Monthly News: Co-Presidents Message, September 2026
TBQG is a busy bunch of fun and productive people! The August meeting was bustling with good energy and news of upcoming activities. Our guests and speaker, Cristy Fincher, commented on how welcome they felt and what a good vibe they sensed within the Guild. That is truly a great reflection of our members!
Past Presidents Club: Cocco Alaniz presented Jamie Davis, our outgoing president, with a beautifully quilted jacket, handmade by Mary Ellen Coe. She also received a gift basket, and gift cards from our guild members. We are very thankful for her leadership last year!
TBQG membership inducted Kathy Spry as Co-President, and Erin Sullivan as Vice President for the 2026-2027 term. All the Executive and Standing Committee Chairs were introduced during the meeting as well. There are many people that work collectively to make things run smoothly, and we are happy to be collaborating with them all!
We all enjoyed Deb Johnson and Carrie Casto’s quilt show informational production on our tv screens before the meeting and at breaktime. Well done, ladies!
August was the 10th anniversary of Handmade Hugs. MaryAnn Conner was the originator of this Community Services group, and she provided us with a historical summary of her initial idea to provide quilts to foster children. Our community services have since grown significantly, and the service is a big part of our club. Sometimes, all it takes is an idea and someone that is passionate about starting it. Thank you, MaryAnn!
The Opportunity Quilt has been shown in multiple venues, and we are steadily making progress! This month it is being showcased at Coco’s Prescott Quilt Works. Carol Grimes is doing a wonderful job with this marketing endeavor and can always use your help to sell those tickets!
There are several great speakers and workshops lined up in the coming months. Erin Sullivan and her team are asking for ideas from guild members for speakers that interest them. Be sure to give them any suggestions you might have!
Cathy Day had a “Market Place Make It” event after the meeting at the Elks Lodge at our August meeting. There will be another one next month after the regular meeting. If you can stay, bring your sewing machines, or pick up a packet to go!
Company Store will have a $5 per bag sale at the meeting next month, so shoppers come early to get the best deals!
Remember there is a Quilt Show 2027 Challenge involving a 100-inch (exactly per Carrie!) perimeter/circumference, a raven, a button, yarn or trim at least six inches long, with a
forest or yard item. The full instructions are on this website in the August Monthly news section. It should be fascinating to see what everyone comes up with. This is
a separate challenge from the President’s Challenge.
President’s Challenge: This year, we would like all participants in the President’s Challenge to make a 20” x 20” pillow cover of their choice, any theme, color, or style. Please check out the instructions and videos on the TBQ website.
Have a great month and we will see you all in September!
Kathy and Karen
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.
September hostesses are Mary Vaughan, Rita Anderson, Dani Lerberg, Anne Marston, Patty McClern, Sheryl McLain, Barbara Merkel, Sandy Mitchell, Susan Lewis, Olivia Turnham.
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 September birthdays to Karen Halverson, Nancy Lande, Trish Charity, Debbie Bronson, Barbara Merkel, Debbie Cavarretta, Chris Sommerfelt, Terry Grenier, Kristine White, Zoe Charon, Jessica Bodnicki, Carol Grimes, Sheryl Goddard, Liz Hart.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership Matters!
Our guild is growing, stitching, and having fun! We now have 156 members, and 96 members joined us for the August meeting, along with 4 guests and 1 new member.
A warm quilty welcome to our newest member, Susan DeSchaine! We’re so happy to have you join us.
Membership Directories: If you haven’t picked yours up yet, please do! They’re getting heavy for us to carry around. Help us lighten our load and grab your copy at the next meeting.
Thanks for being part of our wonderful guild. See you next month!
Alicia, Dawnell and Shelli
newcomers
Next Meeting: September 29, 2026
Location: Trinity Presbyterian Church (630 Park Avenue, Prescott)
Project: ID Pouch – Supply list for the project can be picked up at the September
meeting.
We look forward to seeing you at the meeting!
Sheryl Goddard & Angela Smith (Newcomers co-chairs)
handmade hugs
Handmade Hugs is celebrating the 10th anniversary! Started by Maryann Conner in 2016, after inspiration from a sermon about Foster Kids, she wanted to do something impactful for the community. Thank you Maryann!
Sixteen of us met on the first Saturday of August to work non-stop on making backings from a bounty of fabric donated by Judy McCarson. All told, we estimate she donated about 40-50 bolts worth of fabric! So far, 93 3-yard kits have been made, about 30 backings and there is still fabric to go! To thank Judy for her generous contribution, we made a lap quilt and had many Handmade Hugs and Guild members sign it with wonderful sayings about quilts and giving. Faith Chaney, Georgia Lindsey and Mary Ellen Coe presented it to Judy in mid-August after Dede Erceg quilted it for us. Thanks everyone who contributes to Handmade Hugs – our hug for our neighbors in the community.
In August, we donated 30 burp cloths and 15 receiving blankets to the Birthing Center, and 8 quilts each to the Prescott Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Prescott Village Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
Our next meeting is Saturday, September 5 at the Stoneridge Community Center at 9am.
retreat lite
President’s Pillow Challenge
100 Pillows…..100 Winners!! Lots of Fun!
For this year’s President’s Challenge, we would love for everyone in the guild to make one 20″ × 20″ pillow cover to donate for our 2027 Quilt Show! Participation is encouraged, but certainly not required.
We think this will be a fun way to thank our quilt show visitors for attending, while also raising money for the guild to help fund our speakers, programs, and other special events.
The Challenge
Make one finished 20″ × 20″ pillow cover.
Just the pillow cover, not the insert. We will have them available for winners to purchase if they want.
That’s really the only rule!
Your pillow should include:
- Pillow Top (Front)
- Block or other design for the front
- Layer of batting
- A lining
- Pillow Back
- Zipper encloser back
Follow this tutorial for a simple zipper enclosure:
https://sewjean.com/tutorials/how-to-install-a-designer-zipper/
-OR-
- Envelope style back
Follow this tutorial for a simple zipper enclosure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFW01Pm1Ue4
FYI – This video is not for a 20×20 pillow so you will need to adjust your measurements.
What Can I Make?
Anything goes!
This is a great opportunity to have some fun and use what you already have. You could:
- Use an orphan quilt block
- Make a favorite quilt block
- Make a holiday or seasonal pillow
- Use embroidery or appliqué
- Turn a class project into a pillow
Ready to Turn It In?
Bring your finished pillow cover to any guild meeting and look for the Pillow Donation Box!
You can turn them in anytime—no need to wait until the quilt show gets closer.
We can’t wait to see what everyone creates. If every member makes just one, imagine the wonderful assortment of pillows we’ll have to raffle at the show!
Thank you for helping make our ‘2027 Raven About Quilts’ Show extra special!
Karen & Kathy
Co-Presidents — The Special K Team