Retirees

Ten teachers retired this year from my old school. We started the tradition of making a quilt for each person who left us 9 years ago when our principal retired. The four of us continued even after I retired 4 years ago.  We made this one 2 years ago when Betty was originally retiring but only finished it this year.

This year the district offered an incentive at the last minute that could not be passed up and so we were in trouble.  With the help of our VP who also quilts (she made these two and offered one from her stash.)

we completed 10 quilts in time for the closing of school. I was involved in most of them, making the tops for 5, quilting 5 and the binding of some.

My good friend Marsha (who is the only one of our group who isn't retiring) helped with the one above right and made these two, with me quilting the cat quilt.

Whoo!

Team Work

The teachers at my former school that quilt and I have gotten together and made quilts for staff who have retired. When I was still there at school we made this quilt for the health clerk, Lee. She loves things Asian. This pattern is called Rolling Pins by Me and My Sister Designs (Pictured from left to right, Debbie, Mary, Marsha and I)


Now we are working on two quilts for future retirees. One will be posted later but for now here is Mike's. Mike teaches social studies and language arts. He is a tough but loved teacher. He works the local Renaissance Fair every spring, loves his cats and is Irish by heritage. The design is a joint effort.


We are still assembling the parts. Marsha and Debbie did these cats.


Mary pieced the calico and I machine appliqued the Tutor Rose.


I also hand appliqued the Celtic Knots. The quilt needs to be finished by the end of May so we are pushing hard. Tonight we add the borders and then it's up to Marsha and I to sandwich and machine quilt.

“COZY AS A CAT” Bento Box

I made this queen size quilt for my son and daughter-in-law. Melissa loves the color purple yet Andy wanted a masculine geometric design. This Bento Box pattern is featured in Successful Scrap Quilts by Judy Turner and Margaret Rolfe.

To create contrast in the concentric squares, I used both light and dark values and added Melissa's second favorite color, green and the complement of violet, yellow.

I like the challenge of using up the scraps on the back. My daughter-in-law, a Veterinarian, loves her pets so I included a cat on each corner.