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WASHINGTON STARS QUILT GUILD

PERFECT POINTS 2010 Board and Committees

November 2010

Presidents’ News

Co– Presidents: Pat Zarp and Barbara Ridgeway Secretary: Diane Weeden Treasure: Cindy Williams Programs/Special Events: Cory Plantenberg, Nancy Curington Membership: Jackie Gadman, Joan Aspaas, Linda Kellogg, Becky Moeckel, Mary Belz Newsletter: Jan Tuttle Historian: Jodi Sutton Charity Quilts: Paulette Bothwell, Susan Berry, Phyllis Ryan, Nancy Ekstrom Fabric Exchange: Phyllis Ryan, Nancy Elkstrom Sunshine Quarters: Kathy Eagin Webmistress: Sarah Nopp Retreat: Kelly Ann Landers,

Jodi Sutton, Dee Sturm, Nancy Ekstrom, Jerri Thomas, Kristina Pratt, Fran Frodsham, Carole Linder and Pat Umino Librarian: Fran Frodsham Refreshments: Sonya Smith Pratt, Kristina Pratt, Sally Herrington Mega Lotto: Ronda Lee, Sharon Welsh, Mona Bolen Marketing/Public Relations: Auction: Linda Becker, Jude Cryderman Small Bees: Carole Linder Challenge Quilt: Kathy Lindell, Diane Weeden

We often get asked what we are quilting and why we are quilting. So, we put our heads together and thought that this month we would mention a little about our personal projects and then on a larger scale what motivates us to devote the time to quilt. Currently, Barb is just finishing a large flannel top (80 by 96) and is mustering the energy to pin the top and quilt it on her home machine. That should be a great exercise for her arms and shoulders. Additionally, Barb is finishing up a couple of UFO’s that she started almost ten years ago when she was in a Thimbleberries club. Her guild challenge quilt is still in the design phase, but at least she has purchased the fabric for it. As if that weren’t enough, she has three things in the planning process: a pattern from our speaker Susan Mayer; a quilt using two and a half inch strips; and something special for Christmas. As you can tell, she has a lot going and it doesn’t necessarily get done early. Currently, Pat is working on a Japanese Women & Kimono quilt with silk fabric she brought back from her recent trip to Japan; a Fractured Koi Fish panel; a signature Tea Cups exchange; and several UFO’s that have been around as long as Barb’s. Why do we do it??? We suppose that there are probably at least as many reasons as there are quilters in the guild and if you are like us there is not one but many, many reasons we are quilting and are part of the WSQG. Here are the most prominent reasons off the top of our collective heads: We love to sew We come from a family history of sewing/quilting We enjoy learning new techniques, designs, and the classes that make it all come together We love the light in our family’s/friends eyes when they receive a quilt that they know was made with lots of love We like to see our creative juices sparked when we see patterns and just “the right fabric” to make something wonderful We love the friendships and camaraderie with our fellow quilters We enjoy the sense of purpose it adds to our lives when we do our charity quilting And as Barb so aptly puts it “because I want to” Cont’d on page 2

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With the evolution of the quilting machines we have had the good fortune to accomplish much more with the limited time that we can devote to quilting (squeezed into already busy lives). So, we want to commend and give a special note of thanks to all the talented “long armers”. They have helped us make some wonderful quilts and without them, the number of quilts we could finish in our lifetimes would be very, very limited. Thank you, thank you. Have a happy holiday season from Barb

and Pat

PROGRAM COMMITTEE November 2010: Rose Hosford, Christmas quilts

December 2010 No program Annual dinner

January 2011 Maggie Ball---she will be teaching a class on the 22nd

February 2011 Martie Carroll---photo transfer techniques

March 2011 Barbara Shapel—there will be a class

April 2011 Speaker not yet confirmed

May 2011 Bev Dunivent

June 2011 Margaret Miller---she will be teaching 2 separate classes

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Washington Stars Quilt Guild Business Meeting: October 5, 2010 REVISED: October 28, 2010

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Co-presidents, Barbara Ridgeway and Pat Zarp, called the meeting to order.

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Two guests were introduced: Ellen Daily and Pat Gibbon

• The minutes for September were approved with one change: The date of the business meeting was SEPTEMBER 7, 2010. • Melissa Schroeder from Haven House accepted a number of twin-bed sized quilts for the 10 bed, short-stay residential facility. Haven House is a non-profit agency serving teens (12-17) in crisis from five counties. They see about 300 teens per year. If you would like to donate money or personal items such as sweat pants and shirts, t-shirts, socks and underwear or school supplies, please contact Susan Berry who can provide information on how to contact Melissa. • The first reading was done of a by-law change required by the IRS. This change formalizes the guild’s disbursal of funds in the event the guild dissolves. A second reading and vote will be taken at the November business meeting. Please see the September minutes for information on the by-law change. • Quilts from the Mark Lipinski/Bev Dunivent/Twisted Sisters bee hive were shown. Members are encouraged to show off their completed “class” quilts. • Pat reminded members to wear their name tags. We have so many new members, wearing name tags is a real help for us to get to know each other better. • Pat and Barb asked for feedback on use of the sanctuary for the business meeting. They reviewed why we went from Friendship Hall to the sanctuary this year and asked for an informal vote on members’ views related to the use of the sanctuary. The majority of members voted in favor of the sanctuary, but there were concerns expressed about not being able to hear everyone; not being able to “read” faces and body languages because of the row/pew arrangements and lingering concerns about the use of the sanctuary for non-religious purposes. If you have other concerns/opinions, please send them to Pat and Barb. A final review/decision will occur at the November meeting. Cindy Williams, treasurer, gave an overview of the board member election process and went through the list of committees that need chairs for the next year. Cindy noted that her term as treasurer, per the by-laws, is up on December 31, 2010. So a new treasurer must be selected. Cindy said that she spends about 15 hours a month on duties related to the guild. However, it is not necessary to be an accountant, but the person should know or be willing to learn QuickBooks.

The other elected positions (president, vice president and secretary) may be filled by the same persons in 2011 and co-presidents Pat and Barb and secretary, Diane Weeden, said they would be willing to fill these positions next year. However, they all agreed that if other guild members would like to fill these positions in 2011, they would be happy to step down.

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Business meeting, continued

Committees: Sunshine: Susan Drummond said she would chair, but would like a helper. Mega Lotto: Needs a chair and helper. Sharon Welch will continue to serve as buyer. PR/Marketing: Needs a chair and helper(s). Historian: Needs a chair. Show and Tell hangers: Need co-chairs. Membership: Linda Kellogg will continue as chair, but would like helpers. Fabric Exchange: LINDA HARDY AND PAT TROYER. Block of the Month: Jayna Williams and Judit Gebhardt will co-chair. Charity: Paulette Bothwell and Susan Berry will continue as co-chairs, but would like a helper. Program: Needs a chair and helper. Newsletter and Web: Jan Tuttle and Dee Sturm will co-chair. Refreshments: Needs a chair and helpers. Bus trips: Liz Baker and Gail Burris will co-chair.

Cindy noted that if a committee doesn’t have a chair, that committee’s work won’t be done in 2011. The board can not be expected to pick up the additional responsibilities.

The slate of candidates for the elected positions will be voted on and committee chairs announced at the November business meeting. So please contact Cindy, if you are interested or want to nominate someone.

• Cory Plantenberg, Program co-chair, read a thank you note from Marianne Fons and let members know about the October and November program offerings. In October Susan Mayer will be giving a trunk show, while in November the guild’s own Rose Hosford will give a show and talk about her Christmas/holiday quilts. • The guild also received thank you cards from two members who had received Sunshine fat quarter packets: Susan Drummond and Diane Williams. Paulette and Susan let members know about the monthly charity sew-in at Ruby Street Quilt Works on the third Wednesday of the month (October 20) and the semi-annual sew-in at the Fellowship Hall on October 29 (3pm -9pm) and October 30 (9am to 3pm). Please see the September newsletter for information on the “bricks” you should bring to this sew-in. Paulette noted that the committee continues to collect placemats for seniors (about 13”x18”); dialysis belts and walker and wheel chair pockets.

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Business Meeting, continued

Sharon Welsh, 2011 Quilt Show chair, gave a brief update. The show will be on October 7 and 8, 2011. She has walked the facility at the Washington Land Yacht Club and has prepared a floor plan. The next step is to contact Pipe and Drape about layout. The show will include a bed turning, the guild’s show-specific challenge quilts and the Hoffman Challenge quilts. She estimates that there will be space for about 200 quilts. The new owners of the Mason Jar will serve as food vendors.

Sharon noted that she would like to have a Vendor chair on board as quickly as possible since vendors arrange their schedules early in the calendar year. She estimated that there will be space for about 10 vendors. If you are interested, please contact Sharon.

Other quilt show committees that will need chairs and helpers include: demonstrations, bed turning, set up and take down, viewers’ choice, program, promotion and advertising, ticket sells, volunteers, “Wally’s Boutique”, and security/white glove. She will be looking for volunteers after the first of the year.

• The semi-annual challenge quilts, “The Envelope, Please”, will be shown at the November business meeting. They will then be shown at Ruby Street Quilt Works for a month. • The UFO challenge results will be tallied at the November business meeting. At the first of the year members said they would like to finish over 300 UFOs. It will be interesting to see how well we did. • Laurie McCleary announced she is holding a day-long Electric Quilter (EQ software) class at her home on October 27. It will cost $50.00 per person and will run from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. If you are interested, please contact Laurie. • Cindy Todd asked if you won a certificate for long-arm quilting from her, to contact Cindy. She would like to complete her quilting job for you. •

If you bought Rebecca Moeckel’s Martha Pullen class, please contact Pat Zarp.

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The fabric exchange for November will be Christmas/Holiday motifs. Please make 16 sets.

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Mega Lotto took in $155 this month.

The meeting was adjourned for Show and Tell. Submitted by Diane Weeden, secretary.

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LOOSE THREADS Where’s the magic? Many quilters just close their eyes, think and out comes a new idea, a new way to turn a quilt block for a new look. By closing only one eye an idea can light up their room and a new way to create a quilt is born. Just cut up a skinny quilt, realign segment cuts and make a lap size quilt. Magic! It’s easy. You just have to take a deep breath and do the cutting, with one eye closed. That way you don’t have to see the whole quilt mutilated. You just have to have the nerve to cut into a newly pieced top. This advice comes from our latest program speaker Susan Mayer. It’s wonderful advice for a new way of quilting. She developed this technique on her own. There was no guidance from her co-workers, her family or the from the GPS lady. She just did it. Other quilters are just as gifted. They buy a sewing machine, choose fabric and create a vest, a crib quilt, and an art piece after only one month of threading the needle and putting foot to the presser foot. Is it that they get bored easily and so they design or they teach? These quilters have to bend, they have to stretch. But they also have a knack. It’s special. It’s magic! That’s great. They teach and we get to stretch our comfort zone. But, what is holding the rest of us from designing patterns, from teaching new methods, from machine quilting? Who is holding the magic wand? Where’s my magic? After 12 years of learning my non-computerized sewing machine’s innards and nuances I am still at odds with the creativity. I am still in the dark, with both eyes wide open. With each new project I search for that fabric that sings. That perfectly designed fabric is at the shops, I know. I just have to stumble upon it. The fabric has to reach out and grab my attention. I am blind to the possibilities. My stash hums with discord. Cloth upon cloth purchased with possibilities in mind huddle together in the closet, hide in shame underneath the bed i n the guest room. What made me buy them? They are all lights and mediums. There are no darks among them. The fat quarters all look a little vague, dusty. What was I thinking? Are they salvageable? What will make it all clear? Where is the magic? There can be classes in magic with cloth. Is there a way to learn the art of turning an eyesore into eye candy. If you have the knack you flaunt it, if you lack the knack you applaud those that do and learn from them. Their magic dust may encircle those of us without the wherewithal to see the full picture in an instant or even in a week or a month and help us to create. Perhaps their magic is their talent, their passion, the destination which they were born to develop. Well, I am waiting. When will my destination come into focus? When will the ooohs and the aahhs strengthen my verve and open vistas for art. What is my passion? Perhaps it is all magic. Lana Russ

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We received this and want to pass it on Jan Hello, My name is Donna Gates and I am a volunteer with the Thurston County Food Bank. The Food Bank works hard meeting the nutritional needs of our community and also helps our clients celebrate a variety of seasonal events by providing Thanksgiving dinner boxes, Childrens Birthay Bags, Easter Baskets, etc. This year we are hoping to expand our Christmas program by giving away approximately 400 stockings, appropriately filled with small gifts and candy. I have been assigned the task of implementing this newly expanded program and am currently seeking assistance in the acquisition of the stockings themselves. Is it possible that any of your quilting members would be interesting in assisting with this project? I am currently in need of the stockings themselves, or the donation of materials we can make the stockings from. The stockings themselves will not be particularly large; I am thinking around 12" long and 7" wide. Fabric scraps that meet those dimensions would be welcomed. The stockings need not be uniform; different fabrics, patterns, trims etc. would be great. They will be divided into categories according to age and gender. Probably 3-6 yrs. and 7-12 yrs. Because of the danger of small items, for this first year at least, we will not be providing stockings to children under 3 yrs old. Any help you can give the Food Bank and the children of Thurston County would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to contact me if you think this is a project worthy of your time and effort. Thank You, Donna Gates [email protected] 360-943-7638 Cell 360-790-5090