December 2005 Jeri Taylor, Editor Volume 10 Iss

DECEMBER

Annual Holiday Luncheon
December 9
12:00 p.m.
Gualala Arts (Upstairs)

Our annual holiday luncheon, the original No-Fuss-Just-For-Fun party, will be Friday, December 9 at 12:00 noon. This is always an occasion of joy and festivity, and this year’s celebration promises to be as lively as ever! It is a special time for quilters to gather and enjoy each other’s company and admire each other’s work. Show and Tell is a very important part of the luncheon so hurry and put those finishing stitches on your quilts. Bring your work and bask in admiration.

We will also have our annual holiday fabric swap — with a twist. We have invented yet another new game to play with fabric. Each person is to bring four fat quarters of different fabric with dots or circles on it. Do not wrap the fabric. Fold it small and try for a variety in colors, values, and styles. The fat quarters don’t have to match each other, but do have to be 100% cotton and beautiful! (No holiday prints, please!)

We always have fabulous food because WE make it. We are asking members to bring a dish according to the first letter of your last name as follows:

         A-F — dessert
         G-P — salad or main dish
         R-Y — bread or appetizers

The Guild will provide coffee and tea.

Reservations are required by December 6th. Since the party is upstairs it is imperative that we know how many tables to take upstairs. We will not be able to set up extra tables at the last minute. Make our job easier by emailing or phoning Anita, ak@netget.com, 785-3671, to say that you will attend. Thank you for your rsvp — it really helps! If you find you can make it at the last minute, please come anyway.

MYSTERY QUILTERS SHOW TIME

The hour has arrived finally for all our Mystery Quilters to share and show their beautiful quilts that they have worked on the last eight months — well, some have worked on their quilts diligently and others are still working away (me).

At any rate, regardless of where you are on your quilt, I hope you will bring it to share at our Guild luncheon. The quilts will be displayed during the luncheon on December 9 at Gualala Arts.

If you need help in transport, please call me. Do come a bit early — fifteen minutes or so — so I can hang the quilts.

Donna Blum

GUILD GLIMMERS

If you had peeked in on the Comfort Quilt Workshop on November 18, you would have heard sewing machines buzzing and contented-quilter-chatter, smelled savory soups and sweet concoctions for quilter snacks and lunches, and seen colorful fabrics being assembled into eye-popping designs by many busy hands. “Worker bees” were swarming at GA by mid morning, a splendid turnout for our guild’s best project. Polly Dakin will be donating a batch of quilts to Project Santa, Dee Goodrich will distribute baby quilts to the hospital in Ft. Bragg, and other needs arise continually. Thanks to all who helped, and special thanks to Lola DeLongoria and Laura Hamilton, who provided yet another feast.

Please — try to finish your quilts in time for Project Santa. You can drop your quilt off at the Dolphin (email Polly — dakin@mcn.org — to let her know). And keep those quilts coming. They carry with them the holiday spirit!

Paula Osborne

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

As we approach the end of 2005, I tend to become nostalgic. This year has brought so much turmoil and so much joy! Our wonderful camaraderie as a talented group of quilting artists comes immediately to mind! As a Guild, we have enjoyed working and learning together. Thanks to our programs committee, we have been privileged to attend workshops and lectures led by world-class quilters. And thanks to our talented friends, we have had the good fortune to learn special skills from other members of the Guild. Whenever I visit fabric shops in the surrounding area, I’m told that many of their teachers drive to the coast to participate in our programs. It seems that the Pacific Piecemakers are well known — not only for our meetings, but for the many of us who travel far and wide in search of that perfect fabric! When disastrous weather hit the South, Carol Tackett put out a call for comfort quilts to be sent to the Houston Astrodome. This request was overwhelmingly answered and we, working together, built over 80 quilts for distribution to Katrina disaster victims! Yes, this has been a full and fruitful year. Next year we look forward to celebrating our tenth anniversary as a Guild. Ten years — a wonderful accomplishment! But first, may all of you enjoy the Holidays safely! I wish you peace and love. Lynne Atkins

FEBRUARY WORKSHOP—LAST CALL!

GIVE YOURSELF A VALENTINE!

Melinda Bula, the California quilt artist who just won two prizes at Houston’s International Quilt Festival, will teach Fabulous Fusible Flowers in February — if we reach our class quota this month. If you love flowers, colors, fabrics and a dynamic teacher, you should treat yourself to a day with Melinda. Check out her website to see her stunning floral quilts. Her techniques are refreshingly accessible to the home quilter. In short, this is THE CLASS to take!

We’re below our class minimum now, so don’t put it off another minute! Please — SIGN UP NOW so we don’t have to cancel this fantastic class. Call Janet Windsor, 785-9324, jwindsoh@yahoo.com.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

To everyone who participated in the workshops for the comfort quilts throughout the year, including the heroic effort for the hurricane victims. A special thanks to Carol Tackett for getting everyone together for that special workshop. We can pat ourselves on the back for that one!

We will again participate in the local Santa Project and will have enough quilts to do so after last month’s workshop. Our list of guild participants grows each year with a larger percentage of the members joining in the effort.

Thank you, and Happy Holidays!

Polly Dakin and Joyce Gaudet

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU —PART TWO!

To all the talented quilters who contributed their beautiful designs for the Foyer holiday decorating. The space looks so bright and festive now! You are all wonderful!

Carol Tackett

ART QUILT SHOW

al fresco

New Art Quilts by Anita Kaplan

Opening Reception

Friday, December 2

5:00—7:00 p.m.

Exhibition November 30—December 28

The Sea Ranch Lodge

PPQG 2006 RETREAT

It’s just around the corner! January will be here before we know it! Our retreat-bound quilters will be able to decompress from the holidays and spend three blissful days doing the thing they love most! What a holiday gift!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Barbara McNulty 2

Lola DeLongoria 8

Jennifer Dewey 12

Laurel Young 12

Carol Tackett 14

Christina Owings 18

Mary Austin 18

Donna Blum 24

Sue Friedland 30

THE LIBRARY CORNER

By Ann Graf

We are ending the year with four wonderful new books. Two are Kaffe Fassett’s most recent publications, beautifully photographed, as usual, to show off his beautiful fabrics and designs.

KAFFE FASSETT’S QUILT ROAD (746.46 FAS) A new collection of 20 projects to suit all skill levels and featuring several artists besides Mr. Fassett. The backdrop for these colorful quilts is the North Yorkshire countryside. It’s a treat!

KAFFE FASSETT’S MUSEUM QUILTS Designs Inspired by the Victoria & Albert Museum (746.46 FAS) Past meets present in this dazzling collection of new quilts that draw inspiration from the textile treasures of the V & A, London’s world famous decorative arts museum. Each is a sympathetic interpretation of an antique source, using updated color schemes and contemporary sewing techniques.

The other two books will inspire those interested in the less traditional quilt designs:

COLOR AND COMPOSITION FOR THE CREATIVE QUILTER (746.46 MAS) by Katie Pasquini Masopust and Prett Barker. A quilter and an artist team up to explain two artistic elements in quilters’ language. Improve ANY artwork with these lessons.

COLORING WITH THREAD: A NO-DRAWING APPROACH TO FREE-MOTION EMBROIDERY (746.44 FAH) Threads, needles, and stabilizers are demystified with Ann’s expert guidance to help you express yourself through elegant embroidery. Say it with thread! (Please note the different designation on the spine label.)