We Love a Great Guest Speaker at our Quilt Guild Meetings - Tonight with Nancy Bills

Typically I am inspired in all things "quilty" by the members of the Southern Comforters Quilt Guild of Bowie, Maryland. There is "sew" much talent in every member that nothing surprises me on how people quilt their quilts, or use beautiful fabrics, or try various combinations of colors and hues. It's all a process and I enjoy every minute of it.

But when we have a guest speaker, it's a dedicated hour (at least) to dive deep into what makes that person a stellar quilter, or the giving tips and tricks on various methods, or simply the education of what makes a good combination of blocks and colors in any quilt.

Tonight, we had the good fortune in welcoming Nancy Bills of Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, a terrific speaker and a "serious" quilter for the past 20 years. She said she designs all her own quilts, using traditional blocks but making them her own by the design  she uses, and perhaps, the setting she uses for the completion of a quilt top. Her quilts, however, are quilted by someone else (and fabulous I must admit!).

Not only were her quilts pretty awesome, she also gave the crowd tips and tricks from the kitchen; like using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to clean an iron from the use of sticky fusibles, using leftover batting on a broom to wipe down floors, and using unused zippers as elements in a quilt/pillow.

Nancy's favorite thing in quilting is her love of string piecing, the scrappier the better, and use of color in those "strings." A girl after my own heart, she admitted she doesn't read the pattern or instructions before she starts cutting, and changes stuff all the time, of course, making it all her own. The last part of her talk was turning vintage tablecloths into quilts or wallhangings. They were all quite impressive (those tablecloths), and Nancy encouraged us to take them out of the dining room drawers, quilt them, and to place them centerstage as a table topper or quilt for all to enjoy!

BSoleille! The bright side of our very talented guest speaker, Nancy Bills! Thank you for inspiring us to get back to our stash, think a bit "out of the box" and go for it!

Terri

Below photo of Nancy Bills and two of her great (favorite?) quilts:

Pineapple quilt using her string piecing methods

An edge of bed cover with her technique of showing off the stars in each round block!

Patriotic flags using doilies and fancy vintage pillowcase "ribbon and lace."