QUILTING (Continued from Pago B 2) ing a design, the “key” is a handy identification tool when she is ready to begin the new project. Before making a single cut, Norma carefully launders each piece of fabric and treats it with a color-set product called “Re tayne.” A fabric so treated will not “bleed” colors onto the light background during laundering. On a table in her workroom, Norma traces the quilting design lines of the background fabric, as well as the location of the ap plique pieces, by laying the light colored material over the dark outlined pattern. For dark background fabrics, she has a light table which illuminates from underneath, and traces the design with a light-colored marking pencil. “To hold it in place I tape it and sometimes sit heavy objects, like cups and saucers, on the fabric to keep it from moving around while tracing the pat tern,” she explains. A template is cut from a heavy plastic material for each shape to be appliqued on the quilt, then used to cut as many of that particular shape as needed from the selected fabric. She adds an extra Vi-inch of fabric beyond the traced shape; that is the “turn line,” with the Vi-inch margin and its raw edges turned under and stitched into place. “And I label everything,” em phasizes this veteran quilter, who figures it takes a couple of days of quilt preparation before she can take the first stitch. For narrow strips of pattern design, like flower or foliage stems, Norma stresses that the fabric must be cut on the bias, or diagonal. This allows the fabric to stretch somewhat, allowing curving designs to be stitched without excessive pull or pucker in the finished design. 3*r“tube tumer^tnof-Norma uses enabips a quilter to stitch E*.*: Local Dealers Bethlehem, PA CSI ENTERPRISES INC. 610-668*1461 CLUGSTO^S&TURFINC 717-263-4103 Herrlsburg, PA HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT 717-564-3031 ' Utite, PA keystone bobcat 717-625-2800 M«rtln«bgra.PA BURCHFIfitDS, INC. 814-793-2194 jMmnbtitßFA BS&B REPAIR 717-968^3766 * V X - * vM‘ Quarryvllle, PA GRUMELU’S FARM SERV. 717-786-7318 Reading, PA BOBCAT OF READING Dlv. of Reading Kubota 610-926-2441 together a fairly narrow piece of fabric, perhaps not much wider than a ruler, then turn it so that the seam is hidden inside. These narrow tubes of fabric can then be curved, woven in and under, each other, to create hand stitched, intricate designs, as well as form stems and vines for floral designs. One quilt top Norma has com pleted, the Celtic design, is made of squares of geometric patterns created by interweav ing dozens and dozens of yards of these narrow tube-fabric strips. They are very carefully done, with no start or stops of the fabric visible; those are in stead hidden under the intrica tely-woven, over and under, designs. “If you don’t really pay atten tion, and you get finished and it’s not right, then you rip,” says Norma, with a grimace at the thought. But the quality and beauty of her quilts lends the casual observer to conclude that she probably does very little rip ping. A quilting room just off the Grove’s kitchen/dining/family room area has lots of glass to allow maximum lighting for quilting, and looks out over the southern Franklin County gently rolling farmland. The Grove’s Antrim Way farm is just “two farms away” from where Norma grew up, vowing she would never marry a farmer after spending pre-school morn ings helping to milk the family’s herd of 25 registered Holsteins. Then she met Robert, who was from nearby Mercerburg, on a “sort of blind date,” via a cousin’s birthday party. They married in 1958 and will cele brate their 42nd anniversary in September. In 1970, they pur chased their present farm where Robert arid Keith milk 100 head of registered Holstein cows, and in 1986, moved to the lovely and spacious brick ranger they added to the original farmstead. ■Hr * CHECK OUT THE HEW FEATURES Power Bob-Tach New cab features 2 speed (available on 800 series) Air Conditioning (available on 800 Series) An intricate Celtic quilt design incorporates dozens of yards as-cut strips of fabric to form the geometric patterns of the squares. No start or stop spots of the strips can be found when the complicated, over-and-under designs are fin ished. “We worked side by side during those years,” she smiles, adding “and we’re still good friends.” Robert, who displays obvious pride at his wife’s tal ents, has been very supportive of her craft. In addition to sharing her quilts with family, they have donated several to charitable causes, including the Shalom Christian School at the nearby village of Marion. During the summer of 1998, the couple joined several other members of their Antrim Breth ren in Christ Church congrega tion to travel, each of their own expense, to the African nation of Zimbabwe on a mission trip. While there, the men helped to put roofs on four churches in the very rural area near the town of Bulawayo. “They can get the walls up, but help is needed to set the trusses and finish the roofs,” ex plains Robert. While the men dtm&The Bobcat Advantage mmmmmmmemmmrn handle the heaviest parts of the roofing labor, the women pitch in with some of the lighter chores, as well as help with cooking and laundry. Meals are shared with the natives, mostly of the local cuisine, and the agri culture economy is based on white maize (corn). Housing for the mission volunteers is in a hostel, a former home/school for missionaries children. The couple was so inspired by their mission visit that they have Jersey Fresh Contest Slated The New Jersey Dairy Prin cess Committee will hold the 14th annual Jersey Fresh Dairy Recipe Contest next month to highlight the proclamation of June as Dairy Month in New Jersey. All New Jersey residents may enter the contest which this year features dessert recipes using Jersey Fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. All entries must include at least one dairy product. No imitation dairy products may be used. Judging will be based on taste appeal, creativity, ease of prepa ration, appearance, and the ef fective use of dairy products. No recipe should specify brand names. Each entry must state Milk Mustache Contest LEBANON (Lebanon Co.) Show off your best milk mus tache by entering the Lebanon County Dairy Promotion Milk Mustache contest. Send a snapshot of yourself or your friends with milk mus taches by May 27 to Alisha Risser, R. 3, Box 456, Annville, PA 17003. The winner of the contest will Mahoning Outdoor Furnaces Cut Your Heating Costs With Our Outdoor Furnace • Standard Model Burns Wood, Coal or Wood by-products • Multi-Fuel Model Burns Wood, Coal, Oil or Gas Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 20, 2000-B3 made plans to return for a three week stay to help with roofing eight churches this July. While the mission work keeps them fairly busy, no doubt Norma will have some quilt pieces along on which to stitch anytime she has a moment of sitting still. “I plan to keep making quilts, so long as I have my sight and my hands,” she says adamantly of the useful, heirloom art she creates of fabric yardage, thread and needle. “I’m very blessed.” Dairy Recipe For June 2000 number of servings and approxi mate preparation time. Entries must be postmarked by midnight, June 1 to be eligible for the contest. Semi-finalists will be invited to the final judging which will take place June 24 at the Somerset County 4-H Center in Bridgewater. The grand prize is a $l5O cash award; second prize is $100; and third prize is 450. All semi finalists will receive dairy pro motion awards. Please send entries to New Jersey State Dairy Princess Committee, do Joy Ricker, 91 Beemer Road, Sussex, New Jersey, 07461, or email - joy rick@warwick.net or AGMGOOD@AG.STATE.NJ. US. be announced during the Leba non County Dairy Princess Pag eant to be conducted at the Lebanon County Career and Technology Center, June 3,7:30 p.m. The contest is open to anyone who loves dairy products, but you must attend the pageant to receive your prize. Any questions? Call Alisha Risser at (717) 838-6803.
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