|
NEWSLETTER - MARCH, 2009
President's Message: You may not be aware of it, but March 21 is not just our President’s Mystery Bus Trip, but it is also National Quilting Day! We all know that quilting is a great hobby. It is a creative outlet that produces something that both warms our bodies and our souls. It offers us challenges in learning new techniques which keeps us mentally alert. It allows us to make new friends and, as the Girl Scouts say, keep the old. Quilting is so addictive that it can easily take over and become more than just a hobby. It becomes your life! Those of us that will be going on the Mystery Bus Trip will celebrate National Quilting Day together, enjoying the friendships and oohing and aahing over each other’s purchases. Those of you who can’t go should take a few moments to visit your “stash“ and “fondle your fabric” in recognition of all the enjoyment this great hobby offers. So to all of you, Happy National Quilting Day! Judy Ournext meetingis Monday, March 9; Social hour begins at 6:30 p.m. with the general meeting to follow at 7 p.m. Our speaker will be Lovell Symons, the quilter from Sun City Center who judged our quilt show. Those who were present for the judging found her comments to be kind, inciteful and very helpful. Her talk is sure to be informative and encouraging. Those who attended our retreat at Day Spring in February all had a great time. Numerous attendees were very prolific, so it is possible that we will be seeing some of those projects at our Show and Tell on Monday. Kudos to Beverly Higgins for her hard work in organizing the retreat! (How far away is July?) Upcoming workshops:
Our Saturday Sew on March 14 will be held from 9-3 at the church. Judy DePaul will demonstrate how to make a portable design wall; Bev Kelly will show the clever way to make the Drunkard's Path block that she was working on at retreat. As always, bring your machine and whatever project you would like to work on. This newsletter is not intended to be a comprehensive format for all guild news. Please check the website for details. And it is your responsiblity to log in and read the minutes so you can vote for approval at the meeting. If you miss a meeting, this is the best way to find out what took place that evening. If you are having problems logging on, please contact me, Judy DePaul, Jane Beck, Brenda Doggett or Cheryl Irvin. These last two women are working hard to get photos up on the website. This chore is proving to be more difficult that expected, so please be patient as they learn this function. Jane Beck is going to be putting together an order for guild shirts, so be thinking about what you'd like. She will have news for us at an upcoming meeting. Jayne Torres is hard at work planning our special event featuring Karen Kay Buckley. The Board conducted a lengthy discussion about the dates to have this event, but no decision was made. Look for an announcement from Jayne very soon. Looks like we will be attempting to mount another quilt show in the fall of 2010. The organizing committee NEEDS YOUR ASSISTANCE: Do you know of any facility in the East Hillsborough County area that would be an appropriate venue? Please share that information ASAP. Also, think about how you can use your best talents to benefit the quilt show organization. For instance, could you team with a couple of friends to plan the Boutique? This is definiely a group effort! Remember, many hands make light work. Bring to the meeting on Monday: workshop/bus trip payments See you Monday, Debbie Williams
NEWSLETTER - FEBRUARY, 2009 Message from our President: Our guild has alot of upcoming events in the next couple of months and I hope all of you will take advantage of as many of them as you can. We have a national known quilter, Pat Speth, who will be our speaker this month at our guild meeting, and she will also be presenting 2 classes. We have our winter retreat at Day Spring this month which is always a treat to get away and sew, and sew, and sew, and shop, and shop, and shop! The following month also brings a great speaker, Lovell Symons, who was the quilt judge for our last quilt show. We will also have a Saturday Sew, and the President's Mystery Bus Trip that month. So you can see that there are opportunities for you to get to know other members better and to get involved in the guild's activities. Remember, "bloom where you are planted!"! Just a quick note to thank you so much for having me come to speak to your guild. The women were so sweet and welcoming. And I really enjoyed seeing the Keepsake exhibit too. Please thank everyone for me, Maria and Kat hy. Sincerely, Diane McClure
Hope all of you have had a chance to check out our website. There is much information there, and more is being added every day. And, we can now log on to explore the password-protected areas, such as minutes. To do this, fill in your name as it appears in the Directory. Then under Password, type in the word, "quilter," without quotation marks. This will take you to a page where you may edit your personal information, post a photo of yourself, and change your password. Please do this. If you have any problems, you may contact Brenda Doggett or Cheryl Irvin. The website contains all the information on upcoming events, some in multiple places. But here is a brief summary: Pat Speth workshops: Feb. 7 & 9 Donna Whiting wants everyone to know that there ARE openings for the workshop on Feb. 9, so if you are interested, please let her know. Also, if you are attending either of Pat Speth's workshops, PLEASE remember to bring a power cord and an OTT light. Which quilter would you like to see come to Brandon? KAREN KAY BUCKLEY - SALLY COLLINS - KIM DIEHL The Special Events committee announces the three quilters selected out of sixteen that responded to our initial mailing. PLEASE check out their websites prior to our February meeting. A decision will be made soon because time is of the essence in getting someone booked for 2010. Kim Diehl will light up your creative juices when you open her website. You will be drawn in by her design, color and the warmth of her quilts. www.KimDiehl.com Sally Collins, a quilter since 1978 stresses workmanship and attention to detail. Sally offers wonderful workshops and terrific lecture topics. www.SallyCollins.org
Did you enjoy our last quilt show? Do you think our guild should consider holding another show, perhaps in late 2010? Discussion about this possible venture will take place at our next meeting, so please be prepared to share your opinion. Our next meeting is February 9 at 6:30 p.m. Bring any payments for upcoming workshops or the bus trip, library books that are due, and a sympathy block for Bev Kelley. See you then, Debbie Williams
January 2009 Newsletter: President's Message: Happy New Year to everyone! As we start the new year, I'm making the same resolutions I always make – you know, to lose weight and exercise more. I'm also making some sewing resolutions: to clean out and reorganize my “stuff”, to complete 1 UFO for every new project, to get those completed tops quilted, and to use up more of my stash. I'll bet a lot of you h ave the same thoughts – good luck! The new year will be the start of our redone website. I anticipate training for our web people the first week of January and then it will be operational. I think you will find it both useful and user friendly so watch the website for it and check it out. September 2009 will be the 20th anniversary for Piecemaker’s Quilt Guild of Brandon and we would like to celebrate! The board is asking for ideas and suggestions to make the occasion a fun and festive event, so be thinking of what you would like to do for this occasion. We'll continue having our Saturday Sew’s this year, and I encourage more of you to come join us as we not only have a really good time but it’s also a great way to get to know your fellow quilters better. I encourage you to get more involved in some aspect of the guild, and both you and the guild will benefit. Remember, bloom where you are planted! See you at guild, Judy ****************** From Cathy Rebhun: We have a very fun, full January meeting planned with the traveling Keepsake Quilting Challenge Quilts to display and one of their winning entrants, Diane McClure, as a speaker. To be sure you can take advantage of it all, please try to arrive by 6:30 although the official meeting will start at 7 p.m. as always. By the way, while we're able to admire the quilts in the Keepsake exhibit, we don't have permission to take photos of them. See you on the 12th! ****************** With the startup of our new and improved website, the format of this newsletter may change. Since I'm not sure yet what form the newsletter will take, I would just like to ask that if any member has news to post, please feel free to email it to me: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Also, if you have a few minutes you might want to stop by the Brandon Regional Library to check out the display of our quilts that Kathy Coryn and Claudia Ingram put together. See you Monday, Debbie Williams Newsletter Chairperson December, 2008 Newsletter:
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays, quilters! Can you believe December is already here?! With so many activities and celebrations to come in the next few weeks, hope you can find time for some stitching.
LOTS of news to share with you:
Judy DePaul is looking for a volunteer to be assistant/back-up Webmaster for Brenda Doggett. The Boardis seekingsomeone with computer background/knowledge. If interested, please give your name and computer background information to Judy at our December meeting.
Our meeting on Monday, December 8 will feature our annual holiday dinner. Jamie Watts (Donna's husband) will be preparing the meal again this year. The guild is funding the meal, but there will also be a basketon the admissions table where you may place a donation to show appreciation for the chef's efforts.
Joanna Smyth has resigned from her position on the Board of Directorsdue totime constraints. Per the By-Laws, the Board has appointed Peggy Werdan to fill that slot.
Have you started making your stocking(s) to be donated to the Sheriff's department? These will be displayed in the meeting room for everyone to see, so remember to bring your stuffers in a separate bag. If you can donate extra stuffers, they will be greatly appreciated. Audrey Gantous is coordinating this project.
December's "Saturday Sew" event will take place on the 13th in the church's Social Hall, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring a lunch or plan to walk down to Wendy's. You can work on last minute gift items, if you want; or, Diana Bryant will teach you how to make a table runner using border stripe fabric.
Kathy Coryn and Claudia Ingramwould like members to bring to the December meeting "Quilts that Warm Our Hearts."They will bedisplayed in the Brandon Library's secured glass display caseunder the stairway on the first floorfrom Jan 2 until Feb 28. We ask that there be a picture of the quilt, a permanent label on each quilt with the owner's name, address and phone number, the name of the quilt, date made, and any story about the quilt. The quilts will be returned once the display is over. This is a great opportunity to introduce to the community at large the talented members who are the Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Brandon.
If you have any questions, please contact Kathy orClaudia. Remember to bring these items on Monday:
Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m., so please come a little earlier to take care of business and socialize. See you then.
Debbie Williams
Newsletter chairperson
P.S. If you are receiving this via snail mail, and would like to continue to do so, please bring 8 self-addressed stamped envelopes to the next meeting. That would cover mailing of this "newsletter" for the remainder of the year.
November 2008
Good afternoon everyone!
Hope you have all voted, today or earlier. No matter your viewpoint, change IS coming.
Until we are able to iron out all the details of the website/newsletter format, I will continue to send emails with the latest news. If you have friends in the guild who are not receiving these emails, for any reason, please pass along this information to them.....and feel free to email me with comments or address corrections of any nature.
Our November meeting is coming up on Monday. As usual, we will meet at 6:30 for social time, then the "business" meeting will begin promptly at 7 p.m. Judy DePaul has decided upon a slightly new room setup: when you enter, the membership table will be on your right. Please sign in, pick up the minutes, etc. Then as you move into the room, on your right you will find tables set up where you may do your business with the appropriate persons. For example, Cindy Parker and Dawn DeCesare will be selling monthly raffle tickets; Claudia Ingram and Nancy Mitchell will have kits for the December quarterly raffle block; Beverly Higgins will take your retreat payments. I hope you get the idea. The Board is hoping that this arrangement will make it easier for everyone to take care of these matters before the meeting begins.
The programat our meeting will feature Marcia Layton. Marcia Layton is a pre-K teacher from Tampa.She is the author of: Handprint Quilts: Creating Children’s Keepsakes with Paint and Fabric.
We will be having a “Saturday Sew” forcharity quilts on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 9-3 at the church. More details will be provided at the meeting. Bring a lunch or walk down to Wendy’s. New members are encouraged to come to find out more about the guild and get acquainted.
From Cindy Bailey: We have a waiting list of people who would like to join a bee group. We need hosts with a place to meet! We also would like to know if anyone has openings in a current bee group. Anyone interested in any way in a bee group should contact Cindy.
From Audrey Gantous: We will be making Christmas stockings to give out to local underprivileged children. Audrey will have patterns at the meeting. Please bring items to stuff in your stocking in a separate bag to the December meeting. That way, the stockings can all be hung for display. If you wish to donate extra stuffers, they will be gratefully accepted.
Looking forward to seeing you on Monday night.
Debbie Williams
Newsletter chairperson
July News (2008) Our July guild meeting is just around the corner. Some reminders: 1. Election of officers for the upcoming year will take place at our meeting on Monday, July 14. 2. The program will be “A Trip Down Memory Lane.” Claudia Ingram, Nancy Mitchell, Audrey Gantous and Lucelle Monroe will give an overview of how the guild was founded, the history behind our newsletter, and other fun facts. 3. Judy DePaul and Cindy Ackroyd are asking that ALL take-home projects for the quilt show Boutique be returned ASAP. They need these items in order to be able to determine quantities of items to be sold. Even if you are unable to complete the project, please return it; someone else may be able to finish it. Tuesday workdays at Judy’s house continue, though most projects are winding down. 4. Don’t forget your Show and Tell items, the monthly raffle and your name tag! See you Monday. Debbie Williams, Secretary June News (2008)
Hello, ladies! Our June meeting is coming up on Monday, so here are a few notices and reminders: 1. Pauline Salzman will present a lecture at our meeting. For anyone who doesn’t recognize the name, she is a very accomplished quilter from Treasure Island; she has had quilts displayed in several prestigous shows (including Houston and Paducah). 2. There is a workshop planned for June 14 at Judy DePaul’s house. The project is a little seasonal tabletopper. You provide the fabric. Sign up and get the project directions at the meeting. Also, please bring in any projects you took home to complete. Work is starting to wind down on Boutique projects. You won’t believe the lovely items that have been produced! (I admit to being very prejudiced on this point!) 3. Bring needle, thread and scissors to the meeting. We will be making yo-yo’s that will be stuffed and strung together to make Christmas wreath ornaments. 4. Bring your sympathy block for Betty Lucas. Directions can be found in the back of the membership directory. 5. The slate of new officers and Board members will be presented for the first time. 6. The Quilt Show rules and registration formswill be available. Should be a great meeting. Looking forward to seeing all of you. Debbie Williams, Secretary P.S. Does anyone know where the guild quilt racks are? Please cal l me. Thanks. May News (2008) Hello all! Just a few reminders about our upcoming meeting on May 12. Our annual Salad Supper will begin at 6:30 p.m. Officers and board members will bring desserts; everyone else should bring a salad or finger food. The hospitality committee will provide cutlery and beverages. Don’t forget a serving utensil if your dish requires one. We will be viewing the Challenge Quilts before and during the meeting, then voting for Viewer’s Choice. Summer Retreat – Thursday, July 31st – Sunday, August 3rd at the DaySpring Episcopal Conference Center, Ellenton, Florida. The final (or full) payment is due at Monday’s meeting. There is still time to sign up. The remaining slots will be open to non-guild members following our meeting. If you have questions, please contact Cindy Bailey. If you have taken home projects for the Boutique, please bring them back. Also, the May workshop will be May 17 and willfeature Dani Sawtelle’s tote bag. Fabric will be provided. We just need sewers with their machines and sewing supplies. Sign up at guild meeting. See you Monday! Debbie Williams, Secretary
April News (2008) Hello, everyone! Just a couple of reminders about quilt guild matters…. 1. Board meeting Monday at 5:30 p.m. prior to general meeting at 6:30 p.m. Don’t forget to bring:
2. Debbie Jones workshop tomorrow. 3. From Judy DePaul and Cindy Ackroyd: Please complete and bring inanytake-home projects. Judy is holding mini-workshops at her home every Tuesday morning, to make things to sell in the Boutique. You won’t believe how many lovely items have already been produced………..the Boutique is going to be a HUGE success, in my opinion. Needed: Christmas fabrics (small pieces for cutting 3¼” circles) and fat quarters of food fabrics. Workshops at Judy’s house:April 19 - Lucy Chiacchia will be showing everyone how to make the tote bags using screen material. April 29 - fabric bowls 4. Website news from Brenda Doggett: a rough draft of the website has been completed andthey are working on fine tuning the little parts. See you all on Monday night. Debbie Williams P.S. I don’t have correct email addresses for Sandra Bianco, Becky Fox and Esther Farkas, so if you are in touch with these women, please pass along the message. Thanks. D.
|