AUGUST 30, 2008 OUR 7TH MEETING

AND HERE WE ARE AGAIN. ANOTHER 6 MONTHS OLDER, MORE LOVELY THAN EVER BEFORE. WE ARE WISER, AND OUR FINGERS ARE MORE CALLOUSED THAN BEFORE BUT WE ARE COMMITTED AND GOING FOR THE LONG HAUL. WE WILL BE HALF DONE NEXT MEETING. AMAZING!!!!


Happy Birthday JB. Thanks for sharing your birthday with all of us.


This Row F each row represents the hard work of each of us. As you can see we are all going to have amazing quilts when
we are done.


The amazing Beth.


ALL THESE SQUARES ARE Z-LUV'S. SIMPLY AMAZING.



Z-LUV WAS MADE QUEEN OF THE DAY. SHE JOINED OUR GROUP LATE AND SHE WAS AMAZINGLY CAUGHT UP. SHE GETS THE MAJOR AWARD OF ACHIEVEMENT.


JEN MADE CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION FOR EACH OF US.




MEET SUSAN. SUSAN IS OUR HOSTESS FOR THE COMPLETION OF ROW F.




THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ON THE WAY TO SUSAN'S HOUSE.

MEMORIAL SQUARE

Z-Luv's mom, Joan Brewer was an amazing woman. And we all know her, though most of us never met her, through her beautiful daughter, Z-Luv. In Z, we see Joan's smile and eyes and compassion and kindness. And I believe that Z got her flair for being creative and daring and wild from her mother, though you wouldn't necessarily know it! When Z looks at her quilt, she will see her mom's ideas for fabrics, her help with the applique, her clothes woven into the squares. The Dear Jane quilt was a project for both of them to work on when Joan was sick. In Joan's memory, we have dedicated the first square of Row F to her. Z-Luv chose the colors and we all chose the fabric. So many of us learned the gentle art of sewing from our mothers and when those tethers are at their best, we are carrying our mothers on and on, for generations and generations.

This is the card z-luv sent to all the dear jane girls. Z missed our last meeting because her mom passed away. We sent her a gardenia plant so she could plant it as a memorial to her mom. A gardenia represents Joy in the flower world and how appropriate that the most lovely fragrance of a gardenia will remind Z of her mom and all the Joy she brought to her life.

We love you Z and thanks for the card.

JANUARY 19TH, 2008 OUR 6TH MEETING WE JUST COMPLETED ROW E

HERE ARE OUR SQUARES IN ALL THEIR GLORY. IT'S PRETTY EXCITING TO LAY THEM OUT AND IMAGINE WHAT OUR OWN QUILT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE. OK, NOT EXCITING IN THE SENSE OF CLIMBING MT. WHITNEY, OR CANYONING IN SWITZERLAND OR FLYING A PLANE SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FOR THE FIRST TIME. BUT IT'S PRETTY COOL.


WE ARE ALL 6 MONTHS OLDER, 6 MONTHS WISER AND MOST OF US HAVE 65 SQUARES DONE. TWO OF OUR AMBITIOUS MEMBERS, WENDY & JENNIE HAVE COMPLETED THEIR FIRST TRIANGLE FOR THE BORDER. IT WAS INSPIRING TO THE REST OF US WHO PLAN TO DO THE BORDER. SOME OF US HAVE DECIDED NOT TO DO THE BORDER.
WE WERE HOSTED BY JENN BRASINGTON. SHE HAD JUST MOVED INTO HER NEW PLACE AND WE ARE ALL CELEBRATING THAT SHE HAS A 5 MIN. COMMUTE INSTEAD OF THE USUAL HOUR/PLUS. NOW SHE WILL HAVE AN EXTRA 2 HOURS A DAY TO WORK ON SQUARES. SHE SERVED THE MOST AMAZING ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH RICE. REALLY NICE. Z-LUV WASN'T ABLE TO BE WITH US THIS TIME. WE SHARE HER SADNESS AT HAVING LOST HER MOM. JOAN BREWER. WE WILL HAVE A MAKE UP LUNCH IN A FEW MONTHS.

OUR FIFTH LUNCHEON HOSTED BY OUR RESIDENT ARTIST: LORA ROYSTER

OUR FIRTH LUNCHEON WAS HELD IN THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN CITY OF ORANGE, CALIFORNIA. I CAN NOT THINK OF ANY CITY THAT BETTER SUITS LORA ROYSTER. IT'S A MOST CHARMING CITY. WE ENJOYED OUR LUNCH ON HER GARDEN PATIO UNDERNEATH THE AGED CYPRESS TREES. THE AFTERNOON FILLED OUR SOULS AS WELL AS OUR BELLIES. (NOT THAT ANY OF US HAVE BELLIES). IT WAS DELIGHTFUL AND WE NOW HAVE 52 OF 169 SQUARES. WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS.

Our Fourth luncheon

Jen Jackson hosted our FOURTH lucheon which means we have finished row B. We each have 39 of 169 squares done. We haven't ALL finished our squares but none of us are pointing any fingers at anyone in particular. It's important to remember the reason we're doing this.
1. We want to grow old together. That takes time
2. We want to eat good food together.
3. We want to preserve the Range of Motion in our finger joints. Quilting is better than bowling for this.
4. We want to have a good reason to buy fabric. There is so much fabric.
5. We want to be around awesome women.

OUR THIRD MEETING OCTOBER 2006

WE ARE NOW DONE WITH ROWS A&B THAT MEANS WE HAVE 26 SQUARES DONE.

THIS IS OUR 2ND MEETING. APRIL 2006. WE ADDED A NEW MEMBER, LORA ROYSTER. WE HAVE NOW FINISHED OUR FIRST ROW OF SQUARES. WE HAD A REALLY NICE LUNCHEON AT GWEN'S HOUSE.

Lora Royster (Mrs. Royster to many)

Lora is our resident professional Artist. I can hear her laughing as I write that. She doesn't fancy herself as such but all who know her or have the privelege to visit her home clearly know that she is an artist. As long as I have known lora I have always been inspired by her. Lora taught me how to knit. She taught me how to work with clay silver. She makes the most amazing jewelry. She paints, in fact she has given me my first watercolor lesson. Lora is an art teacher. She teaches High School students about all the amazing different generes of art. Her husband Dave is a teacher at the same school. How cool is that? Mr. & Mrs. Royster both in the art department. Together they have three dogs who are the luckiest dogs in the world. Their home is amazingly charming. Actually their home is inspiring to me. A common thought at Lora's home is "where did you get that?" "How do you find such amazing things?" She gardens and designs and is gracious and loving. She is the most amazing friend. Really, Lora inspires me. (stop laughing Lora, it's true.) She doesn't know it but she's just amazing.

Z-Luv someplaces she's known as Suzanne Brewer

Suzanne Brewer is known to her good friends as none other than Z-Luv. She is the youngest member of the group and the newest to quilting, However, her lack of experience is no indicator of her ability. She has a unique talent for putting together the wildest, craziest patterns to produce beauty. Her spirit matches her designs. She is whimsical, youthful, and a natural creator. When she is not quilting, she travels the country, singing her original piano tunes and shacking up with all her friends. Some of her most famous squares include "gnomes and fishes" and "Japanese print with Lavender fairies". If you go to our links section you can slide on over to her web site and check out her musical talent.

Jennifer Brasington Known as JB

Jennifer Brasington is busy. With multiple jobs and a busy maniac husband, it is no surprise that from time to time, she tends to get a little behind on her squares. The truth is she is so kind, charming, and enjoyable that no one even notices what she does or doesn't complete. JB, while able to see beauty in some of the most unusual places, is bound by the laws of matching. Her fabrics are rich and stunning and they almost always match. Several of the other members of our group have set their sights on expanding her testitle horizons, however at this timeshe continues to be a purist. Occasionally, Z-Lub's color combinations render her speechless. She recently moved and has knocked off two comute hours from her day. She will now have all the extra time she needs to complete squares. (Maybe even catch up)

Susan Klein

Susan Klein is an amazing woman and friend. She and Martha are the best of friends. They met when Susan was the manager of a hospice. Martha claims she learned how to be a hospice nurse from Susan. Susan is an avid quilter and compulsively (in a good way) has her squares done in half the time and then moves on to make several more quilts. Susan knits, and sews a variety of things that usually become gifts. Her handmade items are labeled under the name "My sister made it". She has traveled to Aftrica twice where she brought nursing care to multiple villages. She has been married for 11 years and continues to wait for Martha to overcome the pain of not being invited to her wedding. She has a 5 year old son whom she adores. Susan is brilliant and she remembers everything she reads. If you have a health concern you call Susan first. If you go to your Dr. you call Susan to see if the Dr. was right. She knows everything. She will always tell you the truth and always with compassion.

Marty Enniss

Martha Enniss is the founder of the group, though she would never boast it. She is an expert quilter and learned the trade from her mother. She has two fiercely loving kids and three amazing grandchildren, not to mention a kind husband, all of whom she absolutely adores. Although she is an authority on quilting, that is not where her skills end. She enjoys gardening, landscape design, knitting, making clothing, cooking, and flying planes. She is a registered nurse and has just completed her 14th year as a Hospice nurse. Marty just completed her training as a certified massage therapist. She is a true Renaissance woman. She is the type of lady you just want to be around more, the typeof friend that you always love to be with, and the type of mother that always makes you feel like you are the best one.

Beth Enniss

Beth Enniss is simply remarkable. She has an amazing way with words. (watch for her book). Be sure to check out her personal family blog. She is married and makes a very good "Mrs. Ives". (Charles Ives, do you know who that is? It was the how her husband proposed to her. "Bethy, will you be my Mrs. Ives?") You can ask her about that sometime. Beth is a stay at home mom to a very active nearly 3 year old boy named Captain. Beth is a licensed music therapist and a registered nurse. She loves quilting and loves to pick colors that contrast and shock. Beth invents holidays for she believes there should be a major holiday in absolutely every month of the year. Holidays Eve, Paint day, Annual flunk your practice test day, paint night anniversary, Epiphany, just to name a few She loves being in a community of people and is extrodinarily kind to everyone she meets.

Wendy Davenport

Wendy Davenport has STYLE. When people think of Wendy they think Sexy, Model, Hot. Her ruby red lips, her cropped black hair, her lovely tattoos all point to a most creative flair for color and design. Wendy, along with her cohort in crime, Jen Jackson hit every garage sale and estate sale they can find. Together they are power sellers on Ebay. Wendy is married to an awesome man and together they have two amazing kids. They understand what family means. Wendy is an incredible singer and songwriter. Wendy hosts a Monday night sew fest at her home where she and anyonewho wantsto work on sewing projects can join in. She thinks she wants to move to Oregon where it's not so hot but we are all hoping she will see the flaw in her miserable plan before she makes the fatal move. We aren't suggesting in any way tht Oregon isn't a wonderful place, we just love Wendy and can't imagine not having her here with us. I-chat just wouldn't cut it.

Jennifer Jackson

Jennifer is the proud mother of two amazing children. She was taught to sew by her mother. She is best friends with Wendy Davenport and the two of them are Lake Elsinore's "Lucy & Ethyl". They share all their fabrics so you often see the same themes running through each of their quilt blocks. Jen is drown to browns and deep earth tones and rich batiks. Jennie has a strength that is inspiring. She has been an avid bowler which she sadly had to retire from. Since she began this quilt, she has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, and yet she does not let it stop her from pursuing all her endeavors and dreams. Jen's life is not defined by her diagnosis rather it is defined by the love, compassion and enthusiasim with which she embraces life. She is an amazing mother, she's a great singer and finds time to be a spiritual mentor to other young girls.

The Original group, April 2005 our humble beginning

This is a picture of our first meeting. The two women on the ends are interestingly enough not part of our group any longer. We would love for them to be but I think Life just got busy for them.