January 2019 Newsletter

President's Letter - Helen Hofbauer

Happy Holidays one and all!!

I hope everyone had a warm and special holiday season. I wish all a prosperous New Year! 

We have so much ahead of us this year...with great speakers that we’ve had and more to come, and a spectacular quilt show. It’s quite exciting on what we expect to get this year! But we need to remember what is most important...giving. Giving our time, giving a smile. 

Let us go forward this year and make it one where we will be thoughtful, generous, and always kind to everyone we meet.

Cheers! 

Helen Hofbauer 

Programs - Rita Marie Smith and Denise Blake

January 14  Penn Oaks Guild member Robin McMillen is our speaker.  Robin's topic - History of Visual Arts and How to Draw Inspiration From Your Favorite Artists and Reflect That in Your Quilt. Robin will be speaking about the history of artistic expression and the 7 different forms of art -  Architecture, Sculpture, Painting, Music, Poetry, Dance, Performing.  She will bring in many of my quilts and discuss how famous artwork I admire influenced the decisions she made.  It is her hope that the talk will inspire others to look at their quilts differently and incorporate elements from their favorite artists be it colors or design.  It will be a presentation that will include a slide show with quilts as well.      

February 11  Ann Tumolo of Calico Cutters will have a trunk show  A Parade of Quilts  for us.  I have asked Ann to please include wall quilts she made and painted faces on.  In addition she is going to demonstrate thread painting.  She has taken many classes from Joyce Hughes.  There will also be demos on paper piecing, binding and continuous binding.  A big thank you to Denise, Carolyn and Helen for volunteering to conduct the demos.

March 11   Annual Challenge. Dana has all the information posted below.

Ryan's Case for Smiles   The last few pillowcase kits will be available at the January meeting.  Take as many as you'd like.  Only 20 minutes of sewing can put a huge smile on a sick child's face.  Please wash (in free and clear detergent) and return all completed pillowcases in plastic bags to our February meeting.  The plan is to present the pillowcases at the March meeting. 

Winter is coming! Guild Meeting Cancellations:  The Board will be communicating via e-mail by 4:00PM.  Please remember to check your emails.

Hospitality - Angel

Snack list for the January guild meeting is: E. Lance, R. Lodi*, L. Lombardo, J. Loncaric*, E. Mayer, E. McMillen, R. McMillen, K. Meanix, E.Mincarelli, R. Newlander.  Remember to switch your responsibility with a friend if you cannot attend so we don't run short.  A star after your name indicates that you bring a drink for the group instead of a snack.  

Here's a great project to keep you looking good this winter. Designers are coming out with lots of knit fabrics that are wonderful and perfect for a project like this. You can find the free tutorial at Polka Dot Chair Blog

Challenge - Dana O'Connor

Choose an artist from the following list and create a quilt (no more than 150 inches in perimeter) either representing a piece by that painter or design something in the style of that painter. Bring to the March meeting unlabeled or with the label covered in a brown paper bag. Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Rembrandt Michelangelo, Paul Klee, Georgia O'Keeffe, Van Gogh, Monet Salvador Dali, Da Vinci, Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock, Matisse, Degas, Rubens, Norman Rockwell, Andrew Wyeth, Jamie Wyeth or Maxfield Parrish.

Quilt Show Needs-Show dates May 3 & 4, 2019Hey quilters - our show is only 4 months away! Now is the time to move into high gear. We apologize for the repetition, we just want to be sure to get the information out.

Here are some of the things you can do to prepare for the show.  Remember: the proceeds from the show provide the funding for our wonderful programs.  Rita Marie has done a great job with speakers and we want to keep that going strong. 

         1. Make a mini quilt for the raffle, 16 by 24 portrait orientation. The only rules are that the quilt must be complete and properly finished and cheater cloth cannot be used. For our newer members take a look at the 2017 Quilt Show link on pennnoaksquilters.org for ideas.
             In the November newsletter Kelly posted directions for a block that would make a cute mini quilt. Or select a favorite block, add sashing and borders to make it the correct size. Applique quilts are also popular.We are hoping for 100% participation. Any questions contact Eileen Mincarelli (Eileen4874@aol.com) or        Jean Zubert (jzbeachchair@aol.com) 
         2. Make a quilt for display in the show.  We need more beautiful quilts to show case. We will not have judging at this show which we hope will encourage more members to exhibit. Enjoy seeing your quilt on display - it's a good feeling! You may also sell your quilt with a 10% commission to the guild. The quilt entry form 
             will be available in January.        
         3. Make items to sell in our Acorn Shoppe -- 80% of the profits go to you or you can donate all proceeds to the guild. Helen will soon have the commission sheets available. She will collect items for the show in March and April. Contact Helen Hofbauer (hhofbauer@comcast.net) or Denise Blake (dewpink@gmail.com)              with questions.
         4. Start thinking about where you would like to work during the show.  In the spring there will be sign up sheets.  We will need volunteers to sign up for hourly spots.  Here are some of the volunteer opportunities: 

                  *Sell registration tickets at the front door, we want friendly faces greeting attendees         
                  *Work in the Acorn Shoppe selling items
                  *Sell raffle tickets for the baskets or mini-quilts - more friendly faces
                  *Be a white glove person
                  *Sign up for Prep cooking the week of the show
                  *Sign up to work in the kitchen with either the cooking or collecting the money 
                  *Sign up for set-up the day prior to the show 
                  *Sign up for clean up after the show
         5. Organize or contribute to a raffle basket. Ellen Lance will have more information about the baskets.

         We also need volunteers to make several show ribbons such as the Viewer's Choice ribbon.
         Show flyers will be available by February. We would like to have three or more volunteers to distribute them to all the local quilt shops. We'll set this up by geographical location. Contact Robin or Ellen if you would like to fill either of these needs.

Please contact us with your suggestions and ideas. We'd love to hear from you!

Robin McMillen (robin_mcmillen@yahoo.com) and Ellen McMillen (ejmcmillen@verizon.net), 2019 Quilt Show Co-Chairs

Quilt Show Raffle Baskets

One of our fundraisers for the quilt show in May is raffle baskets. We plan on preparing 10 baskets with different themes to be raffled at the quilt show. There are many ways that quilt guild members can participate.

1. Volunteer to coordinate a basket
2. Join a basket team to plan and collect the basket contents
3. Contribute items for the baskets that relate to the chosen themes.
4. Contribute monetarily to the baskets.

Thank you to those who signed up at the November meeting. We have volunteers for 5 baskets. The themes are:

*Tea & Coffee

*Wine & Chocolate

*Pets

*Spa Day

*Movies

We are asking members to bring items to donate to the January guild meeting. These items don’t have to be quilt related. Dog/cat toys, tea, coffee, chocolate, pampering items, movies etc. are needed. If you are inspired and want to contribute a home made item for the theme that would be great.

We also need volunteers for 5 more baskets. There will be a sign up sheet at the January meeting. Create a theme or choose on of the suggestions on the sign up sheet. It will be fun to see what we can put together. If you have any questions please email me at ellenlance55@gmail.com.

NEW!!!!!! Sew Your Stash Sew Along

Mystery Sew Along
We are starting a new idea in the guild starting in January. If you are interested in signing up please email me and I will put you on the email list.

1. Instructions for each step will be given out monthly. I will email you the directions and it will be available in the guild newsletter at the end of the month.

2. Sew at your own pace, we are not swapping or exchanging, so everything you sew will be in your quilt. The quilt will finish at queen size. If you prefer a smaller quilt, simply stop when you have reached the size you prefer.

3. I highly encourage you to use your stash! Make do with what you have if possible. If you want to have one consistent background fabric throughout the quilt, 2 ½ yards should be enough (no guarantees depending on the sewing methods you choose!)

4. Feel free to use which ever method works best for you. Directions will be printed using traditional strip piecing methods when practical. I highly encourage you to make changes or modifications according to your personal preferences. Feel free to substitute any step.

5. Bring your progress to share at show and tell. It will be fun to see how similar/different our quilts are. Feel free to send your questions to Kelly Meanix at kellymx@aol.com

6. We have about 20 people signed up. If you are interested in participating, please email me. I will email the instructions on the first day of each month, and I will put them in the newsletter which comes out at the end of the month.