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Friday, April 19, 2024

Returning to my first LOVE!

Hello to my world of quilt friends!  I chose college major to become a business classroom teacher.  But instead of a practical practical nine month profession, I signed into a thirty-four years of a corporate, competitive and satisfying job which involved seminars and leadership training with a variety of people.   

When the quilting bug caught me twenty plus years ago; I learned anew what really satisfied by "innards" as my Big Mama might have said!  Thus I learned and grew and stretched far into innovative artwork in my quilt designs and narrative quilt styles.   Here's a TRUE LOVE Valentine's quilt that I gifted to an auction event last February.  



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But hey—-I’m back to my first love! There's just something magical and precise and mind-relaxing about a perfect quarter inch stitch and seams that presses evenly and matches almost perfectly all through out a lap sized quilt!   And the mistakes and reversed blocks are hilarious to remind me of everyday life.   I bet it's like that for you to!  


My most recent adventure as a retiree moved me BACK into teaching basic block construction to senior women at my community Wellness Center two days a week!   Wow to the excitement of looking over their shoulders with tips, tricks and how-to’s.


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I nick-name my friends.... these two ladybugs are first-time quilters showing off their X's and O'x (hugs and kisses) beginner quilt blocks.  



And my newest best friend invited me to teach a really broad range of college students, staff and faculty.  The Culture of the Quilt was a four-week workshop that included mostly first-time and never-before sewists.  The group chose African wax designed fabric and we reflected on messages that may have been hidden and translated into quilts by enslaved person in America.  Good conversations for all who left the sessions knowing how to rotary cut, ruler and mat measurements, stitch a quarter inch and what exactly can you do with half square triangles (HST's). 


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I marvel at my first calling to teach business classes! This is so much more fun!   It's still the same striving to touch and encourage another persons life.  A craft, a hobby, a skill.  Quilting is much more that just that.  Lastly my Professor girlfriend wanted me to join her along with my own granddaughter to tap into their heritage and tap into the "innards"... the innermost part of their young minds and souls to talk, laugh and to quilt a block.  

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We, as quilters and artisans, know how we can change and enliven and enlarge our world.  We know that just by dropping a pebble, or a button, or a needle tip into the pond of water we send forth ripples of cherished memories and inspiration to keep on quiltin!


Truly LuvYa


Beverly

Wednesday, April 17, 2024




Layered & Stitch: An Art Quilt Experience is a two-day live, virtual event with fourteen expert quilting instructors. Dive into a whirlwind of art quilting excitement with a lineup of engaging sessions covering quilt improvisation, techniques, tips, materials, and beyond. Learn about landscape quilts, surface design, how to use fabric scraps and silks, finding your creative voice, and so much more! 

May 18-2024

Quiltin’ the Soul of Harriet Powers

Harriet Angeline Powers speaks to us today as a legendary folk art quilter born into slavery but used her quilts to tell the story of her daily and spiritual life. Her most famous quilt, The Bible Quilt, depicts scenes of the Bible along with local folktales of her community. In this session, get inspired by an overview of Harriet Powers and The Bible Quilt. Learn from this appliqué how-to session using lace and cotton figures of a dove, a camel, a high-stepping elephant, and a serpent, as depicted in her beautiful narrative quilt.


Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Reflecting Rainy Days

 I relished the stitching of this estate sale quilt!  Weather not yet warm on the patio.   Skies are gray and overcast!



Nevertheless and ….. all the more …. I spotted the first bloom of Spring 2024


Saturday, April 6, 2024

Quiltin’ HIGH TIDES & VALLEYS

 We are women!  I’m thankful to share my life as a patchwork quilt.  

A best guy-friend laid to rest today.  Now— a second sister girlfriend has cancer—words like terminal and aggressive.  On and on as life is known by God from its beginning to end!   Springtime is rebirth — but death is definite 


Earlier this week, my group of quilters immersed our thoughts at our grandmother’s girls in her quilt during our show n tell gathering 





Several said Dutch girls… but I say Sunbonnet Sue!  I found the pattern history as such   Her warmth, her hidden face (for me) is a universal spirit of standing- feel and hands forward thru the good times and the bad times


We are women!

A year ago, another quilt friend enthusiastically bought these —say 1960 appliquéd blocks.  Endearing-makes us smile





Monday, April 1, 2024

Opinion Post. D minus rating

Hi good friends.  I think this is my first time publicly giving a rating to a patter!   

3 Yard Quilts.        No no no….. lust a nine-patch  INSTEAD—- A DISAPPEARING NINE-PATCH IS A BREEZE!!!

3  Yard Quilts.        Too much cutting/not in order

3 Yard Quilts.        Not simple -instructions wacky 

3 yard quilts            Too small 45” x 60 geesh 

3 Yard Quilts.        Just a moneymaker hype

3 Yard Quilts.        I mistakenly thought teaching 2nd quilt for beginners who learned really fast/enthusiastic

 3 yard quilts         I’m not being mean    Just no no no



Saturday, March 30, 2024

The Calendar List is Calling Me

 Hey hey.  Goodbye March in a minute.   Hello April ‘24

And there is a countdown for be to soar!!!


OVAC      April 01, 2024   Dakar, Senegal West Africa 


STQG to-do:  Juneteenth Quilt Show  

**complete Bears Paw

**complete African Queen Dynasty 

**Vendors and Sponsors — Flyer Distribution —publicity, involve OHCE volunteer positions









CT Creative 


Monday, March 25, 2024

My Quilt Cruise

 A first! A Free 7-day cruise for two!  I won!  

Paper-piecing with Carol Doaked!  I was working as a statistical analyst/Bureau of Labor Statistics/OK LMI

I’d filled out an on line entry…2006—and tag-daaaahhh …… the phone call and email was for me!!!!


Oh the story to be told!!!!


This is the star compass I learnt paper-piece (FPP)  and to this day— I absolutely luv the sharp points and backward thinking ability !!!😇😇😇💗💗😄😄😄


The black background… I had pretty awesome color vibes early into Quiltin 
Here the fun backing


Now—- ask me if there is a label on this precious keepsake??????


Keep Quiltin my friends!!!!





Friday, March 15, 2024

Why We Quilt!

 Good Friends who Quilt!


Good friends bring out the best in us!  They understand us, they cry with us, they shop with us!  No matter the age span: we are girlfriends who quilt together!  While threading the needle and sniping a loose thread: we share similar dreams and simple sorrows!  Our fabric squares are taught to be laid RST … that is:  right sides together!  Simply a way for US GIRLS to continuously seek and celebrate the best among ourselves as quilters!  

Consider the continuous soothing hum of a sewing machine.  Whether it’s a digital high tech model or a vintage 99K Singer electric model……  something creative begins to flow from  our body, mind and soul!  We can trust and relax and choose to move forward like a spring flower opening to the sun!



We quilt!  We love and survive!  If you as ask life long friends why they are friends …they seem to hold back a sensible explanation and say with a smile “we just are!”   If you ask a Scissor Tales Quilt Guild (STQG) member why they quilt ….  “We just do”.  Keep smiling!


OKLAHOMA HOME AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION (OHCE)   OSU Extension Center. 
2500 NE 63rd St. Oklahoma City, OK 73111
**Phone: (405) 713-1125
  March 2024 Newsletter 
Submitted Bev Kirk

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Sneaky Peek and Praying!


 

I cut this out-it was printed on a strap bag soooo many years ago!  My St. Louis college niece (the nineties) left it in my mother’s home!  Too cute.  The look, the turned shoulder..  the naturalness and youth of her smile!  The real-girl skin tone - and the head wrap is sassy and hiding her hair!!!!


  I've been caressing and saving this girl…..  until my heart said YES tonite!!!!

The final quilt art-piece must be 12” x 24” (mine is vertical)   Ok no more talk   Due date is way out to September 2024….. but the call and collective title has been zooming in my mind!


Plus-I cried a good bit tonite:  and it’s 2:00am   LIFE LESSON CONTINUES…When I can’t change things:  the serenity from God’s Word says…   Not just to make-do//// but to soar—- to create   Mind body soul and spirituality!!  Give it to the Shepherd…Psalm 23.   So this I do!  I quilt!


Saturday, March 9, 2024

Traveling and Quiltin’



 Our 50th wedding anniversary was serenely spent in Sand Speinga/Tulsa OK ar a.   And yes…. There’s a quilt shop to drop in!   

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Quote 4 Today

"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late." - Ralph Waldo Emerson





They Told Us: Lymphoma 8-31-2009

They Told Us:  Lymphoma 8-31-2009

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