NEWSLETTER July 2010

Summer is Here

Maybe I should call it “weeding season”! They sure are the fastest things growing with this heat and rain! At least we all know we’re not alone out there “weeding” through the weeds. Everyone I’ve talked to claims his/her grass and weeds are growing twice as fast as anything else. Some vegetable gardens are not as productive as people had hoped. I still like this time of year – fruits and vegetables are easier to find and diets are easier (and cheaper) to stick to with the fruits’ and vegetables’ availability.

Another Quilt Year Ahead

I’ve been thinking how I can make the guild better for everyone. I know that not everyone will be “happy” but then when does that happen? Do circumstances really occur that make everyone happy? If you know how to make that happen, please let me know. I will tell you that I’ve put a lot of thought into this year and have a few ideas that I will share at the guild meeting on Monday, July 26.

I’ve enclosed a questionnaire that I hope everyone will take the time to fill out. Remember this is YOUR guild too!

New Books

I’m not usually one to buy new books, but these are so good I did buy 4 of them*! Check them out:

Farmers’ Wife (traditional blocks)

Hobo Quilts (blocks With the Signs the Hobos used)

*Bargello Quilts With a Twist (bargello quilts made using blocks)

*Quilted Symphony (a very good art quilt design book)

*First Ladies’ Quilt (a history & block for each First Lady)

*Bead Creative Art Quilts (very good instructional beading book)

Birthday Blocks

If you’ve signed up for the birthday block exchanges, please follow through. It’s interesting each month to see what people have made.

See you at the Guild Meeting, Monday, July 27, 7:00p.m.

Deb

February Meeting Update

Just a reminder that our meeting will be Monday, February 22 at

7:00. The church will be open at 6:00 for anyone who wants to work before the meeting.

We will be discussing a change of our meeting time. There has been some discussion about moving the meeting time to Saturday mornings. Or only doing Saturday morning once every three months. Think about this and we will discuss more on Monday evening.

I will need all of the completed applique blocks for the walk with grace quilt. We also need more fabric for the 9 patch blocks. Any pastel colors will do. We need 4 1/2" squares.

Birthday block for February is Jean Fuller. 10 1/2" blocks, bright colors, any pattern.

Julie would like any fabric that you will not be using to make pillow cases with her other quilt group. She needs at least 1/4 yd pieces.

I will need all Project Linus quilts. We will also do a picture for the paper.

See you Monday evening.

Pam

January Meeting on Saturday Jan 23rd @ 9:30 am

Hope you had a blessed Holday season and have settled down now. I'll bet alot of us are staying warm inside and getting lots of quilting done.

Just a few reminders.

We will be having our sleepover at the chruch on Jan 22nd and 23rd starting at 3:00 on Friday. We will order Pizza for supper on Friday night with everyone contributing to the cost. We will have our meeting on Saturday at 9:30. Dinner on Saturday will be on me.

During the sleepover, we will be working on the Walk with Grace quilt. Please bring any applique blocks at that time. We woul also like at least a 4 1/2" piece of the fabric you used in your applique block to use in the 9 patches. It will tie the quilt together.

You may also bring your own projects to work on. If you choose to work on the mystery quilt, you will need 1 2/3 yard of light fabric, 1 1/3 yard of dark fabric, 3/4 yard of medium fabric. This is for a fairly large wall hanging, if you want something bigger, it is easy to just make more blocks.

I will also be collecting quilts for Project Linus.

Birthday Blocks start in January with Jean Glise. She would like 10 1/2' blocks any pattern in browns and dark red. This is totally voluntary for those that signed up.

Hope to see you all there. The goal of the sleepovers is to relax, laugh alot and hopefully(I say hopefully because we usually don't) get alot done.

Pam

November 2009 Newsletter

FRIENDSHIP QUILTERS NEWSLETTER

November 2009

Holidays Approaching

If you are anticipating all the time you need to finish projects in time for the Holidays, I think the only way we may be able to accomplish everything we would like, is to have 36-hour days – not 24-hour days! Then of course we’ll need the energy to keep us going! Some things that may help keep us focused:

Ø Spend some time with God – always motivating and inspiring

Ø Take time to pamper yourself – each of us has a different idea of pampering – use yours

Ø Eat healthy, nutritious meals – sugar slows things down – so stay away from it

Ø Spend time with family and friends – working together on things that will lessen the load

Ø Spend time being creative, using your artistic talents that God gave you

Ø Take a cat nap to recharge

Guild Christmas Party

The guild Christmas Party will be Monday, November 23. The doors will be open at 6:00p.m. with the party starting at 7:00p.m. Everyone is asked to bring a dish to pass and a fat quarter to exchange. Also, remember to bring your first quilt and your last quilt for show-and-tell. (Photos will work if you no longer have them.)

Sewing Day

Because everyone is so busy, there will be no guild sewing day on December 12. Use the day to do something you would like – probably sewing!

Sleep Over & January Meeting

There will be a sleep-over in January. It will get started at 2:00-3:00p.m. on Friday. Pizza will be ordered for supper on Friday. Saturday Pam will provide the dinner. The January meeting will be held at 9:30a.m. on Saturday. More news to follow on this.

Quilting Retreat

Linda has scheduled a quilting retreat for the second weekend in April. The cost will be $150 for the weekend with the first $50 due in January. Linda will have more information on this on Monday.

Websites to Check Out

I came across 2 websites that you can check out: InWeaveFabrics.com and HomeSew.com

Quilts of Valor

Quilts of Valor is a quilting project that provides quilts to injured military personnel. They are looking for quilters to donate quilts for this very worthwhile project. You can find more details at their website qovf.org or I will have information with me at the guild meeting November 23.

Looking forward to seeing all of you Monday!

Deb

November Dates to Remember

Saturday November 14th 9am to 3pm - General Workday - Friendship Quilter’s will have a general workday/ free sewing on this Saturday Nov. 14 at Schmitt Woodland Hills in the second floor activity room from 9am until 3pm. The background squares will be available for the Walk with GRACE quilt and patterns. Ann will have 1 yard of fusible interfacing if anyone needs a bit of it. Bring whatever equipment you need as we won’t have the guild items stored at church. Bring a bag lunch or order out. There is a soda machine just down the hall.

Monday November 23rd 7:00 pm - Christmas Party - Town and Country Presbyterian Church. Doors open at 6:00 am Bring a dish to pass and a fat quarter to exchange. Dinner place settings will be provided. Show and tell theme is "your first quilt and last quilt". Bring quilts or pictures of the first quilt you made and the last quilt you finished.

September 2009 Newsletter

FRIENDSHIP QUILT GUILD
September 2009 Newsletter

Fall’s Arrival
With a lot of rain (finally) Fall arrived. Cool temperatures, sweaters, sweatshirts, colors in nature, falling leaves, football and soccer games are just a few of the things we all look forward to in September. For me, Fall also means spending more time sewing and/or quilting. Christmas is not that far away, so if we have gifts to make, they need to be started!

Guild Happenings
Church open early:
The church will now be open at 6:00p.m. before the meeting. People who would like to come early and bring projects to work on are welcome. This may be a way of connecting with each other outside the meeting.

Quilt Show is Happening!!
Ann Meyer has talked with Schmidt-Woodland Hills. They would really like to have a quilt show there during the Color Fiesta. They will be responsible for getting the quilt standards and setting them up. (Ann will supervise this.) We will be responsible for hanging the quilts and having members there in shifts to monitor the show. Each member showing a quilt will be responsible for the description of their quilt. Ann will be giving more information at the September 28 meeting. If you live a distance from Richland Center and have a quilt you would like to have displayed, write up the description and bring it to Ann at the September meeting. Here is a sample of how to write out the description:

Title of Quilt (or Color Pattern, ie. Blue Ohio Star)
Made by Suzy Smith
Quilted by Liza Long (if different than maker)

Story of Quilt should start with pattern name or class that it was made in or book/magazine that it came from because it is illegal to display something that does not give credit to the designer. Then things like who it was made for, or inspired by. Techniques used to make it and machines used to make it. How long it took is a question of many viewers. Any previous ribbons or awards won by the quilt.

Saturday Sewing
A discussion was held as to the possibility of getting together to sew on Saturdays. It was noted that the church is going to start the labyrinth again. It was reported that Schmidt-Woodland Hills would welcome us if the church is not available. Carol also mentioned that upstairs of Trappings was also available.

Project Linus
Guild members ill get together on Saturday, October 10, 9:00a.m.-4:00p.m. to work on quilts for Project Linus.

Book Sale
At September’s meeting there will be soft-cover books on sale for $5. Put your name on the card in the book so we know who has it in case someone would like to borrow it and turn it in with your money to Suzanne. It was noted that at College for Kids each child was able to choose a quilt book to take home.

Committees
If you haven’t already signed up for a committee, think about one of these: Sunshine, Activity, Retreat.

Birthday Block Exchange
People can either sign up to take part or just watch and be inspired – wouldn’t it be more fun to participate??!!! Each person participating will specify their choice of block and colors they would like. Then each person will make a block for the birthday person.

Show and Tell First/Last Quilts
It was decided that at the Christmas party in November guild members should bring their first and their last quilts for Show and Tell.

Quilt Expo
For those of us who were fortunate enough to get to Madison and the Quilt Expo, we were able to see the 2nd place ribbon on Ann’s “Blazing His Own Trail” entry. Congratulations, Ann!!

Next Meeting
Until Monday, September 28, happy sewing! See you at the meeting!

Friendship Quilter's Walk with Grace Donation Quilt

Guest Blogger: Marcia Wachuta of Marcia's Crafty Sewing

This is our Walk with Grace Donation Quilt for 2009 from the Friendship Quilter's in Richland Center. GRACE stands for Greater Richland Area Cancer Elimination, Inc. GRACE offers services and support to cancer patients in Richland County Wisconsin and a portions of surrounding communities.

Each member of the Friendship Quilt Guild was given a packet of black and white and red fabric from Linda Kowalski our president from June 2008 to June 2009. We then were given the pattern to make the block. Completed blocks were returned it to Linda. She then assembled the quilt and asked me to quilt it with an overall freestyle quilting. I used a Grey thread. The quilt is on display at the Richland County Bank. The Walk With GRACE auction will be held on WRCO Radio 100.9 FM starting on Monday, August 10, 2009 through Thursday August 13th. This quilt will be offered for auction starting at 9:15 on Thursday. Click here to register and for more information about other items offered for auction.

A few close up pictures on Marcia's website... www.craftysewing.com --- the Good Causes -- Other causes page.