November 2013 Newsletter

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Hi Quilters,

Is it me or are the holiday commercials starting way too early.  Petsmart had Santa commercials on last week.  Ridiculous!  That said, it is getting to be that time of year again so time to start planning.  I have been looking back on previous holiday seasons and to be honest the business and lists and demands are really destroying the season for me.  Does anyone have any advice about how to reduce the workload of the holidays.  It is challenging because I do not want to disappoint anyone.  I was going to challenge myself to complete a Christmas Quilt to hang in my foyer which would require a quilt roughly 64in by 64in.  I informed my husband of this challenge and he looked at me like I was crazy.  He carefully said "Isn'tour house Christmasy enough?"  He is right.  There I go again, adding and artificially inflating my to do list.  Where is the balance?  Just because I can create something does it mean I have too?  MMMMMM something to think about. 

If anyone has some advice or tips for reducing holiday stress please let me know. 

I hope everyone is quilting and creating but not freaking out trying to get something complete.  That is my wish for you all and myself. 

Now I need to go make the blocks for the Round Robin because they are due at the next meeting ;)

Happy Quilting. 

Robin McMillen

(610)836-1363

(610)873-2950

PROGRAMS....Leslie O'Brien

This month we will welcome Kimberly Knipe from the Chester County Hospital Outreach Program. Our favorite activity is rather sedentary so Kim will remind us about how to stay healthy. Please note - this talk may or may not involve some light (and I mean light - no need to dress for a yoga class) exercises so wear something you can move in, just in case.  There it is - your excuse to dress down for a Guild meeting!  We will be inspired to watch our diets as the holidays approach and we are tempted to try all those traditional foods and desserts. Speaking of the holidays, have you started your 12 1/2 X 12 1/2" block for the exchange? More details about the December meeting will follow!

MEMBERSHIP: Jean Fox/Ellen McMillenWe had a good turn out for the October meeting. Forty-one members were in attendance but we did not have any guests. Rob Lodi was the winner of the membership door prize.
November Birthdays 

Allie Barchi            8-November
Dena Corry            13-November
Jamie Loncaric       28-November
May your birthdays be filled with quilting delights.
    

HOSPITALITY   Angel Henderson

Snack list for the November guild meeting is: S. Doonan*, E. Dusinberre*, E. Egan, J. Fox, P. Gallagher, D.Giroux, F. Grider, C. Harkins.  Those with a * after their name should bring a beverage for the group rather than a snack.  If you can't make the meeting please trade with a friend and let me know who will be bringing the snack in your absence.  Angel

SILENT AUCTION   Maryann Lewis

November's meeting will have our Fall Silent Auction. 

There are many exciting things to bid on-----books, magazines, supplies, fabric, etc.   Put your bid on a post-it with your initials,---anyone can up the bid if they choose.  When the time is up, whoever has the highest bid gets to purchase the item.  

Maryann

REQUEST From Marion Stevenson

Please contact me if you create labels for the quilt back and let me know the cost.  Thanks.  Marian Stevenson

CHALLENGE 2014     Carolyn Davis and Jamie Lonaric

We will be making small quilts to say please don't touch the quilts. You may say 
it any way you wish, as long as the message is clear.  Please keep the size no 
larger than 9 x 12 inches.  Shoot for 8.5 by 11 - regular paper sign size. We 
will decide whether and how we will label them after the challenge. I'm thinking 
about using an embroidered ribbon that says Do Not Touch the Quilts Challenge 
2014 and leaving space for you to sign the ribbon. But, then again, maybe we 
don't need that, except that we have displayed challenge quilts at the show in 
the past. I apologize if this seems like a work-in-progress.





Carolyn and Jamie

MYSTERY BOX   Jan Brown

Just a friendly reminder that there will be a Mystery Box this month.  So remember to bring those extra dollars to purchase your chance to win ____ oh that's right it's a mystery.  You never know what's in the box.  Jan

PATCHES OF LOVE  Rita Marie Smith

Patches of Love - Rita Marie Smith    For those of you who were unable to attend last month's guild meeting, Jean Fox and I will be explaining about our charity project for this year at our November meeting.  We are making little dresses for an orphanage in Africa.  They are for little ones up to size 4T and will be hand delivered in March.  The dresses are very easy to make. I can provide directions or you can google pillowcase dresses or dresses for Africa for directions.  We only have until our February meeting to make as many as possible.  The little boys could use pull on shorts if you would like to make them.  For the remainder of the guild year, we will continue to make pillowcases for the Hershey pediatric unit.   E-mail me if you have any questions.  Thank you for your continued support of our charity projects. 













QUILT HAPPENINGS



Fall Fabric Frenzy Shop Hop

The Quilt Block is one of the participants.

www.fallfabricfrenzy.com











Lebanon Quilter's Expo

November 22 - 24

www.lebanonquiltersguild.com








 

November 2012 Newsletter

November President's Note

I am watching Sandy blow my trees around in the back yard as I write this note. Yikes, not so fun. I hope this note finds you all safe and dry. I can not believe it is already November. I want to take this opportunity to briefly encourage you all to get to work on Quilts for the Quilt Show in May. I recently challenged myself with curved piecing and I am almost done the top of a Pickle Dish Quilt. It was rewarding to challenge myself. I would like to suggest that you do the same. If you have never done a Y seam before give it a try. If you love the look of hand applique but have never tried it yourself, than start a small hand applique project. What is the worst thing that can happen? It does not work. Oh well, we all have projects like that. Remember, we only have 7 months to the quilt show. I know that Suzanne and her team are doing an excellent job with organization and vendors but we all know what makes a quilt show great. Great Quilts! Get to work.

Robin McMillen

Robin McMillen

(610)836-1363

(610)873-2950


 PROGRAMS - CHRISTINE HARKINS

November - Frank Clemens – Color, Color, Color

Stuck on Color? Intimidated by the new bold fabrics out there?
Frank Clemens comes with high recommendations to encourage you to get over your fear of color.
His program promises to be exciting and dare we say colorful!!!
 

December - Christmas/ Holiday Party
 

Celebrate the season with the Guild!

Chris and Leslie are working on some fun activities for our party to be announced soon.

We will continue the tradition with the 12 inch block exchange as well as have some new activities and treats.

 

 

HOSPITALITY - ANGEL HENDERSON

*Suzanne Doonan

*Esther Dusinberre

Elaine Egan

Jean Fox

Pat Gallagher

Dawn Girouz

Fay Ann Grider

Chris Harkins
 

(*Please provide a beverage for the meeting.)


 

MEMBERSHIP: Pat Smith/Rob Lodi

 

Welcome to Penn Oaks newest members, Susan Longenecker and Eileen Mincarelli. We now have 57 members.

Happy Birthday to our November babies!

Allie Barchie

Dena Corry

Susan Raymond

Jamie Loncaric QUILT SHOW - SUZANNE STIVERSON QUILT SHOW—Not too early to start stitching—6 months to go!!!!! Remember our next quilt show is Friday and Saturday, May 3-4, 2013. Now we have enough vendors to carry the majority of the venue expenses, we need every one of you to pitch in by asking your favorite stores (not quilt related), your salon and others to donate gift cards, small items, etc. for our Raffle baskets and our door prizes. Just make sure I get the gift and the name & business to credit them on our website. We are already covering all the quilt stores around our area. The best thing you could also do is hype up the show at your church, Bible studies and other gatherings. Get your friends to come. Attendance is our best way to bring the dollars for our programs and charity giving. If each member brought 7 friends to the show, without any other people coming, we would bring in over $3000. And that is not counting the raffle tickets and items at our Acorn Shop that would be bought by many of the attendees. So start passing the word along. Don’t forget, we also need the items listed below. It’s never too early to bring items to Jean Fox and Sara Borr. Thanks to Maureen for learning all the new stuff needed to keep the website up. Also, she’s been updating all the vendors and donations regularly for me. We now have eight (8) vendors and eleven (11) spaces out of twelve—Pottstown Sewing, Jackie’s Woolens, Timberline Patchwork, Handmaiden Designs, Happy Valley Quilting, Diane Phalen, J. Illiano Designs and B&K Country Crafts and Quilts. Bob indicated we could have 12 vendors, so we are trying for that number. Helen Hofbauer is still trying to round up some additional vendors and Selena is contacting possible donors for our door prizes and pulling in ads for our Show Brochure. Along with Sulky, who are sending a box of goodies in December, Frank A. Edmunds has sent support gloves and quilters hoop tape, Gutterman has sent thread, Nancy’s Notions has sent a gift certificate and Sauders sent a book, marking pencil and charm pack. Check out the list on the our website www.pennoaksquilters.org. For Acorn Shoppe details, check with Sara Borr.. We also will be collecting rick rack, lace, buttons, trims, etc. to make packets to sell at the shop. As you do your Fall quilt room cleaning, remember to collect your gently used or new (great intentions) patterns for Sara. They sold very well last time. If you know you’ll never make it, the guild will get the return. Also if you have some great ideas or want to host a small workshop to make that idea, please contact Sara. Also if you would like to donate a theme basket (Kitchen, Coffee/tea, chocolate, etc.) for our basket raffle, please let Jean Fox know. Jean also needs larger baskets to fill. Please let Jean know if you do and you coordinate at a meeting for delivery. If you have gently used tools, new patterns, more current gently used books or extra fat quarters, she could use them, too. She could also use yardage of recent fabrics (not 1980’s or 90’s); fat quarters and any other cloth items like charm packs you know you won’t use. Kelly Meanix is chairing a small quilt raffle where each member will be asked to make a 16” x 24” (finished) quilt that we will raffle at the show. She gave information at our June meeting so please contact her for more information or clarification. Of course 100% participation would be terrific! Also, registration for helpers will start at our January 2013 meeting. Each chair will pass a sheet or we will have one sheet with all positions to pass for you to mark the times on the day(s) you can work. As the rules say “POQ members not working at the Quilt Show and Non-POQ members will pay Quilt Show entry of $8 even if their quilts are displayed.” A quilt show takes everyone in the guild to be successful. Your contributions help fund our charitable giving and programs. We need your time as much as we need your items. Committee Members Show Chair Suzanne Stiverson 2015 chairs + Asst Selena McFalls and Helen Hofbauer Acorn Shoppe Sara Borr Clean-up Marti Campbell Door Prize (letters, etc) Suzanne Stiverson & Helen Hofbauer Floor Design & Set-up Bob DeCarli Judges’ and Quilt forms Ellen McMillen Quilt Acceptance/Sign-in/return (on-site) Jean Zubert and Cindy Vognetz Scribes (for judges’ comments) Ellen McMillen Lancaster Shops Pat Sherman Program Brochure Carolyn Davis and Rita Smith Shadow Denise Blake Props Pat Smith Publicity Leslie O’Brien Quilt Show Signage (hung quilts) Myrna Paluba Raffle Baskets Jean Fox Raffle/Auction mini quilts Kelly Meanix Registration and Admissions Mary Morello Show Signage Elaine Egan Vendor Suzanne and Selena McFalls Website Maureen Carlson White Glove Marti Campbell I’m plugging along on my projects…. Suzanne  16 x 24 RAFFLE QUILTS Please remember we are looking for each member to make a 16 x 24 inch quilt to be used to raffle off at our quilt show this coming spring. We will not be making our traditional bed size raffle quilt so this is something we need everyone to contribute with in order to fund our programs. If you would like more information please go HERE and scroll down to read all bout making a quilt. You can also call Kelly at 610-873-7211 or email kellymx@aol.com.   2013 Penn Oaks Challenge - Kelly Meanix and Suzanne Simmons This year's challenge is called "Where I Live". This is open to broad  interpretation.......you can be in a birdhouse, it can be a beach house  you have always wanted, a tree house, a mansion, a castle etc....use  your imagination anything goes. We will be handing out a fabric you must use in the quilt. There will  be limited quantities that we will have at the November meeting. Don't  wait! The size of the quilt is 24 x 24 and is due at the April meeting. It must  be quilted and finished, any techniques can be used. These will also be  hung at our Quilt Show in May.  Questions? Call Kelly kellymx@aol.com - 610 873-7211 or Suzanne  Simmons at svsimmons@comcast.net - 610-873-3401 Patches of Love - Rita Marie Smith       There was a brief discussion at last month's guild meeting  and it was decided that instead of making quilts for kids this  year we would sew pillowcases.  The pillowcases will be donated to hospital pediatric units and to hospice care facilities.  Other suggestions are welcomed. Bright, cheery fabrics as  well as seasonal fabrics of ourown choosing would be used.  A pattern, if needed, and more information to follow. If you have made a quilt to be sent to Yardley, please bring the  completed quilt to our November guild meeting.        MYSTERY BOX - STEPHANIE BRASKEY        There will be no Mystery Box in November but watch for an exciting prize at the December meeting. The Mystery Box is a fund-raiser for the guild. Chances are $1 or 6 for $5 and the prize is worth $20 or more. Last month's prize was the just-released book, Skip The Borders, and the new Wonder Clips for holding your binding in place while sewing, a total value of $35. QUILT HAPPENINGS  Main Line Quilters Guild 2012 Quilt Show “A Quilter’s Perspective: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow” Saturday, November 17, 2012 The Main Line Unitarian Church 816 South Valley Forge Road, Devon, Pa 10am-4pm $5.00 entry donation

 

 

 

1.