More than my boss, my mom or even my boyfriend, the people who know me best may be my circle of quilting friends. They're the ones I see every Wednesday night to eat, chat and quilt. It's a weekly ritual I've come to rely on for a good dinner and great company.
We rotate hosting duties; the host provides the main dish and, potluck-style, everyone contributes either an appetizer, salad, wine or dessert. It's casual and fun; we eat, quilt, break for dessert and then quilt some more. There have been a few culinary disasters (my lumpy, greasy hollandaise sauce comes to mind), but it's amazing how, with practice, we've all become capable and confident hosts.
Here's a peek into our party:
Hosts: Joy, Corey and Arlo the dog.
Location: Their loft, downtown Los Angeles.
Menu: This week, Joy served a baked potato bar with all the fixings. She made a creamy cheese sauce and we piled on veggies, bacon, chives, butter and sour cream. Molly made a chopped salad and Brigette brought apple crisp. It was a warm, hearty meal, perfect for one of our first truly chilly days in LA.
Decor: Joy and Corey's loft is small but streamlined and very welcoming and comfortable. After nearly four years of quilting, we feel at home in each others' spaces and our casual parties don't warrant much more than a quick straightening up.
Activities: Quilting! Unlike a more traditional quilting circle, we each work on our own project at our own pace. It's great to work together; when sewing challenges arise, someone in the group always figures out a way to solve the issue. Likewise, when I've had a bad week or I need to talk out a non-sewing dilemma, someone always has a new point of view or suggestion to help me see things clearly.
Each week I look forward to quilting night. In what can be a harsh and lonely city, it's so wonderful to have a standing date with friends, food and fabric.
(Images: Jennifer Hunter)
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Perfection. If I didn't have my Sunday afternoons with my friend of 27 years in her craft room (yes, she bought a house with an extra bedroom so she would have a craft room) for quilting, crafting and snacking - with occasionally forays to flea markets and fabric stores - my life would be so much poorer.
I love this idea.
There are a group of ladies that meet at my local Panera on Sunday mornings to do their own crafts (knitting, crochet, etc.). Much like a stich-n-b*tch club. This is the closest I've come to such a gathering in my locale.
Very nice - we need more of this (and less computer interaction). Thanks for sharing.
Sounds like so much fun, I would love to do this with my friends.
We do something similar. There's 3 of us who get together every month to stamp (card making or scrapbook). We take turns hosting, the host fixes the meal and we get to use her stamps. Once a year, the 3 of us loads up all of our supplies for a weekend getaway to stamp. Been going on 12 years now.
What a lovely group you have there. Truly my idea of a perfect evening.
How lovely.
Whaaa? I thought quilting was a communal thing? It sounds lovely, your get-together, but have you thought of quilting on EACH OTHER'S projects rather than on just your own? That's how a big quilt gets done - not one person on their own thing, but lots of people on one thing. I've been a part of a quilting bee, and let me tell you, there's nothing like it. Kinda like a barn raising. Or a choir.
I nominate this loft for a house tour!
Joy!! I love what you and Corey have done with my old loft. (It's Hannah, the old leasing agent.) I too would love to see a house tour!
House tour coming soon! Stay tuned...
She pretty much stated that it is "unlike traditional quilting". Enough said.
Its cool, and great to have the power of women friends, regardless of that they do when they are together!
This just made my evening. So heartwarming.
I do much the same thing with my knitting friends, it's both a staple and a highlight of my week.
I am part of a wool rug hooking group - same idea but once a month. I like the idea of weekly or biweekly. Each person works on their own project. Fiber artist is the modern term I guess - rugs, wall hangings, etc. Textiles are so versatile. Weaves us all together!
I love it! I just wish I could find a group like that.