Author: Heart in Hand

The new year holds even more excitement for us! January kicks off with our Quilt Show launch—a time to showcase our creativity and passion. And let’s not forget our Projects in Grocery Bags (PIGs) that we will commit to complete this next year.  A little push may go a long way!  February brings the amazing Jean Impey’s classes, followed by Dora Cary from OrangeDot in March. Then, it’s just a few short months until our very own TBQ Quilt Show—a highlight we can all look forward to!

In the meantime, I encourage you to cherish the precious moments this season brings—whether it’s with family, friends, or simply finding joy at your sewing machine. Even in challenging times, hope surrounds us, and quilting reminds us of the beauty we can create, one stitch at a time.

May this Christmas and holiday season fill your hearts with love, gratitude, and the comfort of knowing what a special place and community we call home.

With warm wishes and heartfelt gratitude,

CoCo Alaniz, President

membership

It’s a new year and we need to gather all those stray cats in our directory and replace them with your real picture!  If you open up your directory and your picture is a cute little kitty, we will be gathering you up at the next few meetings to get a replacement picture for the next directory.  If you wish to remain in the witness protection program and remain an adorable kitty, just let us know.

If you see a kitty sticker next to your name at the next meeting, then that’s your clue that we will be wanting your picture!  Be prepared!

Alicia, Dawnell and Shelli, Membership Team

hostesses

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.

“

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.

President’s Message

Happy Fall Y’all! Or… maybe not! It looks like Fall decided to take a vacation this year, and Winter jumped in line—without even grabbing a pumpkin spice latte! But, enough with the weather forecast!  

Heidi Pridemore delivered a presentation that knocked our socks off (which, honestly, we might need now that it’s freezing)! I grabbed a book, a pattern, and you bet I’m using that discount coupon she gave our members. And for those who attended her class—high fives all around for conquering your fear of curves! 🙌🏽 The Trunk Show was so good, it got me inspired to finally finish up my WIPs and tackle that Christmas Tree quilt! It may be ready by 2030, if I start soon.  What treasures did you pick up? Oh, and the electric Zippy seam ripper? Yeah, that’s my new bestie now—I’m thinking of getting it a holiday card!  

Thank you, Heidi, for the fabulous show and class! We can’t wait to see you back as a vendor at our Quilt Show in June, loaded with more cool notions and patterns (and hopefully some warm socks)!  

Now, as we head toward our November meeting, get ready for a fun-packed “Qick-Off” for our Quilt Show! Big shoutout to our creative VP, Deb Johnson, for planning these activities—don’t miss it, or you’ll be hearing about all the fun you missed! We’ll also be introducing the committees and their chairpersons, all cheerfully led by our very own Pat Noel. Did I mention there will be prizes? Like, actual, amazing prizes! And let’s give a round of applause to all the Chairpersons who’ve been working hard behind the scenes to make this Quilt Show our best yet. This is your cue to jump in and volunteer—remember, we’re better together (and it’s more fun when you’re there)!  

And for a quick reminder: the Presidential Challenge is Nursery Rhyme-inspired baby quilts. They don’t have to be huge—maybe around 30” x 40”, but that’s just a suggestion. We’ll start sharing them in January, so you’ve got plenty of time to stitch up something adorable. We plan to display these little beauties during our Quilt Show before donating them!  

See you on November 11th!  

🎶 Just keep quilting, just keep quilting 🎶 (I think that’s my theme song now…)  

Coco Alaniz,  President

MEMBERSHIP

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

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

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 November birthdays to Michelle Andersen, Pamela Hengeveld, Mary Quindry, Laura Stone, Erin Sullivan, Olivia Turnham, Shelley Graham, and Donna Hickish.

PROGRAMS & WORKSHOPS

November Program

November Workshop

Following the November TBQ program the Quilt Show “Qick-Off”,  Jamie Davis will be providing a trunk show and demonstration on the Accuquilt machine. Jamie will show the end products of quilting using the Accuquilt machine method and show us all the options the machine has to offer.

Jamie’s demonstration and trunk show will be held at the Elks Lodge beginning at 1:00. There is no fee for attending. We hope that you will join us for this short workshop and be inspired by this method of preparing quilt blocks.

Kathleen Bond, Programs Chair

December Program