About the Piecemakers

General Information:

Guild meetings are held the second Monday of every month at

First United Methodist Church, 120 Knights Ave. North, Brandon, Florida 33510 from 7:00PM – 9:00PM. (social time, sign up time and get to know someone time starts at 6:30pm)

The guild website is www.brandonquiltguild.com (you’re on it!)

Dues:

Dues of $25.00 per year are payable at the October (fiscal year runs August 1 – July 31) meeting. Upon payment of dues each member will receive a guild membership card signed by the treasurer, and a current membership directory. Members will also receive a monthly newsletter and a password that will enable them to access information on the guild website. Guild membership pins are available for $4.00.

Membership Obligations:

• Each member is to have a fabric nametag to be worn at each guild activity.
• Each member is responsible for participating in the construction and sale of the guild’s major fundraiser, the raffle quilt. Each member is responsible for the sale of a minimum of 20 raffle tickets.
• Each member is asked to make at least one lap quilt or baby quilt a year to be donated to organizations supported by the guild. Batting and backing are provided for these quilts by the guild and workshops are held to produce some of these quilts.

2010-11 Guild Officers:

President – Gayle Rudacille
Vice President – Jane Beck
Secretary – Cindy Petersen
Treasurer – Debbie Williams
Parliamentarian – Nancy Mitchell
Membership – Andrea Wolper
Newsletter – Judy DePaul
Workshops – Beverly Higgins
Board of Directors – Judy DePaul, Claudia Ingram, Candace Klein, Carol Menard

Committee Chairs
Bus Trips – Jayne Torres
Challenge Quilt committee – Catherine Fulton/Diane Forrest
Community Projects – Pat Dunlap
Concierge – Janelle Gallaher
Historian – Jenny Bruggerman
Hospitality – Turkey Creek First Baptist Posse –
Dianne Bryant and committee
Librarian – Jan Cole
Monthly Raffle – Lucy Chiacchia
Opportunity Quilt Committee Chair - Kathy Coryn
Quarterly Block –Dani Sawtelle
Retreat Committee Chair – Sandi Pratt
Sunshine – Avaline Kennedy
Webmaster – Kim Brewer

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COMMUNITY PROJECTS/CHARITY QUILTS POLICY
It is a membership obligation for each member to make at least one lap quilt or baby quilt to be donated to organizations supported by the guild.
Batting may be provided by the guild for these quilts, and workshops may be held for the construction of charity quilts at the discretion of the Community Projects Chairperson.
The Community Project Chairperson is responsible for selection of recipient charities which is subject to board approval, and will serve as liaison/contact person with said charities.
The Community Project Chairperson will maintain and update a record of quilts donated by the members throughout the year.  In order to receive credit, members will turn in their donated quilts to the Community Project Chairperson/Committee and may indicate which guild supported charity the quilt was made for.

Adopted by the board as policy for 2009-2010 on September 28, 2009.

Charity Quilts - 2009-2010

This year we are making quilts for "The Kid's Place", Brandon Hospital NICU (neonatal unit), "Joshua House", and Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department substation on Bell Shoals, south of Bloomingdale.  Our goal is to provide as many quilts for these organizations as is possible.  As children are taken from their homes and families they need some comfort.  These blankets do so much good at a time of crisis.

The approximate sizes of the lap quilts are no less than 36" x 36".  Lap quilts that are 42" x 42", or 60" x the width of the fabric are also welcome.  For the Brandon NICU, quilts of 24" x 24" are the requirement.

Please use kid colors or motifs.  Please remember that some of these children may be teenagers, so don't limit yourself to fabric for the very young child.

Questions?  Contact Pat Dunlap, Community Project Chairperson

About Joshua House:

2008 was be a banner year for Joshua House! Expanding services to teen girls with mentoring programs will only make Joshua House shine brighter as Tampa’s most successful program serving children who have been abused, abandoned and neglected.

How did it all start?

Seventeen years ago, a group of concerned citizens dreamed of a safe haven for the abused, neglected and abandoned children in their Tampa Bay community.  After dedicated planning and development their dream was realized in the creation of Joshua House, a place where children could be safe from their demons and heal from their wounds.

Hundreds of children have passed though Joshua House since it opened in 1992.  Each story of abuse and neglect is an unique as the child.  With FIVE (5) homes on 11 acres, Joshua House promotes growth, stability and support specific to each child’s need.  Keeping sibling groups together is just one of the many ways Joshua House makes a difference.

Please visit their website for all they do. www.friendsofjoshuahouse.com

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Library:

We have a large library of quilting books that are available for checkout (with a current membership card) at guild meetings. Books are checked out for a limit of one month. We accept donations and suggestions of quilt books for the library.

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Quarterly Block Exchange:

The Quarterly Block Exchange Drawing is held  in October, December, April and July.  Those participating will receive a pattern and instructions. People will use their own fabric, make and return the finished block for the quarterly drawing.  For each block that a memeber tuns in/makes she will receive one chance to win all the blocks.  The total number of blocks received determines the number of winners.  Patterns become available BEFORE the months listed above.   Watch for more details.  Attached is a sample of the 2008 July Block.  Please see UPCOMING EVENTS for the current pattern and dates.

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A Bunch of  Sunshine Block - A Quilters Get Well Bouquet

6 1/2 " Block (unfinished size)
Cut 4 -- 2 1/2 inch squares of unbleached muslin
Cut 4 -- 2 1/2 inch squares of medium cheerful print
Cut 1 -- 2 1/2 inch squares of sunny yellow print

Arrange as follows:
Print - Muslin - Print Print - Yellow - Print Print - Muslin - Print

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A Sympathy Block - A Quilter's Comfort in Time of Loss

6 1/2" Unfinished Block
For One Block Cut:
1 -- 3 1/2 inch square of unbleached muslin
2 -- 3 1/2 inch x 2 inch rectangles from a "comforting" print
2 -- 6 1/2 inch x 2 inch pieces from the same print

Stitch:
2 - 3 1/2 inch x 2 inch print rectangles to opposite sides of the muslin square pressing the seams towards the print
2 - 6 1/2 inch x 2 inch print pieces onto the top and bottom of the first unit, pressing the seams towards the print

Sign:
Write a message of comfort on the muslin square, along with your signature and the date

Six Blocks:
Cut - 1 strip 3 1/2 inch x width of fabric from muslin
3 strips2 inches x width of fabric from print

Cut - 1 strip of the muslin in half (1/2 will not be used)
1 strip of the print fabric in half
2 strips of the print fabric into 6 - 6 1/2 inch lengths (12 pieces total)

Stitch
1 strip set of the two 2 inch x 22 inch print strips with the muslin between, pressing the seams towards the print

Cut strip set into 6 - 3 1/2 inch units

Stitch 1 - 6 1/2 inch piece print fabric to the top and bottom of each unit.

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A Farewell Block

A wonderful way to say "Remember Me" to a departing guild member.

Cut 2 strips 6 1/2 x 2 1/2 piece of solid or print fabric
1 strip 6 1/2 x 2 1/2 piece of unbleached muslin
Place all three together with the muslin in the middle.

Finish:  You can make several blocks at one time using "the strip piecing" method.  Cut 2 lengths of solid or print fabric 2 1/2 wide, sewing them together with the muslin strip in the middle and then cutting them into 6 1/2 lengths.

Sign your name on the muslin strip using a fine point Pigma pen.  (Tip: if you iron a piece of freezer paper to the muslin strip it makes it easier to write on.)  If you know you are moving away please contact the Sunshine Block Chairperson as soon as possible.  We would hate to miss giving you a set of Farewell Blocks.