Pacific Piecemakers Quilt
Guild
Bits & Pieces
June 2004 -- Volume 9, Issue 6
Jackie Gardener, Editor
Guild
Glimmers
by Jeri Taylor
May’s Guild meeting featured a joyous journey with Anna Hines, one of our members, through her odyssey “From Pencil and Paint to Fabric and Thread,” the methods she has used to write and illustrate children’s books. Anna knew from the age of seven that she wanted to write children’s books, clung to that desire through college, and resisted the discouraging remarks of students and teachers that it was a foolish quest and one beneath her talents.
Once she began writing and submitting her material, she received over one hundred “encouraging” rejection letters from various publishers. Knowing that only a small percentage of submissions even get that kind of letter, she persisted, and in 1981 published her first book, “The Taste of Raindrops.” Next came “Daddy Makes the Best Spaghetti” and some fifty others, putting her in the upper percentile of successful authors of children’s books.
Her early works were illustrated by her with water colors and acrylics; eventually she began collaborating with other illustrators. Then she decided she wanted to publish a book of her poems and to strike out in an entirely different direction with her illustrations. The medium she chose? Quilting. Her mother was a quilter, and Anna had basic sewing skills honed from making dolls and doll clothes from the characters in her books.
But her editors were dubious about the quilting choice, and Anna had to go ahead and make the quilts before she got an okay to use the technique to illustrate the book. Once they saw her delightful, colorful, inspired works they were sold, and her books “Pieces” and “Whistling” are the results.
Anna works in tiny, tiny pieces – squares 1 1/8” unfinished – and many of us were in awe of the delicacy and precision of her work. She has the eye of a true artist, the ability to tell a story visually, and the talent to translate that vision to fabric. All in all it was an inspiring presentation.
Melody
Johnson
“The
Fine Art of Fusing”
Tuesday-Thursday,
June 15-16-17
Planning for working in a series is the content of this workshop. Beginning with simple two or three piece blocks, plus connecting strips, students will construct a small wall quilt top using fusing as the assembly technique. Melody will be using her lollipop block series.This initial block will be the catalyst for the series. Worklshop price is $275.
Melody Johnson
“All
Color All the Time”
Friday, June
18
Something’s
FISHY Once More...
Just in case you lost your info sheet or didn't save your newsletter or don't check the guild website or weren't paying attention or just need a reminder:
Wednesday-Thursday,
June 9-10, from
Turn in your finished challenge quilt to the art center. Be sure to include a hanging sleeve and rod and to pin a copy of the entry form to the back of the quilt. If you are unable to deliver your quilt on either of these days, be sure and contact Mary Austin or Janet Sears ahead of
time and make arrangements to get your quilt to one of them.
Saturday, June 12. at the
Bring all your friends to the opening reception Remember that we need a plate of finger foods from each of you to feed the large crowd that always attends these receptions.
Weekends of June
19-20, 26-27, and July 3-4:
Spend a pleasant afternoon docenting the show. This is a great excuse to enjoy a bit of hand work surrounded by wonderful quilts, talking with interesting visitors, and taking a closer look at all the quilts. Check your calendars so you are ready to sign up at the June meeting.
Monday, July 5,
Pick up your quilt. Take a deep breath, and start thinking about next year's show.
Lots o’
June Birthdays
Ellen Soule
3rd
Paula Osborne
9th
Jackie
Gardener
11th
Ruth Rosenberg 12th
Jo Dillon
16th
Judith Jones
20th
Beverly Sloane
21st
Margery Tarp
22nd
Susanna
Matthay 28th
Jeri Taylor
30th
Membership
News
For our records and
rosters:
Theresa Kohlmeister,
President’s
Message - Adopt an Orphan
By Donna Blum
Have you been in the Fanny Basket lately? If not, you are missing some wonderful “Orphans”. If you are looking for inspiration for a new quilt, the Fanny Basket has many different types of Orphans looking for a new home. The Fanny Basket collects recycled fabric, blocks, etcetera from our guild members and gives these items a new chance at life.
Last winter, I adopted the pre-cut pieces and partial blocks from some generous quilter in our guild. The colors were wonderful and although I had no idea what the original plan was for these items they morphed into a beautiful Comfort Quilt at our last workshop. At the last meeting I found a wonderful piece of pre-pieced fabric that was just waiting to be turned into the center of a small baby quilt.
This month I was working on a support quilt for a guild member and came across a wonderful small piece of Seminole piece work in the fanny basket. Someone had donated this tiny, beautifully done piece. Perhaps it was a practice piece or a left over piece of border. At any rate, it fits into the new quilt perfectly and adds a strong design note.
So check out the Fanny Basket for inspirational
“Orphans” and be sure to add a few of your own.
Remember one quilter’s castoffs are another quilter’s
inspirational treasures.
News and
Tidbits
According to member and Olympic Judge Carol Tackett, the
Olympic Spirit quilts that some of our members have made for the
US Olympic Synchronized Swim team will be on display at Gualala
Arts in the Auditorium. These beautiful and patricotic
quilts will be presented to the girls during a send-off show in
At the May meeting, a special Olympic quilt was presented to Carol, too, in recognition of all she does in this community as well as with the Olympic program. Carol wanted to thank everyone who contributed to her quilt. She says “I am so touched by the love and care that went into this quilt. I will treasure it always.”
Iris Lorenz-Fife wanted everyone to know that Copy Plus now has a big copy machine that will print “quilt-sized” copies. This is of special interest to those who struggled during the Katy Pasquini workshop.
The Program Committee wanted to extend a special thanks to
Iris Lorenz-Fife and Annie Beckett for putting together two great
workshops for our
members last month.
Annie has amazing insight into the world of the Ives color
system, and Iris was able to remove the stigma of math from
drafting blocks of any size. Thanks, ladies!
Library News
by Ann Graf
We have two additions to our Library this month. One, a book suggested by Iris Lorenz-Fife, is Jane Dunnewold's new offering, Improvisational Screen Printing. It will interest those of you looking to create one-of-a-kind fabrics for your quilts.
The second, by Carol Armstrong, is Applique Inside the Lines. The author uses embroidery to outline her designs, then fill in the shapes with colorful applique. The results are innovative and charming - a great handwork project for travel.
Velda Newman
Layers: Form
and Texture
Saturday-Sunday,
September 18-19
Velda's class throws all the rules of stringent design out
the window. First we will construct units by exploring machine
techniques for texture and form; then add color and depth with
paint and colored pencils. Finally,
the units will be assembled, collage style, into one fabulous
piece. Velda says, "You
will find working in the collage style easy and liberating."
Beginners to advanced. Workshop price is $130.