January 2009 -- vol. 34 issue 1

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Hello,

I hope everyone had a happy holiday with friends and family. Now it's time to get back to quilting, more fun and fellowship.

Linda Knop is our speaker for January.  I'm looking forward to hearing her.

February is our "Sit and Stitch".  Plan on coming to work on quilts for Safe-House or a project of your own.  You'll hear more on this at the meeting. 

We still have some committees that need your help. I'm looking forward to this year.  I will do my best to keep everything running smooth,  but as I look back -- I have some LARGE shoes to fill.  So I hope everyone will step up and help.

Thank You,

Bonnie Keen 

…. The Christmas meeting had about 50 people,  great food!  Winner of the UFO was Dalora Falicky. The Dirty Santa  went over very nicely and there was nice visiting among all the members.  Fun time was had by all.

Sharon Baxendale

Remember:

January 28th … Meeting doors open at 6 pm.  Meeting begins at 6:30 pm.

Officer’s Meeting  ...Jan 7^th at1 pm  at  New Home Sewing Machines in Mt Morris

February    at    TBA

Please Silence cell phones and electronic devises during our meetings and lectures.  Thank YOU.    

SAFE HOUSE DONATIONS:  

VG receipts

HOSPITALITY

Mardel Hammond

Please bring your beverage to the meeting.  Sign up for a dish to pass for the next meeting is needed at each meeting to allow Mardel to plan the potlucks.

CHARM SQUARES

BARBARA NEWTON

Rules:  Quilt Shop Quality fabric from a reputable manufacture. PRE- washed and cut into 6-1/2 inch squares. Make groups having THREE DIFFERENT COTTON fabrics following the desired theme.  Make a group for each individual who has signed up.

Sign up:  Dec17 and Jan  28 Meeting

Due:   February 25th 09 Meeting

Theme:  WHAT IS BLACK AND WHITE AND RED ALL OVER?

Passport Round Robin

Mary Seymour

http://www.orgsites.com/mi/esq/_pgg3.php3

Mary will bring passports to the December meeting.    Complete, detailed instructions are posted on the web site under CHALLENGES.  Display of the Round Robin quilt tops will be at the August meeting.

There are two groups participating in Round Robin this session.  Bring your UFO in a bag with any directions, extra fabrics wanted and passports to the January Kick Off.

http://www.orgsites.com/mi/esq/_pgg3.php3

Special Events:

Retreat Day at the SENIOR CENTER… 9AM TO 9PM  … Saturday March 21. 2009 …. Bring a dish to pass… Bring a project to work on, quilting sewing supplies and extension cords may be helpful… Design board is available for use.   I am looking forward to seeing you there.

MSU QUILT MUSEUM on line EVENT POSTING and QUILT SHOWS… for when you just have to go to a Quilt Show!

http://museum.msu.edu/glqc/onlinenewsletter.html

BIRTHDAY OF THE MONTH 

Donna Stewart Jan 3rd

Vera Curnow Jan 5^th

Darlene Jastzehski Jan 7^th

Mary Shaw Jan 17^th

Alta Colbeth Jan 26^th

Dana Hughes Jan 29^th

Belated December Birthday wishes to Sherry Reeves

Birthday wishes are derived from the membership forms / roster if you did not fill out that information on the form we will be unable to post in the newsletter... BUT we wish you HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANYWAYS.

Her goal is to complete 100+ caps and donate them to Hurley Hospital Pediatric Unit for children going in for surgery.  This a a KIDS HELPING KIDS project. She is looking for volunteers who can assist the girls with the sewing machines. She also needs white thread. If you would like to help Christina attain this prestigious award, please contact Dayna Hughes .
 

·       January 28, 2000       Linda Knop,  Fiber Artist / Trunk Show 

·       February 25^th 2009           Sit and Stitch  bring a project to work on. 

·       March 25^th Joan De Rue LectureUnderground Railroad Quilt and Reproduction Fabrics

BLOTTO:   

Sherry Bragg    

Lee Collins 

A game of chance for quilters.

A quilt pattern is presented quarterly.  Participants will turn in their completed block to the Blotto committee. Each block submitted entitles the quilter a chance to win the blocks.  The more blocks submitted the more chance to win.   The BLOTTO COMMITTEE coordinates all the donated blocks into groups. These groups will be displayed for the guild to view.  At a time, toward the end of the meeting, chances are drawn and the quilt blocks are awarded. 

Due March 25^th meeting.

http://www.orgsites.com/mi/esq/_pgg3.php3

LIBRARY  

If you have any books due please make sure they get turned in the meeting after they have been checked out.  

Help WANTED:

Contact Bonnie Keen or any board member if you are willing to take on these responsibilities:   

• WEB MASTER
• DOOR PRIZES
• Special Events Coordinator
• Advertising for the newsletter

Safe-House
Charity Donations

Joyce Wiltfong

http://www.orgsites.com/mi/esq/_pgg3.php3

Book Reviews  

 I am currently trying to learn how to machine quilt small quilts for my new grandson. To that endeavor I have been reading a number of books about machine quilting on domestic machines.  I am posting on line and if I have room in the printed newsletter.  Let me know if you DO or do not like the reviews. 

I first saw Mary Mashuta on my THE QUILT SHOW DVD ( season 2) She and her sister were the featured artists / quilt teachers.  What impressed me is she used a basic machine and walking foot to do her quilting.  I have done some stitch in the ditch quilting but I really wanted to learn how to do the fancy quilting done by a long arm.  Mary's book shows how to do some really nice quilting using notions and equipment I already use or have around the house.  Her technique for making templates out of contact paper was easy but gave impressive results.  I am looking forward to trying this technique on a top I just finished for my grandson. 

I recommend this book as I feel I learn a lot and I think it will expand the skills of the newbie quilter.   I got it for less than $15 on line. 

DVDs

 Fast and Free by Patti Thompson
volume 0.5 and 2

This DVD show how to make  a large number of different patterns by free motion.  I think the DVD skip over quilt and batting preparation material.  Not enough detail and she relied on spray basting something that never worked well for me.  I plan to use the method on learned Sharon Schambers on line web lessons.   (When I get that far.)

What I am learning from Patti's DVD is mastery of my sewing machine, both the tension control and the quilting foot.  I am practicing her methods and patterns using quilt batts.  When I go to work on a real quilt I am seeing some improvement in my technique. 

I would recommend this DVD for borrowing or renting first before buying a copy for yourself.  I thought it was rather expensive and the production value was a bit amateurish.  I am reserving judgment until I have more opportunity to use the methods. 

http://sharonschamber.com/

Look for  FREE STUFF LINK for video  download lessons  ( only for those with fast internet connections.