President's Message
“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says ‘Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again’.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-Glass
“Snow flurries began to fall and they swirled around people’s legs like house cats. It was magical, this snow globe world.”
― Sarah Addison Allen, The Sugar Queen
“I prefer Winter and Fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape — the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of Winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn’t show.” – Andrew Wyeth
Dear quilting friends, I’m writing you on Groundhog Day, wondering what lies ahead during the next 6 weeks. The above quotes refer to two of my favourite things: quilts, and house cats. I’ve been spending a lot of time with quilts and cats lately: reading, reading, reading; dreaming of Spring, and fighting my natural tendency to fear and dislike Winter. I do have an appreciation of the hidden promise, but I can’t say I prefer Winter and Fall, as Andrew Wyeth did….
Sewing two blocks of North Carolina Lilies for our charity quilt helped me focus on the promise of new growth hidden in the seemingly dead landscape. I thoroughly enjoyed piecing those two blocks, and I look forward to seeing all our efforts united in a glorious quilt. Even more than that, I look forward to seeing early bulbs send their leafy shoots up through the snow, and unfold their darling blooms. Always a thrill.
Wishing you warmth, shelter and safety; have fun celebrating St. Valentine’s Day. See you February 19 at the Guild meeting (unless you see on WGAL that the meeting was canceled).
Rita VanWyk-Due (honoured to be your Guild President)
Secretary's Report
York Quilters Guild Meeting Minutes
January 15, 2015
7:00 pm
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm by Rita VanWyk-Due, President.
Rita welcomed everyone and opened the meeting with a quote of the day: “The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention.”
Committee announcements:
Quilt Challenge: Ann Clinton announced that the Quilt Challenge “Quilt Like your Ancestors” is due at the February meeting. Write down the requirements that you followed on an index card and attach to your quilt. Do not write your name on the card. She will also be announcing the challenge for this year.
Hazel Wood announced that she is collecting Christmas cards – used or unused. Please see her with any contributions.
Membership: We had 5 visitors and 5 new members at the January meeting.
2016 Quilt Show: Lisa Blythe announced that Darla Landis is the show co-chair. The committee had their first meeting on Tuesday of that week. The venue has changed and will be held at the York College Field House. The date of the show in June needed to be changed due to conflicts. It will be held the first Friday and Saturday in June 2016 and will be a judged show. The venue provides 30,000 sq. ft. of space and has 2 classrooms available for possibly some classes.
Youth Group: The youth group is down to just 2 participants. If you know of any young people interested in sewing or quilting, let them know about the youth program.
Service project: Debbie Weaver was handing out packets containing pieces and instructions for the charity quilt for anyone who wants to assist in sewing the blocks. Please return them at the February meeting or March at the latest.
Programs: Cheryl Dawson announced that there were a few spots left for the workshop on Chenille being given by Rachel Tracey.
Show and Tell: Numerous quilts were shown by our talented members.
Program: Three mini-demo stations were set up in which members attended 15 minute sessions on a particular topic. Barb Colvin spoke about how to use Electric Quilt software, Sarah O’Sullivan demonstrated how to sew feathers using a home sewing machine, and Cheryl Dawson demonstrated the making of a Sewing Chatelaine. Thank you to these ladies for sharing their knowledge.
The meeting was adjourned after the demonstrations by Rita VanWyk-Due.
Respectfully submitted,
Anne King, recording secretary
Ways and Means
Programs
2014 York Quilters’ Guild Challenge Results: “Quilt Like Your Ancestors”
We have been challenged by member Ann Clinton to produce a quilt using some of the techniques, patterns and/or fabric styles of our grandmothers, who produced some very beautiful quilts without the aid of rotary cutters, Accuquilt machines, Ott lights or computer design programs. The rules are in the members’ area of the web site. Bring your results and compare with the other members’ ideas in a night of showing off our own skills.
When you bring your challenge quilt to the February meeting also include an index card pinned to the quilt identifying which requirements you challenged yourself to use when making your quilt (Ex. Hand quilted, historical pattern- log cabin, reproduction fabrics). *Do not put your name on the index card*.
YQG Trivia
Instead of trivia I have a question. After watching special guest Roberta Horton and her sister on “The Quilt Show” I remember taking a class from her.
It would have been in the late 80”s or early 90”s and was machine quilting. I also think it was at Heidelberg United Church of Christ in York.
I could not find anything in the old newsletters about it so I don’t know if it was a guild workshop. Does anyone remember taking this class?
Barbara Colvin
Sunshine and Shadows
If a fellow quilter is ill, has surgery, a birth or death in the family, or could just use a note of cheer, please let me know. You can reach me at LSWri@aol.com or 717-428-2893.
Thank you.
Linda Wright
Read All About It!!!
Hello everyone,
I am so proud to tell you that the block project that you helped me with at the guild meeting has been published in the March/April issue of McCall’s magazine. You will find it on page 10. Sadly, I will not be able to attend the February meeting, but I will have a copy for all to see in March.
Barbara Wilke
Wilke Fibre Arts
Art teacher CYHS.
Chenille Workshop with Rachael Tracey
Saturday, March 21, 2015
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
At this time there is only one spot left, so if you are interested, see Cheryl Dawson to put your name on the list. Money is due for those who have signed up. Please see Cheryl at the February or March meeting and be sure to get information sheets and directions to the workshop location.
Feather Quilting Mini Demo Follow-Up
Thank you all for your kind attention to my feather quilting mini-demo at the January meeting. Several guild members have subsequently asked me for the names of some of the gadgets and notions I use for free-motion quilting on my home sewing machine, or where I’ve purchased them. I hope this list helps get you quilting happily!
The Basics:
1) Little Genie Magic Washers, to modulate bobbin action and prevent bobbin backlash
2) The Supreme Slider, to help the quilt glide across the machine bed and table
3) Machingers quilting gloves, to easily move the quilt sandwich without undue hand stress
Leah Day sells these items in her online store, at a discount if you buy all three together:
http://www.leahday.com/shop/product/ultimate-quilting-kit/
4) Schmetz Jeans needles, to help resist needle bending and skipped stitches. They’re manufactured in sizes 70-110, but it’s hard to find a full selection online. I usually buy them at sewing machine stores.
5) Nothing to buy on this point, but instead of dropping my feed dogs, I set my stitch length to zero so the feed dogs don’t move. On my machine, this seems to give me much more predictable tension when free-motion quilting.
Bonus Stuff:
1) The portable table I was using at the meeting is the Sew Ezi table. I bought it to take to classes and retreats, but it’s a great solution for home use if you don’t have a large extension table. The company cuts the acrylic insert to fit your machine, and you can order additional inserts if you wish to use it with more than one machine. I also have the optional accessory shelf:
http://www.seweziusa.com
2) My machine is a Janome Memory Craft 6500 which I purchased in 2004:
http://www.janome.com/en/machines/sewing/mc6500p/
It has more throat space under the arm than many machines, although some newer machines now have even more. I have replaced the hopping foot that came with the machine with the Janome Convertible Free Motion Quilting Foot Set:
http://www.janome.com/en/accessories/sewing-machine-feet/convertible-freemotion-/
which is a non-hopping foot with three interchangeable attachments. I like the metal closed-circle foot, like the foot on a longarm machine, because the open-circle foot sometimes catches on seam allowances. I find that this adjustable-height, non-hopping foot gives me much more predictable tension and fewer skipped stitches.
3) I strongly recommend Patsy Thompson’s DVDs and books on home sewing machine feather quilting. Video samples are available at her website:
http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com/shop/category/cd-s-dvd-s/dvds-by-patsy-thompson-designs/
4) There’s no substitute or shortcut for practice, but don’t get stuck just making practice quilt sandwiches. Get comfortable by quilting actual quilts, giving yourself permission to not be perfect. Every quilt you quilt will build confidence and competence.
Enjoy!
Sarah O’Sullivan
Quilting Humor
Quilting Blog
Dear Guild Member,
I have no doubt all of you are looking forward to the February meeting. It seems to have been a long time since we last met. We’ll pray for no more snow!
In reading a recent note from the Red Rose Guild weekly update, I found this:
Understanding JoAnn Fabrics: There is a blog explaining how JoAnn Fabrics functions (www:thebitchystitcher.blogspot.com).
Read the one entitled “Behind the Bolt” for some insight on the workload put on the staff at JoAnn’s, and why they sometimes don’t seem to be available.
Click on this link and scroll halfway down the page to the:
Tuesday, September 9, 2014 entry called BEHIND THE BOLT.
http://thebitchystitcher.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2014-10-02T07:46:00-04:00&max-results=7
It was an eye-opener and somewhat depressing.
Evelyn
Lancaster Quilt Show March 11-14
Red Rose Quilters Guild is looking for volunteers to do two hour “quilt police” (we don’t wear white gloves because AQS won’t allow us to touch the quilts) volunteer time slots. In exchange, you will get free admission to the show ($11-14 value) and free shuttle bus from Clipper Stadium.
Just let me know date, time frame, your name, address, guild, phone and email.
Thank you in advance for any help.
Vicki Bowman vicbutch@aol.com cell 717-537-5997
“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says ‘Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again’.”
