May 2008 SMQG Newsletter

Programs

We welcome Cathy Van Bruggen as our May speaker. We have all seen Cathy's exquisite, nature-inspired quilts at shows and now we can see and enjoy them as she presents her trunk show. Having raised 5 children, worked as a production manager and sample maker for Catalina Swimwear, designed custom bridal wear, and developed a women's clothing retail chain, Cathy speaks with great authority on the subject, "No Time to Sew."

The internationally known, award-winning artist and teacher Patt Blair returns to our guild to teach a fabric painting workshop, "Emancipating Painting with Inks" on Saturday, May 17. This workshop is limited to 15 and a few spaces are still available. The supply list will be distributed on May 7. A series of mini-workshops for small groups presented by our own guild members will kick off on Saturday, June 7, with a "Stack 'n Whack" class taught by new member Lori Flanders. The supply list will be distributed May 7. This workshop is almost full; a modest fee of $20 will be charged. Madhu Mandavia has agreed to teach an innovative woven quilltmaking technique (no date yet). Stay tuned for more details. We are looking for more home-grown teachers. Please contact us to volunteer to share your skills. We always encourage guild members to contact us with suggestions for speakers and workshops. And remember that our June guild meeting will feature the incomparable Mary Ellen Hopkins

Maureen Gardner, Susan Barrett, Kim Giancola

The President's Message

Hello, everyone! Over the past few months, I've been collecting my favorite quilting tips to share with you. Here are the first few:

One of my very favorite tips comes from Sharyn Craig. Loosen your rotary cutter. It should move freely when lightly rolled across your mat. Any tighter, and you are exerting pressure to turn the blade as well as to cut the fabric. Once you loosen your blade, you will notice immediately that cutting is easier and your hand will feel much less fatigued and your blades will last longer. When I first heard this tip, I thought that the blade in my rotary cutter was almost ready for replacement. Once I loosened it, it felt like a new blade and I got twice as much use out of it.

There is much less stretch in the lengthwise grain of fabric, parallel to the selvage, than there is in the crosswise grain, which runs across the fabric from selvage to selvage. When cutting strips for piecing, especially for long border pieces, I cut strips along the lengthwise grain whenever possible. When I'm making binding, however, I cut my strips along the crosswise grain to take advantage of the light stretch. If you have a piece of fabric without a selvage edge to guide you, tug gently in both directions. The side with the least give is the lengthwise grain.

When you are sewing two pieces of fabric together, where one is cut on the lengthwise grain and one is cut on the crosswise grain, put the crosswise (stretchier) piece on the bottom. When I am sewing blocks or rows of blocks together, I gently test each raw edge between the seams to determine which of the two pieces has the greater number of raw crosswise edges, and I put that on the bottom. I learned this as "sew with a baggy bottom" and I've never forgotten it. My piecing isn't perfect but an understanding of grain has improved it. More tips next month!

Prima Casetta

Ways & Means

Remember, in July we will hold our White Elephant Sale, so clean out those sewing areas to make room for incoming fabric! In May and June we will be auctioning off several items - one is an all-inclusive traveling suitcase which holds a sewing machine and all those extras needed for a class. Again, this is in an effort to raise additional funds due to our rent increase.

Winning a door prize is an inexpensive way to add to your stash so please take a minute at the meeting to purchase tickets - $1 each, or 6 for $5. Or just come browse and see what's new at our table. Remember, ticket sales, along with your donations, are used to support the guild. We thank you for your generosity and for your continued support of Ways & Means!

Susanne Cole, Perla Rothenberg, Keiko Tapp

Hospitality Chair

Stephanie Wexler is serving as our Hospitality Chair through June. Guild members can help out Stephanie by bringing snacks and treats. Both salty and sweet items are appreciated. In May, we are asking members with last names beginning "M" through "P" to bring contributions. Members are encouraged to come at 6:30 PM to socialize with your fellow quilters.

Prima Casetta

Guild Activities from Your Vice Presidents

QUILT CHALLENGE The Black and White with One Other Color Challenge deadline is just 2 months away! It's not too late to start. The guidelines: The quilt top must have the colors black (can be different values), white and one other color. The additional color is your choice. You can use the additional color in different values. The color you choose in addition to black and white must take up no more than 50% of the quilt top surface. The quilt is to be layered-top, batting and backing, hand or machine quilted. The quilt backing does not have to follow the color theme. The binding is to be black, white, the additional color of your choice or a combination of the three. The perimeter of the quilt can be no more than 180 inches (the perimeter of a quilt that is 45 inches square is 180 inches). Any embellishments should follow the color theme. Clear crystal or other clear embellishments are acceptable. Deadline is the July 2, 2008 guild meeting where your quilts will be displayed and the guild members will vote their choices in the following categories: Best Use of Color, Best Workmanship, Most Creative, and Overall Viewer's Choice. The quilt(s) you make for this challenge belong to you, the creator/maker, not the guild. You are invited to enter these challenge quilts in the 2009 Quilt Show. The Quilt Show chairs look forward to showcasing the talent and creativity your challenge quilts will undoubtedly display.

MAY BLOCK OF THE MONTH

Block of the Month for May will continue to be the "Beginner Block" by Carol Doak. This is a free block from her website, www.caroldoak.com and the guild has been given permission to feature this block as a BOM. The block is paper-pieced and is actually a "flower bud." These blocks also will be made into Philanthropy quilts. Copies of the block will be available at the guild meeting. Many thanks to Barbara Spielberg for assembling two Philanthropy quilts from the paper-pieced heart blocks. As always, the string blocks and paper-pieced hearts will continue to be accepted through the September 2008 meeting.

4TH OF JULY PARADE

It's official…there will be a 4th of July Parade! Last year, a group of guild members marched in the Santa Monica 4th of July Parade with patriotic quilts members had made. We are now able to plan for our entry in this year's parade. It's not too late to start that patriotic quilt that has been on the "back burner." if you can't march in the parade, your quilt can be carried by another guild member. Guild members who would like to help plan the guild entry in the parade should contact Veronica Gray.

STRIP CLUBS

Kimberly Giancola and Susan Fishman are winners of last month's "Let's Go Fly a Kite" Strip Club exchange. For the May meeting, bring 4 strips of fabric in patriotic colors of red, white or blue, each 2 ½ inches wide. Each strip is to be cut the width of the fabric-fabric widths vary from 40" to 44". The winner will receive all the strips and a "Strip Club" pattern, one easily made into a patriotic quilt just in time for the parade! Hint, hint….

Veronica Gray and Sally Madigan

Quilt Show 2009

EXPLORATIONS 2009

A quilt exhibition of traditional and contemporary works We are in a holding pattern for plans with the 2009 Quilt Show. We expect to be able to establish dates within the next month. Once we know WHEN, we will announce the Featured Quilter and the team ready to create the 2009 Opportunity Quilt. And we will begin to actively seek your participation on the Quilt Show Committee. In the meantime, please think how you can donate to the Quilt Show Bag Boutique. All items for sale will be bags: Hand-bags, evening bags, cosmetic bags, travel bags, diaper bags, totes, quilting travel bags, book bags, children's project bags, toy bags, laundry bags, lingerie bags. And especially grocery bags. Your suggestions and ideas for all areas of the Quilt Show are always welcome.

Veronica Gray and Tina Nord

Philanthropy

"Shoes That Fit"

We knew we could count on our SMQG members!!! You truly have gone beyond our expectations….. We have commitments for all 81 students to receive shoes for their graduation! Wow - what a huge gift. Thank you for your dedication and generosity. Some members have committed to purchasing more than one pair of shoes. A special thank you goes out to them. Our members have never let us down with the projects we have introduced. The Philanthropy committee commends all who have participated.

"Pat of Love" Quilts

Four quilts were donated at the April meeting. Our sincerest appreciation to members Annabel Nelson (who donated 2 quilts), Nancy Sharpe, and Margaret Christensen. We have plenty more quilt tops to be finished, so please stop by the Philanthropy table to pick up a completed top to finish or blocks to be assembled, or just to read the wonderful letters we have received from patients and family members for these gifts of quilts.

"Canceled Postage Stamps"

Please continue to bring in those canceled stamps! Thank you so much for all the stamps received so far. We should have a big collection when we mail them. Thank you all for all your support. If you have any questions about any of our projects, please do not hesitate to contact us via email at mmmquilts@yahoo.com or visit our website, www.apatoflovequilts.org.