President's Message
Interim president’s letter
Wow, what a different year this year is. Holiday travel is
up, people are starting to go places, and get together with family. For a year
that initially seemed to put a wig on 2020 and waltz its crazy butt back in,
this feels refreshing. As does meeting in person! I feel like we aren’t at our
“new normal” yet, but are edging that much closer to it!
With 32 days to Christmas, I have started knitting an Afghan
for a friend of mine. Knitting and crochet in the evenings were typically
easier, a blanket in progress (much like binding) keeps me warmer, and Nate and
I could watch TV without a sewing machine going. Now the pugs like to eat my crochet. Poppy
tries to eat the hook, literally chewing on the thing as I’m attempting to
stick it in the next stitch and Zoe likes to chew and play with the yarn ball
and the project. I had such Norman Rockwell expectations of them laying in my
lap under the soft blankets that all I can do is laugh. They do much better
with knitting, although now Poppy has taken to lay across my chest in protest
of me doing anything (texting, drinking water, knitting, or even using the
remote!). This may be a present for next Christmas.
Speaking of presents, my 7-year-old nephew ate directly out
of the ice cream pint at our “Famsgiving” celebration. I see hints of them when
they will become bottomless pits of calorie needs and wants. Alex’s new thing
is Pokémon, so he’ll be getting a pint holder in Pokémon fabric. I’m going to
try to make some microwave bowls as well. I’m sure after I start decking my
halls and making some Hershey kiss cookies, I’ll be ready for the holiday
season!
Any concerns, questions, or any other issues that come up
during my brief tenure, please send me an email or text me and we’ll set up a
time to talk. Happy quilting, looking at quilty things, talking to quilty
people, being your best quilty self!
Jen
Programs
Wow, what a fantastic space we now have at Covenant! The barn
quilts were amazing and what a story teller Suzi was.
In December we will celebrate 35 years of Penn
Oaks Quilters! Please join us for cake and a holiday celebration! This is an
in-person celebration only and will not have a zoom link.
January will be solely on zoom. With the
winter weather wreaking havoc on our meetings in the past, we wanted to make
sure that we could meet during the dark and dreary days of winter! In January
we have Mary the “telltale artist” presenting quilted homes. She was the
inspiration for Donna’s story quilt and we look forward to her quilting
journey.
Jen and Donna
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In the spirit of "Christmas's Past" revisited, we offer a Presidents message from long ago. In 2000 Kathleen and I were co-presidents and we had a monthly "He sez, She sezs" column for the newsletter.
From the PennOak newsletter ca 2000.
He Sez: This is the first anniversary of the She Sez Folly, otherwise know as "The Blue Plate Special" or "The Hippo." It all started a year ago on what I expected to be a quiet, lazy Saturday. We had a great week in which we did our version of cleaning (which consisted of buying 12 more bins in which to stuff quilting stuff). She Sez woke, sat up and said those dreaded words, "I have a thought"!." Wouldn't it be nice if she made The Blue Rhapsody Quilt. She loved blue and white, it would look great on the bed; she could use it for the Challenge; and some of the money from the fabric purchase would go to Cancer Research. I pointed out to her that it was a large pieced quilt, with paper piecing and quilting as you go, none of which she ever did before. She replied that there was a very good picture in the magazine--more than enough direction for her and I could show her how to paper piece and quilt as you go. After all, what did I think she kept me around for??!!! The next thing I knew, she was sitting in the car and we were off on a 6 hour, 200mile jaunt to every quilt store within a radius of 50 miles to find the special Blue Rhapsody fabric.
All went well until we got side-tracked with the 56 Christmas projects. Then there was the catastrophe of not finishing before The Challenge. Fortunately, there were several snow days and it got finished but not without much weeping and wailing. She had to quilt the borders after the quilt was together. By the way, it weighed a ton, thus the "Hippo" designation. She was so tired (but elated) when it was over the she swore, "No more big quilts--ever!" (1-see below)
The quilt, which is beautiful and cheery, sits on our bed: and we are installing air conditioning so we can keep it cold enough to leave the quilt on all summer. We had a quilt celebration and I wait patiently for "She Sez" to have another thought.
1. Update: In the intervening years I heard "No more big quilts--ever!" many times. We have any number of large Applique quilts. The last time it was uttered was in 2019 when she was almost finished with a giant Tula Pink quilt. It survived through the Pandemic but was ignored in early Spring 2021 when she started yet another large, complicated Applique quilt. I expect the "no more forever" will be uttered in the next week or so.
She Sez: I'm so glad that I serve as a constant source of amusement for He Sez. While He Sez is dazzling you with his clever stories I must be practical and ask you to help with our raffle quilt sales opportunity at the Farmer's Marked in Strafford on March 24 and 25. If you are able to sell tickets on Friday see Marie: if you can help on Saturday see Bob or me.
We were able, thanks to Bev Pierce, to watch a home recorded video of Alex Anderson's quilt show. It was great! But, alas we subscribe to Suburban Cable which does not broadcast the Home and Garden Network. I then called Suburban Cable at 610-383-4383. They informed me that if enough subscribers call and that they will join the HGTV Network. Sooo..If you are so inclined and are a subcriber call and let your feeling be heard and maybe you can make a change.
"She Sez" Update: To this day whenever I say, "I have a thought", the color drains from his face.
2021 Quilt Guild Challenge - Angela Brant
The theme this year will be International Travels- Real or Virtual: Pick a country outside of the US and design a quilt that represents that country. Go wild!
| Time Frame - October 2021 - May 2022 |
| Size Minimum - 18 " square Maximum - none |
| Categories for Prizes Best Representation of Country Best Use of Color Most Original Best Applique- While no applique is required in the quilt, there will be a ribbon for best applique for those who are so good at it. So get your creative juices flowing through the long winter months. Members will vote on winners at the May meeting . 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes will be awarded and announced at the May meeting. If you have questions, please contact Angela Brant at 484-682-3871 |
Pop-Up Sale – Fabric and Quilting Goodies Ways & Means will be bringing a portion of the donated items to the in-person meetings. Remember to bring cash or checks so you don’t miss out! |
Penn Oaks Sunshine
If you know of a guild member who could use some well wishes or encouragement because of a sickness or life event, please contact me at marianne@thecaporales.us. I will make sure to send our collective good thoughts to our fellow member.
Marianne Caporale
