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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.
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