March 2016 Newsletter

President's Letter

Hello Guild,

I hope everyone made it home from the getaway refreshed and ready to keep sewing! After all, that is what we enjoy the most. I stopped to say hello to the group on Saturday and it looked like everyone was having a great time sewing, eating, and shopping. Special thanks to Ellen and Pat for throwing a great event. And Stephanie - what great goodie bags and door prizes! 

The Nominating Committee is actively recruiting for next years officers and committee chairs. Please get in touch with Kelly Meanix, Ellen McMillen, or Stephanie Brasky if you are interested in participating. Being an officer or a chair is a great way to get more involved in the group. Many friendships are created working together on projects.

Keep working on you challenge quilts and the charity projects. Looking forward to March!

Leslie

PROGRAMS

In addition to our Silver Screen Challenge, Stacy Koehler will present her lecture, "You Be the Judge: Learn What Judges Really Want".  I hope this will inspire more of our members to enter their quilts in 2017!

“(Stacy’s) judging goal is to make entering a quilt for judging a meaningful step in the quilting career of each entrant that motivates them to make more quilts and refine our art.”

She has been an NQA Certified Judge since 2005, became qualified to judge in their Master Quilt program in 2008 and is currently working with other CJ’s to make the certified judging program a free-standing entity.

Stacy has exhibited her quilts both locally and nationally.  She teaches in shops and adult education programs and is an active member of Undercover Quilts in Aston, PA.

Membership
Unfortunately, we had to cancel our February meeting due to weather. 

March Birthdays
6 Fay Ann Grider
10 Pat Sherman
15 Jan Zwizanski
26 Marti Campbell

CHALLENGE

Silver Screen Challenge - March 14

Just Do It!  It will be so fun to have many quilts to oh, ah, and vote on.  Please consider putting yourself out there and giving it a shot.  

Rules:

Inspired by a film

no more than 100 inches in perimeter

Bring to meeting in anonymous brown paper bag.

Pin paper to back with movie and name

For more information see last month's newsletter.  

-Kathy DeCarli and Robin McMillen

Robin McMillen

(610)836-1363

(610)873-2950

4 Patch Swap

The aqua and green 4 patches are due at the March meeting, please remember to let me know if you will not be at the meeting. Remember we are swapping 12 blocks, please put your name inside the bag.
The color for April is orange, any combinations you want to sew!
Kelly Meanix       kellymx@aol.com 610-873-7211

Hospitality
The March snack list is: J. Zwizanski, A. Barchi, M. Carlson, C. Davis, K. DeCarli, R. DeCarli*, S. Doonan, E. Dusinberre, E. Egan*, J. Fox, P.Gallagher. Please remember to switch with a friend if you can't attend the meeting and let me know.  Also if there is a star after your name bring a drink for the group instead of a snack.  

CLEAN OUT YOUR SEWING ROOM

FOR THE

SILENT AUCTION

ON JUNE 13, 2016

YOU HAVE THE MARCH AND APRIL MEETINGS TO DELIVER YOUR ITEMS TO DIANA SMYRL

(Please no items delivered at the June Meeting)

ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT THE GUILD.

 
Quilt Show News
 
I have attached a list of the chairs of the committees.  My computer is having some issues.  Thank you to those who contacted me regarding their choice of committee.  If I did not hear from a past chair, I left you in place.  Please contact me if anyone needs to change position or if someone wants a new position.
 
Suzanne gave me a wonderful timeline for the steps needed to get ready and manage the show.  I will be sending individual emails to the chairs regarding their specific timeline.  Right now we are interested in just a few things.
 
Leslie is in charge of vendors.  Please offer any vendors to her.  She will also coordinate with them during the show and may need an assistant for this.
 
Ellen will be locating judges.  The NQA judges have associated themselves with another organization and are still judging.  We will get more information on this later.  There will not be NQA Ribbons; perhaps from the new organization.  We could also make our own ribbons.
 
 We also want to revise our entry form/categories.  Please send your suggestions for changes to Ellen and to me.
 
I plan on having a meeting in March.  I would like to have the meeting at my home, but I recognize it is a hike to Morgantown.  While I welcome everyone's participation, attendance is not mandatory.  We are in the very early stages right now so the priorities are vendors, door prizes, judges, and entry forms. 
 
I like to hear from you and you will be hearing from me.
 
Quilt Show Committee Chairs

Show Co-Chairs                                Carolyn Davis and Jamie Loncaric

Floor Plan, Set-up, Take town       Bob DeCarli
Acorn Shoppe                                   Pat Smith and Helen Hofbauer
Props                                                  Pat Smith
Small Quilts Raffle                           Kelly Meanix  
             Door Prizes                         Suzanne Stiverson 
Raffle Baskets, Door Prizes          Jean Fox
Basket Delivery                                Marsha Paczok
Vendors                                             Leslie O’Brien
Registration/Admission                  Denise Blake
Quilt Judging/forms                        Ellen McMillen
Dresden Plate Café                         Robin McMillen
Quilt Check-in/Check-out              Jean Zubert and Cindy Vognetz
Ads for Programs                             Diana Smryl
Program                                            Pat Smith
Publicity                                             Suzanne Doonan
Quilt Signs, Viewer’s Choice          Myrna Paluba
Signs                                                   Elaine Egan
White Glove & Clean-up                Marti Campbell
Volunteer Coordinator                   Dana O'Connor

Member Profile - Fay Ann Grider

How many years ago did you start quilting?

I started quilting in 1983 when I answered an add in the local paper for a quilting class in the home of Jackie Magan. She was a member of Main Line Quilters and a great teacher. We made our own templates - cardboard or plastic milk cartons - and our blocks were sewn by hand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is your favorite part of the quilting process?

Shopping for fabric is fun, cutting and sewing the pieces into blocks is relaxing - most of the time- but my greatest pleasure is sewing the rows and strips into a finished top.

What is your favorite color?

My very favorite color is any shade of green. I love bright colors so yellows and oranges are a close second and third.

How many quilts do you think you have made?

I am not a prolific quilter. I can count 83 quilts and wallhangings plus many baby quilts for charities and 42 quillows.

What is your next project?

At the Penn Oaks Quilters getaway, I bought yards of fabric I could not resist. I want it to be my 2017 quilt show entry.

Tell us something the members may not know about you.

I was a taste tester for the Lindor Chocolate Company for over a year. It was a wonderful experience to receive a package of chocolate each month and to know that my opinion influenced the flavor selections on today's market. Each day's end I treat myself to one Lindor chocolate ball. Guild meetings, getaways, and the friends and acquaintances I have made over the years are like sharing that one chocolate ball each time we meet. Savor the moment.


Ronald McDonald House Snacks

Collecting snacks for Ronald McDonald House is an ongoing effort.  They are looking for individually wrapped portions of cookies, pretzels, chips, fruit snacks and anything else that children would like to snack on. Just bring them to the meeting and I will take it from there.

Thank you,
Jean Zubert
jzbeachchair@aol.com

Write as Desired……

How this stash thing got started

When describing pre-Victorian antique quilts, Ruth E. Finley in “Old Patchwork Quilts and the Women Who Made Them”, writes that the quilts were “pieced from materials that not infrequently had already seen their best days in the form of clothing, the family quilt was like the turkey soup made from the left-overs of the Christmas feast – a positively last appearance”.

And when speaking of quilters in bygone generations, Finley writes, “Serving the purpose of patchwork was the scrapbag, always”. “It was institutional.”

What started out as a frugal endeavor to make something out of nothing, has blossomed into a full blown hobby and industry. Quilting was a multi-million dollar industry in the 1980’s but has burgeoned into an annual 3.58 billion dollar industry in 2010 boasting over 21.3 million quilters over the age of 18. 

There are many factors which aided the growth of quilting and there are many fine texts from quilt historians and scholars documenting this growth.  More recent developments which we may have witnessed ourselves as quilters occurred in the late 70’s and early 80’s.

In 1981, Jinny Beyer became the first quilter to design a line of 100% cotton fabric with VIP that was sold only through quilt shops for quilt makers.  This exclusivity made it possible for the shops to compete with the big chain fabric stores.  Today well known designers, quilt makers and historians produce complete lines of fabrics.  Museum and antique reproductions add to the myriad of choices we have. 

If you started quilting in the 80’s you may have created cardboard templates and traced and cut each block piece individually.  The process was slow and laborious.  With the introduction of the rotary cutter (originally used in Japan to cut layers of kimono silk), the process of creating a quilt became much less tedious, allowing a quilter to concentrate on the more creative aspects of the work.  As quilters used fabric more, manufactures produced more fabric specifically for the quilter. It is estimated that today over 100 manufacturers produce lines for quilters. The fabric market is explosive with new designers and new complete lines introduced continually.   It is no wonder that our shelves are overflowing!  Although techniques make quilt making faster than they once were, it is still faster to buy an entire collection of fabric than use that fabric in a quilt. 

And so here we are. You started buying an extra half yard and now you are buying collections!   

Stashes can take over the shelves, the room, the basement or even the house. One retired gentleman I met in a quilt shop, confided that when he really looked at the beautiful things his wife was making, instead of fighting it, he embraced it, and started making his own works focusing on embroidery.

So how do you treat your stash?  Do you hide it and pretend the beast is not in the room looking only for the latest fabric collection you bought for that next quilt? Or do you embrace it as the quilter husband did and take care of it. Does your stash bring you contentment and is it a source of encouragement or does it make you feel anxious and guilty – a source of frustration?

Get comfortable with it again – enjoy it – you worked hard to get it – use it.

Say Yes to the stash! 

Play with it.  Get down and look at it again.

Every winter I try to dedicate time to reacquainting myself with my collection.  I do this especially when my husband is off on a business trip and I can just hole up in my sewing room. 

My stash was becoming unruly and it needed tamed.  It was crawling down the hall like an invasive ivy and it needed cut back. Quite different than our earlier quilters who had a scrap bag – a scrap room?

I love making “piles”.  My youngest sister who was handicapped would sit and make piles for me.  Maria was very sight impaired and wore the thickest glasses yet she could see color like no one else.  Her piles were fun, colorful and unique.  Starting with one fabric she selected, she would go in directions that were her own.  Not mine.  Not the latest fashion but wonderful.  And so should you. Play.  Forget what you think you should be doing and do what you love. Do what makes you happy.

And so once a year, I go through each piece of fabric on the shelves and containers and weed.  I reacquaint myself with my stash.  I find old friends, places I have been and times I shared.  But I also find the “really what was I thinking” and “I needed 2 yards of the chicken fabric”? 

Before the upcoming March show, take time to sit with your stash and think about where you are.  Where do you want to go this year?  What am I looking for?  What do I need to buy to make it happen?  We are far from making turkey soup quilts.  We have fabric that we love and fabric that we outgrew.  Let it all be a source of joy and creativity to create those quilts you dreamed of.

Sources:

Finley, Ruth E. Old Patchwork Quilts and the Women Who Made Them

Shaw, Robert. American Quilts The Democratic Art, 1780 – 2007

Chris Harkins

The 2016 Getaway!

The Getaway was a huge success! Many thanks to Ellen McMillen and Pat Sherman who did all the planning and organizing. Special thanks to Stephanie Braskey who had some awesome door prizes this year to add to the fun. Everyone loved them! I happened to see the pinking shears alone retailed at $49.00 and the box of thread was about $132.00 two wonderful prizes among many others. A nice unexpected activity for our getaway!!!!

Fay Ann and Cindy in the background

Diana

Stephanie, Pat and Dana

Martha

Jamie, Stephanie and Carolyn

Maureen and Marti with Jamie in the background

Jean

Fay Ann who had the largest table in the room! (-:

Jean  and Stephanie

Jean, Cindy and Rita Marie

Quilt Happenings

American Quilter's Society
March 16-19, 2016
Lancaster Convention Center
Lancaster, PA
www.americanquilter.com

Celebration of Quilts 2016
York Quilter's Guild
May 20-21, 2016
Grumbacher Sport & Fitness Center
York, PA
www.celebrationofquilts.com

Quilt Odyssey

July 23-26
Hershey Lodge and Convention Center
Hershey, PA
www.quiltodyssey.com

February 2016 Newsletter

President's Letter

Happy New Year Guild!

I know we all did it. We changed out our 2015 quilt calendars and we now display our new 2016 quilt calendars. There must be an online quiz somewhere that tells us our quilting personalities based on the kind of quilt calendar we choose.

First question - what kind of calendar do you display? Sue Spargo? NQA? Quilts of the Amish? A Year of Applique Quilts? A Year of modern Quilts? other?

Next - Is it a full size wall calendar, an oversize wall calendar, a daily, weekly, monthly, or purse size calendar?

Next - Do you own a quilt block perpetual calendar that you keep out forever?

Next - Do you keep your old calendars or throw them away? Really? How can you throw all those pretty pictures away?

Next - Do you have more than one quilt calendar? If so, how many? 2, 3, 4, 5. or more?

I'm sure the answers to those questions reveal something. The most important thing revealed? We are quilters and like all different kinds of quilting and sewing. That is why we have a guild. That is how we share our favorite quilts and techniques and enjoy our sewing as a group.

Should we start a name cycle for quilting techniques for the years? Instead of the year of the chicken or the monkey, or the lion, this could be it the year of the applique... or something else.

Happy Quilting Year 2016! Just have fun quilting.

See you this month! 

Leslie O'Brien

Programs

 Kelly Meanix will be presenting a lecture and trunk show.  Kelly is an active member of Penn Oaks, Calico Cutters in West Chester and most recently, Modern Quilt Guild in Lancaster. She is a very creative quilter who shares her passion for, not just quilting but gardening, decorating, cooking and most of all, family through her blog,http://pinkadotquilts.blogspot.com/ Kelly will share her experiences and challenges that come with writing a blog and hopefully has a few items to show us that she hasn’'t given away yet (she is known for her generous spirit!) I’'m sure we all want to know how she does it all.

Membership
We had 37 members and 3 guests at the January meeting.
We also had one new member, Linda Kerschner!  Welcome!

February Birthdays

15 Robin McMillen
16 Kimberly Leadbetter
21 Ellen Lance
26 Angel Henderson

Hospitality
Snack list for February guild meeting is: J. Zwizanski, A. Barchi, D. Becker*, D. Blake, S. Borr, S. Braskey*, J. Brown, M.Campbell, M. Caporale; a star after your name means you should bring a drink for the group instead of a snack.  Please switch your responsibility with a friend if you cannot attend the meeting so we don't run short and let me know.  The snacks last month were awesome!!

4 Patch Swap

The aqua 4 patches are due at the February meeting, please remember to let me know if you will not be at the meeting. Remember we are swapping 12 blocks, please put your name inside the bag.
The color for March is green, any combinations you want to sew!
Kelly Meanix       kellymx@aol.com 610-873-7211

Silver Screen Challenge March 2016

Create a quilt inspired by a movie that is significant to you in some way.  It could be your favorite movie or it could be a movie you watched with your children or it could be the first movie you saw with your spouse.  There will be an award for both the best applique quilt and for the best pieced quilt.  Be creative when piecing, for example you could use the storm at sea block for The Poseidon Adventure or Titanic or corn and beans block for Field of Dreams. 

Here are a few other suggestions my Miranda and Charlotte came up with

• Finding Nemo - I spy Quilt
• Pretty in Pink - a pretty pink quilt
• A Native American Pattern for Last of the Mohicans
• Rear Window - Attic Window Block
• You get the idea

The Rules:

·         Perimeter must be less than 100 Inches 

·         Bring your quilt in an anonymous brown paper bag

·         Attach an explanation to your quilt including the title of the movie and an explanation of why you chose that film.  

    We will also, in addition to voting for favorites, have the membership guess the movies and there will be a small prize for the member that guesses the most correct matches of quilts to movies.  Please consider making a quilt for the challenge it would be great to see some newer members participate.  The more quilts, the more fun! Quilts are due at the March meeting.

-Kathy DeCarli and Robin McMillen

 Robin McMillen

(610)836-1363

(610)873-2950

Getaway

Last year I forgot a bunch of things for the getaway. Here is a list that might be helpful. 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_NnmpTjM1uxcHgxU1lpamR6UW8/edit


Member Profile - Jean Fox

How many years have you been quilting?

I was given a needle, thread, and fabric when I was three years old to sew pieces together. Sometimes,  I would stand on my grandmother's chair behind her back and leaned over her shoulder to watch her make either dress for me or quilt blocks.  My quilting was rather limited through the years until  about 1964 because I was sewing doll clothes as well as clothes for me.  I took some classes at a quilt shop at that time but really did not do a lot as I was working and in a couple of years from then had my son.  Again clothing for him and me were my primary sewing projects. In the late 90's I quit  working at my regular job.  I was offered a part time job in a quilt shop teaching guide  lessons on the Bernina sewing machine and teaching some quilting. The many techniques  of needlework have always been a very important craft for me also so because of this I was not getting as much quilting done as I would like. Now I do most of my quilting in the day time and spend the evenings doing needlework.

What is your favorite part of quilting?

My favorite part of quilting is the cutting and sewing together the blocks.  There have been times when I spent all day cutting with plans so sew it all together later.

What is your favorite color? 

I do not really have a special color although I do lean toward blue.  I just like working with groups of color that look well together  depending on the subject of the project.

How many quilts have you made?

I couldn't begin to say how many "quilts" I have made.  I make mostly wall hangings and smaller things.  It depends on a design or item that I like. Many times what I make depends on who I am going to give it to which Is where most of my things go.  I have also been fortunate to sell a lot of things with a group who do this together in the fall at the Brandywine Museum Fall Market Place.

What is your next project?

I am seriously thinking about making  some things using men's ties. They will probably be mostly wall hangings  I have a very  large selection of ties and recently found a very good book with many designs made using ties.  I don't know how much I will get made because using this type of material makes it necessary to using a lightweight backing on all the fabric.  This makes it twice the amount of work than using regular cotton fabric.  Along with this I have a quilt started for  my newly wed (3 yrs. now) son which I hope to get finished some time this year.  So far I have only made smaller things for them.

Tell us something the member may want to know about you.

I have been a member of Penn Oaks from the beginning at which time I was the first president.  It is a very important  group of people in my life.  Other wise, my life consists mostly with being active  in the quilt guild, the embroiderer's guild, my church's women's board and trying to keep up with the house work and my husband.

Write as Desired……

BREAKING NEWS

I have declared the year 2016 to be the Year of the Stash.

I have declared this privately, to a few close friends and now to the world!

This is the Year of the Stash and I have already begun!

        With this declaration, I have decided to write about my experience in short articles that I hope will compile into a small book.  My goal in writing will not be to give stash busting patterns but rather to explore the art of the stash in defining who I am as a quilter.  I also hope that you are inspired to look more deeply at your own work and your stash with me.   You started building your stash because you wanted to make more quilts but did your stash get out of hand along the way?   Has your stash become more of a burden than a source of inspiration?   Do you have a love/hate relationship with your stash?

            I started quilting about 30 years ago.  My first quilt was made with 6 fabrics that I purchased from my teacher in her basement.  I did not know that quilt stores existed. When I did find a quilt store, I timidly bought 2 solid colors – a pink and a blue – to add to the 6 prints I had.   And then the fun began.  I started to build a stash. 

From that first king size sampler with the polyester sashing, I was hooked, but dare I say that I was hooked more on the fabric than the quilting.  Years went by when I did not have the time or energy to make a quilt but I kept on building that stash! Sure I used my stash when I made quilts but the stash burgeoned.   There was no stopping it.

And so last year, I had come to address the elephant in the room and hall and closet.  What was I going to do with this collection of what I call “rags”? Little pieces of fabric all stacked up.  Totally worthless if not sewn up, or woven or something.

I did not back off.  I did not put more containers in the basement.  I faced it head on.  And so 2016 is The Year of the Stash.

In exploring my stash, I am going to invite you to explore yours.  I am going to explore ideas such as

Listening to your stash

Friendships

Temptations

Supporting your local quilt shop while using your stash

Core Collections

The Compost Heap

Storage

And Stash’s sister Scraps!

I will try to keep you posted in this journey.  Some of you may be ahead of me in your journey and some of you may be behind but isn’t that the joy of it.  Using what we have in the best way we can, at our own pace, and discovering something about ourselves and our craft in the process.

Now I know I have another pink somewhere……..

Chris Harkins

Plexiglass Templates

At the January meeting, I showed two plexiglass templates that I use to rotary cut the custom dance skirts I make. I realized that plexiglass is perfect for a shape that we need to cut a zillion of for a project. I love my rotary cutter so anytime I can use it is a time saver. The possibilities are endless and it is an inexpensive way to save time which is precious in our busy lives. 

 C &R Glass 

5 Westtown Rd 

West Chester PA 19382

610-696-5611

( they are on the short section of Westtown Rd between Market and Gay street)

I provided them the paper pattern that I designed and the plexiglass is perfect thickness for the rotary cutter. The 4 skirt patterns (like I showed at mtg) which are about 12"X12" and piece 2 1/4"X 24  were $25.00

Allie Barchi

Pet Beds 
Patricia Sherman, and Dana O'Connor are taking fabric and batting scraps. They will be for dog and cat beds.  Debbie Becker will pass them along to Pat and Dana if they are not at the meeting.

Quilt Events

New Quilts by Kaffe FassettMichener Art Museum
November 14, 2015 - February 21, 2016
Doylestown, PA  18901
www.michenermuseum.org

2016 Nature's Prism: A Quilt Display
January 8, 2016 - February 7, 2016
Devon, PA
Jenkins Arboretum
www.jenkinsarboretum.org

FibreWorks Winter Retreat 
Workshops and Gathering
February 26 -28, 2016
Harrisburg-Hershey Sheraton Inn
Hershey, PA
www.gatheringofguilds.com

American Quilter's Society
March 16-19, 2016
Lancaster Convention Center
Lancaster, PA
www.americanquilter.com

Celebration of Quilts 2016
York Quilter's Guild
May 20-21, 2016
Grumbacher Sport & Fitness Center
York, PA
www.celebrationofquilts.com

Quilt Odyssey

July 23-26
Hershey Lodge and Convention Center
Hershey, PA
www.quiltodyssey.com

January 2016 Newsletter

President's Letter

Happy New Year to All!

I hope all your Christmas dreams came true and I wish everyone the best in 2016. May you be able to spend lots of time with those you love and spend time doing things you love - that means quilting!

I want to take time at the beginning of the year to thank everyone for their contributions to the Guild. You know who you are! You are Board Members, Committee Chairs, Volunteer Quilters and donors, Volunteers of the Year, and individuals who donate items to raffle and auction for the benefit of the Guild, and of course, loyal members. Without all of you we wouldn't have a Guild.

I  welcome all those who became members in the last year. You also know who you are! We are happy to have you aboard and look forward to getting to know you.

While it is cold and wintery, if it becomes cold and wintery that is, remember to get a head start on those show quilts. Next year, which will be here before you know it, is a show year. The planning has begun and it will get more intense as we go. Thank you, Caroline Davis, for taking the show chairperson position from the longtime chair, Suzanne Stiverson. You have big shoes to fill, but we all know you will do fine!

Happy New Year!

Leslie

Programs

How to Prepare Your Quilt for the Long Arm Quilter

Considering having your quilt sent out to a long arm quilter? Guild members Carolyn Davis and Jamie Loncaric have recently started a hand-guided long arm quilting business. Having completed over 40 quilts for customers, they are anxious to share what they’ve learned about prepping our quilts for this type of service. They will have examples of potential pitfalls and things to consider when choosing a design as well as where to look for potential designs.

Holiday Show and Tell

Before you pack away your holiday decorations, save out your favorite one for this special Show and Tell.   It could be something you made, or that someone special made for you!

Talk to you soon.  Happy New Year!

Betsy 

Membership
We had 30 members at the December meetings and 3 guests. We also added a new member, Kimberly Leadbetter. Welcome!

We have one birthday in January.

Diana Smyrl's birthday is on January 25.

Hospitality

Snack list for the January, 2016 meeting is: P.Smith, R.Smith, D. Smyrl, M. Stevenson*, S. Stiverson, C. Vognetz*, P.White, S. Williams, J. Zubert. If there is a star after your name, please bring a beverage for the group instead of a snack. If you cannot attend the meeting, kindly switch your responsibility with a friend so we don't run short and let me know.

Member Profile- Jamie Loncaric

How many years ago did you start quilting?

I started quilting when my son Logan was born and he just turned 7 at the end of October.  I had been laid off just as I was going to return to work after he was born and we made things work so I could be a stay at home mom and save daycare costs.  My mom had been quilting and I wanted to find a hobby.  Now that he is in school for a full day, it has really opened up my quilting time!

What is your favorite part of the quilting process?

I love to walk around and look at all the fabric choices.  It's really easy at the "shopping for fabric" phase to imagine gorgeous, effortless results.  Reality is certainly more challenging!  As I was making the Super Mario quilt I had in our last guild show, I also realized I really enjoyed creating something that looked like something.  I like batiks and beautiful patterns but seeing something familiar come from something I created was a lot of fun.  Maybe I just appreciated the instant gratification it provided.

What is your favorite color?

I love love love blues.  So many gorgeous different choices.  Batiks are my favorite fabrics.  I like how they often have blended colors and patterns going on.

How many quilts do you think you have made?

I think I've made a little over 20 quilts.  Many have been given away as gifts but we have a few to use on chilly days on the couch. 

What is your next project?

I'm working on a Legend of Zelda video game quilt that will be a wedding gift for my husbands cousin in October 2016.  I am enjoying it a lot and have to keep telling myself that it will be a gift and not to get attached.  Not sure I could stomach making another one for myself after.  Too many 1 1/2 inch squares!

Tell us something the members may want to know about yourself.

The nerd/geek streak runs pretty strong though my household.  If you are ever considering an electronic purchase (or video game quilt patterns!), feel free to ask any questions.  There is a good chance I've got something in my household for reference and I'm always willing to help. I am still very much a novice quilter though so I will look to the other members for support!

Block Swap

The blue 4 patches are due at the January meeting, please remember to let me know if you will not be at the meeting. Remember we are swapping 12 blocks, please put your name inside the bag.
The color for February is aqua, any combinations you want to sew!
Kelly Meanix       kellymx@aol.com 610-873-7211

Sewing Machine Raffle
Please let everyone know Betsy Moses won the sewing machine raffle!

Thx

Denise Werkheiser

Upcoming Events

New Quilts by Kaffe Fassett

Michener Art Museum
November 14, 2015 - February 21, 2016
Doylestown, PA  18901
www.michenermuseum.org

2016 Nature's Prism: A Quilt Display
January 8, 2016 - February 7, 2016
Devon, PA
Jenkins Arboretum
www.jenkinsarboretum.org

American Quilter's Society
March 16-19, 2016
Lancaster Convention Center
Lancaster, PA
www.americanquilter.com

Celebration of Quilts 2016

York Quilter's Guild
May 20-21, 2016
Grumbacher Sport & Fitness Center
York, PA
www.celebrationofquilts.com

December 2015 Newsletter

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

The holidays are here! The decorations are up, the 24 X 7 holiday tunes are on the radio, and the black Friday specials have begun. We have our Christmas quilts on display. It is that time of year!

The next meeting is our annual December party. Check the hospitality list to see if it is your turn to bring a treat. The party will be low key this year. Just sit and sew and eat, or just sit and eat. Take time to socialize. Don't forget the block exchange. You may exchange as many blocks as you wish. The more you exchange, the sooner you will have enough to make a quilt. 

I hope everyone has a great holiday. Remember, if you are feeling stressed all you have to do is sew for a while. It has been proven that sewing lowers stress. Of course, we all knew that before "the study" was done. Enjoy friends and family and the fun the season brings. 

Don't forget to check email and facebook if the weather is threatening since we don't have the phone chain this year. Odd to think about that today when it is sunny and 60 degrees, but winter will eventually show up. 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All,

Leslie


PROGRAMS
We will be celebrating the holidays this month with a party and "mini bee".  Bring your ufo's or choose one of Leslie's kits.  Don't forget your favorite seat cushion!  If you would like to participate in the holiday block exchange, bring one or more holiday blocks, 12-1/2" unfinished and individually wrapped and exchange for the same number of blocks as you bring.  Sign your work, please!  There should be no shortage of tasty treats and great conversation.

MEMBERSHIP
We had 40 members and 3 guests at the November meeting. 
We will be sending out an updated directory shortly as well.

December Birthdays
9 Denise Werkheiser
13 Kelly Meanix
30 Marianne Caporale

HOSPITALITY
Snack list for the December holiday meeting is: E. Lance, M. Lewis, R.lodi, J. Loncaric, S.Longenecker, E. Mayer, E. McMillen*, R. McMillen, K.Meanix, E. Mincarelli, B. Moses*, R. Newlander, L. O'Brien, D. O'Connor, M. Paczok, M. Paluba, L.Paylor, N. Rubinelli, P.Sherman*, S. Simmons.  A star after your name means you bring a beverage for the group instead of a snack. If your name is on this list, mark it on your calendar so you don't forget and please ask a friend to switch with you if you can't attend the party and let me know @ 610-350-7688. 

Block Swap
The red 4 patches are due at the December meeting, please remember to let me know if you will not be at the meeting. Remember we are swapping 12 blocks, please put your name inside the bag.
The color for January is blue, any combinations you want to sew!
Kelly Meanix       kellymx@aol.com 610-873-7211


2016 Getaway
The final room reservation payment for the Getaway is due at the December guild meeting. Ellen will send you an email letting you know your balance due about one week before our meeting. The fee for the sewing room and Saturday evening dinner is not due until January. The cost will likely be around $19-20 per person, specific amount to follow. Thank you.
Ellen McMillen and Pat Sherman

Member Profile--Marian Stevenson

When did you first start quilting?

I started my first quilt when I was 16.  Our next door neighbor was making one and she encouraged me.  My Mother sewed very well, I sewed, not well.  The quilt was of squares and the plain squares were cut from a new peach colored cotton sheet.  This quilt did not get finished until I was expecting my third child and I got it done for him.  It was tied and I learned how hard it was to tie through sheet fabric.  I believe he still has it and I did mend it once.

What is your favorite part of quilting?

My next start on quilting was in 1980 when I took a class with Sonja Schaeffer (sp?) and have been doing it since.  I think my favorite part is deciding what I want to make and gathering up the fabrics (shopping).  Next is cutting out.  The hardest part is settling down and finishing.

What is your favorite color?

My favorite color is blue, followed by red, and actually bright colors.  

How many quilts have you made?

I have not kept count of the quilts I have made.  I know I made 5 for the family and one for a Mother-in-Law and after that many tied quilts for the Spanish Mission in Kennett Square, through our church group "Magic Needles".

What is your next project?

My next project is to finish up some started projects:  2 Halloween wall hangings, a fidget quilt and two wall hangings to go out to be quilted.

What is something you want the group to know about you?

I am the person who comes with a cart for balance and a cane.  I have benign familial tremor which I inherited from my Father.  (The man who lives across the hall from us has it and inherited it from his Mother.)   We have now lived at Maris Grove five years coming up this January.  I do like to bake cookies and you all have my recipe for Swedish Oatmeal Cookies.

Upcoming Events

New Quilts by Kaffe Fassett

Michener Art Museum
November 14, 2015 - February 21, 2016
Doylestown, PA  18901
www.michenermuseum.org

2016 Nature's Prism: A Quilt Display
January 8, 2016 - February 7, 2016
Devon, PA
Jenkins Arboretum
www.jenkinsarboretum.org

American Quilter's Society
March 16-19, 2016
Lancaster Convention Center
Lancaster, PA
www.americanquilter.com

Celebration of Quilts 2016

York Quilter's Guild
May 20-21, 2016
Grumbacher Sport & Fitness Center
York, PA
www.celebrationofquilts.com

November 2015 Newsletter

President's Letter

Autumn is in full swing and we have a lot happening.

Do you ever wish you knew how to make the New York Beauty blocks or just needed that nudge to start a project? If yes, then join the workshop the day of the November meeting. Catch up with Betsy Moses if you want to join us. 

We have many active charitable activities. One of them is bound to fit your style of giving.  If you don't see something you want to do, then create something and we'll do it! In the meantime, keep bringing wrapped snacks for the Ronald McDonald House. Thank you to all of those who contributed last month to the Ronald McDonald House and to those who made cat creations for the Cat Angels' auction. 

Did someone say "Christmas and holiday party?" Have you started your Holiday Block Exchange block yet? It isn't too early to create a 10 1/2 block to swap with other members. You don't have to make just one. You can swap as many as you like. Plan to buy the Guild fundraiser tickets for the sewing cabinet. The drawing will be held at the holiday party. It would make a great gift for you or someone in your sewing family. 

I can't believe I am saying this already...Happy Thanksgiving!

Leslie

Programs

Our own Bob DeCarli will be sharing his enthusiasm for the Electric Quilt 7 software with us this November in his unique and humorous style.  EQ7 is a quilt design software for quilt designers of all skill levels and promises to be the most user-friendly yet.  Check out all the different possibilities for this software at www.electricquilt.com .

This should tie in nicely with our New York Beauty workshop that day.  I pinned a great example of what you could create by using this paper piecing  technique and design software.  You can see this stunning quilt at https://www.pinterest.com/betsymoses/ on my "Quilts Board".  It is black and white with a touch of pink.

Let me know ASAP if you decide to join us at the workshop.  There's plenty of room and still time to order the necessary supplies.
We will have a party in December, including a holiday block swap - 12-1/2" unfinished; a mini bee - bring your almost finished holiday project or a make-and-take, courtesy of Leslie; and, of course, plenty of great snacks!

Hospitality
Snack list for November is: FA Grider, C. Harkins, A. Henderson, D.Hill, H.Hofbauer, D. Holzwarth, M.Hopkins*, M. Kline, L. Lakitsky*.  A star after  your name means you bring a beverage for the group instead of a snack. Please remember to switch your responsibility with a friend if you can't attend and let me know. April

Membership

We had 34 members at the October meeting and 1 guest with intentions to
join!

Here are the November Birthdays!
8    Allie Barchi
13  Dena Corry
28 Jamie Loncaric

Block Swap
The yellow 4 patches are due at the November meeting, please remember to let me know if you will not be at the meeting. Remember we are swapping 12 blocks, please put your name inside the bag.
The color for December is red, any combinations you want to sew!
Kelly Meanix       kellymx@aol.com 610-873-7211

New York Beauty Workshop Update

Deadline to order book, template/stencil set and paperpiecing paper from the Quilt Block is tomorrow!  They are offering us a great deal, so even if you can't attend the workshop, you may want to order for your own library.  New York Beauty Diversified is $18.50 ("Simplified" book is $19.50),  Template/Stencil Set is $22.00 and a 100 page package of Carol Doak's paper is $11.65.  You can use other brands of paper if you have them.  I tried tear away paper on a roll, but found it a little hard to remove completely.

 I will be teaching a workshop at the Frazer Mennonite Church on November 9th on one of Linda Hahn's New York Beauty Diversified patterns, "Bensonhurst Blooms". A sneak peak inside this book is available at https://shop.americanquilter.com/media/peekinside/files/264/1251.pdf.  This will be a full day workshop from 10:00 to 4:00. Cost is $15 plus materials.  I can wait until day of workshop to collect fee.  You will need a copy of either of Linda's New York Beauty books and a set of acrylic templates and stencils.  I used New York Beauty Diversified, but the technique can also be found in New York Beauty Simplified.  Feel free to contact me for additional information.  I will have a complete supply list ready for attendees by next week.  It's pretty basic, so don't worry.  I may not have time to quilt my sample, but I think it will be a better teaching tool if you can see the back.

Hope you can join us.  This is not a difficult technique and I know we can all master it and have great samples for Show and Tell that evening!

See you there,

Betsy Moses

Member Profile ---Ellen McMillen
When did you start quilting? 
When reading Leslie's response in the September newsletter I remembered that I made a very simple hand-tied baby quilt for a friend's first born and he is now 44 years old. However I did not really begin quilting until about eleven years ago when Kathy introduced me to hand applique. 

What is your favorite part of quilting? 
Oddly enough my favorite part of quilting is also a difficult one for me. I enjoy selecting fabrics and colors for a project but frequently second guess myself. I need to develop more confidence in this area.

What is your favorite color? 
Blues - from lights to cobalt, blue-greens, aqua, teal. Rose too and I'm getting into more greens. I can't limit it to one color.

How many quilts have you made? 
Very few. As many of you know I'm terrible at finishing projects and have a large number of UFOs and planned projects in my head.

What is your next project?
I'm attempting to design a quilt for the Challenge. I also have a piece to do for my granddaughter's high school graduation. And the millefiori quilts popping up on Facebook are calling to me and I'm trying hard not to succumb!

What is something you want the group to know about you? 
I love animals. My cat is family too. I look forward every year to the arrival of fawns and deer in our yard, although it especially annoys my husband when they nibble on his asparagus patch or venture into the garden.

If you would like to be our next Member Profile, just email me and I would be happy to highlight you! kellymx@aol.com

Penn Oaks Getaway - February 17th-21st, 2016
We have four open slots for our Getaway which will be held at the Amish View Inn and Suites in Bird-in-Hand, www.AmishViewInn.com. If you are interested in filling one of these slots or would like more information please contact Ellen (610-363-5956) or Pat (717- 517- 8018). We will have reservation forms at the November meeting; $100.00 will reserve your room. Final room payments are due at the December 14th guild meeting. Ellen will notify you of your remaining balances. Thank you.
Ellen McMillen and Pat Sherman

Antique Sewing Machine Raffle
Denise Werkheiser will be selling tickets, 1 for $2.00 and 12 for $5.00 for the antique sewing machine she is donating to our group. All proceeds go to the Penn Oaks Quilters. Denise is even offering delivery to the lucky person. We will pull the ticket at the December meeting.

Upcoming Events 

New Quilts by Kaffe Fassett
Michener Art Museum
November 14, 2015 - February 21, 2016
Doylestown, PA  18901
www.michenermuseum.org

Vintage Memories
November 6-7, 2015
Martha Washington Quilters Guild
Washington, PA  15301
http://www.marthawashingtonquiltersguild.com

Every Quilt Has a Story
November 21, 2015
Mainline Quilters Guild
Mainline Unitarian Church
Devon, PA
www.mainlinequilters.org

American Quilters Society
March 16-19, 2016
Lancaster Convention Center
Lancaster, PA
www.americanquilter.com