Pacific Piecemakers Quilt Guild
Bits & Pieces
May 2005 -- Volume 10, Issue 5
Jackie Gardener, Editor
www.pacificpiecemakers.org
Guild Glimmers
by Annie Beckett
Someone should have told us beforehand to hang onto our hats! If you attended Ruth Mc DowellÕs lecture and slide presentation at the April Guild meeting, youÕll appreciate that a four day immersion in her gloriously unique and masterful approach to art quilt making is bound to be high adventure. ÔHighÕ as in Everest. ÔAdventureÕ as in terrifying.
Beginning with a lecture and slide presentation about the evolution of her method over thirty years, Ruth took us through the processes of converting our pre-selected print images into an art quilt design, sketching the design, executing a detailed drawing, mapping the drawing into pattern, creating templates from the pattern, selecting myriad eclectic fabrics with which to express the color, value shading, and textures that would bring the design to new life as a quilt, and finally to beginning to piece these little chunks and fragments of freezer paper backed fabric back into image. In only four days!
Ruth has a special system for familiarizing herself with a new crop of students. She uses their first names with their project names. The last minutes of the last day, as we did our walk-around critique, Annie ÔRomaineÕ (as in lettuce), Lola Solomon Seal (as in flower), Barbara Bush (as in camelia bush), and all the rest found that everyone of us had something to show that was becoming something exceptional, something that reflected diligence and artistic growth as well as Ruth Mc DowellÕs absolute brilliance as artist and teacher. If we hadnÕt exactly conquered the mountain, weÕd climbed a long way up and the feeling was one of exhilaration and pride.
Meet the Challenge June 9th!
The challenge show is upon us! Use this month to finish up, collect your entry blanks at the May meeting or at Gualala Arts after that, and deliver your quilts to Gualala Arts on June 9, from 10:00 Ð 1:00. Plan now to sign up for docenting the show on weekends and bringing finger foods to the opening on June 11, 5:00 Ð 7:00. WeÕre getting fantastic response about this show and it promises to be a smash! Be part of it!
Charlene Younker 4th
Linda Brodie 11th
Joyce Gaudet 17th
Leanne Liston 17th
Bette Covington 19th
Nita Green 25th
Sydney McDonald 26th
Donna Auguste 30th
Membership News
Marilyn Limbaugh has a new address ÑÑ now at PO Box 227, TSR (everything else remains the same)
New Members:
Janice Carter - 1128 Carlos Privada, Mt. View, CA 94040 , birthday April 26th, phone 785-1966 or 650/969-0305, email JANLC56@yahoo.com
Sue Olson - POB 427, Gualala 95445, phone 884-3769 birthday March 27, email Suefrie@mcn.org
Karen Tucker, 35501 S. Hwy. One, Unit 97, Gualala, 95445, phone 884-4411, birthday July 3, email KLTUCKER@mcn.org
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Holiday Workshop
Friday, May 20th
The workshop portion of the meeting runs
9:30AM - 12 noon and 2PM Ð 4:00 PM.
Grab a friend and come spend a fun filled day making a simple yet beautiful Holiday Quilt.
The Guild business meeting will start at 1:00PM. Talented guild members will provide demonstrations and give ideas for developing your special Holiday Quilt. Bring your stash of Holiday fabrics, sewing supplies and sack lunch. Questions?: Call Carol Tackett 785-1024 or Marilynn Limbaugh 785-3814
Fantastic Bags
with Judith Jones
10am - 4pm on June 18th at Gualala Arts
Do you have ÒJudith Jones bag envyÓ? Can you imagine what those big, opulent, gorgeously ribbon and bead embellished bags she carries her ÔstuffÕ in (including quilts) would cost if you could even buy them anywhere? Judith will teach you how to make one. Only two spaces left. Supplies list will be posted on PPQG website soon.
Quilt Retreat
Monday - Thursday January 23-26, 2006
Vichy Springs Resort & Spa
Special Events Chair Anita Kaplan has done her homework, as usual, and found an even more astounding place than last year to hold our retreat. Still only a two hour drive, this resort in Ukiah offers massage and the only warm, carbonated mineral waters in North America! We will step into another world with fantastic accommodations including a work room three times larger than the one we squeezed into at Marconi last year.
Space is filling fast, with only a few single rooms left as this newsletter is being written. A deposit of $100 is required to secure your spo. Call Anita and verify prices and availability before we are booked solid. You wonÕt want to miss out on this spectacular opportunity to sew to your heartÕs contentsurrounded by old and new friends and an inspiring environment.
For more information, log on to vichysprings.com and check it out.
PresidentÕs Message
by Lynne Atkins
Last year PPQG Ways & Means sent out a survey to the membership asking for input on how we can make our Guild even better. This year we are taking action and putting some of your good suggestions to work. The following is the start of our implementation of your thoughts and ideas.
You said, ÒFind ways to make the guild friendly and more welcoming. Especially as we grow and take on new members.Ó ÒÉwe need to remember to focus on being welcomingÉÓ, ÒÉNeed to make new members more welcomeÉÓ We hear you! Claire McPher-son is heading up our new program ÒGuild GuidesÓ. The call is out for ÒGuidesÓ who will partner with a new PPQG member, introduce her around at meetings, answer questions and generally make each new member feel welcome. We are becoming a large group and it can be overwhelming to walk into one of our sessions, not knowing anyone. So make a friend! Put your name on ClaireÕs list Ð as a new person joins PPQG, the next name on the list will become a ÒGuild GuideÓ. If you canÕt reach Òtraveling ClaireÓ, call Donna Blum. She has agreed to assist.
You said, ÒÉthe guild needs an orientation booklet for new members.Ó We hear you! I have put together a ÒPPQG WelcomeÓ booklet that will be available for the Guild Guide to hand over to the new member. The document contains general information about the Guild, such as a current calendar of events, list of officers & committee chairs, list of some of the Òsmall quilt groupsÓ, website information, membership roster, etc.
You said, ÒPrograms/Dates need to be publicized well in advance so vacations can be planned.Ó We hear you! Several months ago the 2005 Calendar was sent to you with our newsletter. This monthÕs edition of Bits & Pieces contains a separate sheet with the updated 2005 schedule of PPQG events. We will keep the schedule current and send it to you periodically through out the year.
You said, ÒI would like the Progressive Quilt Program to be more innovative and different each year.Ó ÒÉsuggest something new Ð Try Mystery Quilt.Ó ÒI like the program, but change the directions so it is different each year.Ó We hear you! Diane Cunningham will be leading us in the upcoming ÒMystery Progressive QuiltÓ project. Should be fun!
Thank you for the great suggestions! They are doable things that continue to make PPQG the very best!
The annual challenge quilt project was unveiled at the April guild meeting. Billed as ÒThe Perfect QuiltÓ guild members were able to pick up the materials list to start this fun project. It is the perfect quilt because you get to pick out fabrics you love, and do the work at your own speed and in your own style. ItÕs perfect for beginning quilters but allows for creativity and diversity for experienced quilters. Best of all, by December, you will have a completed quilt to share and show off.
The design is a flexible one that lends itself to both classic and traditional fabrics. The finished size of the quilt is also flexible so you can opt for a wall hanging, lap quilt or a bed topper. The Mystery Challenge Quilt will be revealed part by part each month. You can move on to each new section as you are ready. Members can join in at any time, but its best to do a little bit each month. ItÕs planned so that you can complete most sections in about an hourÕs time.
If you are unable to attend a meeting, the Mystery Quilt Challenge will be posted on the website after each guild meeting. We hope you have fun with this project and look forward to seeing your beautiful quilts in December. If you have questions please call Donna Blum at 785-3625 or Diane Cunningham at 884-4342.
LIBRARY CORNER
The spring-cleaning bug must be going around, as we have had many books donated to our guild library. Some of these will be shelved and some will turn up on our silent auction table for you to add to your home collection. The proceeds from any sales help to purchase new books - often titles suggested by you.
FABRIC JOURNEY Ruth McDowellÕs latest book showing many of the quilts that were part her presentation, and descriptions of her techniques. 2005
PIECING - EXPANDING THE BASICS. An earlier book by Ruth McDowell with detailed descriptions of her piecing process - the Òhow toÓ of her designs. 1998
QUICK CLASSIC QUILTS by Marsha McCloskey. This is a good book for new quilters as MarshaÕ s directions are always clear. Many ideas for old favorite blocks, scrap users,and comfort quilts. 1996
THE LANDSCAPE QUILT by Sheryl Morrow Robinson. This author offers a somewhat less complicated approach to landscape technique. While her work is pieced or appliqued, one could use her ideas as inspiration for a fused piece.
SILK RIBBONS BY MACHINE by Jeanie Sexton. Discover how to creatre the sascination ribbon flowers and explore the possibilities for quilts. 1996
QUILTING WITH STYLE by Gwen Marston & Joe Cunningham (remember Joe?). This book is for hand quilters -full of great pattern designs & directions.
PAINT AND PATCHES -Painting on Fabrics with Pigment by Vicki L Johnson. Vicki does both traditional and contemporary quilting, fabric dyeing, and painting, incorporating soft-edge applique. 1995