December 2012 Newsletter

Hi Quilters,

I don't know about you but I already can't catch my breath with the hustle and bustle of the holidays. I just wanted to take this time to explain the Outstanding Volunteer Award we are introducing to the guild. The purpose of this award is to provide some recognition for a guild member who works diligently and above and beyond in furthering the goals of the guild. I will post the nominating forms soon on the blog. You as members will have the opportunity to nominate someone you think is deserving. Nominations are due by the May meeting. The members of the board will then vote on the one most deserving and the award will be presented at the June Meeting. Board members are not eligible because we do the voting ;).

I want to also wish you all a Happy Holiday Season. I won't be at the December meeting (taking a vacation for my husband's birthday) but Chris Harkins and Leslie O'Brien have a great meeting planned. I will see you all in January. Remember to keep working on those quilts for the show. Also, when the holiday stress makes you crazy, keep calm, carry on and eat a cookie (or two or a dozen).

Robin McMillen

(610)836-1363

(610)873-2950

PROGRAMS - CHRIS HARKINS

December - Holiday Party Plans
Get ready to take some time away from your busy holiday schedule, socialize and make a gift that will really be appreciated!!!

We will be making polar fleece blankets for Hurricane Sandy victims.

Please bring a 1 1/2 - 2 yard piece of colorful, cheerful, patterned fleece and thread to whip stitch or blanket stitch the edge and sewing supplies. Please cut off the selvages before stitching. Blankets are single layer only. The fringe style blankets do not work for this project. Blankets may be for adults or children, but since the group receives more blankets for children than adults, please consider making a blanket for an adult. At the meeting, two quilters can actually work on one blanket at the same time and meet your stitching in the middle.

This project is sponsored by the Linus project. Please see Blankiedepot.org for all the information about where our blankets will be going.

***We will also hold the traditional holiday block exchange. If you want to participate, bring a wrapped 12 1/2 X 12 1/2 holiday block. For every block you bring, you get a block to take home. It is a wonderful way to have a unique holiday quilt.

***The hospitality group will announce plans for refreshments.

January - Books, Books, Books...

Share one of your favorite books with the guild.

With so many books on the market today, it is hard to keep up.

Share with us a favorite book that has impacted your work. It can be a classic that inspires design ideas, one that has the best instructional or how-to lessons, one that has led you on a new quilting path or one that has taken you back to our quilting history. Design, color, traditional or contemporary...tell us why you like it and how it influenced your work. Show us some of your creations from the book. It could be hard to choose just one book!!!

Please sign up at the December meeting so we know we have enough participation.

It will also help us plan the meeting.
 

MEMBERSHIP: Pat Smith/Rob Lodi

Welcome to Penn Oaks newest member, Betsy Moses of Exton. We will learn more about all of the new member at the January meeting when their mentors introduce them. We now have 58 members.

December Birthdays:

Kelly Meanix


HOSPITALITY - ANGEL HENDERSON
The holidays are upon us! The snack list for the December meeting is the last half of the directory: M.Lewis,R. Lodi,J.Lanaric*,S. Longenecker,E. Mayer,S.McFalls,E.McMillen,R. McMille n*,K.Meanix,E.Mincarelli,M.Morello,R.Newlander*,L.O'Brien,M.Paczok,M.Paluba,L.Paylor,T.Rommel,N. Rubinelli, P.Sherman*,S.Simmons,P.Smith,R.Smith,D.Smyrl,M.Stevenson,S.Stiverson*,C.Vognetz,J.Zubert,J.Zwizanski. A * after your name means you bring a beverage for the group instead of a snack. Don't forget to switch with a friend if you can't attend. Bring something that is traditional in your family to share with your quilting family! Angel 


QUILT SHOW DONATIONS
We are still asking for 6" strips for the laminated die cuts. Any fabrics not used for those will be rolled into coordinating sets to be sold separately. Thank you!!   MARTI CAMPBELL

QUILT SHOW—Not too early to start stitching—5 months to go!!!!!  Suzanne Stiverson

Remember our next quilt show is Friday and Saturday, May 3-4, 2013.

Our Quilt Show Committee met in November. What a great bunch of worker bees. Everyone has great ideas and great workers to bring them through to fruition. It’s never too early to bring items to Jean Fox and Sara Borr for our raffle baskets and the Acorn Shoppe. Marti Campbell is donating a $150 brand new knitting machine. We are planning on also receiving a GO!Baby and Baby Lock sewing machine.

Good news: Griffith Hall has been renovated—Terrific. I think that will really make our show shine even more.

Because of a new job, Selena will be bowing out of that position. Does anyone want to pick up getting donations?

We now have eight (8) vendors and eleven (11) spaces out of twelve—Pottstown Sewing, Jackie’s Woolens, Timberline Patchwork, Handmaiden Designs, Happy Valley Quilting, Diane Phalen, J. Illiano Designs and B&K Country Crafts and Quilts. We are still hoping for one more vendor. Check out the list on the our website www.pennoaksquilters.org. Still looking for another booth. We had to turn down Hayes because they want two booths.

Sara Borr is requesting rick rack, lace, buttons, trims, etc. to make packets to sell at the shop. As you do your Fall/Winter quilt room cleaning, remember to collect your gently used or new (great intentions) patterns for Sara. They sold very well last time. If you know you’ll never make it, the guild will get the return. Also if you have some great ideas or want to host a small workshop to make that idea, please contact Sara. We have a pattern for festive table napkins. She will be sending it out through Kelly. We also will be making Kindle/Nook/Ipad covers. We will be making sachets and many items are coming from Marti’s workshops. More to come about future workshops.

Jean Fox indicted she doesn’t need any more baskets. Thanks to those who donated. If you have gently used tools, new patterns, more current gently used books or extra fat quarters, she could use them, too. She could also use yardage of recent fabrics (not 1980’s or 90’s); fat quarters and any other cloth items like charm packs you know you won’t use.

Kelly Meanix is chairing a small quilt raffle where each member will be asked to make a 16” x 24” (finished) quilt that we will raffle at the show. She gave information at our June meeting so please contact her for more information or clarification. Of course 100% participation would be terrific! The quilts will be due the end of March so she can have time to take pictures for the raffle “bags”.

Thanks to Chris Harkins for donating printing for our flyers.

Also, registration for helpers will start at our January 2013 meeting. There will be one overall sheet with all positions to pass for you to mark the times on the day(s) you can work. As the rules say “POQ members not working at the Quilt Show and Non-POQ members will pay Quilt Show entry of $8 even if their quilts are displayed.”

A quilt show takes everyone in the guild to be successful. Your contributions help fund our charitable giving and programs. We need your time as much as we need your items.

Boy, with all going on, I’m behind.

Suzanne

Committee Members

Show Chair Suzanne Stiverson

2015 chairs + Asst Selena McFalls and Helen Hofbauer

Acorn Shoppe Sara Borr

Clean-up Marti Campbell

Door Prize (letters, etc) Suzanne Stiverson & Selena McFalls

Floor Design & Set-up Bob DeCarli

Judges’ and Quilt forms Ellen McMillen

Quilt Acceptance/Sign-in/return (on-site) Jean Zubert and Cindy Vognetz

Scribes (for judges’ comments) Ellen McMillen

Lancaster Shops Pat Sherman

Program Brochure Carolyn Davis and Rita Smith

Shadow Denise Blake

Props Pat Smith

Publicity Leslie O’Brien

Quilt Show Signage (hung quilts) Myrna Paluba

Raffle Baskets Jean Fox

Raffle/Auction mini quilts Kelly Meanix

Registration and Admissions Mary Morello

Show Signage Elaine Egan

Vendor Suzanne and Helen Hofbauer

Website Maureen Carlson

White Glove Marti Campbell


2013 Quilt Show
The Quilt Show committee would like to get an idea of the number of quilts guild members are planning to enter in our show. At the December meeting I'll have a sign up sheet to gather this information. This is for planning purposes only, you are not committed to this number. The quilt entry form is on our website. Please take a look at it and review the instructions. If you do not attend the December meeting please email me the number of quilts you'll enter. If possible break this down by "judged" and "displayed." Contact me with any questions. Thank you.
Ellen McMillen
ejmcmillen@verizon.net

2013 Getaway
There are a few spaces available for the Getaway. Take advantage of this opportunity to sew, eat, shop and relax. Come and join in the fun! If you have any questions please contact Kathy (quiltingkathleen@yahoo.com, 610-269-1113) or Ellen (ejmcmillen@verizon.net, 610-363-5956). If you are in need of a roommate Marion Stevenson is looking for one.
Kathy DeCarli and Ellen McMillen


MYSTERY BOX - STEPHANIE BRASKEY

We will again have the Mystery Box at the December meeting. The Mystery Box is a fund-raiser for the guild. Chances are $1 or 6 for $5 and the prize is worth $20 or more. Last month's prize was the just-released book, Skip The Borders, and the new Wonder Clips for holding your binding in place while sewing, a total value of $35. This month's prize will be seasonal goodies that I think everyone would enjoy winning. Good luck!