Quilting Guild of The Villages (QGOTV)

LAUREL MANOR CHAPTER NEWS: MARCH 4, 2014

Sorry to have missed last weeks meeting, but happy to be back from a brief trip from the frigid north. These notes are to get you prepared for next weeks meeting, which I’m really looking forward to.

RAG QUILTS - GROUP CHARITY PROJECT [Linked in, above]

The next meeting will be devoted to a Charity Project of Rag Quilts. This will serve a dual purpose as many have never done a rag quilt and have been asking for a demo or class in it, and will now be able to learn “hands on”, while we’re creating for Charity. Jane has suggested a fun process of getting us in to teams of 4, working each stage together. Rather than picking your team, we’ll be scrambled, to encourage getting to know others better. How much fun is that?!

We need sewers, and cutters, so cutting pads, rulers, cutters, and fringers (cutting the short raw edges), so those who can, please bring your machines, cutting supplies, and small scissors, helpful are spring hinged scissors - like “fiskars” - as well as your other favored supplies.

Jane is donating a lot of the flannel fabric we will use, if you also want to donate fabric, please do so. These are typically made from flannel, but can be regular cotton as well. We use 3 layers for body. If you have extra thread at home, to share, bring it along.

Are you working on a Charity Quilt of your own, and would prefer to work on that? - Fine. Join us that way. The place will be humming Tuesday morning!

NEWS ON DIANA:

Diana is now in warm and sunny (even more than here) Albuquerque, New Mexico. Having lived there myself, I was happy to hear this is where she was going, it’s one of the favorite birding regions, has amazing flowering plants, the Sandia Mountains are gorgeous and accessible, and it’s a great nature and wildlife area. She may not be able to get out into it a lot, but you can’t help but be aware of it around you, and the weather is favorable. You can send a note, email her or phone her if you wish:

Diana Myers

5404 Tamariz Dr., Northwest

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87120

505-917-9200

jjddmyers@gmail.com

See you all Tuesday!

WE’LL SET UP A NEW CALENDAR NEXT WEEK.

President Jeannie began the meeting by informing us of some members who are “under the weather” at present. Please send some good thoughts or a card to Alice, who is being challenged by a bout of Shingles, Alma who is recovering well from gall bladder surgery, and Carole Cranston, who is going into an aggressive therapy program for advancing arthritis which will prevent her from attending morning meetings. She is moving to the evening quilt group while this life change takes place. Other word is that Diana is continuing to have problems also, and add some prayers for her very stressed daughter Polly, too.

CHARITY SUPPORT PROJECTS: Jeannie also read a very very nice letter of thanks from the All Creatures Sanctuary for our support and donations, and Cathy Stone has been receiving scraps from outside our group (Seabreeze is one), to assemble more “dog beds”, and several of us took home piles for that purpose. She could use some storage help, if anyone has extra space in their garage, or someplace where we can stock pile the free materials till we can turn them into useable beds, please let her know.

KENTUCKY BOUND: If anyone is still interested in attending the Quilt Show in April, the Lake Miona chapter has a bus going, and may wind up with some cancellations, so if you’d like to be a fill-in, contact the chapter and let them know. We have a group car-pooling up.

THE 2015 QUILT SHOW: Jackie is keeping us posted on progress for this event, and we are in need of a Boutique Rep. from Laurel Manor who will receive any items that the chapter will be putting in the Boutique, attend an instructive meeting, and will have to tag each one and deliver them to the Show the day before. This isn’t too hard a job, several of us have done it in the past, so if you are open to helping out with it, please let Jeannie or Jackie know. Members are usually glad to help with the tagging and delivery. We also need members to help the judges, and had 4 members indicate an interest in this.

UNFINISHED PROJECT PROJECT, maybe we can call this the UPP - - -

Anyway, after MUCH discussion, Pat Chapin summerized the new project to have 2 levels of participation. As before, you are to identify 6 of your unfinished projects OR projects you are hoping to do (or any combination thereof). If you complete all 6 (with 2 month intervals for each), you will be eligible for a grand prize in the end. If you are not able to complete all 6 but have completed at least 4 - you are eligible for a not so grand prize, just sort of good.... ALSO, this year we will be collecting $5.00 from each participant for the prizes, which will be kept in monetary form, giving you opporltunity to treat yourself as you would like. Part time members may still participate by sending in photos of their completed items in the months they are not here. Pat - - - if I got this wrong, please let me know and I’ll send a correction - - - it got a bit confusing at times...

NEXT WEEK: Paradise Rec Center Yard Sale: Starts at 8:00 and ends at 10:30. There will be no meeting at Laurel Manor. Three of our members have tables, and we are invited to get over to the sale and have some fun.

AUCTION: MARCH 25th. Pat Chapin will be at the helm once again, as we turn trash into treasures, and support our treasurey at the same time. Get all that surplus stuff you’ll never use anyway, and donate it to a fun cause.

FIELD TRIP: We’re looking to April 8th for a field trip off the Reservation. Donna will review some of our favorite stops and see which will go together well, providing us with lunch, good shopping, and ease of transportation, whether we do another bus, or simply car pool.

APRIL 15th. PAT KNOECHEL (Elinore Burns sister) IS RETURNING! 1:00 to 3:00. Pat will be taking over the Madison and Monroe Rooms at Laurel Manor to demonstrate two of her unique methods to traditional quilts - The Pineapple and the Wedding Ring. She is promicing some great atshort cuts or labor saving methods. She always has a fascinating trunk show, as well as interesting items to purchase. There is a attendance fee of $1.00 to go to the shoeboxers. Please remember that Pat will take cash and checks only for your purchases, but no credit cards.

CALENDAR AT A GLANCE:

March 18th. - Garage Sale at Paradise

March 25th. - AUCTION

April 8th. - Firld Shopping Trip

April 15th. - Pat Knoechel program

President Jeannie kicked off our very busy morning with information about a new form we will be filling out to insure the right person is contacted should something happen while we are together, (here or away). She then presented information about the Guild and activities. The new Guild fiscal year will be March to March. Show and Tell brought some wonderful items, even from a visitor, and we got a reminder of the Guild Meeting tonight, featuring Molly Waddell. Then she handed over the meeting to Jane Wnuk to explain the Rag Quilts we would be starting for our charity group project, and get us all working!

RAG QUILT FRENZY: The place was humming - actually, sometimes, at a high pitch! We divided into 6 small groups, each with a leader, and quickly got busy cutting blocks and batting, assembling layered squares, and sewing them together. We achieved a good bit of production, and will be able to finish our quilts next week - and they are going to be wonderful!!!! It was fun to work together and we also want to say thank you to Jane for donating a large quantity of flannel and batting to make these wonderful little gems. This is a perfect win-win project.

DOG BEDS: Cathy Stone is in contact with another shelter that is anxious for any dog beds we want to donate and very grateful for the offer, so save those scraps, and stitch those beds!!

NEXT WEEK: FINISH THE RAG QUILTS! -- START THE NEXT UNFINISHED PROJECT LIST. If you wish to join the busy finishers, bring a list of 6 items you haven’t finished yet, and prepare to get busy. We will also be awarding the Grand Finisher award to a worthy participant.

SWING JACKET SUNDAY: Yes, this Sunday afternoon from about 1:00 to 4:00, we will be gathering at our meeting room to make the frequently asked for “Swing Jacket”. Bring your fabric of choice (many are using the recommended rayon batik, but any fabric that has a little “drape” quality will be good), hopefully you have a pattern, if not you may be able to borrow or copy one from one brought - bring your machine and thread. It will be great to see the variety of these that will be done.

AUCTION TIME! Jeannie suggested we hold an auction for the benefit of so many members that miss the off season ones we have been having. The majority of members were pleased with this, so circle your calendars for March 25th. and start going through your excess “stuff”.

GARAGE SALE: MARCH 18TH. 8:00 to 10:30. The Paradise Rec. Center will be home for the annual quilters garage sale - tables are available to sell your items and more information can be found at the guild website.

PAT KNOECHEL IS RETURNING! April 15th. 1:00 to 3:00. Pat will be taking over the Madison and Monroe Rooms at Laurel Manor to demonstrate two of her unique methods to traditional quilts - The Pineapple and the Wedding Ring. She is promicing some grate short cut or labor saving methods. She always has a fascinating trunk show, as well as interesting items to purchase. There is a attendance fee of $1.00 to go to the shoeboxers. Please remember that Pat will take cash and checks for your purchases, but no credit cards.

CALENDAR AT A GLANCE:

March 9th. - Swing Jackets class 1 - 4 Laurel Manor

March 11th. - Finish Charity Quilts - Start new Unfinished Project list

March 18th. - Garage Sale at Paradise

March 25th. - AUCTION

April 15th. - Pat Knoechel program

President Jeannie conducted a meeting before the auction took place, welcoming Alice back, who is still working through a bout of shingles. . . we were sure glad to see her, and see that the painful experience was healing. We also were informed that newer member, Kate is supporlting her husband through a heart attack. This is so scarey for all of us! Please remember them in your prayers. Jeanette is in contact with Diana’s daughter and we will be selecting an appropriate place to send a donation in her name. Now, everyone else: take care and stay healthy!!!

THE AUCTION: The auction moved along well, with the usual unusual variety of items to have fun offering. Our Auction Maeven, Pat did her fun thing, showcasing the items so well - including trying on one of a few wigs that were offered - picture attached. There was much laughter and a little challenging, and some very nice items found new homes. I got a great halloween kit for a great donation - Woo Hoo! Our treasurey benefited well with a total of $396. now available for us to do more good things! Thank you everyone, for your donations and participation.

NEXT WEEK: It’s bring your own projects, and/or join us for a review of corded baskets and bowls, and a suggestion of lids. I’ll bring my machine, and if you’d like to get productive, bring yours. To have cording ready to go for a small to mid size basket, cut about a fat quarter into 3/4” strips, on the straight, not diagonal. Have 20 to 30 ft. of cotton clothesline (I recommend Ace Hardware or Joanns - be careful of Walmart or any cord by the yard, as it may be too soft and a smaller diameter it’s often “sashing” - we want a stiff cord - and no nylon, please). You’ll need a glue stick to fold over and cover an end, and continue wrapping the strip at an angle till you get to an end, then just glue it down, glue the end of a new strip, and continue. You’ll need a zig zag foot and a sturdy needle rather than a fine one, and be sure you have an extra. I will have kits; they are $15 and include everything you need including thread, tape and glue. I’ll be sure and demonstrate the process from the beginning, and everyone will get detailed instructions including photos of how to do it. Any questions? 847-894-3322 (That cell phone travels everywhere with me!) Warning: This can be addictive!

GUILD MEETING: Next Tuesday evening is also the Guild meeting, with a visit from the “Singing Quilter” - no, I haven’t a clue - but remember that there will also be future Guild classes on display to sign up for, and Dale Angione is doing a “SEBAGO” BAG - which is a large tote, for a triffling $5 fee, when the class is offered elsewhere for $35! We really do give great deals!

GRANDMOTHERS CLUB: So, Betty Jo showed us this wonderful idea - she makes her grandchildren fabric post card, Birthday Cards! Which they save for obvious reasons. How cool is that! I’m on it! Barbara Grimm is busy working up one of those corded baskets filled with flannel burp clothes made with love, for a new comer, (I made up a pattern for her). I’d love to share any other idea’s for our precious grandbabies/children from more of you. We can do a burp cloth/basket holder or other grandhild project workday one meeting if anyone wants.....

FUTURE CLASSES: Suzanne brought in the drawstring bag we expressed interest in, and also a very interesting wall hanging I’m calling Quantum Quilting - after listening to her explanation of how to use interestingly designed fabrics to make a unique piece. You can do this as small or large as you might want, and most of us have pieces of unusual fabric that just grabbed us, but we don’t know quite what to do with. Here’s a good opportunity. To be scheduled soon.

APRIL 8th. BUS TRIP: Once again, Donna has been a busy girl rounding up a great area for us to visit. 2 quilt shops and lunch between, relaxing there and back in a comfortable bus. Once again, the treasurey will supplement the cost of this trip so that each member attending will only have to pay $10. This has proved to be an exceptional field trip for us in the past, and this time we’re going a different direction, over to the East Coast. We’ll drive to “Sew and Quilt Shop” in Bunnell first, then lunch at the “Hijackers” restaurant, and go on to Ormond Beach to “Birds Nest Quilting”. It takes about 1 1/2 hrs. to get to this area, so it’s a comfortable trip but not too long. We expect to be back at Sumter Landing about 5:30-6:00. Donna is collecting the $10. fee now, so be sure and get to her if you’d like to join us. DEPARTURE: 8:00 to 8:15 at the Sumter Landing Depot (between Barns & Noble and Cody’s).

CALENDAR AT A GLANCE:

April 1: Revisiting Baskets and Bowls

April 1: 7:00 - Guild Meeting at Laurel Manor

April 8th. BUS TRIP

April 15th. to be announced...