Author: Heart in Hand

Greetings Sisters of the Thread!
We are only weeks away from the big reveal of our President’s “Ugly Fabric” Challenge quilts at our May 14 meeting!  I’m excited with anticipation to see the vivid expressions of creativity so many of you have been working on.

Sandy Mitchell and Pat Noel teased us with their “sneak peeks” at the March meeting.  I really haven’t seen too much “ugly fabric” yet, but I do know some of us are being challenged far more than others.  Several of you have asked if the contributor of the fabric has to disclose themselves to the quilt maker.  I think that would add to the fun, so be sure to “fess up” during the reveal!

What a busy meeting last month for membership!  We welcomed FIVE new members.  Please be sure to say hello to Cindy Steyer-Lukowiak, Azalene Allen, Donna Meyer, Jill Davis, and Carol Godfrey, and encourage them to sit with you at a meeting or share a little about TBQ when you greet them.  Welcome, gals!

Stitching continues on our Handmade Hugs quilts for the foster children of Yavapai County.  It warms my heart to think of the little ones receiving these gifts from our hearts.  They’ll never realize what a gift it is to us to be able to share these special quilts with them.  We are trying to get an idea of just how many quilts are still out there amongst us in different stages of completion, so please try to finish up those you have near completion by the May 14 meeting so we can make another delivery this guild year.

During our non-Quilt Show years, TBQ hosts a Quilt Camp.  I’m looking forward, with great anticipation to attending my first quilt camp this year. As of press time, there are 18 of us registered for camp.  Though not a full house, we have had a great response.  Our goal was actually four-fold: Make it more affordable – Make it available to more members – Make it local – And allow members a “day camp” option for those not wishing to stay overnight.  Thank you, Suzie Fields, Erin Sullivan, and Maryann Conner, for making this happen.

One of the other things we do in a non-Quilt Show year is to hold alternative fundraising projects.  My compliments to Yvonne Blitch, Ways & Means Chair, and Carol Wright, for the TBQ hoodies and lanyards in our stylish grey with hot pink details.  How fun has that been…are we hot or what?!

Yvonne will speak of our biannual UFO (UnFinished Objects) silent auction slated for our June meeting.  I recall fondly, Sylvia McIntosh strategically keeping me from out bidding her on one particular UFO we both were eyeing 4 years ago!  She just positioned herself in front of the bidding sheet so I couldn’t get to it before the bidding stopped.  (You might want to keep this strategy in mind for future reference).  So clean out those project boxes, gals, and bring in your UFOs

How many of you have actually taken the time to check out our DVD lending library?  If you’re like me, you’re always trying to grab a snack, get your tickets for the birthday drawing, peak at the mentor’s table, and garner a deal at the Company Store, without really looking at what’s available in this great little lending library.  I had no idea we had a DVD on getting started making animal quilts.  Some of us could even become as accomplished as Kay Wentworth in making whimsical furry friends!!  I’m anxious to see what Dianna Dunn shares with us this month!

Thank you once again for the donations to St. Luke’s Community Cupboard food campaign.   We contributed another 189 items in March!!  Zowie!!  Way to go, gals!!  Please continue to keep those less fortunate in your thoughts and remember to pick up an extra can or two when you shop.  Your continued response has been tremendous.

On a final note…please keep our dear member, Susan Joy Noyes in your heartfelt thoughts and prayers, if you so believe.

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 basic sewing kit and let’s put the pedal to the metal.  We need help with backing, binding, and completing “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.

Handmade Hugs workshop at St Luke’s on Monday April 23rd from 9:30 a.m. until we can’t sew another stitch. All are greatly welcomed. Please use the left side entrance.

Please try to complete those quilts you are currently working on and bring them in by the May 14 meeting so that we may make another delivery this guild year.

A Celebrity Quilter in our Midst

 It’s not often that one or our own has an opportunity to have a quilt entered, not only in “Road to California” (taking a First Place group quilt award), but also have the same quilt accepted in the April Paducah Show, (Kentucky, home of the National Quilt Museum).  I asked Karen Adams to share her journey with us, and to allow us to join her in this wonderful celebration.  —  Rosemary

In 2016, five quilters from Arizona joined together to make this large, group quilt—3 from the Valley and Margot McDonnell and Karen Adams from Prescott.  From a picture taken in Undredal, Norway by Margot McDonnell while on a cruise, the quilt took over a year to complete and measures 5.5 X 6 ft. The only matching fabric chosen was the water and each quilter interpreted her part by a color photo, pieced it individually, quilted it and met to put the sections together.  Margot added acrylic paint to shade sections and blend some of the colors.

We were hopeful it would do well in competition.  We entered it in Road to California and won a monetary prize for first place in the group quilt category.  It was also entered and selected for Paducah Spring and will appear there in April.

And, the ladies just won a Blue Ribbon for Group Quilt at the Arizona Quilters Guild Quilt Show last week in Mesa!

A very interesting fact was Karen put a picture of the quilt on FACEBOOK and Google recognized the location from the metadata.

Programs

April 9, 2018 Janet Carruth will give a fascinating talk on “The Life and Work of Emma Andres” a Prescott quilter.  Janet met Emma while visiting her Museum in Prescott and they became friends.

Janet opened The Quilted Apple Quilt Store with Laurene Sinema in Phoenix.  It was the first quilt store in Phoenix in 1978.

She was also one of the founders of the Arizona Quilters Guild and is the author of “Penny Rugs and More” and co-author of “Hooked on Hankies”.

May 14 and 15, 2018 Karen G. Fisher will lecture on “Why We Choose the Quilts We Make and Love”.   Karen recently won The Best Of Show Award at the Quilt Fiesta Quilt Show in Tucson.

Her first book “Easy Grid Quilts” has just been published.

June 11 and 12, 2018 Jaimie Davis will give a lecture titled “The History and Mystery of Baltimore Album Quilts”.  This delightful mystery connects us with our sisters of long ago.

Jaimie is passionate about making quilts and has taught and lectured for the American Quilters Society, the Northwest Quilters Expo and Quilt Connect U.S.A.

Her work has been shown in national and international exhibits.  You can read more @ www.loopytulips.com.

July 9,2018 The TBQ Birthday Party and Installation of Incoming Officers.

Kathleen Bond
Program Chair

Membership

We’d like to extend a special welcome to our new members:

Azalene Allen, Jill Davis, Carol Godfrey, Donna Meyer, and          Cindy Steyer-Lukowiak

Ways and Means

It’s time to spring clean your quilting studios.  If you have any unfinished projects you’d rather not complete, just give them to me at our April TBQ meeting and we’ll put them in our June 11^th UFO Silent Auction.  We had one a few years ago and it was fun and very successful.

Yvonne Blitch
Ways and Means Chair

Block of the Month

         
A bit of Irish luck for Carlotta, winning the March BOM blocks, what will Carlotta do with them?

April is the Waterwheel Variation block, please use a light GRAY, one that reads solid as the light fabric. Then add a medium and a dark of your choice. This is a free pattern on quilterscache.com/waterwheelvariation.com

Directions will be emailed also.
A fun web site for Quilter’s is:  “sewveryeasy.com”
Till next month, thank you all who play BOM…

Carol Sweeden
Block of the Month Coordinator

Company Store

 Kathleen Bond graciously donated 2 sewing machines to the Company Store. They would be a nice starter machine for child, grandchild or niece learning to sew.  Selling cheap at $25.00 a machine.

Lorraine Owen
Company Store Co-Chair

 Newcomers’ Group

 
We welcome all the new members to TBQ and invite you to join us at the Newcomers Meeting. The April meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 18, at the home of Diane Belveal.

 Adult Center Quilt Display

1280 Rosser Street, Prescott

SPRING!  SPRING!  SPRING!  It’s finally here!  Have you noticed all the flowering trees in your neighborhood?  Have you noticed all the SPRING! quilts hanging out at the Adult Center?

Well…they are up, and waiting for you to come on by to take a peek!  We owe BIG BIG thank you’s to the following quilters for sharing their SPRING! quilts:  Yvonne Blitch, Kathleen Bond, Rosemary Carr, Carolyn Fletcher, Jane Holland, Barbara Merkel, Sandy Mitchell, Kathleen Semerau, and Patti Taber.  Thank you, thank you, Quilters!

We had a bit of a challenge with Rosemary’s magnificent 110″ x 110″  Another Bloomin Road Trip quilt!  It was bigger than the space I had assigned it to.  Oh no…  But “super man” Steve Western (Adult Center Events & Facilities Coordinator) made it happen!  Whew!

These quilts will be up for a couple of months.  Our next theme will be “Stars”.  I already have a couple of star quilts promised.  Let me know if you have one to share.

Quilt Sizes Needed:
LARGE:  from 60″ to 90″ wide, any length.  (Need SIX.)
SMALL:  from 45″ to 60″ wide, any length.  (Need FOUR.)

Quilts for Sale

Continuing with the effort initiated last TBQ Guild year by Pat Armstrong, if you have a quilt or quilts you’d like to sell, we are working on making that happen.  When the TBQ website is up and running again, a “QUILT FOR SALE” form will be on-line.  Until that time, Carolyn Edwards will have forms available.  Just get in touch with her.  A 4” x 6” photograph will be needed in addition to the completed form.  The completed form along with the photograph will be kept in a binder at the Reception Desk at the Adult Center.  Your Quilt for Sale does not have to be hanging in the Atrium in order to be for sale.  You will name your asking price, and all proceeds will go to you.

Carolyn Edwards
Adult Center Quilt Coordinator

 

President’s Message

 Greetings Sisters of the Thread!

It was great seeing so many of us at the February meeting.  Though I didn’t get to talk with as many as I had hoped to, I did see some familiar faces back warming the seats after long absences from the guild.  It was exciting to have so many guests join us for the meeting, and from what I understand, Pam Jones brought her own following to hear her lecture and see her extensive Crazy Quilt trunk show.  What a joy!  Welcome back, Laura Davis, and welcome new member, Rachael Severance.

It was a full house for Carolyn and Kathleen’s crazy quilt workshop that followed, and although we didn’t get through as many sample stitches as anticipated, we all created some pretty impressive foundation blocks to embellish.  It’s also quite fun to have the only iron in the room set up at your shared work table, as everyone comes over to disclose their “pressing” matters!

Lorraine Owen was seeing red…as the lucky recipient of the “love month” disappearing four-patch blocks.  Congratulations, gal!  Carol Sweeden, you are making this so much fun.  The TBQ design wall will be “wearin’ of the green” at the March meeting with our Lucky Clover blocks!!

I want to thank Karen Johnson and Dani Lerberg for volunteering to coordinate the Handmade Hugs project for the remainder of the guild year.  Thanks gals for stepping up to the challenge.  I know there were a few more quilt kits available for quilting if any of you could help us out.  Look for Karen and Dani at the Handmade Hugs Table.

Dianna Dunn has also volunteered to sit at the DVD lending library table.  Did you know you can check out quilting DVDs from TBQ at no cost?  All you need to do is bring them back to the next meeting.  See Dianna before the meeting or during break to see what’s available.

We more than tripled our donations to St. Luke’s Community Cupboard food campaign from the previous month and hit an all-time high of 225 items contributed in February!!  Woo hoo!!  Way to go, gals!!  Please continue keep those less fortunate in your thoughts and remember to pick up an extra can or two when you shop.  Whatever we contribute IS truly appreciated.

You may not realize that each month prior to the meeting, I sit contemplating which machines I would like to share with all of you.  Of course, some of that decision is based on just how much heavy lifting I want to do that particular month.  This month, in preparation for new flooring, yet again (that’s a long story in and of itself), I need to pull the machine heads from all the treadle cabinets to make them easier to move…so I’ll take advantage of this great opportunity to share some of my “really old girls” and their stories with you at the upcoming meeting.  Is anyone keeping count of how many “members of my choir” I have brought in to date?  No it’s not a test…not even a contest.

We’ve welcomed several new members to our TBQ Guild over the past year, and I want to commend the efforts of Norma Kurr and the Newcomers committee for their tireless commitment to putting together our Newcomers’ studio tours and lunch.  And as a reminder to our newest members…those of you who have joined the guild since last February, we keep you on the Newcomers list for a year from your join date.  You are welcome to join us for that entire year, along with other new members, for an opportunity to meet other members of the guild in a more casual setting, make new friends, and to see what creative talents lie in wait for your viewing pleasure.

Any spring, green, or St. Paddy’s quilts to show this month?  That would be a fun Show and Tell, wouldn’t it?  I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours!  See you soon!

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 basic 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 TBD

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!

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”.

Kathleen Bond
Program Chair

Workshops

March 12 and 13 ~ Lura Schwarz Smith @ $55 – “Inking Your Fabric”
1 1/2 day class
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
Monday, 3/12 – 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 3/13 – 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Currently there are 19 signed up for this class.  We can take one more student.  Your $$$ will guarantee your space in class!  Call me ASAP if you want this last space!

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.

THE DOT TEST: TESTING FABRIC FOR BLEEDABILITY IN INKING
 In working with textile inks, choosing the right fabrics will make your inking process MUCH more enjoyable. Fabrics vary widely in their bleed ability when inks, markers and other wet media are applied. For any detailed work, finding fabrics that do not bleed will allow you to put your ink where you want it to go – and to stay there!
Because the greige cloth, or base fabrics, seem to change even with known fabric lines, I recommend you get in the habit of testing each fabric before you buy or use it. This is what I call the Dot Test.
Get a textile marker with a medium tip – Pigmas and Microns are too small a point to give you an accurate, useful test. Get a medium tip TEXTILE marker (paper markers will not work!) such as a Fabrico Textile Marker. Place the blunt tip on the fabric surface, hold it there, and count slowly to 5. Lift the marker. What you want is a nice, clean dot the size of the marker tip – if you see a bleed or halo of ink out from the marker tip, that fabric is a bleeder and I don’t recommend using it for inking. Test your fabrics at home, and take the marker with you to your fabric shops. They can give you a tiny swatch to test – after all, you just need the tiniest snip to dot test. A little bleed can be worked with, but as you test you will see how results will vary. Do yourself a favor and use fabrics that won’t bleed much. Later, as you get accustomed to the process, you can probably work with more of a bleed.
We will be using muslins for some exercises. The bleached muslins bleed more than the natural finish ones, but test and see if you find one that isn’t too bad if you really want a whiter surface. It’s also very rich to work on commercially printed or hand-dyed fabrics, as the inks are translucent and so are very nice over a base color or texture. If you have a hard time finding a good textile marker at your local shops you can find many colors of the Fabrico Textile Markers along with the other Tsukineko inking supplies at www.jukeboxquilts.com.

Carolyn Edwards
Workshop Chair

Ways and Means

Do you have any UFO’s you have lost interest in or wish you hadn’t started and probably won’t finish?  Well, you can bring them to me at our March, April or May TBQ meeting.  We are having a UFO Silent Auction at our June 11th meeting.  The more UFO’s we have the more fun it will be.  So, as you are spring cleaning your quilting studio remember to support TBQ by donating those projects you really don’t want to finish.

Yvonne Blitch
Ways and Means Chair

Block of the Month

 Thank you to all who participated in the February BOM, Lorraine Owens was the lucky winner of 24 red and white blocks! Let’s see what she does with them. Lorraine is very imaginative in her quilting and I know it will be another wonderful work of hers.

Ok, so now we are looking for a bit of Irish Luck, watch your emails for the March BOM, using 2 greens, light and dark, and a cream!  Please remember to use a 1/4″ seam, press and do your best stitching…

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Till then, stitch away.

Carol Sweeden
Block of the Month Coordinator
  

Company Store

 Ladies remember spring cleaning. Bring your donations. Help the guild.

Lorraine Owen
Company Store Co-Chair

Friendship Groups

 A member expressed an interest in starting a hand quilting group, if anyone is interested please contact me and I will put you in touch with that member.

By My Hand-Hand Embroidery has a day and time change, now meets on the 3rd Friday 12:30-3:00 at Central Sewing (same location).

Machine Embroidery group has disbanded, they no longer meet.

Laura Stone
Friendship Groups Chair

Quilt Camp

 We are excited about the upcoming Quilt Camp.   There are 11 spots available.

2018 Day Camp OR Overnight Camp

Held at the Residence Inn by Marriott, Highway 69, Prescott. Quilt Camp runs 8:00 am Monday, April 2, 2018 thru 8:00 pm Wednesday April 4, 2018.  Check in time is 8:00 a.m. Lunch will be catered in.  $100 full amount for all three days of Day Camp. No partial days are available.

Please fill out the bottom form and return it to Suzie Fields at the March guild meeting with your $100 payment to secure your spot. This payment is nonrefundable unless we can fill your place with someone on the waiting list.

FOR OVERNIGHTERS: For Discount Room Rate of $94 per night contact TBQ member Erin Sullivan.  The discount rate is only available if reserved through the link provided if you make your reservation by March 23, 2018.

Suzie Fields
Quilt Camp Chair

Prescott Adult Center Exhibit

Dear Norma, the party is almost over.  Your quilts will be hanging out at the Adult Center for only a couple more weeks, but wasn’t that a party!  🙂  Thank you so much for lending TEN of your oh-so-beautiful quilts for exhibit in the Atrium.  It was a gorgeous display.  And a little birdie told me that the viewing public has had a ball looking at your quilts…and picking out their favorites!  That’s what we like to hear!

Next up, it will be SPRING, SPRING, SPRING!  If we have talked about one of your quilts being in this display, I will be in touch with you before the March meeting…and it will be easiest if you can bring your quilt(s) to the March meeting–that’ll make the “hand off” easier.  And if there is anyone out there who is just dying to have their spring quilt in this display, call me!  I’m pretty sure we can make that happen!  Thanks ever so much for all the support I get in this effort.  You are really appreciated!

Quilt Sizes Needed:
LARGE:  from 60″ to 90″ wide, any length.  (Need SIX,)
SMALL:  from 45″ to 60: wide, any length.  (Need FOUR.)

Quilts for Sale

Continuing with the effort initiated last TBQ Guild year by Pat Armstrong, if you have a quilt or quilts you’d like to sell, we are working on making that happen.  When the TBQ website is up and running again, a “QUILT FOR SALE” form will be on-line.  Until that time, Carolyn Edwards will have forms available.  Just get in touch with her.  A 4” x 6” photograph will be needed in addition to the completed form.  The completed form along with the photograph will be kept in a binder at the Reception Desk at the Adult Center.  Your Quilt for Sale does not have to be hanging in the Atrium in order to be for sale.  You will name your asking price, and all proceeds will go to you.

Carolyn Edwards
Adult Center Quilt Coordinator

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

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

 

 

President’s Message

Greetings Sisters of the Thread!

Blessings of the Season to all of you! Are you full of resolutions for the New Year? Hopefully they include tackling that pile of accumulating UFO’s. I found it difficult to prioritize which two I wanted to focus on for our January Program challenge, P.I.G. (project in a grocery bag) that Kathleen Bond has in store for us at January 8th meeting.

Our holiday party, “A Chocolate Affair”, as promised, was indeed a fun time. The soups were catered by Bonn-Fire in Chino Valley, and I didn’t hear one bad review. Some even went back and had a small taste of each. I opted for the creamy butternut squash soup, and was not disappointed. Congratulations to Kathleen Bond, who chaired the committee, and all the members who made it such a success. Thank you, to each and every one of you. Congratulations to all the door prize winners, especially to new member, Anne Marston, for winning the Mongolian Quilt Center table runner that we all had contributed to during Maggie Ball’s trunk show in October.

Keep in mind, those members listed as Hostesses for the July meeting make up the committee for the annual TBQ Birthday celebration held that month.

I think December marked the largest “Show and Tell” exhibition yet this guild year. We certainly have a talented group of quilters amongst us. Remember, as you show your quilts, then get your pictures taken, you are encouraged to spread your quilts out on the tables near the Company Store so others may take a closer look. The extra tables are provided for that purpose and will be available this month.

As I had mentioned in prior newsletters, you can bring in your completed President’s Challenge Ugly Fabric quilts any time for Show and Tell, as we’d love to see your progress. Thank you Sharon McAllister for bringing in your quilt. Did I mention to you that your really ugly fabric came from my stash? It certainly wasn’t one of my favorites. She did miraculous things to make it look so good. Sharon indicated she was donating her completed quilt to Handmade Hugs, which is wonderful. Just a reminder, gals, before you donate your quilts, please hang onto them for the mini quilt show and members’ choice voting to take place at the May meeting.

And speaking of Handmade Hugs, workshops will resume on the 4th Monday in January. We’ll be back at St. Luke’s on January 22nd in the area where the Company Store resides. Bring your machines to sew, or plan on sorting fabrics for kits, or cutting batting and backings for completed tops. There is plenty to do for everyone who attends. I want to thank Diane Belveal for the tremendous job she did in the first half of the year. She made the workshops fun, and offered (out of her own pocket, I might add) great little incentive rewards to those of us who participated. We are in need of a Community Service chair to finish off the remainder of the guild calendar year (through June), so see me if you are interested in helping out.

Suzie Fields was the lucky recipient of the Block-of-the-Month paper-pieced Christmas wreaths. She shared with me that the 16 completed blocks will make a darling wall hanging when they are pieced together. Perhaps the paper-pieced challenge reduced the number of participants last month. I’m working on my “black-eyed peas” block as I write this, however, I would much rather eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day, having strong German and Polish roots!

I received a phone message from the church sexton, Tom Ghan, the day after the Holiday Party. I wrote it down so I would remember to share it with you all, and this is how it went:
“Hi Rosemary, this is Tom Ghan from St. Luke’s church. We want to thank you and the members of Thumb Butte Quilters for your contributions to the area food banks this year. Your donations this month totaled 220 items. That is over 1100 items for the 2017 fiscal year, for a total of 1160 donated items. Thank you, thank you, thank you, and Merry Christmas, Rosemary”

Keep it up, gals! This is so very much appreciated! By the way, our Christmas gift to Tom was $170!! Thank you to all who contributed. I’m sure he was surprised.

The Singer Featherweight will be showcased at the January meeting. I’ll be giving another little tidbit of history about the machine, followed by a maintenance workshop after the meeting. I’m sew looking forward to it all!!

Happy New Year, Everyone!!
And Sew it Goes…Pedal on, Girls!

Find Joy in the Journey!

Rosemary Carr, President
Thumb Butte Quilters’ Guild

Holiday Party Memories

“a chocolate affair”

Programs

Here come the P.I.G.’s!

January is always a time for resolutions and a time to get organized and make a list of the projects you would like to get done for the year. If you are in the category of Quilters who are making plans for your next project, have we got a Challenge for you!!

Plan to be a participant in TBQ’s P.I.G. Challenge. P.I.G. = Projects In a Grocery bag. Participants bring 2 UFO’s, show them and explain what is needed to complete each project. The members vote on the one they think you should finish – usually the most difficult one. These will be documented, and you will have one year to finish.

Start rummaging through your UFO’s. Think about projects you want to get finished.

Here are the rules:

1. Bring TWO unfinished quilt projects to January’s TBQ Guild Meeting -each one should be in its own grocery bag.

2. During the meeting, all participants will be asked to tell the Membership about each of their two P.I.G.’s. (Explain what it is, when you started, why you started, why the project is still worth finishing, etc.)

3. The Membership will vote on which of your two P.I.G.’s they want you to finish.

4. After that decision is made, our Recorders will document your P.I.G.

5. At the December Guild Meeting, you will be asked to display your completed
P.I.G.

There will be prizes for participants and finishers and each of you will receive a commemorative label.

Start rummaging through your UFO’s. Think about projects you want to get finished. A project box full of quilt parts is the typical P.I.G. A quilt top can be considered a P.I.G.!

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

January 8 ~ Featherweight Maintenance Workshop

1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

This workshop is FULL! If you are in this workshop, Facilitator Rosemary Carr, has been in touch with you. Bring your lunch and your machine, its case, the owner’s manual, everything that came with the machine, plus all the other things listed on the Featherweight Maintenance Workshop Supply List. Pointers will also be given on how to give your original case a facelift. You and your Featherweight will go home happier after this workshop!

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 began at the December meeting, and are currently at 7. Supply lists will be available at the January 8th meeting.

March 12 and 13 ~ Lura Schwarz Smith @ $55 – “Inking Your Fabric”

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 13 signed up for this class. We are still taking sign-ups.

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.

Carolyn Edwards
Workshop Chair

Mentor’s Table

I will be demonstrating how to do fusible raw edge appliqué without the fusible web. Interesting and fun.
Shirlee Smith
Mentor’s Table

Block of the Month

Congratulations to Suzie Fields, winner of the BOM December Wreath. Time to decorate inside!

Now we are going to start the year off by way of the old tradition of having “Black Eyed Peas”. You can serve them for luck for your New Year kickoff, but it’s our January 2018 BOM block.

We will be using only Black for the corners units, and a White with a Black Print for the “X” units. The pattern will be emailed out shortly, watch for it!

As mentioned, please! do your best work; cutting correctly, 1/4″ seams, pressed, just think of it as being a judged block. We do not put our names on the blocks, but the winner sure appreciates them being the correct size and constructed well. You may be the next winner.

I hope it’s fun to participate in this program, and it doesn’t take much time. If you have suggestions for a future BOM, please contact me.

Happy New Year one and all!

Carol Sweeden
Block of the Month Coordinator

Prescott Adult Center Exhibit

Do they know it’s Christmas every day? Yes, it’s still Christmas at the Adult Center…at least until around the middle of January! So, if you need just another little dose of Christmas, you still have time to go see the Christmas quilts at 1280 Rosser Street! OR, if you put it off long enough, you can go see the new exhibit–a One Woman Quilt Show by Norma Kurr. Norma, an Arizona native, says she was born wanting to sew, and has been quilting since 1956. WOW! That’s 62 years! Her first quilt was a whole cloth nylon baby quilt made for her daughter. That quilt was loved to death. Then she really became addicted to quilting when she took a class from Rhoda Jensen at Rhoda’s Quilt Shop in Flagstaff…and there’s been no stopping her since!

The display after that (around mid-March to mid-May) will consist of all things Springtime Flowers and pastels. So, if you have a quilt that fits this category, let me know!

And, oh–it’s the start of our 11th year of hanging quilts at the Adult Center. Woohoo! Yea, Team!

Quilt Sizes Needed:
LARGE: from 60″ to 90″ wide, any length. (Need SIX.)
SMALL: from 45″ to 60″ wide, any length. (Need FOUR.)

Quilts for Sale

Continuing with the effort initiated last TBQ Guild year by Pat Armstrong, if you have a quilt or quilts you’d like to sell, we are working on making that happen. When the TBQ website is up and running again, a “QUILT FOR SALE” form will be on-line. Until that time, Carolyn Edwards will have forms available. Just get in touch with her. A 4” x 6” photograph will be needed in addition to the completed form. The completed form along with the photograph will be kept in a binder at the Reception Desk at the Adult Center. Your Quilt for Sale does not have to be hanging in the Atrium in order to be for sale. You will name your asking price, and all proceeds will go to you.

Carolyn Edwards
Adult Center Quilt Coordinator