Monthly News – December 9, 2024

president’s message

Hello, fabulous quilters of Thumb Butte!

First, I just want to say how impressed I am with your resilience and quick thinking. When life threw us a curveball with last month’s unexpected non-meeting, you all stepped up and spread the word faster than a rotary cutter through fabric! Whether it was email, text, or the trusty ol’ phone tree (okay, maybe no actual smoke signals, but close!), every single member was kept in the loop. Bravo!

Now, let’s talk about what’s coming up because the best is truly yet to come!

First up: our Quilt Quik Off has been rescheduled for January, and trust me, it’s going to be worth the wait! Prepare for a day jam-packed with creativity, fun, and maybe a little competitive spirit. Mark those calendars now because you won’t want to miss it.

In February, we have the wonderful Jean Impey joining us! If you haven’t already, check for openings in her classes—they’re filling up faster than a fabric stash sale! Jean is an absolute gem, and her visit will undoubtedly leave us all inspired.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves—2025 can wait! First, we’ve got to talk about the holly-jolliest event of the year: our Holiday Party on December 9th! This is your chance to enjoy some holiday cheer, delightful treats, and maybe a little surprise or two. But beware—Santa’s elves are on standby with their bags of coal for anyone who dares to skip out. So, bring your holiday spirit, your biggest smile, and let’s celebrate in true Thumb Butte style.

You all continue to amaze me with your energy, passion, and creativity. Together, we make this guild more than a community—it’s a family. Let’s keep that spirit alive as we quilt our way into the holidays and beyond!

Happy stitching,

CoCo Alaniz, President

membership

Adult Center Christmas Quilt Display

The Christmas quilts are now on display at the Prescott Adult Center. Right now, they are in conflict with the witches’ hats and bloodshot eyeballs that are hanging from the ceiling! But, I’m sure those will be coming down momentarily.

Our talented members are getting the community into the Christmas spirit. The quits show a variety of quilting techniques: appliqué, patchwork pieced, scrap, log cabin and panel. If you have the opportunity, please stop by and see our mini quilt show at the Adult Center on Rosser Street.

Maryann Conner, Adult Center Chair

Handmade Hugs

This article appeared in the November 19, 2024 Daily Courier about a TBQ Handmade Hugs community service project.   Jamie Davis, Chair

She is impassioned about engaging her peers in community service projects that embrace those who are most in need, particularly homeless seniors, families, women and young children.

With that purpose in mind, the NHS senior leader and student representative to the Prescott Unified School District Governing Board swallowed her trepidation about reaching out to the Thumb Butte Quilters’ Guild for an intriguing sewing lesson.  Karlee wanted to find out if the guild might be willing to help them make cozy blankets in early November for distribution to three local nonprofit organizations in Prescott and Prescott Valley serving those vulnerable populations as part of their gift-giving during the holiday season.

After an initial text message from Karlee, and some back-and-forth email messages, the guild’s communication representative, Jamie Davis, said she would approach fellow officers for what would be ra first-time endeavor.  Without hesitation, she said about a dozen members agreed to support Karlee, one of a dozen NHS members and two advisors, eager to tackle their first blanket-making venture.

Karlee said the blanket idea evolved when in August she called every nonprofit agency in the area.  Agape House suggested blankets, she said.

The students limited sewing or quilting experience prompted guild members to propose crafting no-sew fleece blankets for donation to House of Hope 316 in Prescott Valley, a program for homeless seniors; Agape House, a program to benefit homeless families, and Prescott Area Shelter Services that provides shelter and transitional housing for homeless women and their children.

NHS donated $1,000 to purchase all of the fleece and other related sewing supplies.

“And they picked out such beautiful fabrics,” Davis enthused of the fleece printed with dinosaurs, flowers, superheroes, stripes, mountain scenes and in colors reminiscent of a large Crayola Crayon box.

On Saturday, November 2, the guild members and students gathered from 9 a.m. to noon at the Stoneridge Community Center where two adults worked with each student to cut and individually tie the fabrics into blankets for babies to adults.  All in all, the crew crafted just over 30 blankets.

“They were so impressive” guild member Olivia Turnham said of the NHS students who while crafting the blankets shared a penchant for community service and educational plans for the future.

“We loved working with them,” Davis noted.  “They did a great j0b, and it was so much fun.”

For Karlee, the project proved to be even more special than she initially anticipated because of the connections and bonds they were able to make while endeavoring to make a difference in the community.  NHS also donates time and money to other civic projects, but few that were quite as labor-intensive as this one, she noted.

A week ago Wednesday, Nov. 13, Karlee and fellow NHS member Caiden  Rubio, and guild members dropped off to Agape House several garbage bags filled to the brim with blankets.

Agape House Director of Operations Deanna Webb said these blankets represent a community-instilled warmth that goes far beyond physical comfort.  She said they are a symbol to their clients of the community’s applause for their willingness to transform their lives and those of their children.  Agape House just celebrated the expansion of its three-month residential shelter program housed in a 19-apartment complex in Prescott to six, two-year transitional living homes for graduating families in Prescott Valley.

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Webb said these are tangible encouragement to these families as they rebuild and refocus on the future “that their stories matter and they are not alone.”

Whenever the community is willing to come together for the sake of  those endeavoring to improve their lives “it’s a big deal,” declared Agape House Executive Director Mike Kimmel, who said the greater-Prescott community is beyond generous when it comes to its outreach to the less fortunate.

Like Webb, Kimmel said these hand-crafted blankets spell LOVE to these families.