Bulletin Board

July “Around the Block” Newsletter

At our July 9th meeting, Karen Bauer, a previous Quilt of Valor awardee, will be our guest speaker. Karen served six years in the United States Army during the Vietnam era. She will inform us as to the work women do in the services. Five years ago, she helped organize the Women Veterans Unite organization here in Tallahassee. The group meets once a month at the American Legion Hall. Currently it has sixty plus members.

At our July meeting, we will also be awarding Quilts of Valor to three women veterans.

Hello QU!

Do you all remember what you were doing during our country’s Bicentennial in 1976? I was eleven years old, living at Camp Lejune, NC with my family. My dad’s platoon sponsored our Girl Scout Troop (talk about uniform inspections!) so you can imagine the birthday celebration held by our troop living on a USMC military base. It was incredible. The memories are all in my head. We have very few pictures—film and developing, even at the PX, was still a luxury item. I picked out the gingham fabric, in red and blue for the dress my mom made. The biggest thrill was the red shoes! Doesn’t every little girl need a pair of dressy, red shoes?

While reflecting on the USA’s Semi-quincentennial and pondering the many ideas in my head for our challenge, I went to the branch library near my house and discovered a new book commemorating American quilts from our first Centennial celebration (1876) and their history leading up to today. The history and pictures of quilts from the Centennial and Bicentennial years are awe inspiring. Please put the book, Commemorative American Quilts: Stitching Our Heritage from 1876 to Today by Sandra Sider, on hold so you can enjoy our country’s rich quilt history. I will probably end up purchasing this book to fully read and absorb every chapter.

YOU HAVE plenty of time to create your own commemorative challenge quilt to celebrate our nation’s semi-quincentennial with our guild’s Americana theme. Read over the QU Americana Challenge rules and make your quilt. You’ll be happy you did

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TURN IN DATES: Submit your quilt information, with a picture. I will also have paper forms at the QU July meeting on Thursday, July 9. Bring your quilt in a pillowcase WITH a printed picture. The FINAL turn-in date is Saturday, July 25 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Lake Jackson Branch Library (3840 North Monroe Street— Corner of Fred George Road and North Monroe Street in Huntington Oaks Plaza.)

THANK YOU for all your support and enthusiasm for this year’s challenge. I know we are all very busy and sometimes a challenge is pushed to the back burners. I challenge you to challenge yourself to participate in this very special year. I forgot to remind you that there is NO FEE to enter this year. The rules are FREE! The entry is FREE!

A huge benefit of being a QU member. Grab fabric from your own collection and start sewing. You got this!

Sincerely,
Carole P. Gentry,
QU Challenge Chair 2026

We are over ½ way to the holidays y’all! It isn’t too late to whip out some great projects for gifts…or that new grandbaby…or a friend who needs a new wall hanging!

Check out Marcia Layton. Marcia is coming to the guild to share her creations on October 8th at our guild meeting. She is offering two workshops: one on Friday, October 9th and one on Saturday, October 10th .

October 9th workshop is a 3 hour workshop from 10-1 with your choice of one of these projects:

Class fees for the 3 hour class (Friday October 9th) are $20 for members and $35 for non-members. You must purchase the pattern; optional kits must be pre-purchased before the workshop.

October 10th workshop is a 6 hour workshop from 10-4 with your choice of one of these projects:

Class fees for the 6 hour workshop (Saturday October 10th ) are $25 for members and $40 for non-members. You must purchase the pattern; optional kits must be pre-purchased before the workshop.
Naturally she will bring other patterns and fabric and notions – and all kinds of STUFF to buy…so sign up and start putting $$ away before October!

We will be sending out information on location, signups and the logistics of ordering patterns and kits in a couple of weeks when we have everything finalized. STAY TUNED. Pick your workshop/class today and get ready for a lot of fun!

Cheryl

On behalf of QuiltFest Jacksonville, you are invited to come visit our show this year- hosted by the seven sister guilds of the Jacksonville and St. Augustine area, and themed Give Piece A Chance.

We expect over 400 quilts to hang for the exhibition, with many wonderful vendors and demos to be presented. The show will be held Thursday through Saturday, September 17th -19th, at The Prime Osborn Convention Center. Show times are 9:00am-5:00pm on Thursday and Friday, and 9:00am-4:00pm on Saturday. Regular admission tickets are $17, senior and military are $16, and bus group discounts are $15. All tickets include free parking. Advance tickets are available for groups and buses, so gather your friends and come see all the traditional, modern and art quilts, and shop with the vendors.

A dozen or so kits created for easy to quilt quilts.

Many thanks to Polina V. for pulling lovely prints together from our donation stash!
And to Karen S. for donating and cutting fun backing fabrics!

We have cut backings and battings to size 43″ x 63″ and provided sets of prints for tops.
Included will be some design suggestions to choose from for quilt-as-you-go style construction as well as traditional top construction.

Please let Ann Gaber know if you would like one of these kits before the next QU meeting.