FQA - Future Quilters of America

Way back, when I was in high school (no, don't even ask the date), I was a member, and at one point treasurer, of the FTA - Future Teachers of America.  We also had the FHA (Future Homemakers of America, FNA (Future Nurses of America) and FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America), but we were on Long Island, so there was no FFA (Future Farmers of America).  Now I think we need to start a new club - FQA - Future Quilters of America - and I have our first two members - my two granddaughters Sydney and Julianne.  

We began week 2 of our vacation in Syracuse on Monday, but not before I had a chance to finish the quilt tops with the little girls.  I had a great time "sewing" with the two of them and thought I would share some of the pictures. Please feel free to chuckle!!!  I certainly did.

Sydney is 6, so she was able to reach the pedal and do the actually sewing, while 4 year old Julianne enjoyed pushing the pedal and letting me do the sewing.  Let me just say that I thought my back was going to break as I leaned over and helped each of them!!!  Sydney would go nice and slowly, but Julianne was all about speed - probably says a little something about their personalities!!  Sydney was very good about arranging her quilt top and like a true quilter, she moved squares around to achieve the design she wanted.  Julianne, on the other hand, wanted each row exactly the same.  I asked a couple of times, but this was the way she wanted it and that was that!!  I did joke that I could have just cut 4 long strips instead of 20 squares, but that's ok!!

Sydney and I on the first day when we sewed the squares together.

Julianne "sewing" her rows together with my help.

Sydney sewing her rows together.  I love the concentration!

And finally, here are the finished quilt tops!!  I added the backings and now they each have a doll quilt that they made themselves.  Julianne has added hers to her pile of "friends" and blankets that have to go to bed with her each night.  Sydney asked when we could do this again!!!  Success!!!  Maybe now I will have someone I can pass all of my fabric to!!

Julianne wearing her quilt top on her head!!  Don't you just love that smile!!

Julianne and her finished "ordered" quilt top.

Sydney and her finished top

I have to say that when we plan these trips to NY I always worry about the weather.  It can get as hot and humid as Florida on a good day and not many homes are centrally air conditioned - a major issue for me - but the weather these past 1 1/2 weeks has been wonderful.  We had some heat and humidity at my son's home when we first arrived, but by the end of the week we had cool and low humidity days and evenings.  Now we are in Syracuse and so far so good.  We've had some rain storms each afternoon, but they are actually keeping the temperature down!!  Hurray!!  Yesterday we drove to Geneva, on Seneca Lake (one of the Finger Lakes), and spent a great day at the Three Brothers Winery tasting and purchasing some good wine and at Parkers Grille for a late lunch.  This afternoon we head off to spend a couple of days at my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's house on Lake Ontario.  Checked the weather for the rest of the day and it looks like we may need to bring a light jacket!!!  Yes!!!  I am loving this!!!

View of the vineyards and Seneca Lake from Three Brothers Winery.

I may be traveling, but I've still had a chance to check on our orders and so many of you have signed up for the Marcus Fabrics Friends and Companions Sew-Along and have ordered our kits.  Remember they will ship around July 21st, so if you have placed an order and are wondering where it is, just give me a chance to get back home and then they will be shipped.  If you haven't ordered your kit yet, there's still plenty of time.  Just go to our website by clicking on this link to the Marcus Fabrics Friends and Companions kits.  The Sew-along begins Friday, August 1st on Pam Buda's blog, Heartspun Quilts, so mark your calendars and get ready to have a great time while you make a beautiful quilt!!

Sunday is the first day of Peter's bike ride along the Erie Canal.  Today I am heading out to get a copy of Quilter's Travel Companion.  My plan is to visit as many quilt shops as possible along the same route!  Thank heavens he'll be driving back  to Florida! I'm definitely going to need the van to get my purchases back home!!

Until next time, happy quilting,
Mary Ellen