August 2016 Newsletter

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Is it August already?  I don't know about you but my summer is just flying by. We've had lots of family activities and good times.  I've done a little sewing too but never enough.

I'm hoping we get a great turnout for our August Bee. If you're not familiar with it, it is on our regular meeting day, August 8, from 4:00 until about 8:00.  We don't have a regular business meeting but this year, we will be having our annual auction which was postponed from June.  It's a great time for picking up some extra quilting goodies as well as making a contribution to the guild.  Bring something to work on and you may bring a snack or dinner if you'd like. 

I'm going to hold a board meeting during the bee at some time.  I'm not choosing a time, whenever everyone gets there and is settled, we'll gather off to the side somewhere.    

You know the rest of the routine...work on your raffle quilts (only 16" by 24"), challenge quilts, quilt show quilts, etc.  Quilt show activity will be ramping up and May will be here before we know it.

Now go sew something.  But first, read the rest of this newsletter!

Stephanie

16" x 24" raffle quilt

MEMBERSHIP

We had 35 members at the June meeting. Memberships are due now. So far, 36 members have renewed.

July Birthdays:
Delores Holzwarth on the 6th, Sara Borr on the 13th, and Pat Smith on the 19th - hope you had great celebrations!

August Birthdays:
Eileen Mincarelli (4th), Esther Dusinberre (5th), Linda Kerschner (8th), Suzanne Stiverson (12th), Betsy Moses (15th), Helen Hofbauer (25th), Kathy DeCarli (26th), and, Jean Zubert (27th).

Quilt Show
I will be scheduling another meeting in August so we can update everyone in September. Hope you are all working on your 16 x 24 inch raffle quilts. I have made one. I also made another one, however, you know how you start an appliqué using a bigger background than the piece will be? Yes, I did that but it was way bigger than I needed. Too big for the raffle. Oh, man! I will show you in September.

2017 Getaway
It's time to start planning for next year's Getaway. We'll be gathering again at the Amish View Inn and Suites from February 15 until February 19.  There will be a $3.00 increase in the room rate per night. As in the past registration will be on a first come, first served basis and will be accepted at the September meeting. More information to come as we get closer to September. We're looking forward to another fun time!
Ellen McMillen and Pat Sherman

Write as Desired

July…… daylilies, hydrangeas, daisies, swimming pools, ice cream, barbeques….                                       Christmas?

I am a very seasonal quilter.  By that I mean that I am inspired by the colors that we are so blessed to have each season. If it is summer, I want to work with the summer colors of aqua and peach, if it is fall I am inspired by the colors of the autumnal leaves, as well as winter whites and the fresh greens of spring.  So the idea of Christmas in July doesn’t usually go with my quilting mentality.

I am fully aware that starting a Christmas quilt in July means that there is a greater chance that it will be completed for Christmas. (Which Christmas I am not saying). After all, having some lead time may relieve the quilter of that last minute rush.  Sounds like a plan, but let me tell you my most recent way of dealing with the Christmas themed quilt.  I start the week after Christmas!  “Oh” but you say “Christmas is over by then! You missed it!”  Let me explain.

The Christmas season is so front loaded these days that there is no time for quilting.  Decorating, gifts, baking, cooking, entertaining, etc.……where does the quilting fit in?  So after Christmas when the house looks great and the baking is done and the mood is right, I sew something Christmas.  It may be big, it may be small.  It does not matter.  That small window of time when all is right is my Christmas inspiration.  If it is not finished then that is ok too.  Grab that unfinished project in the beginning of the next December and finish the binding or label.  Done for Christmas!  I understand that there are some of you who must finish a project to the very end before starting another (really?). That this may not fit your work ethic but it has worked for me.

The idea of giving Christmas items and quilts is wonderful but the reality is that we quilters are thinking of giving year round.  There are wedding quilts, birthday quilts, anniversary quilts, memory quilts, baby quilts, soldier quilts, and just because quilts. We are working at giving year round. So in the midst of all that giving, if you squeeze in a Christmas quilt in July, you deserve to have some Christmas cookies!

Chris Harkins

QUILT HAPPENINGS
Boyertown Area Historical Society Quilt Show and
Sale, September 16-18, 2016,
www.boyertownhistory.org.

PA National Quilt Extravaganza, September 15-18,
2016, Oaks, PA, www.quiltfest.com.

Quilts in the Mill, Stockton, NJ, September 30-
October 2, 2016, www.courthousequilters.org.

Berks Quilters Guild Quilt Shoe 2016, October 14-15,
www.berksquiltersguild.org.

November 4-13, 2016,
Quilters’ Quest Shop Hop, Maryland and Northern
VA, www.quiltersquest.org.

Lebanon Quilters Guild 10th Annual Exhibition of
Quilts, Nov. 11-13, 2016,
www.lebanonquiltersguild.com.