MEETING 2 AT IDA ROSE'S HOME
“Hi, Ida Rose,” Anna Mae said as
she walked onto the screened in porch. “Are we meeting out here or
inside?” It was such as beautiful day that
Ida Rose had set up the porch with comfy chairs for everyone.
“It's so nice out, Anna Mae, that I
thought everyone would enjoy being on the porch.”
“I agree. Just smell those lilacs.
Why, that bush reaches your second floor windows, Ida Mae.” Anna
Mae said as she looked out toward
the side of the house.
“Yes it does. That's why I leave the windows open. It can be as still as the leaves before a
summer storm but the smell from the lilacs fills the rooms.” Ida
Rose laughed.
“I guess I'm the first to arrive
today. Everyone's coming, although Wanda Kay may be a few minutes
late. I think she has a doctor's appointment.” Anna Mae looked
around and then choose the wicker rocker with cushions covered in big
splashy pink and rose flowers to sit in, placing her quilting bag
next to her. “So, what did you think about the Guild meeting? And
our lack of a venue for the quilt show? Any ideas how we are going
to handle this little problem?”
“Well, it's not really a little
problem, is it?” Ida Rose responded sitting down next to Anna Mae.
“No, it really isn't.” Anna Mae
sighed. “It's not a little problem at all. I guess one thing we
can do is cancel the quilt show.”
“We'd lose a lot of money. I know the deposit for the venue will be refunded but not all the advance
money to the teachers...and some of them were pretty high. Then
there's the judges we hired. And the vendors who signed up." Ida Rose was silent for a moment. "It's bad enough being on the
publicity committee but to be on the committee in charge of the quilt
show. I sure don't envy those ladies. Not one bit...” Ida
Roses's voice trailed off softly as she sat deep in thought.
Just then a car pulled up and out
tumbled Martha Kerine, laughing so hard that tears were streaming
down her face. “Elsie Jean Lundgren,” Martha Kerine gasped,
“If you don't stop with that story, I am going to...to...well, have
an accident. And you will have to take me home so I can change.”
Anna Mae and Ida Rose looked up as both Martha Kerine and Elise
Jean walked hurriedly up the walkway to the porch.
“Well, it's true Martha Kerine.
You know I wouldn't make up a story like that...I couldn't if I
wanted to.” Elsie Jean burst out barely controlling her laughter.
Martha Kerine got to the screen door
first, opened it and then quickly went through the porch to the...
“Remember where it is, Martha
Kerine?” asked Ida Rose.
“Of course I do...”
“Just asking, Martha Kerine, that's
all.” Ida Rose chimed. “Okay, Elsie Jean what's so funny?
I've never seen Martha Kerine make a beeline that fast to the privy
before.”
Elsie Jean went over to the mission rocker
and sat down, waving a fan in front of her face and trying to catch
her breath at the same time.
“Well, I was just telling...”
Elsie Jean stopped and took a couple more breaths before breaking out
in laughter again. “Well, I was just telling Martha...”
“Stop right there, Elsie Jean...”
Martha Kerine said in a very loud voice as she walked back unto the
porch.
Now, as Martha Kerine was usually the
quiet one, and raising her voice was way out of character, the rest
of them just looked at her with their mouths open and their eyes as big as saucers...
“What's going on?” I asked quietly
pulling the screen door open. “You all look like deer caught in a
headlight.”
Martha Kerine began laughing as soon as
I asked my question.
“I guess I still have a little
surprise left in me!” she declared. “Go ahead Elsie Jean and
tell everyone the story.”
“Well, as I was telling Martha
Kerine,” Elsie Jean began.
“Wait a minute, Elsie Jean,” I
interrupted. “If this is a long story, let's wait for Wanda Kay. I
think we could all use a good story after our last guild meeting.”
“Yeah, that was a bummer of a
meeting.” Anna Mae added.
Rumors of a possible problem with the
upcoming quilt show had made the telephone gossip line, also known as
texting. What none of us knew was the extent of the problem...that
is, that our venue had decided to cancel our contract.
We did find that out at the guild
meeting and why the contract had been cancelled. The roof leaked!!! The earliest it could be fixed was well beyond the date of our show.
We could have chosen to run the risk of a leaky roof but the venue
would not take that risk. Thus, no place to hold our quilt show.
Lots of suggestions were made but for
the most part, none of the buildings suggested were large enough.
There was one suggestion that kind of made sense, but also had a
great deal of risk. The park. There were several pavilions and
covered shelters for lectures and classes, but hanging the quilts
outside. Well, that could prove to be a problem.
On the other hand, lots of quilt shows
were hung outside. The Annual Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon, for
instance.
“What do you think about the idea of
having the quilt show in the park?” Anna Mae asked.
“Well, we would not be able to
collect a gate fee.” Ida Rose said, “But, I bet we would get a
larger turnout. That is, if the weather was good.”
“Most of the newer covered shelters
have electricity so they could be used for classes. The tables,
though are probably not the best for sewing.” Elsie Jean added.
“And we would have to limit the show to one day, I think. We really
couldn't leave the quilts up overnight.”
The rest of us just sat there shaking
our heads in agreement.
“I'm sure glad that I don't have to
make that decision.” I said. “It's certainly not a win-win
situation.”
“More like a lose-lose one.” Anna
Mae agreed.
“Well, while we wait for Wanda Kay to
get here, let me show you the pattern I came up with for Jenny's
quilt.” Ida Rose quickly got up and gave each of us copies of her
pattern.
Ida Rose had created a
simple pattern that looked complicated. All the elements looked straight forward. For instance, the vines which wound around the
center flower were narrow tubes, made out of green fabric, cut on the
bias, sewn, turned and pressed. Because of the bias cut, the vines
were easily curved.
“I used a single pattern for each
corner and the center of the quilt.” Ida Rose continued. “Then
using the bias cut, I can easily weave the vine around the center
with trailers going off toward each corner. There are only three
different leaf patterns. Varying the fabric will give the
appearance of a much larger difference.
"And I choose to make the flowers on the vine similar to the center and corner ones but with a more realistic look.
I have three different patterns. One is a bud. One is a
flower beginning to open. And the third is the flower completely
open. What do you think?”
“Wow. That's not only a beautiful
pattern, Ida Rose. It's one that I think could easily be finished
before the wedding.” I said.
“You know, we could all help with the
applique on the whole cloth. Then Ida Rose could add the
borders and corners before beginning the quilting.” Elsie Jean
added. “I bet we could get the center finished in a couple
meetings if Ida Rose has the pattern on and the vines pinned in
place.”
As Elsie Jean was talking, Wanda Kay
drove up, got out and walked toward the porch. We all turned a to
see how she looked. To say good would have been inaccurate. She
looked great and best of all she was smiling ear to ear.
“Before you ask,” Wanda Kay began
as she entered the porch, “the doc said I'm as good as new and can
continue on with life as usual. Although, I must say, it was
nice not to have to be in charge of everything in the house.”
“That's great news Wanda Kay,” I
said, “but knowing your schedule, I would take a bit of time coming
up to full speed.”
“Believe me, I am.” she said.
“Now that I know what David is capable of, I think there will be a
little more helping out at home.” She added brightly, “That
will leave me with more time to do some quilting,”
Everyone on the porch was all smiles to
see one of their friends in such a good mood, a change from the way
she had looked and acted at the last couple of meetings.
“So,” she asked, “what are we
going to do about the quilt show? I really don't think that there
are any places in the area big enough to hold it. I'm open to the
park, but what about you guys?”
“Well, it could be a really big
gamble holding it outside. On the other hand, we could publicize it
as a free community event for everyone. And we could set up places
for children to sew an easy block together.” Anna Mae responded.
“And we all have orphan blocks.”
Ida Rose added, “I think I have at least two or three dozen
floating around here. We could set up quilting stations and let
folks quilt a block. We could even finish it off for them with a
simple binding...”
“Or show them how...” Wanda Kay
added
“Yes, show them how. Then they
could take home a finished little project.” Ida Rose continued.
“And I bet we would wind up with more
folks interested in quilting.” I said. “I think this park idea
has some legs to it, Ida Rose. Why don't you let the quilt
committee know about our suggestions and see what they have to say
about them.”
“I will at the next meeting which I
think is this Friday. You know, maybe this could work out for the
best. That is if the weather holds.” she responded.
We all pulled out our quilting projects
and continued talking while working. Anna Mae had a really unique
little project..
“What in the world are you working on
Anna Mae?” Elsie Jean asked, looking a bit puzzled.
Anna Mae held up a piece of work that
measured about five by eight inches. “It is a bit different from my
normal quilting.” She laughed and then went on. “Well, it all
started with my youngest grandson. He brought his laptop over last
week and showed me some quilting sites.
“Well, you know me, I had to check
them out myself...I think I spent about five hours on the darn thing.
But some of those quilting websites are really great.
“Anyway, I found one that did swaps,
postcard swaps, but the postcard had to be completely covered in
fabric and stiff. I thought it was an unusual swap so I decided to
join. And this is my postcard.”
“Are you going to send it through the
mail?” Ida Rose asked.
“Yep,” Anna Mae replied. “That's
why I have a really stiff piece that I reinforced with some fusible interfacing.”
“Think it will go through?” Wanda
Kay asked.
“Well, it will have to be special
handling, but they said it would, so I am going to send it. What do
you think of the design?” Anna Mae asked.
Now the postcard was a scene, made
totally out of fabric, of the western desert mountains with rusts,
oranges and peach coloring. The back was just as beautiful and had places for the addresses and note.
“That's really something, Anna Mae.
Did you make a pattern or did you create it freehand?” I asked.
“Well, I had a picture that I
patterned it after. I can draw up the pattern if you like.” She
offered.
“I for one would like that...” I
said as several others added that they would also like the pattern.
And with that Ida Rose brought out the
refreshments. We put our quilting projects away and helped ourselves to the spread that Ida Rose put out.
“I thought some tea would be a
refreshing change.” Ida Rose said, “So what goes best with tea
is scones with butter, jam and clotted cream; a few assorted
sandwiches and strawberries dipped in chocolate.
As everyone was filling their plates with
the delicious goodies I said, “Okay, you all know your coming to my
house next time. Don't count on anything this spectacular...just
hope I have some crackers, coffee and store bought cookies!”
“Right, maybe we'll BYOL, that is
'bring our own lunch'.” Martha Kerine laughed.
And with that we stopped chatting and
stuffed ourselves.
As we were leaving, Martha Kerine
reminded Elsie Jean about her story.
“Well, it all started when my
sister...” Elsie Jean began
Anna Mae's Postcard Pattern
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