Pacific Piecemakers Quilt Guild
Bits & Pieces
December 2004 -- Volume 9, Issue 12
Jeri Taylor, Editor

www.pacificpiecemakers.org

GUILD GLIMMERS

By Jeri Taylor

            Highlighting November’s Guild meeting were demonstrations by several of our incomparably talented members.  Barbara Dunsmoor showed several nifty devices designed to make cutting much easier.  Marilyn Limbaugh demonstrated two types of stack and whack fabric magic. Then Bonnie Toy and Gail Sims shared special tips they’d learned at Velda Newman’s September workshop.

            Starting off the afternoon was a tape of Ruth McDowell’s appearance on “Simply Quilts.”  Since Ruth will be a guest teacher in April, it was fun to be given a sneak preview of her techniques.  She comes across as warm, funny, and charming.  And she managed to demystify her amazing piecing techniques to the point that they didn’t seem intimidating any more.  You can do this!  Sign up now!

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

            The results are in!  We are one happy group of quilters.  There was a huge response to the questionnaire (which will be shorter next time) and many other members called or wrote me to share their thoughts.

            Some of the results:  overwhelming kudos for the Programs Committee.  The preferred length of workshops was two days with costs to be kept under $225.

            Members enjoy having the great choice of Activities, even if they can’t participate in all of them.  We received many helpful suggestions and have passed them along to the committees and chairpersons.  The Comfort Quilts Program received many supportive comments.

            Special Events is an area of great diversity.  Members appreciate the special trips and Quilting Safaris, the Holiday Luncheon, and the Beginning and Advanced Quilting Skills classes that are offered.

            Guild Communications is an area that is greatly appreciated by the membership.  Our web site is a valued asset, and our Web Diva, Reva Basch, was particularly respected.  Most people prefer to receive their newsletter in the mail but are glad to be able to access it on line also.

            Guild Administration also received many kind and supportive comments.  The Big Sisters Program idea was well received and we’ll provide more information in the future.  The Guild Librarary and librarian received many compliments.

            Thank you all for participating!  I think we all gained many valuable insights from the questionnaire.  If you would like a copy of the results, please contact me.

            And — if you are called to serve on a committee for next year — seize the day!  Say yes!  We need everyone’s help!

                                    Donna Blum

DECEMBER

December 10

12:00 noon

Gualala Arts

Our Annual Holiday Luncheon, the original No-Fuss-Just-For-Fun Party,  will be Friday, December 10th at 12 noon.This luncheon is a special time for quilters to gather and enjoy each other's company and admire each other's work. Show & Tell is a very important part of the luncheon so hurry and put those finishing stitches on your quilts, especially  those which will be given away for holiday gifts. Bring your work and bask in admiration!
            We will also have our annual holiday fabric swap -- with a twist. Each person is to bring four fat quarters of different striped fabric. Do not wrap the fabric. Fold it small, approximately 5" x 5 1/2".  Please try for variety in colors, values and styles. The fabric doesn't  have to match or be an absolute stripe, it just needs to read as a  stripe. Bring only 100% cotton.
            We are asking members to bring a dish  according to the first letter of your last name:

A-F please bring an appetizer or salad
G-K please bring dessert
L-Y please bring a main dish

            Festivities begin at noon in the G.A. foyer. There is no need to come earlier as we won't be ready for you. Come and take a break from the holiday frenzy.What could be more refreshing than a couple of hours of good food and quilt talk? If your house guests are arriving early  just bring them along. Please make the committee's job easier by  emailing Anita to say you will attend, ak@netget.com.  If you decide you can make it at the last minute, though, please come.

MORE NEW MEMBERS!

            Nita Green, 884-3031, POB 1294, Gualala, 95445, May 25, agreen@mcn.org.

            Barbara Gonce, 360 468-4657, 427 Port Stanley Road, Lopez Island, WA 98261, bgonce@craycroftgardens.com.

            This brings us to a total of 111 members!

CALENDAR

DECEMBER 10:  Holiday Luncheon

JANUARY 19-20:  Jeanette deNicolis Meyer workshop, “Layered Imagery.”

FEBRUARY 18:  Comfort Quilts

APRIL 11-14: Ruth McDowell workshop, “Designing from Nature.”

JUNE 18:  Judith Jones, “Fantastic Bags.”

JULY 13-14:  Jane Sassaman workshop, “Shape Shifting.”

SEPTEMBER 17-18:  Caara Gulati workshop, “Threads of Imagination.”

THE LIBRARY CORNER

By Ann Graf

                To end the year with a “bang,” we will be adding seven new books to our shelves at the Art Center, thanks to donations and our quilt budget.

JUST CAN’T CUT IT!: QUILTS FROM FABULOUS FABRICS  by Pamela Mostek.  For fabrics that you can’t bear to slice into tiny shapes, let this unique resource give you the courage to make that first cut.  Also, there are ideas for selecting the perfect companion fabrics for any collection.       COLOR PLAY: EASY STEPS TO IMAGINATIVE COLOR QUILTS by Joen Wolfram.  Many are already familiar with this excellent resource.  Learn how variations of pure colors, tints, shades, and tones affect the mood of a quilt. WINDING WAYS QUILTS: A PRACTICALLY PINLESS APPROACH by Nancy Elliot MacDonald.  Step-by-step instructions for an almost pinless curved-seam piecing technique. QUILTER’S PLAYTIME: GAMES WITH FABRICS by Dianne S. Hire.  Don’t be fooled by the title.  This book is full of great ideas for contemporary wall quilts (many of them scrap-users) and some interesting techniques.        WOMEN OF TASTE: A COLLABORATION CELEBRATING QUILT ARTISTS AND CHEFS by Girls Incorporated.  Published in 1999, this book is a record of a wonderful quilt “challenge” that celebrates two traditional art forms: sewing and cooking.  Julia Child wrote the foreward and there are many other familiar names among the quilters and chefs.           STRING QUILTS WITH STYLE by Bobbie Aug and Sharon Newman.  Create exciting and graphic quilts using “strings,” narrow pieces of fabric sewn to a paper or fabric foundation.  You can chain piece your strings for fast, easy results.  CIRCLE PLAY: SIMPLY DESIGNS FOR FABULOUS FABRICS by Reynola Pakusich.  This new books gently guides you through the process of creating your own work of art featuring unique fabrics and circles.  You have to see it!

    HAPPY   BIRTHDAY

Barbara McNulty                   2

Catherine Koemptgen           4

Lola DeLongoria                     8

Carol Tackett                         14

Mary Austin                            18

Christina Owings                   18

Donna Blum                            24

NOW HEAR THIS!

            Guild membership renewal checks are due for 2005!  Please take a moment to write out your check to “PPQG” in the amount of $35.00 and send it to:  Pam Wilson, P.O. Box 53,   The Sea Ranch, 95497. If you take care of this now, there will be one less thing to think about during the coming holiday season.  Checks will be accepted at the December meeting.  If you joined anytime after September of this year, you can consider your dues as paid for 2005.  What a bargain!  Thanks in advance!

STUDIO DISCOVERY TOUR

             Plans for the Thirteenth Annual 2005 Studio Discovery Tour are already underway.Since quilting is such an important and popular art here on the North Coast, it would be wonderful if we had at least one quilter on the
Tour next year.  This would be an opportunity not only to sell existing pieces or take orders for custom work, but to share your artistic vision and process with the hundreds of visitors who tour our local studios each year.
The Tour will take place on September 3 & 4 (Labor Day weekend) and September 10 & 11, 2005.Deadline for early application (reduced fee) is December 15, 2004. Final deadline is January 15, 2005.For more information or to request an application, contact Claire McCarthy, 884-3444.

AWARD WINNER

            For the second year in a row, Anita Kaplan won first prize at Art Quilt Tahoe!  The competition was open to all students; her quilt, “Kelp,” was judged best of the lot by the teachers of the workshop.

MONA’S MAGIC

Visit Mona Innes’ Holiday Studio Sale Sunday, December 5th, 2-6 p.m.  Pick up charming, one-of-a-kind gifts — fiber/ribbons pins, small bags, small copper assemblage/cards.  Just drop in at 35457 Timber Ridge in Sea Ranch.  Call if you have questions!  785-0061.