Our speaker for May was Nancy Roelfsema who talked about “Why we Quilt”. She gave a wonderful slideshow of the quilts she has made and gifted to others and a bit of history of why she quilts. She also showed us many of her quilts that she either teaches as a class, at a retreat, on a you tube video, or has written instructions. It was a great night of learning and enjoying the reasons why we all quilt. Nancy is well known for her engaging, passionate teaching style. She presently is lecturing and teaching quilting at guilds and major quilt shows across the country. Nancy started sewing at a young age and has been teaching quilting for over 30 years. Her YouTube channel has over 400 videos and over 70,000 subscribers.
Nancy loves African fabrics, painting on fabric, and Sue Penn designer fabrics.
This is one of Nancy’s designs made with her painted fabric and made as a Quilt as You Go.Antique quilt made with very small piecesPurple Tranquil will be the quilt made at next year’s retreat with Nancy in MarchNine patch on point, makes it very interestingImprovisational art made with painted fabrics.West Michigan Quilters Guild ChallengeBackground is made with fabrics woven together and then lots of quilting.This is one of Nancy’s Learn to Quilt patterns. Lots of techniques.This is a more challenging Learn to Quilt Pattern.New York Beauty with 25 different blocks.All African fabrics that Nancy buys when she goes to Africa as a missionary, she often teaches sewing techniques.Log cabin Quilt as You go, see the back on the right.Fractured glass with painted fabrics, quilt as you go, back on the right.Quilt as you go New York Beauty, 12 wt perle cotton, made one block at a time.Quilt as you go.Winter Blues, Paper PIeced, Quilt as you go.African fabric for the backing.Sue Penn fabrics, so much fun colorMy Mother’s Flower Garden, English paper pieced without paper, Sue Penn’s fabric lineNancy’s mother made this quilt, she was an artist, she painted but wasn’t afraid to tackle this fun quilt.We always love to shop.
Laura proudly displayed the quilt we made to donate to “Read Ottawa” which will be auctioned off.
Several members helped with the blocks and Laura and Susan put them together, Darla Parks quilted it for us. This is in place of making a quilt to sell raffle tickets for and then give the money to a charity.
Lots of baby quilts turned in, great job ladies.
Show and Tell
Joan made 5 bags for gifts, sewing a good portion at retreats.Joan also made this quilt for her husband.These 3 bag ladies enjoyed making bags in the bag class a month ago.Linda finished 2 pillows from Beth Ann Williams celtic class, a year or so ago.Annette made this beautiful quilt out of blues, all hand quilted.Amy found a not so tradional Christmas patternShe also made this really fun Reel Viewer with slidesDiane made a wonderful pond art quilt .Diane also made this baby quilt for her Grand DaughterKatie wanted a fun picnic quilt.Leslie used this Michigan panel and outlined all the counties.She also made this Sailboat quilt for a gift, fun T shirt on the back.
