JANUARY 2008 SMQG Newsletter

Programs

On January 2 well-known appliqué artist and designer Pearl Pereira will present "My Road Trip of Quilting", a trunk show and lecture, followed on Thursday the 3rd by a 4-hour workshop at First United Methodist Church. We will be working on Pearl's folk art style "Quail's Nest" design. We still have space available for this workshop. You can sign up by phone or e-mail with Maureen. Check Pearl's website www.p3designs.com to view her work and obtain a supply list for the workshop. Pearl's appliqué techniques and specially designed tools result in precise, beautiful work. The workshop will focus on the correct tools and techniques to make sharp points, narrow stems, and smooth concave and convex curves. The pattern (preprinted freezer paper templates) is suitable for hand or machine application and will be supplied by Pearl.

In February Peggy Martin's lecture is "Beyond Tradition". Her "Quick-Strip Paper Piecing" techniques streamline the paper piecing process. The February workshop is "Quick-Strip Paper Piecing, New York Beauty". This full-day class is almost full so sign up soon.

County Supervisor and quilter Gloria Molina is our speaker in March. Happy New Quilting Year!

Maureen Gardner, Susan Barrett, Kim Giancola

The President's Message

Hello, everyone! I told you our Potluck would be fun, didn't I? I enjoyed the leisurely pace of the evening and the chance to chat with friends. It was a good start to the round of holiday parties. And now, it's time to think about 2008.

I make New Year's resolutions every year. I love to do it. I'm not talking about those disheartening resolutions that feel like chores and settle on your shoulders like lead weights. I like to make New Year's resolutions that are positive and make me feel good, and that are satisfying to contemplate and that I am eager to carry out.

For quilters, what springs most naturally to mind for a New Year's resolution? UFOs, of course. We quilters have more UFOs than Roswell. Keiko recently told me she has 22 of them! If your resolution is to reduce your collection of UFOs, how about tackling one each month? Take one UFO out of storage. Examine it carefully. It might already have served its purpose, by allowing you to learn a new technique or to try out a new color combination. If it no longer interests you, let it go. Your goal does NOT have to be to complete it. If it does still interest you, get started on the next step, whatever that may be. Undo a problem area, cut out a few more pieces, or sew another block. Start planning the back or make the binding. At the end of the month, if you're still not fired up about it, put it away. Next month, take out another UFO and repeat the procedure.

If you use the year to unburden yourself of 12 unwanted projects, think how liberating that would be. Who knows, you may even complete one or two. My first UFO resolution for 2008 is to finish a log cabin quilt that I started years ago for my husband. Whatever your resolutions are, I hope that they bring you pleasure and satisfaction throughout the new year.

Prima Casetta

Membership

Ladies, please stop at the Membership table and pick up your 2008 SMQG member cards and directories at the January meeting.

Sandra Bonvouloir and Sherry Kleinman

Ways & Means

Did you find a treasure or two at the December White Elephant sale? We sure hope so because the lighting was just fabulous - not to mention the food and company! The coming new year promises to be even better. In January we will once again have door prizes so take a minute to purchase tickets at $1 each or 6 for $5. Ticket sales, along with your donations, are used to support our guild. We thank you for your generosity and for your continued support of Ways & Means.

Susanne Cole, Perla Rothenberg, Keiko Tapp

Hospitality

We want to extend our thanks to Sheila Cummins and Suzanne Pipkin for organizing the Holiday Potluck last month. We are your Hospitality co-chairs for the first three months of 2008, and we want to start out by asking guild members with last names beginning "S" through "Z" to bring snacks for the January meeting.

Pat Bagge and Judy LaCoss

Road to California

Entries from the SMQG Sandra Lauterbach's quilt "My Day in the Country" won the Best Art Quilt category at our guild show in August, and has been accepted for display at Road to California. Sherry Kleinman will have two quilts displayed at Road: "The Dressing Room" (also accepted at Art Quilt Elements in Pennsylvania in April), and "Under the Sea." Congratulations!

Guild Activities from Your Vice Presidents

The New Year brings with it new opportunities to participate in guild activities.

As promised, your Vice Presidents are issuing the 2008 Quilt Challenge. Completed challenge quilts will be displayed at the July 2008 Potluck. Awards will be in the following categories: Best Use of Color, Best Workmanship, Most Creative, and Overall Viewer's Choice. The 2008 theme is "Black and White and One Other Color." 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 binding is to be black, white, the additional color of your choice or a combination of the three. You can envelope the quilt back to the quilt top if you choose. 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 black, white and one other color theme. Clear crystals or other clear (no color) embellishments are acceptable.

If you are stumped, we suggest you take a look at the latest Keepsake Quilting Challenge Winners-the theme was Black, White and Red All Over. The winning quilts as well as all entrants in this challenge can be viewed at www.keepsakequilting.com - just click on the "news and events" link to view the challenge quilts. Remember, the SMQG challenge allows you to choose your own color-it does not have to be red. We hope this gets your creative juices flowing as the New Year begins! Contact Veronica Gray if you have any questions.

The Fat Quarter Exchange for January will commemorate National Handwriting Day on January 23. Bring a fat quarter that has letters, numbers, words or phrases somewhere on the fabric. Remember those days when we had to practice writing the same letter over and over?! Block of the month - 22 string blocks and 4 completed string block quilts were turned in at the December meeting. The string blocks will be accepted for the rest of the guild year and Pat of Love quilts will be created from them. Currently there are two sets of blocks ready to be sewn into a quilt top. They have been organized into a setting and labeled for easy construction. Backings are already cut and sewn and batting has been cut to size. Contact Veronica Gray if you would like to assemble a string quilt.

The new Block of the month for January and February 2008 will be paper pieced hearts. You can find links for paper pieced heart patterns at the following website: http://www.ufo-rphanage.com/heart_links.shtml - please choose a pattern that is 6 inches finished or 6 ½ inches unfinished. At the January meeting, there will be a selection of patterns available. If you have a favorite paper-pieced heart pattern that finishes at 6 inches, feel free to use it. The hearts can be scrappy or in one color family - your choice! The background in each block should be a white, off-white or cream/ivory color. These blocks also will be made into Pat of Love quilts. Happy New Year!

Veronica Gray and Sally Madigan

Quilt Show 2009

Thank you for electing us the 2009 guild Quilt Show Co-Chairs. We will work very hard to earn the confidence you have given us to take on this responsibility. We know that we can't do it alone; we know your participation and input is needed from the "get-go."

The first step, before any major commitments are made, is to hold a brain-storming session. All members are invited to a meeting to explore possibilities for the 2009 Show on Thursday evening, January 24, from 6:30 to 9:00 pm at St. Monica Catholic Church, 725 California Avenue, in Santa Monica. We'll provide a hearty soup and salad supper if you'll come prepared with ideas and opinions relating to:

1) 2009 Quilt Show theme.
2) Opportunity Quilt and other philanthropic possibilities.
3) Publicity strategies.
4) Revenue producing categories and events, including consignment sales.
5) Date/Scheduling.
6) Award Categories.
7) Admission prices/discount policy.
8) Sponsorships/contributions to reduce expenses.

We are seriously considering returning to Loyola Marymount University. We will contact LMU to determine space and date availabilities and the cost. We also will be examining the 2009 calendar. As you might surmise, local quilt guilds will be competing for attendance and quality vendors for shows scheduled in the summer around the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach the last week of July.

Not every guild is blessed with talented quilters like SMQG. The quilts on display at our 2007 Show were truly a cut above those at other Southern California quilt shows. How can we capitalize on this and make our show unique to attract more visitors and earn greater revenue for our guild? If you are willing and able to join us on January 24, please contact Tina Nord.

If you are unable to attend, you can still contribute your thoughts and ideas by writing, e-mailing or calling us in advance of January 24 - we'll add your comments, anonymously if you wish, to the dialogue of the evening. Your presence on January 24 does not automatically commit you to be a committee chair or pressure you to serve on a Quilt Show committee. While we welcome your willingness to work on the Show, this meeting is to initiate dialogue and provide an opportunity for everyone to have a voice.

At the February 13 guild meeting, we hope to present the guild members with a report on LMU, the theme and the Opportunity Quilt.

We intend to re-define the responsibilities of committee members and to implement a new Quilt Show committee structure. In February we will ask for committee volunteers. We aim to streamline the number of committee meetings required and to conduct a good portion of QS committee business via e-mail. In future months we'll be back to you in the newsletter and at guild meetings to solicit your suggestions for the 2009 Featured Quilter, the designated charity for the proceeds of the Opportunity Quilt, and other possibilities requiring your support.

Here's a plan: Perhaps spend a little time during the holidays thinking warmly about Quilt Shows past, percolate some on how you envision the perfect Quilt Show as you celebrate the coming of 2008-then steam ahead with concrete thoughts to share with us on January 24. Please call and let us know you can participate!

Veronica Gray and Tina Nord

Philanthropy

"Pat of Love Quilts" -- We received 7 quilts last month, 4 from the strip blocks made by various members (one pieced in florals by Susanne Cole). Thank you all for all your support. Thank you to Nancy Sharpe, Janet Gordon, Gerry Smith and previously, Judith Hartman, for your donations. We will be delivering quilts to St. John's Oncology Department at the beginning of the year. What beautiful quilts we have been blessed to give to patients in treatment.

"Shoes That Fit" -- Ms. Williams, principal of Stoner Avenue Elementary School in West Los Angeles was very appreciative of the shoes for the students of her school. The last of the shoes were delivered December 7 and will be disbursed to students before they begin their Winter Break. Members who contributed shoes or socks are true angels. You helped fill the lives of the less fortunate.

"Save Lids to Save Lives" Yoplait Tops -- Wow!! We collected 128 lids which were sent to Yoplait Yogurt to raise funds for the ongoing campaign to fight cancer. It may be a drop in the bucket, but it was our drop that will make a difference! Thank you to all who saved the lids.

Cancelled Postage Stamps -- Sr. Anita Torres in San Francisco will be excited to receive the stamps collected by our members. The foreign stamps were especially interesting. We will continue to accept the stamps for the rest of the 2007/2008 guild year. Please save your stamps from your holiday cards and bring in to the January meeting.

Westside Food Bank -- We had such a wonderful turnout with the donations of baby food. Over 118 lbs. off baby food was delivered to the Westside Food Bank in Santa Monica. All foods will be distributed to local families on the Westside.

SANTA MONICA QUILT GUILD MEMBERS ARE TRULY AWESOME…. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNSELFISHNESS THROUGH THE GIFT OF GIVING.

If you have any questions on any of our projects, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for all your support.

Margaret Christensen, Pepper Neflas, and Marianne Simpson

Stitches from the Heart Needs Blankets

Stitches from the Heart is in dire need of blankets, any type. The best size is 30 x 40 inches. You can drop off the blankets at their store (3316 Pico Boulevard a few doors from Sewing Arts) or bring them to the January guild meeting for collection by Kim Giancola.