M   A   R  C   H

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US! 

            It’s almost here---the Challenge of the Decade, and a Birthday Party worthy of the Quilting Oscars.  With ten years under our belt and all vital signs intact, our guild has much to celebrate.

            On March 10th we’ll begin at 5pm with the opening reception for Challenge 2006, A Perfect 10.  Don’t forget to bring appetizers for the reception in the foyer.  Speaking of which, the foyer will absolutely glow with dozens of quilts from past challenges---a retrospective event planned to remind us of all those great ideas carried out in fabric over the last 10 years.  More than a few were and still are their quilter’s Personal Best, while others show the sincere efforts of a beginner.  That’s what our Challenges are all about.

            The Culinary Guild of Gualala Arts has a sumptuous feast planned for the evening, beginning at 6:30pm.  We’ll adjourn to the auditorium, but we won’t be leaving the quilts behind.  There you’ll see for the first time, the President’s Quilt Collection, quilts made by our past presidents, using all those blocks made by each of you.  Without everyone’s contribution, there wouldn’t even be one President’s’ Quilt, much less nine of them---so we can all be proud of this exciting collection.

            During and after the delectable dinner, local musicians Don Krieger and Sita Milchev will entertain us, and our own Jeri Taylor will regale us with bits and pieces of PPQG history.  Add some DJ music and dancing, and our gala evening should propel us well into the next ten years.

            Don’t forget to submit your quilts.  The Perfect 10 and Challenge Retrospective quilts must be delivered to Gualala Arts by noon on Wednesday, March 8.

            President’s Quilts must be delivered by noon on Thursday, March 9.

            Please label your quilt accordingly, as “Challenge 2006”, “Retrospective”, or “President’s Quilt” to avoid confusion.

Guild Glimmers

by Jeri Taylor 

            Talent, charm, and humor were present in abundance at last month’s Guild meeting.  Melinda Bula spoke on “Discovering the Artist Within Through Wearable Art and Quilts,” and made the journey lively and fun as well as insightful.

            Melinda grew up with color and design because her mother was an interior designer.  She loved to sew, especially for her first and most important client, Barbie.  At age 19 she made her first quilt from looking at a picture in a book.  It was a less than successful effort.  Years later she joined a Quilt Guild and discovered that their challenge shows featured “wearable art.”  It was just a hop and a jump from Barbie to herself and the stylish outfits that have won prizes galore.

            PPQG models, including Marilyn Limbaugh, Claire McPherson, Polly Dakin, Suzy Bates, and Anna Hines were lucky enough to show off these dazzling creations.  Some were tempted to keep right on walking out the door!

            Then Melinda showed examples of her Fabulous Fusible Flowers quilts, which brought murmurs of appreciation from everyone.  Those who took her Thursday workshop report that it was a terrific experience in which they learned a useful new technique and laughed a lot.

            A business meeting preceded the presentation.

Machine Quilting Class

            This is your last chance for the upcoming Machine Quilting Class. Two full days, March 8th & March 14th, with instructor Anita Kaplan. The cost is $100. Call Gualala Arts to register now as the class is almost full.

Greetings From

Our New President

            As your new president, I certainly have some impressive shoes to fill from the past presidents.  I would like to thank all of these gracious ladies who have given clear and wonderful leadership to this Guild.  It is a great feeling to follow you all.  Now you have ME!!!!  I will probably leave bare foot prints in the stash closet of the guild.

            I welcome all of you to the Tenth Year Anniversary Celebration.......so the theme for the next year is Celebration!!!!!

            I would like to visit each of the Quilt Groups in the first few months. When you have space, please invite me to come so I can get to know all of you better.

            Let the party begin!!!

                                                Carol Tackett

Call For Entries:

QUILT NATIONAL ‘07 

            The15th international juried competition for new innovative quilts, on display May 26 - September 3, 2007 at the Dairy Barn Cultural Arts Center in Athens, Ohio is seeking entries.

             Jurors are internationally recognized artist quiltmakers Tim Harding and Paula Nadelstern; and Robin Treen, Exhibits Director, San Jose (CA) Museum of Quilts and Textiles.

            The work must: (a) possess the most basic structural characteristics of a quilt, (b) be an original design of the entrant, (c) have been completed after September, 2004 and (d) measure no more than 108” or 270 cm. in either direction.  Jurors will grant nearly $4,000 in prizes.  Entry deadline September 19, 2006.  Work selected for the exhibition will tour throughout the United States through 2009, and will be published in a full-color catalog produced by Lark Books.

            For entry form, send self-addressed business-size envelope with 2-ounce postage to QN ‘07 Entry Form, Dairy Barn Arts Center, P.O. Box 747, Athens, OH 45701-0747, USA. Entry form is also available on the Internet at www.quiltnational.com.

Block of the Month

            Because there will be no regular meeting in March, the drawing for the Dutchman’s Puzzle block of the month will be at the April meeting.  So finish up your challenge quilt, relax with a cup of tea, enjoy all the anniversary festivities, then get to work on the block of the month.  The pattern is on the website or you can get a copy from Bev Sloane or Janet Sears.

Harmony Susalla at

the de Young Museum

            Our own Harmony Susalla will be speaking at the De Young Museum in San Francisco. Don’t miss her lecture to be held on March 18, 2006  at the Koret Auditorium  at 10:00am. The de Young Museum is in Golden Gate Park.

            Harmony’s lecture is entitled “The Organic (R)evolution: Inspiring Environmental & Social Change through Creative, Sustainable Fabrics

            Textile history is full of scandal, slavery, child labor, pollution, and environmental degradation.  By looking at cotton’s sordid past, Harmony Susalla believes she has found a portal to its future.

            You can read more at http://www.harmonyart.com/news/press-release-2006-01.html

Membership News

            Membership renewals are due now --- this is your LAST CHANCE  to pay your dues for 2006 or suffer the consequences!  Mail your check for $35 made out to “PPQG” to Pam Wilson, P.O. Box 53, The Sea Ranch, CA  95497 today.  We plan to enclose the new roster  with the April issue of the newsletter.  Don’t be left out! 

Address changes:

Chilton-Hauck, Cynthia  --- 2163 Meeker #138, Richmond, CA  94804   chilton03@comcast.net

O’Leary, Mary  --- P.O. Box 947,  Gualala, CA  95445   884-1176   jacko@mcn.org

New Members:

Duren, Pam   3329 Woodbine Pl., Philomath,  OR  97370  (541)929-3710  pam.duren@comcast.net

Lindegren, Joan   4475 Opal Lane, Oceanside, CA   92056  (760)724-9200  bobnjoan4788@sbcglobal.net

Randolph, Gerda  2-Jan   P.O. Box 83, The Sea Ranch, CA  95497   785-2206   randolph@mcn.org

Birthday Girls          

Mona Innes	1st
Karel Metcalf	8th
Pam Carlson	15th
Pat Peterson	20th
Mary Suhr	25th
Suzy Bates	26th