President’s Message
Greetings Sisters of the Thread!
The past few days have actually felt like winter is finally upon us, though our storms have been rather short-lived without much action to speak of. We sure could use the rain. The colder temperatures entice me to stay warm inside stitching happily at a sewing machine…any sewing machine. If you haven’t guessed, I like to rotate from one to another.
My two-toned Singer 301 Slant-arm machine (Heddie) got a workout last month on my President’s Challenge quilt. Some of you might recall the story I shared of my true President’s Challenge and my incredible shrinking ugly fabric. I likened it to the Wicked Witch of the East when her feet shriveled up under Dorothy’s house. My fabric just shriveled up and disappeared under the iron, causing the need to pick apart 17 of my 25 blocks to replace the original ugly fabric. Amazingly, I had fabric in my stash that is almost unrecognizable as “different.” I’ll be sure to share it with you all at the upcoming meeting.
This past week I’ve been putting my black Singer 301, Virginia (purchased from a man on Virginia Street in Prescott) through her paces, as I not only stitched up my February blocks of the month, but I also created a table topper with my January “Black-eyed peas” blocks. I just felt compelled to do something with all of those little half-square triangles we created, as I just couldn’t throw them away. There are a handful of us who like to gather to work on our blocks, and we make additional blocks to trade amongst four of us. In turn, I have been attempting to make something each month with those extra blocks as a remembrance of our Block of the Month projects. Thus far, I have been tremendously successful at adding to my UFOs and “Ladies in Waiting” piles. Whose idea was this anyway, Rosemary?
Linda Morriston was the lucky recipient of the “Black-eyed Peas” blocks, so 2018 is going to be a very good year for her, I’m sure. She’s off to a good start. Thank you again, Carol Sweeden, for adding to the fun. I’m anxious to see all those red disappearing four-patches on the TBQ design wall!!
I had announced at the December meeting that Diane Belveal was stepping down as Community Service chairperson at the end of December. This includes and is largely made up of what we do with Handmade Hugs each month. We are in need of a chairperson to take on this commitment through June. Please contact me if you are interested in filling this position.
I featured the Singer Featherweight (Model 221) at the January meeting. This little gem was introduced by Singer at the 1934 Chicago World’s Fair, and continues to enchant quilters today, with its adorable cuteness and ease of portability. And it is the demand from us quilters who keep the prices high…in some cases, higher than the original purchase price. The free-arm model 222K has been known to sell for well over $1000.
What is great about these little wonders is that they are extremely easy to maintain, without the need for our beloved “sewing machine repair guys.” I was even able to demonstrate at the afternoon workshop how easy it is to troubleshoot and repair a thread nest under the bobbin hook assembly, as well as adjust a very sluggish foot control pedal to give it some “get up and go.” I am a firm believer in the statement: “Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman who can FIX a sewing machine!!”
Our attendance was down last month, as were our donations to St. Luke’s Community Cupboard food campaign. Please keep those less fortunate in your thoughts and remember to bring an extra can or two. The need is always there, even when it’s not the holiday season. Whatever we contribute is truly appreciated.
Clearly FLU season is upon us, and several members have been hit very hard, much like the rest of the state and the country. Please keep our members recovering from illness, surgeries, undergoing treatments, caring for ill family members, and coping with loss of loved ones in your thoughts. We wish you all a speedy recovery, and hope that you are back with us soon. Our kindest regards to each of you.
Let’s see some Show and Tell gals!! We all need some inspiration to start of the New Year. I am so looking forward to our next gathering!!
And Sew it Goes…Pedal on, Girls!
Find Joy in the Journey!
Rosemary Carr, President
Thumb Butte Quilters’ Guild
Handmade Hugs
Handmade Hugs workshops will be held on the fourth Monday at St. Luke’s from 9:30 am to approximately 2:30 pm. If you want to sew, bring your machine and your sewing kit and let’s put the pedal to the metal. We need help with backing, binding, and putting together “quilt kits.” Come join the fun! Bring a lunch if you can stay. A microwave and fridge are available in the kitchen for our use.
Mark your calendars with the following dates:
February 26
March 26
April 23
May TBD (this is Memorial Day)
June 25
We have several quilts available for pick up at the TBQ meeting to be quilted and bound. If you can’t make it to a workshop, won’t you consider helping on the finishing end?
Programs
Plan to join in on the fun!
February 12th – “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Crazy Quilting”. Our own member, Pam Jones, will give a lecture and trunk show featuring her collection of Crazy Quilts.
March 12th – “Inking Your Fabric” with Lura Schwarz Smith. Lura will present a lecture/trunk show with her award-winning art quilts. Lura has been producing art quilts since 1975 receiving awards both in the US and abroad. She is sure to inspire even the “non-artist”.
April 9th – Kaari Meng is returning! Kaari began designing jewelry for Bergdorf Goodman in 1992 using vintage glass beads, buttons and notions. In 1997, the business evolved into French General, selling a French inspired life style that includes textiles, notions and ephemera.
Kathleen Bond
Program Chair
Workshops
February 12 ~ Crazy Quilting Workshop @ $5.00
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church
Pam Jones will be giving the program on Crazy Quilts. Kathleen Bond and Carolyn Edwards will be offering a workshop on Crazy Quilting. We aren’t experts, but we will share what we know! Sign-ups for this workshop are closed. We have a full house! Supply lists have been distributed. If you have questions, please call Carolyn.
March 12 and 13 ~ Lura Schwarz Smith @ $55 – “Inking Your Fabric”
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1 1/2-day class
Yavapai Hills Clubhouse
3/12 – 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
3/13 – 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Currently there are 18 signed up for this class. We can take a couple more students. Your $$$ will guarantee your space in class!
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Learn successful tracing, shading and inking onto fabric, working from your own photographic paper prints. Fun, effective drawing exercises enhance your skills. Using textile inks, markers, pencils, and other surface design materials, discover how to achieve realistic imagery in your art quilts.
No prior art experience necessary, but those with an art background will learn specific applications for achieving beautiful imagery on fabric.
STUDENT SUPPLY LIST
8 ½ “x 11” or 8″x 10″paper prints of your photos, or drawings of a similar size (your own, to avoid copyright issues) in any subject matter, for drawing and shading with inks on fabric. Bring a variety of images – choices are good! Our exercises in shading work best with a face at least 4” or larger, if working on a person.
- Use the clearest, best prints you can to get the best information. If working from smaller, vintage photos, scan these and bring prints of the larger size, for ease in tracing — bring originals for reference.
- Do not bring framed photos as the glass makes it difficult to trace detail accurately.
- At least 4 sheets of 8 ½” x 11” non-bleed muslin pressed to freezer paper (note Dot Test instruction page for testing fabrics for bleed ability). Bring another fat quarter or half-yard of muslin for spare, in case needed.
- OPTIONAL: other fabrics such as commercial prints that you wish to ink or mark on, in colors that suit your project. (Check fabrics with Dot Test!)
- Pencil and paper (computer paper is fine)
- Sharpie Ultrafine Black Marker
- Lightbox (students may share)
- OPTIONAL: We will be working a great deal with the Tsukineko All Purpose Inks, with the Fantastix applicators, as well as the Fabrico Textile Markers made by the same company. If you already have them and wish to bring them, you can bring them or any Prismacolor colored pencils, textile markers, etc. that you may have. This is OPTIONAL as I bring enough to share in class, but sometimes it’s nice to have your own. The basic kit fee will still apply as I supply many materials as well as the class inks, markers, etc. to share.
- Supply Fee: $8 Kit: includes sample Fantastix applicators, Prismacolor pencil, sample non-bleed muslin, write-on transparency, instructional handouts, and use of class inks, etc.
April 9 and 10 ~ Kaari Meng — Advance information…
- Monday afternoon, April 9, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. @ St. Luke’s Episcopal ~ Kaari is designing a special sampler for Prescott. This will be a handwork class.
- Tuesday all day, April 10, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. @ Yavapai Hills Clubhouse – Korean Pojagi Quilting. This also will be a handwork class.
More details will be available at the February meeting.
Carolyn Edwards
Workshop Chair
Block of the Month
Linda Morriston has started her new year with a win, the Black-Eyed Peas Blocks for January, congratulations and we can’t wait to see what you make with them. It was a fun block and of course it can be made with a big variety of colors.
February is of course a red and white block but not a Heart ❤ Block, we are doing a “Disappearing Four Patch” don’t be put off by the name it’s really a very easy block, and there are You-Tube videos online you can view if any questions, or you can contact me.
Stay well, and have fun stitching….don’t forget to bring your completed blocks to have a chance to win them all.
Carol Sweeden
Block of the Month Coordinator
Newcomers
Newcomers will meet in February at the home of Patti Taber on Tuesday, February 20, at 10:00 am.
Norma Kurr
Newcomers Chair
Friendship Groups
A new friendship group has started:
Embroidery Group will meet the 3rd Tuesday of every month at the Villages at Lynx Creek in Dewey. The address is 12200 E. Route 69. The meeting will be from 12:30-4:00. Feel free to bring your lunch, snacks and drinks in a cooler. Contact Linda Craig for more info.
Laura Stone
Friendship Groups Chair
Prescott Adult Center Exhibit
Happy New Year, one and all! Hopefully this New Year brings you all things bright and beautiful…like exciting new ideas for quilts to make! Re-arrange your quilting “to do” list and make sure the one on the top has F.U.N. written all over it! If you need some inspiration, head on over to the Adult Center at 1280 Rosser Street and check out the new One-Woman Quilt Show by Norma Kurr. It’s a fabulous display! That woman is a quilter-extraordinaire! WOW! It will take your breath away! Let Norma know your favorite quilt! And know that it’s really a thrill to hang TEN of your quilts at the Adult Center! Norma is the sixth One-Woman Quilt Show that we’ve hung in the ten years we’ve been ‘decking the halls’. Think about it. Maybe you could be up next for next year!
Norma’s quilts will be up until around the middle of March, and then the Spring quilts will go up. (Norma’s quilts are pretty much all about Spring, so the viewing audience may be challenged to recognize that the quilts have been changed! That’s never happened before!) If you have Spring quilts that could fit into this display–cheery pastels or baskets or butterflies, birds, or flowers, let me know. There is already one on my list…but we’ll need NINE quilts. Give me a ringy-dingy!
Quilt Sizes Needed:
LARGE: from 60″ to 90″ wide, any length. (Need SIX.)
SMALL: from 45″ to 60″ wide, any length. (Need FOUR.)
Chamber of Commerce Exhibit
Come and enjoy the new display of quilts at the Chamber of Commerce this month. Quilts have been on display continuously since April of 2009 and is a shared task between Thumb Butte Quilters’ Guild and Mountain Top Quilters’ Guild.
Kay Wentworth
Chamber of Commerce Quilt Coordinator