SEPTEMBER

Pacific Piecemakers Quilt Guild
Bits & Pieces
September 2005 -- Volume 10, Issue 9
Jeri Taylor , Editor
www.pacificpiecemakers.org

SEPTEMBER

September 16
12:30 p.m.
Gualala Arts

It’s hard to imagine a more dynamic artist than Cara Gulati. Having lived around fabric all her life, Cara plunged seriously into clothing design and manufacture before adding art quilts to her personal and professional gallery. Wildly successful in every area she enters, Cara designs and publishes patterns for unique and artistic quilts, and was featured recently on TV’s popular “Simply Quilts.” Her prize-winning “Colossal Scrolls” quilt kicked off a series she calls “3-D Explosion,” which led to a book by the same name in which she plays with swirls and perspective to create fantastic fabric illusions. Not surprisingly, Cara thinks big, and VERY LARGE art quilts are her favorite medium. Always a step ahead of the game, Gulati is now designing her first fabric line, which premieres this fall. It’s sure to be a winner!

Don’t miss Cara Gulati as she speaks to our Guild Friday, September 16 (12:30 social hour, 1:00 business meeting and program).

CARA GULATI WORKSHOP

“Threads of Imagination” is the title of this arresting quilter’s workshop. It features decorative surface design and the use of fancy threads, yarns, and other stitching methods that will enhance all your quilting creations. Word is that this is the technique that will lift your quilting from the artistic to the sublime! The workshop will be Saturday, September 17, 10:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m. Contact Janet Windsor (785-9324) for workshop details.

Paula Osborne

SEWING TIPS

A few hints to help make your life easier:

1. If you’re tired of the clutter in your sewing room, hang an over-the-door shoe organizer over the door. It’s great for scissors, rotary cutters, rulers, small fabric pieces, etc. Voila! Instant organization!

2. Do you sit on the couch to do hand work and watch TV? Push a straight pin with a big head into the arm of the couch at an angle. Then hang your small scissors on the pin to keep them close by.

3. When binding or quilting a large quilt that is hot and heavy, drop your ironing board down over your lap. It will support the quilt and take the pressure off your legs!

THE LIBRARY CORNER

By Ann Graf

We have six new books in our library this month and all feature more contemporary work than traditional quilts. The Tuesday Quilters “Too” group previewed these and enjoyed all!

746.46 ASA Fabric Gardens— an International Exhibition of Quilts at Expo ‘90. This is a catalog from the first international quilt competition held in Japan. Though not new, this book is worth a look with its great variety of innovative works from all over the world.

746.46 COL Nature’s Studio—a Quilter’s Guide to Playing with Fabrics & Techniques by John Colvin. Explore easy soft– and hard-edge techniques and color blending to create new looks.

746.46 DAI The New Quilt 1 Dairy Barn Quilt National This is another vibrant collection of contemporary quilts.

746.46 LAP Quilts from Europe—Projects and Inspiration by Gul Laporte. Have a look at how today’s European quilters interpret the art of quiltmaking; also included are 14 projects, if you’ve run out of ideas.

746.46 LAR Quilt National 2005—The Best of Contemporary Quilts This is the catalog for the current exhibit at the Dairy Barn in Athens, Ohio. This biannual juried show has been called the “premier innovative showcase for contemporary quilts.” The 81 quilts were selected from 1200 entries.

746.46 WIL Quilt Africa by J. Williamson and P. Parker. Lots of inspiring color, and inspired designs, piecing and appliqué. You don’t have to have a stash of African fabrics to like this book.

MISSING BOOKS

As of August 17 these books cannot be accounted for. Please have a look (there are actually more than listed here).

Complex Cloth by Jane Dunnewold

Journey of an Art Quilter by Barbara Olson

Fiber Arts Design Book 7 by Susan Kieffer

Quilting Motif Designs by Capp Maria (ed.)

Optical Illusions for Quilters by Karen Combs

Japanese Inspirations by Janet Haigh

Paint and Patches—Painting of Fabrics by Vicki Johnson

Quilt National 2003 by Lark Books

Art Inspirations by Judith Montano

Strips ‘n Curves by Louisa Smith

Divide and Conquer by Nancy Smith

MYSTERY QUILTERS HEADING FOR HOME!

Quilters who have been working along on their personal quilts are beginning to see the heart of their quilt revealed. July (Parts 3 and 3A) provided the opportunity for quilters to piece or embellish a special block. August (Part 4) gives quilters some practice with strip piecing. September (Part 5) finishes your quilt top.

For our new quilters, we will provide Parts 6-8 (October through December) that give instructions on sandwiching, binding, and quilting your mystery quilt. These lessons will appear on the website prior to our guild meetings. Remember these are large pieces and the quilt goes together with 30 minutes or less each month.

If you are missing any parts of the instructions, they are available on our website (www.pacificpiecemakers.org) or at the local fabric store, The Loft, in Gualala.

We are looking forward to seeing all your beautiful quilts at the Holiday luncheon in December. Diane (884-4342) and Donna (785-3625) are happy to answer your questions. Please call any time!

Donna Blum

QUILTERS IN AIR

Quilters made a big splash in this year’s Art in the Redwoods celebration. A total of 23 quilts were entered — all by PPQG members — which accounted for 6% of the total entries.

First Prize: Bette Covington, “Burn Out.”

Second Prize: Janet Windsor, “Shell Fungus.”

Third Prize: Suzy Bates, “Winter in Marin.”

In addition, four quilts won Judges’ Awards: Kathye Hitt’s two, “Tiamat” and “Firedance;” Barbara McNulty’s “Geisha,” and Leanne Liston’s “Spring.”

A statistical note: There were 30 Judges’ Awards presented, in addition to three other awards (not including the top three in each category). So though the Guild had only 6% of the entries, we won 12% of the prizes! Pretty good, no?

Kathye Hitt

PPQG 2006 RETREAT

Quilters, this is a reminder about our exciting and upcoming retreat. January 23-26, 2006, might seem like a long way away but with summer ending now and Halloween just around the corner it will be here before you know it. There are still a couple of single Mountain View rooms available as well as one Creekside single. There is also a cottage for two available. It is possible to upgrade or change the room you have reserved. There are 30 quilters signed up at this time which is a wonderful number for a retreat. If you have misplaced your info and are interested in attending, please email me, ak@netget.com

I will be collecting the remainder of the fee by October 30th, so start saving up now!

Anita Kaplan

Lenore Sollom	1
Janet Sears	2
Linda Jones	8
Gail Sims	15
Cynthia Daniels	19
Maureen Healy	19
Cynthia Chilton-Hauck	20
Laura Hamilton	21
Claire McPherson	21
Virginia Trautman	22
Marilyn Alderson	23
Chris Francis	24