Well ladies, it is time to say good bye to the year 2013. Christmas has come and the New Year is beginning. It has been an eventful year for members of the Piecemakers. We have lost loved ones, welcomed new members, and grown immensely.
In December the Guild celebrated 20 years of existence. The beginning of the Guild was the creation of the group called the Piecemakers. Several of the original members were honored at the event and given 20-year pins. Ten-year pins were also given out and each guild member was given a ruler, with our guild printed on it, as a memento of the anniversary. The "Daily Sun" also did an article on the occasion. A group photo can be found in the Guild photos collection on the Guild website. Our 20-year members are: Barbara Morrow, Margaret Kovalchick, Dolly Clouse, Marge Robbins, and Ida Hoover. Our 10-year members were Jan Watkins and Christi Aerni who recently transferred to our chapter.
We, the Piecemakers, have recently voted in new officers for the coming two (2) year term. Esther and Barbara (I), co-presidents, will be replaced by Wanda Marsh and Brenda Barkley as of January 1st. Brenda Barkley, secretary, will be replaced by Barbara Rule-Mispel (me) and Rosemary Simone. The treasurer, Delores Korff will remain in her position.
Other changes include: Ester Meinhardt replacing Jan Watkins as Program Committee Rep. Barb Ingersoll will be taking over the safekeeping and compiling of the chapter's scrapbooks/history as well as the position of Guild Website Committee Rep. Lynn Camadine will now take on the task of writing newsletters with the continued help of our "Foreign Correspondent," Barbe Brolle, and Rosann Bunner will now being doing "Sunshine."
For a complete list of positions see Esther who completed a compilation of these and the people tending to them.
Well over the past few months, the Piecemakers have welcomed new members:
The members have been rather busy. They/we decided that in place of buying presents for families from the elementary school, we would make quilts and pillows for children in a Head Start Program located in Ocala. These will be used for nap time until summer and then the children will take them home. As typical, the members made more than enough which will allow children to have more choices and provide a few extras for youngsters that may enter the program.
Quilters continue to make quilts and lap robes for our veterans and the newest challenge came from our present Guild President, Alice, to create pillow cases for kids with cancer. These are due in February.
The Members also donated pet items and/or gift cards for a basket that will be raffled off at the Market Place in January. Each chapter was asked to create a basket with some theme for the raffle. Donna Starr led the activity and the group, as a whole, created a basket with a price value of over $400.00. Alice Ambrose assisted Donna in the packaging of the items.
Usual activities of "Fat Quarters" and "Block of the Quarter" continue. Barb Ingersoll won the block of the quarter and chose a block that creates a house with sky and grass. Very cute! We hosted brunch for the Bs and Eileen Hepp, Alice Ambrose, and I organized the event.
We also had a Christmas party that was organized by Barb Kingsbury and Alice Ambrose. The main course was Soups and Sandwiches. Oh, so yummy. Three types of homemade soup were made and a variety of sandwiches in addition to sweets and side dishes were served. Barb and Alice provided each table with centerpieces that were given to lucky winners and a "Show and Tell" of primarily Christmas Quilts was enjoyed by all. Speaking of Christmas, Esther participated in this year's "Golf Cart Parade."
In October we took a bus trip to Trenton FL and enjoyed a wonderful lunch and day of shopping. While there, several ladies picked out fabric, with help from fellow quilters, for their Bargello Heart Quilt which Esther Meinhardt recently taught. We also had a guest, Mary Ellen Mineo, who showed us her method of hand quilting
So without further ado, I bid you farewell and wish you all a wonderful, healthy and happy New Year.
Respectfully submitted by,
Barbara Rule-Mispel
