November 2017 Newsletter

President's Letter

The leaves are beginning to change and color inspiration is everywhere. I hope the colors are inspiring you to do lots of quilting.

At our November meeting, the Lancaster Modern Quilt Guild is going to visit us and give us some insight into what this Modern movement is all about.  Even if you don't think Modern is for you, I'm sure you'll find the evening interesting and fun. 

Please be sure to check if you are asked by Hospitality to bring a snack or drink to the meeting.

Now go sew something after you read the rest of the newsletter,

Stephanie Braskey

Penn Oaks Guild Meeting Minutes

10/9/17

Penn Oaks Guild Meeting

10/9/17

President Stephanie Braskey called the meeting to order at 7:00

Membership Report – Diana Smyrl – 35 members present   11 guests present

Treasurer’s Report – Debbie Becker – Bank balance today is $19,200.00

Stephanie Braskey announced that we will not be able to hold a show without a Chair. She requested a volunteer to chair the show. Nobody volunteered. At this time there will not be a show in 2019.

Leslie O’Brien announced that the Downingtown Library is holding a mini quilt fundraiser and is looking for mini quilts.

Denise Blake has fabric for the challenge available.

Ellen McMillen announced that there are openings for the getaway.

The group then enjoyed a presentation by Janellea McBeth about stash management.

Show and tell

Meeting adjourned at 9:00

Respectfully Submitted,

Leslie O’Brien

Recording Secretary, Penn Oaks Quilt Guild

Programs -  Rita Marie Smith and Linda Kerschner

November 13:   Kathy Dunkle, President of the Lancaster Modern Quilt Guild, will be our guest speaker.  The title of the presentation is "What is Modern Quilting?"  The presentation will look at the characteristics of modern quilting.  We will also look at some modern quilters and their work as well as explore how to take traditional blocks and make them modern.  
Kathy will also have modern books, patterns and fabric to sell

December 11:  Guild Holiday Party.  Robin McMillen will be hosting an evening of fun, games (quilt bingo) and fabulous prizes!   We'll have our traditional holiday block exchange, show 'n tell, and wonderful snacks.  Take a break from all the hustle and bustle of the season and enjoy a great time.  

January 8:  Round Robin Demonstrations and Charity Project:  Guild members will be giving 15-20 minute demonstrations on Quilt Binding, Embellishment Beading, Paper Piecing, and Continuous Binding.  We will also be devoting time to one of our charity projects.  Jean Zubert has been making snacks bags for pediatric patients and we can give her a helping hand.  When you come to the November, December and January meeting, please bring any individually wrapped snack item such as cookies, crackers, small candy items, granola bars, pretzels, fruit snacks. In other words, something your children or grandchildren would like.  We can sit, relax, and chat while we help brighten a sick child's day !  

February 12:  Annual Challenge.  See special write-up.

March 12:  Silent Auction (there will be a special write-up) and TBA  

April 9:  Gail Kessler, author, fabric designer and instructor.  From Concept to Cloth

May 14:  Sara Bond, quilter and teacher. Her story about family members and quilts dating back to the Civil War. 

June 11: Joyce Hughes, quilter, lecturer and teacher.  Her journey into quilting and thread painting.   

Holiday Block Exchange - Make and bring a 12 1/2" x 12 1/2"  unfinished block with a Christmas/holiday theme of your choice.  You can make more than one.  Please sign, date and wrap the block(s.)   At the meeting you will be given a number for each block you make.  When your number is called, you will select one wrapped package for each block you contributed, show your block to the group, and disclose who made it.

Hospitality-Angel
The snack list for the November guild meeting is: A. Henderson, D. Hill, H.Hofbauer*, B. Holden, D. Holzwarth, M. Hopkins*, K Meanix (substituting for K. Joyce), L. Kerschner, M. Kline. A star after your name indicates to bring a drink for the group instead of a snack. Don't forget to switch your responsibility with a friend if you can't attend so we don't run short!

Downingtown Library Quilts - Leslie O'Brien
A Call For Quilts! The Downingtown Library is sponsoring a quilt show to promote quilts as art with the quilts to be raffled off as a fund raiser for the library. We are looking for any interested quilter to make a small “art” quilt as a donation. The size request is 16” wide by 20” long. Any subject matter, any method, including hand or machine quilting and any form of embellishment is acceptable. Please sign or label your quilt and include a sleeve or corner triangles for hanging. A dowel is not necessary. Raffle tickets will be sold at the library while the quilts are on display. Winning tickets will be drawn at an evening reception on April 6th. Winners will be able to take their quilts that night or pick them up later at the library. For a little incentive , the quilter whose quilt sells the most tickets will win a $25 cash prize. Quilts will be accepted any time between now and March 20 at the library or they may be given to one of the following people: Karen Smith (Downingtown Library)- ksmith@ccls.org Debby O’Keefe - dokeefe19@hotmail.com Leslie O’Brien- leslieobriensk8@comcast.net Please send the following information to confirm your intention to participate to Debby - dokeefe19@hotmail.com: Your name: E-mail address: any questions? Thank you so much for supporting the library and quilts as art!

2018 Challenge - Denise Blake

The response for the challenge has been terrific, so far. I'm really pleased. 

So, here's how it works:

I will have fat quarters available at our meetings. Each fat quarter will cost a member $1.00. It's not so much an ugly fabric, as it is difficult to use.

For the challenge, one MUST use at least a 5" square of fabric on the quilt, and no, that 5" can not be used on the back of the quilt. You may cut that 5" square up, just as long as 5" are used.

The quilt will be 16" x 24" (a good size for the raffle quilts at the quilt show).

The challenge will be at our February meeting, so you have plenty of time to think of something.

That's it. Pretty simple. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail or call me. Please look Denise's phone number up in the membership list.

Thank you.

Denise Blake dewpink@gmail.com

Getaway-Ellen McMillen and Pat Sherman

Twenty- five quilters have signed up for the Getaway. Please contact Ellen (ejmcmillen@verizon.net) or Pat (patspatch@comcast.net) if you are interested in attending or have any questions. With both sewing rooms we have space for 38 attendees. We hope that some of our newer members will join in the Getaway. The room will have all the functionality of the larger room and has natural light. For those of you who would like a bit quieter working space this would be ideal. By the end of November we will release our reservation for the smaller sewing room if there is insufficient need for it.  We'll return to the former limit of 28 attendees.

The Getaway will be held at the Amish View Inn & Suites at 3125 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand, from February 21st to 25th. As in the past, this will be on a first-come, first-served basis.You may sign up for all four nights or 1, 2 or 3 nights. A deposit of $100.00 per room will hold your reservation. The balance of the room cost will be due by the December guild meeting. 

The total cost of the two sewing rooms will be $530 including tax, and is shared by all attendees. If we wish to limit the increase in the sewing room/food fee to approximately $4.00 per person we would need 34 attendees. The room rates (including tax) for a single/double room will be $102.12 for Wednesday/Thursday nights, and $150.96 for Friday/Saturday nights. The Getaway reservation form will be sent via email about 10 days prior to the October guild meeting. Should you have any questions please contact Ellen ejmcmillen@verizon.net) or Pat patspatch@comcast.net). We look forward to another wonderful Getaway! If you need to call Ellen or Pat please look their phone number up in the membership list.

Good Works
We all have seen the fires that have destroyed parts of CA. The Santa Rosa Quilt Guild members lost almost everything they owned. They have been adopted by many social media quilters. They are asking to consider cleaning out your stash of fat quarters from anyone who would like to send one. You can put one in an envelope (use 3 stamps) and mail it to:

Santa Rosa Quilt Guild
P.O.Box 9251
Santa Rosa CA  95405

Write as desired……..

I don’t know about you but I seem to be bombarded with… well everything.

I needed to get away, to take a break, and the opportunity arose with a large high school reunion in hometown Pittsburgh.  I was not truly interested but my best friend from school, who now lives in New Orleans, coaxed me to meet her there.  It was the best thing I have done in quite a while.  I had a great time at the weekend event, but even more than that, I took the opportunity to get out on my own and just float around.  I visited friends, sisters, and places that I love with no schedule or demands.  A real vacation!

Everyone needs a little time away but what does this have to do with quilting?

Everything.

I was away from my projects, away from my stash, away from my overloaded quilting ideas. (I did bring along some handwork so not all was lost.) I needed to put quilting in its proper place.  Quilting was not something I wanted to fret about.  Quilting was not something I wanted to add more stress or guilt to my life.  Oh you know the guilt… I have too much fabric, I am not machine quilting enough to make the surface a board, or better yet, I am not quilting those tops at all!  The litany of guilt can go on and on … I didn’t buy the latest collection,  I did buy the latest collection and didn’t use the one from five years ago,  I didn’t choose the right blue even after I cut up a dozen pieces…..  Enough guilt!

In my personal quilt journey, with so many other demands on time, emotion and thought, I am repositioning quilting back to its rightful place.  After my short hiatus from real life, I decided to consciously enjoy the quilting process more and try to keep that guilt away.

I want to savor the creation.

I have given myself permission to let my quilting be, to let it evolve, and to be happy in the time I work on it. 

To let quilting be a source of fun again!

We all need that time away, even from the quilting we love.

And when we return, our quilting will thrive!

Christine Harkins

Charity Corner

Baby Bits  As always, feel free to make baby quilts, 30 x 30, for the NICU at Chester County Hospital. CCH also accepts knitted or crocheted baby blankets that are used in the general nursery. At this time, the nursery does not need baby hats. 

CCH also has Ob/Gyn Clinic Services for those in need.  The clinic will happily accept blankets and hats that are quilted, knitted or crocheted. Color is not important. Use scraps of yarn and fabric!!

Pillowcases  Children’s can be given to Debbie Becker or Suzanne Doonan.. Adult pillowcases can be given to Diana Smirl. Links to pillowcase instructions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrYWCma9wgM&list=PLN02zJgWGLKu-VExeoYcjgAy4OZvQ44-b     (you can  use just 2 different fabrics)

http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/freepatterns/index.html

Frustrated Fidgeters.  The Pocopson Nursing Home has asked us to make sewn or knitted  items for dementia,  Alzheimer’s, etc. patients, who may become agitated and need to keep their hands occupied.  These are designed to offer an outlet for anxious fidgeting.

A twiddlemuff is a double thickness hand muff with bits and bobs attached inside and out. Fleece would work well.  An activity blanket or pillow serves the same purpose.  Activity blankets are comforting of they have some weight to them (3-5 lbs.) – this gives a sense of security. A blanket can be weighed down with thicker fill, rice, dried beans, etc. All items must be firmly attached or, if detachable, must be too large to be swallowed.

http://alittlebitoflou.typepad.com/my-blog/2016/07/my-twiddle-muff-journey.html

http://www.sewmanywayskimi.com/alzheimers-sensory-blanket/

For more ideas google twiddlemuff images  and look on pinterest.

Chester Bears

There is a group led by Susan Longenecker that makes stuffed bears for use in the CCH emergency department.

Anything you make can be given to Debbie Becker or Suzanne Doonan at meetings.

Quilt Happenings

BPERA 2017 Annual Bazaar
November 3rd & 4th, 2017
Beginning at 9am each day
Brittany Pointe Auditorium
1001 Valley Forge Road, Lansdale, PA
Free Admission
Click here for more info

MWQG’s 2017 Bi-annual Quilt Show!
“Precut Fun!”
November 3rd & 4th, 2017
10am – 4pm
Church of the Covenant
267 East Beau Street
Washington, PA 15301
Vendor Market, Quilt Raffle, Flea Market, Demonstrations, Dream Basket,
Chinese Auction, Over 150 Quilts! Lunch Available.
$6 Admission
$5 Pre-sale Tickets Available
$10 “Deal” Admission and 2 Raffle Quilt Tickets.
Click here for more details

Exhibition of Quilts
Lebanon Quilters Guild
November 10th and 11th
10am-6pm
Lebanon Expo Center & Fairgrounds
80 Rocherty Road
Lebanon, PA
8.00 admission fee
Click here for more details

Bit of the Arts, A Holiday Arts Sale
Free Admission
Friday, November 24, 2017 – 4-8pm
Saturday, November 25, 2017 – 10:00am – 4:00pm
Twentieth Century Club
84 S. Lansdowne Avenue
Lansdowne, PA 19050
Click here for more details

Cheryl Lynch – Mini Mosaic Quilt
Old Country Store
Intercourse, PA
December 2, 2017
9:30 – 4:30
Click here for more details

Carol Heisler Quiltmaker – Open Studio
December 16, 2017 – 9:00am – 4pm
Guest Artists: Laura Heckendorn Ceramics, Megan Horn JewelryBox,
Rustic Rooster Sign Co., Casa De Chick Designs
2932 Michele Drive
East Norriton, PA
Click here for more details

 Susquehanna Valley Quilt Guild

World War I Centennial Quilt Show
March 2-3, 2018
Click here for more details

AQS Quilt Show – Lancaster
March 21-24, 2018
Lancaster County Convention Center
25 South Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603
Click here for more details

The Lancaster Quilt Show continued at the Continental Inn
March 21-24, 2018
Click here for more details

An Evening with Mary Fons
April 11, 2018
6-9pm
Easton Fire Hall
315 Aurora Park Drive
Easton, MD
Reservation 8.00
Send check to Bayside Quilters, P.O. Box 2672, Easton, MD 21601 (please include an email address for receipt)

A World of Quilts
Calico Cutters Quilt Guild
May 4-5, 2018
Ashton Hall at the Church of the Good Samaritan
212 W. Lancaster Ave.
Paoli, PA
Click here for directions

Quiltfest 2108
May 5-6, 2018
Colonial Quilters Guild
Charles Chrin Community Center
Palmer, PA
Click here for more details

Celebration of Quilts 2018
May 18-19, 2018
York Quilters Guild
York College of PA
Click here for more details

Penn Dry Goods Market
Antiques Show and Sale
May 18th and 19th, 2018
Friday – 10:00 – 5:00
Saturday – 10:00 – 4:00
Schwenkfelder Library and Heritage Center
105 Seminary Street
Pennsburg, PA 18073
Click here for more
details

Kutztown Folk Festival
June 30th – July 8th, 2018
Click here for more details

Brandywine Valley Quilters
Quilt Show
October 19-21st, 2018
Brookhaven Municipal Building
2 Cambridge Road
Brookhaven, PA 19015
Click here for more details