Quilter

(Editor’s note – the following was received from former member Julie Martin. Her request for donations resulted in an overwhelming response from QU members. Those donations have been shared with many of those suffering in the wake of Hurricane Helene.)

Rarely do you see the level of compassion and generosity that has been demonstrated by this guild. When I reached out for some “cast off” quilts I had no idea of the bounty of kindness that would come our way. I’ve been able to distribute the donations to several churches and individuals with families in the hardest hit areas. I’ve also shared items with a local charity that assists the homeless and destitute, all of whom are in great need. Many running these donation sites were amazed when told of the origins of the items and extend heartfelt thanks and blessings to you all.

Sincerely,
Julie Martin

(Editor’s note – see pictures of this project at the end of this month’s newsletter in the “photo gallery”.)

Important Dates Reminder (save the dates !!)

• Opening Reception: Thursday August 21, 5-7:30 pm. QU members attend for free. QU provides snacks. LeMoyne provides beverages.
• Quilt turn in at LeMoyne: Friday August 8 from 11-6; Saturday August 9 from 11-1.
• Silent Auction (Marty O’Neill): August 21- September 5
• Muffins, Mimosas and QUILTO: Saturday August 23, 11-12:30
• Artist/Gallery Talk: Thursday September 4, 6-7:30 pm. Sue Isaac- “Modern Quilts.”
• Quilt pickup (tentative) September 22

Karen and I need an Opportunity Quilt Coordinator: Order donation tickets, possibly arrange for self or others to schlep the quilt around the area, monitor ticket distribution. Promote volunteer sign ups. Sue Isaac will set up the Volunteer signup app. GOOD NEWS: The quilt is completely finished and photographed and QU has a display stand if needed.

— Pam Doffek & Karen Kunz, co-chairs

Be sure to sign up for the Saturday, November 9, holiday napkin class at Transformation Church, located at 2300 Old Bainbridge. (Parking details forthcoming to those who sign up.) Cheryl Gratt will share her pattern for “tree napkins”, which make darling gifts for just about anyone on your holiday list. She has made hundreds of these napkins and her friends keep asking for more. It is a great way to use up that stash!

You can make 4 napkins in 1-2 hours depending on your speed. Each napkin requires ½ yard each of two contrasting fabrics, and one jelly roll strip for the trunk. You will need a sewing machine with various threads to match and/or contrast to your fabrics. That’s it! Hours are 9 – 4 or however long you wish to stay. Kitchen facilities are available to heat up lunch on site.

Once napkins are made, participants can stay to make mug rugs for area Assisted Living, Rehab and Hospice facilities. These require three 5” charm squares each.

To sign up, call Janet Taylor.

We keep adding new members to the guild, yay! QU is now 159 members strong.
Please welcome our newest members to the guild: Barbara Ward, Desiree Cureton, Betsy Spice, Ila Waite-Burns, Kristine Dougherty, Margaret Ann Pichard and Mickie Johnson.

Kerry Cohen

September, Philanthropy completed:

23 Sleep in Heavenly Peace quilts
Thank you all for your wonderful contributions to QU Philanthropy!

Free, pre-cut QAYG quilt kits are available to go home with you at every QU meeting.
You may also pick up free fabric at our “free to a good home” table at the QU meetings. No commitment required – you may use your freebies for a philanthropy project or anything else you’d like to make.

Evelyn Gonzalez and Marion Millet

Kaleidoscope of Color may be happening even as you are reading this. If you haven’t been to it yet, don’t miss it! If you have been, grab a different friend and see it again. See you there!

I’m writing this message a week before it opens. But I’m hopeful that we really are going to pull off this crazy-big annual quilt show. So let’s plan to celebrate our success at the September 12 guild meeting! There will be ribbons and there will be snacks!

The most important thing there will be is gratitude for all the time and effort so many, many of you have given to the show. Please know that I’m a bit overwhelmed right now and afraid I’ll forget to acknowledge someone’s contribution. It ALL mattered! The logo you designed. Every quilt you entered in the show. Every quilt or boutique or silent-auction item you sewed. Every friend you told about the show. Every volunteer shift you fulfilled, including the ones that left you with sore muscles the next day. Every time you shared on social media. The food you brought to the opening reception. The vendors you helped find. The sponsors you asked to donate. The funds you donated as sponsors. The way-more-than-usual financial record keeping. The baskets you put together and donated. The work so many did on the Opportunity Quilt more than a year ago. Having patience while we didn’t have all the answers. Putting yourself out there to give a demonstration despite butterflies in the stomach. The show ribbons you made. The volunteer badges you put together. The cut-and-fold-600-programs work. The Challenge designed and fulfilled. The art supplies you donated. The A/V setup you improvised. The ladders you lent. The music you played. The flyers and bookmarks you handed out. The things you did so quietly without any expectation of acknowledgment. Thank you all for believing in the vision of a great big show! Give yourself a pat on the back, a round of applause, or both!

And this doesn’t even mention that the members of the show committee did those things plus research and planning and site visits and sitting through loooooong meetings and you name it — all of which were steps outside their comfort zones. The committee went above and beyond in every direction, time after time. It was an honor to serve with Karen Kunz, Susan Thomson, Janet Taylor, Ann Gaber, Dawn Griffin, Peggy Allen, Marty O’Neill, and Tara Goodman. If I am still sane, they are the reason.

Your grateful chair
Sue Isaac