Thursday, December 29, 2022
Penn Oaks Newsletter
President's Note
From christmas past: dec. 2006. MC president
'Twas the Night Before
Christmas Poem
(A Quilters' Version)
T'was the night
before Christmas and all through the house,
The only one sleeping was a Quilter's dear spouse.
The Log Cabin stockings were almost completed,
"Just a few stitches left," our sweet quilter repeated.
"Then I
can hang them and head off to finish
the pillows I'm making, fulfilling Mom's wish
For something quilted to put on her couch and spoke,
as she pricked her poor finger, our quilter said, "Ouch!"
When from out
in the kitchen there arose such a crashing,
she sprang from her work, and she dropped all her sashing.
Away to the doorway she flew like a plane,
wondering just what was happening and who she would blame.
When what to
her wondering eyes should appear,
but Old Mrs. Claus and her bag of quilt-gear...
With her elves bearing gifts, through the kitchen she came,
she directed and pointed and called them by name.
"Now Elna,
now Pfaff, now Bernina and Viking,
the Hoffman and Mumm should be just to her liking.
To the sewing room - there, it's just back of the hall,
now dash away, dash away, dash away all!"
"My
Dear," said The Claus (as she liked to be called),
"There really is no need to worry at all.
Your projects will all be completed this night,
I'm terribly sorry we gave you a fright."
"Sit down.
Have some tea. It's relaxing, you'll see.
My friends and I've come a long way to help Thee."
She thought she was dreaming, our dear Quilter did,
In fact she quite feared that she near flipped her lid!
But the flash
of the needles and twist of the thread
soon gave her to know she had nothing to dread.
They spoke no more words, but went straight to their sewing.
How the work went so quickly she had no way way of knowing.
The stitches,
how fine! The corners, how straight!
This Claus-woman's talent was awfully great.
They finished the pillows, then started to quilt.
Before they all knew it, the whole thing was built!
Now old Mrs.
Claus, she knew quilters real well,
and she knew they'd need help on this night most of all
So she said to our quilter, "Just move over dear,
I've brought my own needle. We'll get done, never fear.
I told dear old
Santa about what quilters do.
How they plan all these projects but have other work too.
So he taught me his magic for doing things fast.
There, that pillows done. Now this is the last.
They tidied
their thread snips, and picked up the scraps
and chased our dear quilter's six cats from their laps.
As they scurried away with their thimbles still gleaming
dear Mrs. Claus paused, her cap ribbons streaming.
"Merry Christmas, my dear, now just have a ball!"
(author unknown)
Everything Quilts Inc.
As we head into the “crunch” time preparing for the holidays, we all could use some help from Mrs. Claus to finish up all those good intentioned gift projects. I know I could certainly use her help this year!!!
Happy Holidays
to all and looking forward to seeing everyone at the guild Christmas Party –
Tuesday December 19th.
Maureen
Programs
2022 Board
President - Carolyn Davis / Jamie Loncaric
Program Chair - Donna Daley
Assistant-Deb Houck
Treasurer - Rita Marie Smith
Recording Secretary - Angela Brant
Corresponding Secretary - Nancy DeTeodora
Membership - Elizabeth Young / Sarah Reindel
Ways & Means - Jen Burke
2022 Quilt Guild Challenge - Rikki Newlander
Quilt Challenge, Hospice Quilts and Quilts for Kids
Rikki Newlander and Rita Marie Smith
We will be working together to cut and provide strings to guild members participating in making quilts for the challenge, hospice patients and Quilts for Kids.
If you would like strings, please let us know: rikki.newlander@gmail.com or ritasmitty308@gmail.com. Since the next 3 guild meetings will be zoom only, please contact us to make arrangements to meet you with the strings. They can also be brought to the getaway. Rikki is willing to cut more muslin foundation squares (8 ½”) if needed. Just let her know. The fabric we are using is from our sale held at the Covenant Presbyterian Church. It was felt that this was an excellent use of the fabric. Not sure as yet but there might be some yardage for backing. Will let you know.
Basic requirements for the Quilts for Kids were in the last newsletter. Quilts for the hospice are lap size (40” x 40”.) There are many examples and videos of string quilts online if you are not familiar with them. Our blocks finish at 8” squares, are so easy and come together quickly.
A little bit of sewing on our part will certainly brighten someone’s day.
Bits and Pieces From The Textile World
1. Martingale to Close in Mid-2023
Craft publisher Martingale announced yesterday that the company will be closing in mid-2023.
CEO and president Jennifer Keltner said in an email, “Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Martingale has been operating in a state of constant change. We’ve shifted resources as necessary to manage supply chain disruptions, paper shortages, double-digit increases in freight costs and printing, mandatory shutdowns, a shift to remote work, and more.
Through it all, our skilled team of employee-owners has gone above and beyond to pivot to a remote work model, to control costs, and to consistently problem-solve, all while creating stellar, best-in-class content for quilters.”
“Unfortunately, with continued cost pressures across the supply chain, and a shift in how consumers seek and purchase content, the Martingale Board of Directors adopted a formal resolution to dissolve the company by mid-2023.”
Martingale, which was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Bothell, Washington, is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan company (ESOP) meaning employees own shares in Martingale. According to Keltner, “an orderly wind-down means that the assets will be divided between the participants who own stock in the company. For many, that equates to their retirement savings.”
3. Shibui Yarn announced this week that they are going out of business.
5. The Spellman College Museum of Fine Art in Atlanta will be showing Bisa Butler's Black American Portraits February 8-May 15.
6. Loose Ends is an organization dedicated to finishing knitting, crochet, and quilting projects loved ones have left behind. You can submit a project or become a finisher.
