President’s Message
Greetings Sisters of the Thread!
Did you feel the energy? Did you hear the buzz in the room? Did you sense the enthusiasm? Oh my goodness, what a great gathering of quilters we had on September 11 at St. Luke’s! And what a gathering it was…85 members were present. 3 years ago, when I chaired the membership committee, we averaged about 65 members at the meetings in the fall. This was fantastic. And for those of you we haven’t seen in a while…it was so good to have you back.
What a tremendous sense of participation and community. We as quilters opened our generous hearts of giving again to our Handmade Hugs efforts for the foster children of Yavapai County. 15 quilts and over 40 pillowcases were donated this month, as well as boxes and bags of fabric. Work will be concentrated at the September 25th workshop held at St. Luke’s (in the community room where the Company Store now resides) on making kits for quilts to be distributed, as well as cutting batting and backing fabric for the quilt tops turned in. Thank you Diane Belveal for your commitment of continuing the tremendous efforts Maryann Conner began last year.
46 of you committed to the “President’s Brown Bag Ugly Fabric Challenge.” I am so excited with the response to this. For those of you unable to be at the September meeting, you will still have an opportunity to participate. Bring your ½ yard of “ugly” fabric to the October meeting, and we’ll get you in the mix. I know a couple of you opted out after hearing “the rules of the game,” but just remember, it can always become a Handmade Hug. We still have brown bags available. Completed quilts are due at the May 2018 meeting to be included in the “Members’ Choice” voting. The rules are noted later in this newsletter.
Thank you so much, Carol Sweeden, for chairing our Block of the Month program. How fun was this? Arlene Gordon was the astounded winner of the blocks. There were 42 blocks submitted (Sylvia McIntosh…it only takes 1 to win…but your 5 were very appreciated by our winner). I can’t wait to see the design wall dancing with pumpkins next month.
143 items were donated to the St. Luke’s Community Cupboard by TBQ members at the September meeting! Just AWESOME! I think that was a record! We nearly filled 2 bins of the donations cart. This even exceeds what the parishioners typically contribute each week. Our continued contributions benefit the food banks of Chino Valley, Prescott, and Prescott Valley. We received a big THANK YOU from St. Luke’s. Let’s see if we can keep that momentum going! Remember to buy a few extra cans or boxes when you shop.
The “girls of the choir” were more than happy to make their debut at the meeting, though many of you have met one or more of the “triplets” at a TBQ workshop where they’ve accompanied me. The Slant-arm, Singer 301 was in celebration of Singer’s 100th year, and manufactured between 1951 and 1959. Mz. Juanita is pictured with me at the heading of this message. I had pilfered a long-bed extension off of a parts machine to enhance her, but have since returned her to her original short-bed state. What I did not mention is that I love free-motion quilting on a 301. The slant needle makes it so easy to see where you are going. I recently completed a Nativity panel for some friends, and used metallic gold thread to outline all of the figures in the quilt. My two-tone 301 took on that challenge without a hitch.
I’m anxious to share another member of the “choir” in October. You’ll probably start seeing more of the traditional “black beauties” we associate with vintage Singers.
And Sew it Goes…Pedal on, Girls!
Find Joy in the Journey!
Rosemary Carr, President
Thumb Butte Quilters’ Guild
Congratulations on accepting the TBQ President’s
2017-2018 Brown Bag “Ugly Fabric” Challenge!
Before starting, take a photograph of the fabric. You’ll want to attach a 4”x6” photo (copy paper print is fine) to your completed quilt.
LET’S HAVE SOME FUN!!
Guidelines:
- You must incorporate your entire ½ yard of “ugly fabric” into your completed quilt top.
- The “ugly fabric” cannot be used in the binding or on the backing of the quilt.
- Quilts can be completed any preferred method (piecing, applique, etc.) of quilting.
- Must be a minimum of 45”x45” (or 40”x50”, etc.) Crib size.
- Maximum size not to exceed 65”X65” (or 60”x70”, etc.) Lap size.
- Must be completed (quilted and bound) by the May 14, 2018 TBQ meeting, with photo of original “ugly fabric” attached, in order to be included in the Members’ Choice voting.
- Top awards will be presented at the June 11, 2018 meeting.
Programs
Maggie Ball is coming to our Guild in October. She is an internationally known traveling instructor, author and pattern designer born in England and currently residing in WA State on Bainbridge Island.
Maggie enjoys creating innovative designs from elements of traditional patterns. She relishes the challenge of inventing new techniques to make complex looking quilts easy to piece and is known for her ability to inspire and teach quilters of all skill levels.
Her most recent innovation is a template-free method for making Kaleidoscope blocks. She enjoys watching her students develop what she initiates and encourages them to audition multiple options for creating unique designs.
Maggie has been to Mongolia four times as a volunteer to teach low income and unemployed women and raised funds to purchase a permanent facility for the Mongolian Quilting Center in Ulaanbaatar.
In the “Solutions Workshop”, you will be amazed and delighted by the many possibilities for solving the problems you are having with those U.F.O.s. Maggie will be using a design wall in this class to help you solve those problems.
Learn Maggie’s template-free method for cutting and piecing Kaleidoscope blocks all day Tuesday. It is easy and fast and does not require triangular rulers. You will cut enough kite and wedge-shaped pieces from 10″ squares to yield sixteen or more 8” blocks and play with the layout. The design possibilities are numerous and fun to explore.
Come “play” with Maggie in October.
November 13
Lecture by Lenna DeMarco: “When This You See Remember Me”
Two Centuries of Friendship Quilts
December 11 – Holiday Party
January 8, 2018
P.I.G “Project In A Grocery Bag”
Get serious with our war on U.F.O.s in 2018
If you have a free workshop coupon, use it A.S.A.P. It’s NOW OR NEVER! All free workshop coupons will expire in 2017!
Kathleen Bond
Program Chair
Workshops
Workshops are offered to members and when space is available, classes may be offered to others outside the guild membership. When you sign up for a workshop, carefully read the instructions for fees and supplies. Fees are due and payable on the date of signup to hold your space. No refunds will be made for cancellations. If you find you cannot attend the class, you must ask the Workshops Chair if there are people on a class waitlist who can take your place. If not, then you must find your own replacement.
Workshops are held at the Yavapai Hills Clubhouse, 4975 Hornet Drive, Prescott. When the class is on a Monday after our regular meeting, the class will begin at
1 p.m. and run until approximately 4 p.m. Whole day classes start at 9:30 a.m. (arrive by 9 a.m. for setup) and usually run until 4:30 p.m. with a 1-hour lunch break.
October Programs
Maggie Ball
LOOK, LOOK, LOOK. There are CHANGES to this workshop:
UFO Clinic – A Solutions Workshop for $20 – 10/09/17
This workshop is different than announced last month. It WILL NOT be an evening potluck workshop. It will take place Monday afternoon, October 9, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It will include a trunk show and instruction for exploring a variety of settings for quilt blocks and choosing appropriate borders for your quilts. Bring your stack of quilt blocks or a partially made, problematic quilt that is begging for help. You’ll be offered suggestions for solutions and benefit from multiple opinions. There will be no sewing in this class–just learning!
Kaleidoscope Puzzle Quilts @ $35 + $5 kit fee – 10/10/17
at Yavapai Hills Clubhouse, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (set-up at 9:00 a.m.)
This is a template-free method to construct 8″ Kaleidoscope blocks. Make as many blocks as you want for the quilt size you want!
Call Carolyn Edwards OR Kathleen Bond if you are interested in getting into either OR BOTH of these classes. We have a Supply List for you!
Carolyn Edwards
Workshop Chair
Community Service: Handmade Hugs
Handmade Hugs meets Monday morning, September 25 at the church. We will be there from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please feel free to bring your sewing machine, cutting mat, rotary cutter and a lunch or snack if you plan to be there long enough to need one. Everyone is welcome and no prior sign up required. I am most grateful for your help.
Diane Belveal
Community Service Chair
Block of the Month
What beautiful blocks made for our first Block Of the Month (BOM)…great work ladies and with that many blocks already made I’m sure Arlene Gordon will have a quilt made in no time.
The pumpkin pattern for October is a fun one and if you haven’t made one or two there is still time.
Pattern sent out via email, and to be brought to the October TBQ Guild meeting.
Any questions please contact me.
Thanks for participating. You could be the next winner!
Carol Sweeden
Block of the Month Coordinator
Prescott Adult Center Exhibit
Fall is in the air. Have you noticed? The seasons, they are a-changing!! And many of us are “football widows” again. But, hey! That gives us more time to stitch! I never complain about that! By the time this message reaches the general TBQ membership, it’s very likely that the FALL quilts will be hanging at the Adult Center! Woohoo! The quilters I have to thank are Kate Browne, Jean Ehlers, Earlene Springs and Susan Sweet. Oh yes, and Gloria Bess. We have her wool log cabin quilt–she loved that quilt a lot and will be glad we’re showing it off again! For needing TEN quilts, there aren’t many names listed. That goes to show you that folks who like fall colored quilts, usually have more than one! Thank you, ladies! So, if the rest of you have a chance, swing by the Adult Center at 1280 Rosser Street to see that “Fall is in the Air”!
These quilts will be up for a couple of months, then it will be time to hang up TEN Christmas quilts! Woohoo! An average of 6,000 people stream through the Adult Center on a monthly basis. That’s a lot of folks to share your quilts with!
Quilt Sizes Needed:
LARGE: from 60″ to 90″ wide, any length. (Need SIX.)
SMALL: from 45″ to 60″ wide, any length. (Need FOUR.)
Quilts Currently on Display
