January 2014 Newsletter

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Happy New Year Quilters!!!!

Honestly, I really could do without all the New Year's Hoopla.  All the crazy New Year's Resolutions.  (I think it is nearly impossible to loose weight in January - it is just too cold - seriously, I believe that).  I also don't get the whole count down at midnight.  We never make it at my house.  I love sleep.  I have however, started to make lists on New Years.  This list does not look like this:

1. Loose weight

2. Stop Biting my Nails

3. Eat only lean protein and leafy greens.

4. Stop yelling at my kids

5. etc....  You get the idea. 

My lists do look like this (This was last year)

1.  Finish basket quilt

2.  Make star quilt for Charlotte

3.  Finish quilt for Dad's Book

4.  Challenge myself on a new Project

5.  Penn Oaks Challenge Quilt

I completed most of those and I added some additional projects.  I still have basket blocks that I have not turned into a quilt so I will try and add that to my 2014 list.  But you get the idea.  I think a project list is so much more healthy than a list of all the bad things I am going to deprive myself of in the next year.  I am sure many of you already do this but for those of you who keep the list in your head, I challenge you guys to write down a  2014 project list.  I put my list up on the wall in my sewing room so I can see it regularly.  This list is organic and does change but it helps me to stay on task when I am floundering creatively.  I may add to my list this year a weekly diary block like the one Kelly Meanix made in 2012.  In fact, I am going to do that this year.  It will be a challenge but since it is the new year, it is a great time to start. 

Robin

Happy New Year and See you at the next meeting. 

Robin McMillen

(610)836-1363

(610)873-2950


Programs
Our December meeting was canceled due to the weather so we are celebrating in January.

It's that time of year! The next meeting is the holiday meeting. There have been a couple of changes to the format so please read this carefully.....

*  Angel is arranging the refreshments per the usual method. Please see Angel's hospitality article to see if you show up in the alphabetical order and need to bring refreshments. Do not worry about bringing your own as we talked about at the meeting if you are not on Angel's list.

*  We are having an activity for those that want to participate. Please bring your favorite winter/holiday quilt project in a bag or folded inside out (so nobody can see you deliver the quilt and know it is yours). Pin your name on the back of the quilt. I will be there to collect the quilts so bring it directly to me when you arrive. Susan, Suzanne, and I will display the quilts in the back of the room. The membership will guess which quilt belongs to which quilter. To vote, you will write your name and the name of the quilter on a piece of paper and place it in a bag next to the quilt. We will draw votes from the bag. As soon as we draw the correct name of the quilter, the voter will win a small prize. The quilter will then discuss the background and history of the quilt. I hope this will be fun and help us learn a little more about each other and our quilts. It will also decorate the room for the festivities. Does this inspire you get the holiday quilt you are working on finished?

* We may also play quilt pictionary if time allows. 

* Don't forget your 12 1/2" block for the block exchange. 

*Show and tell will be held as usual. Feel free to participate in both!

*Plan to sign up to present at Book Night during the January meeting. I will circulate the list during the party. This was a lot of fun last year and we hope to hear from some others this year.

See you at the party!

The Programs Committee

Leslie, Susan, and Suzanne

Hospitality

Snack list for the  Penn Oaks holiday meeting in December includes: M. Lewis, R. Lodi*, J.Loncaric, S. Longenecker, E. Mayer, E. McMillan, R. McMillan, K. Meanix*, E. Mincarelli, B. Moses, R. Newlander, L. Obrien, M. Pack, M. Paluba, L. Paylor, N. Rubinelli, P. Sherman*, S. Simmons, P. Smith, R. Smith, D. Smyrl, M. Stevenson, S. Stiverson, C. Vognetz, D. Werkheiser*, J. Zubert, J. Zwizanski*. Remember that a star by your name means you bring a drink rather than a snack and please call a friend and make arrangements to get a snack in if you cannot attend the meeting.

MEMBERSHIP: Jean Fox/Ellen McMillen
Happy New Year! And happy birthday to Diane Smyrl whose special day is January 25th.

Thank you all for your cards and well wishes following my knee replacement surgery. They brighten my days as I continue with my recovery which is progressing quite well.
Ellen

Round Robin Reminder

    We will be having our next exchange of the Round Robin blocks at the February 2014 meeting.  Any questions, please contact me.

Maureen Carlson

Patches of Love - Rita Marie Smith      
 I hope everyone is planning to make a couple of dresses for the HIV orphanage in Africa.  They are so very easy and can be made in a jiffy. The dresses only have a finished length of 16" to 23"... your choice.  Please bring them to our January or February guild meeting.  That is the absolute deadline as they will then be taken to the orphanage in March.   Directions were passed out at guild meetings.  Should you need them again, just go to the modabakeshop.com fat-quarter pillowcase dress website.  How exciting it will be for the little girls to receive their dress !  For the months of March, April and May, we can continue to make pillowcases for the pediatric unit at Penn State Hershey and that will conclude our charity work  for this year.   Thank you for participating and making a child's day brighter.    

GETAWAY

   If you are planning to attend the getaway please make sure that Ellen has your form as well as  your check. We have some rooms still available.

You will be receiving a future email with more details soon. If you have any questions send me an email. I will be in Hilton Head,SC for the month of Jan.

   Kathy DeCarli

MYSTERY BOX

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

A friendly reminder that the next meeting will have a Mystery Box.  Please bring those extra dollars for your chance to WIN.  You have to take a chance to win and you never know what will be in the box, ah the mystery of it.  One dollar for one chance or five dollars for six chances, what a deal.

See you all soon,

Jan

QUILT HAPPENINGS

2014 Quilt Competition & Display

January 13-April 6, 2014

Peddler’s Village Gazebo

Lahaska, PA

www.peddlersvillage.com/bulletin.aspx

AQS Quilt Week

March 12-15, 2013

Lancaster County Convention Center

Lancaster, PA

http://www.americanquilter.com/shows_contests/