Quilting Guild of The Villages (QGOTV)

Nancy Myers, B's; Brought two quilts

Nancy's Monsters Quilt

Nancy's 3-D Quilt

Pat O'Connor, Allamanda; Retreat Bag

Diane Buckli, Sunset Pointe; Puzzler

Tonia Brock, Mulberry; BOM Christmas

Tonia Brock's Block of the Month, close-up

Donna Rissman, Sterling Stitchers; Beast!

Who knew? Sudoku, that 9 by 9 by 9 puzzle game, makes wonderful little quilt blocks!

The Program Committe outdid themselves this time, with all those incredible kits of sliced and diced fabrics just right for a perfect Sudoku Block. Everyone got a pack of nine precut fabric squares (nine each fabric) and a set of sashing strips, as well as a fusible web sheet with a preprinted grid. Our challenge? Complete the Sudoku puzzle and use that solution to create a unique block. If you have never done one, Sudoku is an 81-square block with three large blocks across and down; each of those further divided into nine smaller squares. Given a start that shows some of the numbers, you must solve the puzzle. Every horizontal row, vertical column, and large 9-square block must contain the numbers 1 through 9; no repeats allowed. Once that is done, you number the precut squares 1-9 and start putting them down on the fusible web. Iron when done and then sew. You will not find the same fabric twice on any row or column, or in any one of the nine inner squares. Okay, to sew, you fold along one line with right sides of fabric facing; open the fabric and move on to the next row to repeat until all rows are sewn. Then you turn the fabric square, fold and start sewing the other direction. In the end, you have a block of miniature little blocks.

Patriot Service Dogs need our help

We were fortunate to be joined for an impromtu talk on the wonderful work performed by Patriot Service Dogs. Julie, from the Belleview Office, explained how Patriot Service Dogs, a registered 501(c)(3) organization, provides Service Dogs for our Veterans with mobility restrictions or loss of limb. Locally, Patriot Service Dogs has also partnered with Lowell Women's Prison and the Marion County Humane Society to help make shelter dogs more adoptable. "WOOF" is an 8 week program where the inmates are given the opportunity to give back by helping shelter dogs learn basic obedience and house manners, making them easier to adopt into forever homes.

Little puppies go to prison so they can learn to be responsible dogs. How great is that!? Well, instead of a dog crate lined with a nasty old towel for a bed, Patriot Service Dogs would like to provide each pup with its very own crate quilt. This needs to be a thin blanket, not a dog bed, as the prisoners must wash them by hand and have them air dry quickly. Yes, a quilt is just the thing! They have different sized dogs, so 28"x42" or 30"x48" would be great. As to motif, either dog or patriotic themed fabrics would be perfect. "If they can obtain enough," they will be able to send the trained dogs forward to their new partners with their puppy quilt. And yes, there was a communal smile and soft chuckle among the membership at that thought ... there is no more generous group of quilters than the members of the Quilting Guild of The Villages! The basic course is eight weeks long so that means they have a continuous need for new quilts every two months. For more information, check out www.PatriotServiceDogs.org The Belleview office phone is 352-307-2524 and Julie will be happy to come to The Villages to pick up any donations.