Treasures from the KC Star" quilt.  If you would like a chance to win this beauty visit Friends of K-State Libraries quilt project web page and click on the Donation/Drawing Form.  This will take you to a page that you can print and remit with your donation.

The quilt is on display at the Ida Stover Eisenhower Memorial Quilt Show at the Dickinson County Heritage Center in Abilene, Kansas from March 17, 2008 to March 30, 2008.  If you are in the area, stop by and view our quilt along with an additional 60-70 other old and new quilts.

January is Get Organized Month

If you have been doing any quilting projects, then you are probably like me and have stacks of material everywhere.  According to the National Association of Professional Organizers, January is "get organized month."

As I stood in my sewing room last evening looking for a tiny block I had been hand piecing, I thought of the television commercial where the family members are looking for something.  After a while someone yells out "I found it!" and they decided that maybe they should move "get organized" to the top of the New Years' Resolution list.

I made no New Years' Resolutions this year, however, I decided to take an hour to organize my sewing projects and declutter the stacks of fabric.  I gathered stacks fabric and sewing projects from a chair, from the top of my desk, from my sewing table, from the top of a book shelf, from the dining room table, from the night stand beside my bed.  It felt good to get all my projects back in one place and labeled with what goes to what.

This morning I had a few minutes before leaving the house for work.  I decided to do a few stitches on that small hand piecing block - but somewhere while getting organized I lost the needle!  Go figure!

And, I am not convinced that my projects and stacks of fabric are any happier stacked neatly on shelves and into clear plastic bin than they were scattered about the house.

Oh well, at least I look organized!

Christmas Stockings a Success!

The Scholarly Stitchers picked up the pace during a very difficult time (power outages in Kansas on December 11 and lasted a week or so) and created Christmas Stockings that were sold and the $115 proceeds went to the Relay for Life Team.

The Scholarly Stitchers are excited that we can help raise money for a great cause.

Now that the Christmas Stocking scene is over, don't forget about the beautiful quilt that you could win.  You can download the tickets right from your own computer! 

Sample of Stockings

Here are samples of the Christmas/Holiday Stockings that will be available at the Winter Dinner on December 12.   The price per Stocking is $15 and the buyer can decide if they want the money to go to Relay for Life or Friends of K-State Libraries.

Please note, these particular Stockings are already spoken for and because of the time frame we are working in, there will be a limited number Stocking available.

New Project - Christmas Stockings!

Now that the quilt is finished and tickets are being raffled, the Scholarly Stitchers are taking on a short project.  Stitchers are stitching up Christmas Stockings to raise money for the Relay for Life Team.

If you would like a unique stocking for your loved one, keep checking this blog to see what becomes available and when.