Quilter

Anyone who has joined the guild in the last year or so or even longer ago is invited to my home for an informal gathering to ask questions and share interests in order to better understand what the various elements of Quilters Unlimited are. (I found it difficult to make sense of all the names of members, sit and stitch groups, challenges, shows, and projects.)

We will meet at my home on Thursday, February 20 from 5:30 until 7:00. I will serve beverages and light snacks. You may contribute a snack, if you wish, of course.

If you have a project in progress or completed to show, it is a great opportunity to ask questions and share methods or thoughts on them.

RSVP, if possible, but last-minute decisions are ok too.

Joy,
Ann Gaber
My information is in the QU directory.

We are pleased to announce two fantastic opportunities for Quilters Unlimited members.

On Thursday March 13th Rita Verroca will thrill and entertain us with her trunk show! Rita is an internationally acclaimed appliqué artist. She lives in Colonial Beach, Virginia and teaches around the globe. She has won several AQS awards, her quilts have been on magazine covers and she has written a book Baltimore Album of Roses. Check out her historic blocks on her website. These blocks are a true work of art-as are the many quilts she has produced. You won’t be disappointed!

Next, on Friday March 14th she will offer a workshop that will teach hand piecing and BEGINNERS needle turn appliqué. Skinny stems? Yes, that will be covered. One of the things that I have learned by really learning how to hand piece, is my MACHINE SEWING has gotten so much better! It’s amazing! All you will need to bring are sewing supplies-no machines! The pattern and material kit are included.

The workshop is starting to fill up. Please register online to secure your spot!

Call Cheryl Gratt for any questions, her number is in the QU directory.

Rita is also conducting a 3 – 6 day Retreat at Wakulla Springs from 3.16-3.21.2025. If you are interested in information, please let Cheryl know and she will email you information!

Introduction: The Meaning of Purple

Thank you for contributing your time, skill, and compassion to create quilted squares in purple, a color deeply significant in end-of-life care. In many healthcare settings, purple serves as a signal that a patient is nearing or has reached the end of their journey. The color purple represents spirituality, dignity, and peace, making it a meaningful choice to convey respect and honor for both patients and their loved ones during this sensitive time.

Why Quilted Squares?

Your creations play a special role in bringing comfort to families facing the unexpected. When a loved one is nearing the end of life, it can be a challenging and unprepared-for experience, especially if they weren’t initially receiving hospice care. Often, families find themselves in this situation, feeling overwhelmed and unready to say goodbye. By oƯering a quilted square, we aim to bring warmth and a sense of presence during these profound moments.

To ensure consistency, please follow these guidelines for creating the squares:

Quilted Squares Specifications: 6×6 inches – Soft purple fabrics

Quilted or patterned designs are welcome, but please ensure the fabric is soothing and respectful. Additional Touches are optional but feel free to add simple stitching to the quilted squares, such as a small heart or a word like “Hope” or “Love” in an unobtrusive, thoughtful way.

The Impact of Your Work

By contributing to this project, you’re offering more than fabric and thread; you’re creating tokens of peace and solace that provide tangible comfort during an intensely emotional time.

Other Ways to Help

You can also support Big Bend Hospice by giving gently used items to their Oak Tree Treasures Thrift Shop. The link to their website for additional information: Oak Tree Treasures | Big Bend Hospice. In addition, they need several quilt stands to display donated quilts.

Please contact Janet Taylor if you have any questions

The City Hall Show will take place June 4 – August 4, 2025. This is a “Free Theme” exhibition of approximately 30 quilts, large, medium, small. Quilts are your choice, one per person, with no restrictions on year made or previous showing. The online application “Submittable” will go live on February 17, via an email blast to the guild, on a first come first served basis. You may offer your quilt for sale. Quilt must have a sleeve, dowel, and hanging wire. Quilt submission will take place at the May 8 meeting, and one other time TBA.

Our City Hall reception will take place on Thursday, June 19, 6:00 – 7:30 pm.

If you have any questions, please contact Janet Taylor

It’s membership renewal time! Dues are $30 for the year. You can pay by cash or check at the January meeting, online via credit card, or by mail.

If you need the directory mailed, the fee is an additional $3.

Please let Ellen Fournier know if any of your contact information needs to be updated for publication of the 2025 directory.

Happy New Year!! As we ring in 2025, many of you might have created some quilting resolutions. In the past, I have said I was not buying any new fabric, or not starting any new projects or not buying new rulers or gadgets. Or there were a couple years when I said I was cleaning up the sewing room, or not putting anything quilting related on the dining room table. Spoiler alert…all these noble ideas fell through by the end of February, usually earlier. Reports show that most people quit their New Year’s resolutions by the second Friday in January. They even named it Quitters Day.

But I’m not a quitter, I’m a QUILTER! So, I scrapped all those “crazy quilt” notions and pieced together a new pattern of New Year’s resolutions.

I am not buying any new fabric unless it is beautiful, unusual, the perfect color to go with fabric I already have or if the fabric just calls out, “take me home!”

I am only going to start new projects that I am super excited to start, even if I think will stop working on them in a few steps

I will only buy a new ruler or gadget if it seems like it will make a project easier or it’s a super great price.

I will clean up the sewing room, no if, ands or buts about it, however, no promises that it won’t be even messier after unearthing all those projects, gadgets and fabrics I find while cleaning

And last but certainly not least, the dining room table in 2025 will solely be used for quilting and no food will be allowed in the newly named Alternate Quilting Room!

No matter if you set resolutions or not, I hope everyone plans to join us at Quilters Unlimited this year to celebrate the wonderful craft we all just can’t quit, because we aren’t quitters, we’re QUILTERS UNLIMITED!!

Happy Quilting,

Kerry