April 2018 Newsletter

President's Letter
Spring is finally here, at least let’s hope so!  April is knocking at the door so let’s hope March goes out like a lamb as promised. 

I’m glad we were able to postpone our March meeting.  At my home, on our regular meeting night, it was sleeting by 7:00 and turned to snow shortly after. Our rescheduled meeting turned out to be a wonderful evening with a great speaker and lots of goodies to be had. 

In April, we will hear from Gail Kessler about how she designs her fabrics. 

The Nominating Committee is still working on the slate of officers for next year.  If you think you’d like to help by holding a board position, don’t be afraid to ask.  It’s a great way to meet new people and make friends.  Ask me or any board member for more information.

See you April 9,

Stephanie Braskey

March Meeting Minutes

Penn Oaks Quilt Guild Meeting 3/26/18

Meeting Minutes

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

Buying and bidding on the silent auction and sale had already begun. More activity will happen during the break and at the formal end of the meeting.

Membership Report - Diana Smyrl - attending:  31 members, 3 guests, and 2 potential members from meetup

Diana is chair of the auction and sale. She encouraged the group to keep buying! We will sell and auction donated items every month to raise more revenue and spread out the activity.

Treasurer's Report and By-laws- Debbie Becker 

Current bank balance is $18,889.38. There were 0 expenses and 0 revenue in March.

In Feb we had $107 in expenses including the $88.60 Quilto Game.

We will vote on the By-laws in April. Please be ready to do so.

Nominating Committee - Pat Sherman

     The current slate includes:   

           President:  Helen Hofbauer

Rec Secretary:  Ellen McMillen

Corresponding Secretary:  Ellen Lance

Treasurer: Cindy Vognetz 

         

Membership:  Diana Smryl

      Still open:  Program Assistant and Ways and Means. Please consider volunteering for one of these positions. 

The winner of the Challenge is Gigi Procario. Gigi created a great bird themed quilt using the challenge fabric. She was presented with her ribbon and prize.

Quilt Show - Jean Zubert

     Leadership:  Most of the chair positions are filled. We still need Publicity and Advertising

     Venue:  We are still looking for a venue. Firehouses don't rent as much as they used to due to liability. Churches don't have way to lock down the room and secure the quilts and displays. Griffith Hall is not returning her calls to discuss booking their site again.

     Professional Judging:  The group discussed the value of continuing having a professional judge the show. Ellen McMillen presented some of the revenue vs expenses  and the profitability or lack of profitability and the costs associated with having quilts judges. Expenses go beyond just the cost of judge. It also includes buying and            making ribbons and the time involved in that. Having the quilts judged also takes a lot of time and activity and adds to the length of the day to judge and then hang the quilts. No decision was made at this point. The group will consider this again in April. 

     Program Book: The group will continue to discuss if we want to publish a program book. It was felt that the attendees didn't appreciate it that much and most were left behind. A lot of work goes into creating the program and selling the ads to support the printing. 

At the group's request, the break was postponed and we went right to the program.

Rita Marie Smith introduced our speaker, Rose Morgan, who gave a delightful presentation of her quilts and a talk about "Hidden in Plain View," the story of the use of quilts as symbols in the Underground Railroad.

We took a break and did more shopping.

Show and tell was as magnificent as usual.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00, but the shopping continued.

Respectfully Submitted,

Leslie O'Brien

Recording Secretary, Penn Oaks Quilt Guild

                            

Programs:  Rita Marie Smith and Linda Kerschner

April 9:  Gail Kessler, of Lady Fingers Quilt Shop, Oley, PA.  Gail is the owner of Ladyfingers and is a BERNINA Excellence Dealership, Accuquilt Signature Dealer, fabric and quilt designer, quilting instructor and former marketing director of Andover Fabrics.  Her work has been featured in countless publications and she has appeared on QNNtv and Fons & Porter.  Gail currently teaches three classes on Craftsy and has hosted "The English Medallion Workshop" as well.  Gail will be bringing items from Ladyfingers for purchase. 

May 14:  Sarah Bond, a Philadelphia area quilter and instructor.  Sarah will be speaking about the quilts and quilters in her family from before the Civil War up to the Civil Rights era.  Sarah will be bringing family quilts as well as some of her own.  You can read several articles about Sarah and see pictures of her phenomenal quilts on line by doing a search using her name.  

June 11:  Joyce Hughes is an award winning, self-taught quilter, lecturer, fiber artist and instructor.  Her lecture is titled "My Journey into Quilting."  It is a very open and inspiring talk about how she started in quilting, leading into Art Quilts with Thread Painting, finishing with ideas to use with panels as art quilts.  Joyce's main subject matter will be working with fabric panels showing how with a little embellishing and/or thread painting a panel becomes a piece of art.

Ways and Means
Congratulations Diana Smyrl on organizing a very successful silent auction and sale! We raised $750! Please continue to support our fundraising efforts as Diana will be bringing items for sale every month.

Hospitality - Angel

Snack list for the April meeting is: M. Caporale, M.Carlson, D. Daley, C. Davis*, K. DeCarli*, R. DeCarli, N.DiTeodoro, S. Doonan, E. Eagan. A star after your name indicates you bring a drink for the group instead of a snack. Remember to switch your responsibility with a friend if you can't attend so we don't run short. This is especially important when we have guest speakers as we usually have additional attendees.

Newsletter - Kelly Meanix
Articles are due by the 20th of the month. All members are encouraged to send any articles or information to share with the guild. Please send to Kellymx@aol.com

Nominating Committee
We are looking for volunteers to fill open officer positions on our Penn Oaks board for 2018-2019 guild year.
Stephanie Braskey has done a great job as president these past 2 years - we will need to fill her position.

Linda Kerschner will move into Program Chair position and Diana Smyrl has agreed to stay on as Membership chair.

We are looking for volunteers to fill the following positions:


Program Assistant
Ways & Means


Please consider filling one of these positions. Contact one of us with your interest/questions.

Pat Sherman 717-517-0438  patspatch@comcast.net

Diana Smyrl 412-576-2604 2038ds@comcast.net

Cindy Vognetz 610-324-2652  cvognetz@hotmail.com

If we don't hear from you- we will be calling you!

Write As Desired

        

          Inspiration for quilting creativity comes to us in so many different ways.  For some, inspiration may arise from family, or gardens, travel, a book, a snowy day, a sunrise, or a colorful swatch of fabric.  The sources of inspiration are limitless.

Quilt shows can also inspire, but more than inspiration, a quilt show can motivate us to act on that creative inspiration.  A quilt show impels us to do, not just to dream.

A quilt show is a unique gathering place.  Not only are there wonderful quilts to see, but there is the pure excitement of the show, the vendors up and down the aisles, the quilters and the shared love of all things quilting.  Quilt shows, no matter if local, regional, national or international, are an important part of the quilting psyche.  Shows have historically been the avenue for the community to see the artistry of quilters.  Today, as the internet over shadows more and more of the process of exhibition and buying, a quilt show puts quilts on stage and in the limelight.  Shows give us the opportunity to gaze at quilts up front, to see the stitches closely, to feel the mood of the piece, and for just as long as we the viewers allow, to linger and appreciate the workmanship and beauty of the quilt.

We are very fortunate to have significant large scale shows in our area. In tandem with the recent AQS show, we have the vendor gathering at the Continental, where booths call to us with the latest in tools, books and of course bolts and bundles of fabric, one more desirous than the next.  On top of the larger shows, there are fine local shows and of course our own Penn Oaks show.  Each of these shows have their own personality and will inspire and motivate, if we permit it. 

We may be leaving the show, shaking our heads wondering how in the world did the quilter quilt that, and possibly realizing that what you saw exhibited may not be your path.  But the one thread that remains is that each quilter at the show is reaching and progressing.

 The quilting journey is diverse, and we all need to make a stop or two at a quilt show along our way.

Chris Harkins   

       
From Jean Fox

Hello to my friends in Penn Oaks.  I want to thank you for the post cards sent to me when you were on the getaway.  I was thinking of you

all during the time you were there and wishing I were there also.   I know you were having a lot of fun.  I hope you accomplished the amount

of work you had planned to do.  I  was glad the weather held out so you were able to get there.  I went to a very nice quilt show the 10th put on by the Dallas Quilt Guild.  I am going to send Ellen a copy of the program.  I am sure  she will pass it around for you to see. I won't be able to

join as they meet too far away from me.  Maybe eventually I will find some quilters near me.  Know that I miss you all.   Love to all  Jean

Library Quilts- Leslie O'Brien

The Downingtown Library quilt raffle, reception, and ticket drawing is Friday, April 6th from 6-7:30. There will be light refreshments. We encourage the quilters to attend to see the display, enjoy the refreshments and see who won their quilts. Of course they are welcome to purchase tickets as well! 

If anyone can help by sitting at the ticket table at the library the week of April 2-6 it would be GREATLY appreciated. The library hours are 9:00 to 8. Any time between 9:30 and 7:30 for an hour or so would be helpful. You can even get some handwork done if it’s not busy! Please e-mail Debby O’Keefe @dokeefe19@hotmail.com.Some particular times would be April 3rd around 12 noon and early evening, and April 5th around 5o’clock. Anyone available at other times please contact Debby to volunteer.

 Ronald McDonald House

Ronald McDonald House  Snacks

I big thank you to everyone. Cindy Vognetz and I took 248 snack bags to the Ronald McDonald House in Hershey on Friday. Cindy's granddaughter, Maya Vognetz helped Cindy to count them and bag them up for delivery. We were treated to a mini tour of the House and I was very impressed. They were very appreciative of our donation.

Jean Zubert

Donation to Boyertown Multiservice

At the Getaway we gathered all the soaps, shampoos etc. that the hotel leaves for us on a daily basis that we did not use. We collected 25 soaps, 25 conditioners, 19 shampoos, 18 moisturizers and 17 body wash. These will be forwarded to a Safe House for Women. I know that these items are very much appreciated.

Thanks again to the Getaway attendees.

Jean Zubert

Quilt Show 2019

Professional Judges at our show  --  Everyone seemed to think that Professional Judging at our show did not increase attendance. It was brought up that most of the local shows do not have Professional Judging and have great attendance. The small amount of increase in revenue does not outweigh the cost and delay in setup time. No one felt that not having judging would deter them from entering their quilts for display. We will discuss this at the April meeting and make a firm decision. There are many other options to consider to have other types of in-house judging.

Publicity -- Advertising  --

These are very important to our show. I am going to split this into two separate categories. It is too much for one person. Most of this can be done from home on your computer. It just need the time and organization to get our info out there. If we increase our marketing we will increase our attendance. Please contact me and I will get more information to you.

I am still working on the venue but getting closer. Any questions and/or suggestions contact me.

Jean Zubert

jzbeachchair@aol.com    484-369-8706 

Volunteer of the Year

It’s that time of year again to choose the Volunteer of the Year for the guild.  In April, any member is permitted to nominate a fellow member.  In May, the Executive Board members vote on the nominated members and the member with the most votes receives the award at the June meeting.  Previous recipients and current Executive Board members are not eligible.  There are many members who do a lot for our guild.  That’s what makes our guild so great!  So put your thinking caps on and email your nominations to dfbraskey@aol.com.  Previous recipients are:

2013 Kelly Meanix and Suzanne Stiverson

2014 Maureen Carlson

2015 Robin McMillen and Jean Fox

2016 Delores Holzworth and Angel Henderson

2017 Patricia Sherman

Charity Corner Debbie Becker, Susan Longenecker and Suzanne Doonan

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.  

PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING ONE OF THESE AS THEY ARE VERY NEEDED! 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

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)

County Line Quilters – Around the
Garden Path Quilt Show
April 14-15, 2018
St. Cyril of Jerusalem Social Hall, Jamison, PA 18929
For more information
Jamison, PA is in the Warminster/Warrington area north east of Philadelphia.  Click here for a map to the Church.

Steel City Fiber Festival
April 15-16
2018 Merchant Square Mall, Allentown, PA
For more information

The Quilt and Sewing Fest of New Jersey
April 26th – 29th, 2018
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 10am-4pm
New Jersey Convention & Expo Center
97 Sunfield Ave. – Raritan Center
Edison, New Jersey
General Admission 13.00, Sunday only 11.00

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
Quilt Show Flyer
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

Quilt Odyssey
Hershey Lodge and Convention Center
July 19-22, 2018
Click here for more details

Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza
Oaks, PA
September 13-16, 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