Monthly News – December 8, 2025 – Thumb Butte Quilters' Guild

president’s Message

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

I can feel a chill in the air—fall is almost over and winter is settling in around us. The recent rain was a wonderful segue into the colder season, and some of us even experienced a dusting of hail. The stores are already full of holiday spirit, and Christmas music seems to be everywhere. Get ready for a fun December party! Be sure to bring your appetite for soup and bread, along with your gift exchange item.

While many of us are busy sewing seasonal projects and baking treats, this time of year also reminds us how easy it is to get overwhelmed and forget to be thankful for all the blessings we enjoy. Take a deep breath and appreciate the abundance of beauty that surrounds us.

A special thanks to Joy Swartz for her wonderful display of antique patriotic quilts and the historical insights she shared during her Veterans Day presentation.

If you missed the Chandelier Quilt class with Shirley Smith, it was a great way to use up scraps and enjoy a day of sewing together. I try to learn something new in every class I take, and this one taught me a great new technique for pressing on the bias.

January Program and Class

We are excited to welcome Jeff Warner, who will present “The Shape of Bargello” and share his quilting journey. On Tuesday, he will be teaching the Bargello Star workshop.

Opportunity Quilt Committee

The committee—Dede Erceg, Karen Pizzuto, Arleen Morris, Pat Noel, and Carol Grimes—met after the November Guild Meeting and selected two beautiful patterns for consideration. The Executive Committee will review them soon, and a final decision will be made. Once chosen, we will be looking for volunteers to help sew blocks for this lovely quilt.

Ways and Means Committee

Hats off to Carol, Gerry, and Lydia for the creative spray bottle fundraiser! A few bottles are still available for purchase—what a fun way to raise funds for the Guild.
Our Silent Auction is coming up soon. Remember, one quilter’s stash is another quilter’s opportunity!

Recognizing Our Membership Committee

Have you ever wondered who greets everyone at the door? That would be our hardworking Membership Committee: Dawnel Muecke, Alicia Czuzak, and Shelli Leffert. These three ladies have been faithfully handling front-desk duties for several years, and we owe them a big “Thank You!”

Their responsibilities include:

Arriving early to set up
Maintaining the guest book
Collecting dues
Ordering name tags and replacements
Preparing and printing the Membership Directory
Taking photos of new members
Sending out updates as new members join

If you’re interested in mentoring or being part of welcoming new members, please speak to them—they would love to show you what’s needed to be a successful team leader.

In Closing

Thank you all for your participation, creativity, generosity, and the wonderful friendships we share as we quilt together.

Jamie Davis, President

membership

The TBQ quilting community continues to grow, and we are thrilled to introduce several new faces who have joined our guild. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to Debbie Bronson, Stephanie Lowell, Cindy Stone, Sue Greene and Renee Hromish.

Each brings their own creativity, enthusiasm, and love for quilting to our circle. Whether it’s piecing intricate patterns, experimenting with bold colors, or simply enjoying the camaraderie of fellow quilters, we know their talents and energy will enrich our guild.

We look forward to seeing their work, sharing ideas, and building lasting friendships together. Let’s make sure they feel right at home as we stitch, learn, and celebrate the art of quilting side by side.

Membership team – Dawnell Muecke, Alicia Czuzak, Shelli Leffert

hostesses

If you cannot attend the meeting when it is your turn to hostess by bringing a treat, please arrange to trade with someone. Plan to arrive early to set up and stay late for clean up.

December hostesses are Carol Grimes, Denise Manley, Chris Sommerfelt, Kathleen Spry, Barbara Stein, Nancy Stewart, Laura Stone, Erin Sullivan, Sally Thomas, Sue Weisshaupt, and Kristine White.

birthdays

celebrants – When it’s your birthday month, bring a wrapped gift suitable for a quilter, something you would like to receive, with a value of at least $10

Happy December Birthday to Marylou Clemmons, Shirley Fox, Shelli Leffert, Karen Adams, David Charity, Phyllis Byrnes, Jessica Brothers, Wendy Morring, Carol Wright, Barbara Stein, CoCo Alaniz, Maureen Romana, Ann Ramsey, and Deborah Salazar.

community service

Handmade Hugs

In November the following donations have been made:

Yavapai Birthing Center (84 burp cloths, 30 receiving blankets)

PV Nursing and Rehab Center (13 quilts)

39 no sew blankets made along with Prescott High School National Honor Society to be donated to Hope House in Prescott.

The next meeting of Handmade Hugs will be on December 6, 2025 at 9:00 AM at the Stoneridge Community Center.

Sheryl Goddard, Community Service Co-Chair

Adult Center Quilt Display

The Prescott Adult Center is brimming with Christmas cheer and our delightful quilt display is a welcomed addition. A big thank you to the members who were so willing to share their beautiful quilts with the Prescott area community during this wonderful holiday season—Maryann Conner, Nan De Chant, Sheryl Goddard, Arleen Morris, Dawnell Muecke, Lorraine Owen, Kathy Spry and Barbara Stein.
This is such a great way to share our love of quilting with our neighbors. So, add a visit to the Adult Center to your Christmas to-do list and bring your family and friends with you!

Maryann Conner, Adult Center Chair

“Christmas Joy” by Kathy Spry Kathy’s quilt was made over several months in 2022. She participated in The Quilted Goose Quilt Along by Linda Thielfoldt on Facebook. It was a fun project and she enjoys pulling it out at Christmas time. It was also quilted by Kathy.

“Christmas Twilight” by Lorraine Owen As soon as Lorraine saw this pattern, she loved it from the start. She bought the kit because she loves Christmas and thought this was a nice addition to her Christmas quilts. She added rhinestones for embellishment and it just sparkles.

“Berry Christmas” from Nan De Chant Nan won this quilt at the TBQ Quilt Show Auction and was happy to show it off in this display.

“Christmas Stroll” by Sheryl Goddard This quilt was purchased as a kit during the Fall 2022 Southeast Michigan Pumpkin Patch Shop Hop. The shop that carried the pattern and kit is The Quilt Patch in Tecumseh, Michigan. It was Sheryl’s first row-by-row quilt and she enjoyed combining the different rows of blocks into one cohesive quilt.

“Christmas Log Cabin” by Nan De Chant Nan saw this quilt in a Hallmark Christmas movie about 10 years ago. By the time the movie ended, she found the pattern through Google. It’s in a book called “Christmas with Possibilities.”

“Modern Christmas Tree” by Maryann Conner When given a TBQ President’s challenge in 2014, Maryann decided to design her Christmas tree with a modern art style.

“Christmas Time is Here” by Maryann Conner When she saw this red truck panel, she knew it would be perfect for her first One Block Wonder quilt. It was quite a challenge piecing the hexagons and placing them strategically around the panel. But she loves the result.

“Deer Christmas” by Dawnell Muecke This is a free pattern from Moda Fabrics. The deer was cut from a panel and machine appliqued to the background.

“Medallion Quilt” by Barbara Stein The pattern for this quilt was created at the Round Bobbin Quilt Shop in Horsham, PA, by Peggy Beerer. It was a custom design for a class Peggy taught at the shop.

“Pinwheeling Christmas” by Arleen Morris Arleen got a new sewing machine at the time and decided to experiment with some decorative machine stitches and this was the perfect pattern to try them out. In addition to the decorative stitches, Arleen also hand quilted the quilt.

RETREAT-LITE

FALL 2025 “RETREAT LITE” RECAP

Another GREAT retreat is in the books! Thank you to the sensational gals who congregated this past month at our FALL “RETREAT LITE” program held at the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Prescott. A WONDERFUL time was enjoyed by all. It was truly a time for stitching ~ whether starting, finishing, fixing, changing, rearranging … a LOT was accomplished!

Looking into the future, we’d like to post the following tentative “RETREAT LITE” dates scheduled for 2026. Also, remember to watch for the annual 4-day QUILT CAMP program coming to you in March of 2026.

Spring “RETREAT LITE” – May 25 & 26, 2026

Fall “RETREAT LITE” – October 26 & 27, 2026

Questions? Reach out to members Dana Swain and Jamie Davis.