December 2020
/Program: Virtual Show and Tell
Tuesday, December 15, 2020, at 7:00 PM via Zoom
We can’t get together for our December monthly potluck, but we can get together via Zoom.
During these past months, we have missed having Show and Tell at our meeting, so we are planning Village Quilters’ first and hopefully only Virtual Show and Tell. We are asking each member to share what you have been working on these last NINE months.
Here is what needs to happen:
We are asking that every member take one picture of each finished project and email them to Marti Austin. The projects can be small projects such as table runners all the way up to full size bed quilts.
If you are unable to take a picture of your work, Sharon Pierluissi or Marti Austin is willing to pick up your project and take the pictures. They will make arrangements with you to pick up and return your project in a safe manner.
If you want to write comments about each of your projects please include that information with the pictures.
We need to receive the pictures by December 10th. Our goal is to include all of the pictures that we receive; however, if the response is overwhelming we may need to limit the number of projects that we can show for each member.
A presentation will be created and shared with everyone at our December 15th guild meeting. Plan on wearing your lounging clothes (pajamas); gather cookies, treats, your favorite beverage, and sign on to December's Zoom meeting.
PLEASE NOTE: if an email is not sent before the meeting, the Zoom meeting information can be found on the Village Quilters Members Only page.
Upcoming Programs in January and February 2021
We have been having some wonderful speakers and workshops during this time of virtual meetings. The last workshop that we had on free motion quilting was excellent. Once again the instructor was able to teach in a clear and easy manner making the remote experience great. We encourage members to sign up for our next two workshops.
January brings us Cindy Grisdela, a nationally known quilt instructor. Cindy will be lecturing at our January 19th guild meeting on the Anatomy of an Improv Quilt. Have you ever wondered how to create an Improv Quilt without a pattern? Author and award-winning artist Cindy Grisdela will share her tips and tricks in this entertaining lecture about the process for working improvisationally from start to finish.
Cindy will then lead the Improv Puzzle Blocks workshop. This will be held over two evenings, Thursday, January 21st and Monday, January 25th. During this workshop, you will create Improv Log Cabin blocks in a variety of sizes and put them together into a unique composition – like a jigsaw puzzle. Offering the workshop on two separate evenings will give participants time to work on their project in between the two sessions. Please see the calendar listing for further information on the workshop and the supply list.
Looking ahead to February we have another speaker and workshop we are excited about. Lori Dickman will share how quilting templates have always been her "go-to" tools for piecing fast and fun quilts, along with a trunk show of her quilts.
The workshop for February will be held on Saturday, February 20th. In this workshop the Drunkards Path block will take on a modern and updated look for Lori’s Fruity Melon quilt. For this workshop you will need to sign up early as you need to order her pattern for the workshop.
Please take a look at the upcoming workshops. They are being taught by nationally-known quilt instructors. We are offering them at different times and days to see if more members will be able to attend. Being able to attend a workshop from our own sewing spaces has been a great experience. We hope that more members will join us.
Kate Brennan and Sharon Pierluissi, Programs
Christine’s Chatter
Welcome to the holiday season! This year’s gatherings are quite different. I love having a houseful of people at Thanksgiving and my husband is the lead cook for a most amazing meal. I think his turkey is absolute perfection and we always enjoy the leftovers for the next week or so. This year, we had a smaller turkey and all of the sides were also pared down. Our younger daughter has been with us for the past week as she works from home these days and we have filled our house instead with puzzles, a card tournament, and Zooming with other family members that could not come. It’s been a very different time but we are so thankful that we are well and we have each other.
Usually, we don’t start decorating for Christmas until the first week of December, but right now the living room is full of bins and Chuck started hanging lights outside yesterday. We are always looking for something to make life more festive. It will again be the three of us for Christmas as our other daughter and family have made the heart-rending decision not to come for Christmas. We will miss them and having Christmas with our granddaughter but again, we are thankful that our whole family has not been affected by this virus. As many of you know, I am on the front lines at the hospital and the devastation caused by the virus is life-altering. That being said, please, please, please, be a good citizen of the world and stay home, wash your hands, and wear your masks. Just by wearing a mask, you decrease your risk to less than 1%.
I am so thankful that our guild is still active and keeping in touch. Our speaker for November, HollyAnne Knight of String and Story, was so energetic. I have quilted my own quilts for quite some time. They are far from perfect, but it is very satisfying.
Our Programs chairs have more speakers and workshops for 2021 and December is planning a way for all of us to share the joy of the season. Looking forward to seeing all of you on Zoom at our meeting on December 15th.
Christine Tindell, President
Service Projects
QUILT OF VALOR Block of the Month
For December, I made a block with a 6 ½”(unfinished) square of fabric in the star portion of the block and a second block with Sarah’s Choice block pattern in the star portion. What two blocks will you be making? Instructions for a 6” finished Sarah’s Choice quilt block can be found on the Spruce Crafts website.
More information can be found on the Village Quilters Service page.
Hopes and Dreams Challenge
Lap quilts are a great size for the Challenge, the minimum size being 36” x 46”. Lap size quilts go directly to ALS patients, while larger quilts are sold with the money being donated to ALS research. Lap quilts are also great for using up left-over fabric and for trying new ideas. Lap quilts can also be mailed for less money!
Thinner loft battings, such as Quilters Dream Request, are a preferred choice for the quilts. Barb Jolley gets batting at a reduced price. Contact her if you would like to buy some.
Thank you for participating in the service projects!
Kathy Sorkin, Service Committee
Quilts from the Village Show 2021
Greetings Ladies, I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!
2021 is going to be a challenging process for planning our show. The Show Committee has had our first meeting and presented the results to the Board. It was then decided to dual track the plans for the Show, face-to-face and virtual, with the decision to be finalized in the Spring. The individual chairs will continue with face-to-face show expectations but may have to convert to a virtual option when that decision is made. Chairs will advise the members as to what help they require. Please help with whatever you possibly can.
It is exciting that we have so many that are stepping up to help with the extra planning needed to make our show a success, no matter which format we have for our Quilt Show.
Madge Pierce and Barb Jolley, Quilt Show Co-Chairs
Raffle Quilt
Our 2021 Raffle Quilt is ready! Thanks to Margaret Martin, you can see Jocelyn Galloway’s beautiful photos of Ruffled Roses from the Village on the Quilt Show page. Take a look!
The quilt is 86” square, and based on the pattern “Ruffled Roses” by Sue Garman. We made fabric design choices with two goals in mind: to introduce a bright modern feel to this lovely traditional pattern, and to create a quilt that makes people feel happy when they look at it!
Many thanks to all who contributed their time and talents to make this happen, in spite of our lockdown. There were lots of socially distant fabric exchanges!
Lorraine Potts appliqued the center medallion.
Linda Spring and Kate Klein paper-pieced the lattice border.
Kate Klein appliqued the swag border.
Erica Jarrett appliqued the cornerstones for the swag border, and Lorraine Potts added the connecting flowers.
Kathy Sorkin made the four-patches for the four-patch border.
Celia Stratman, Kearstie Grenier, Christine Tindell, and Kate Klein paper-pieced the baskets.
Alice Hutchinson appliqued the cornerstones for the basket border.
Kathy Sorkin and Donna Derstadt pieced the outer borders.
Nancy Smith appliqued the outermost cornerstones.
Quilting was done by Donna Derstadt.
We can’t wait for you to see it in person!
Your Raffle Quilt Coordinators,
Celia Stratman, Lorraine Potts, and Donna Derstadt
Art Quilt Challenge 2021
The theme for the 2021 Art Quilt Challenge is “Our Lives are Woven Together”. All of the challenge details can be downloaded as a pdf. I look forward to seeing everyone’s creations.
Julie Milne, Art Quilt Challenge Chair
Quilts of Valor
As the season of giving swirls around us, I would like to take this opportunity to jump start the Quilts of Valor presentation for the 2021 quilt show – both in terms of recipients and quilts to present. Assuming the 2021 quilt show will actually take place in person, I will begin collecting names of suggested recipients in June or July. Start thinking about active or retired servicemen and women in your circle of family and friends and a quilt you would like to present.
In the event that the 2021 Quilt Show will go "Virtual", it is my hope to collect Quilts of Valor to present to Rita Pennington's Illinois Quilts of Valor group to be awarded at some future date.
I will be providing more specific size information about the quilts themselves in the next couple of months.
Thank you for your amazing outpouring of support for this program in the past, and I know the Guild can count on it again in 2021.
Warmly,
Cheryl Mercy, QOV Chair
Silent Auction
Silent Auction items are needed for our fantastic quilt show. Start thinking about what fabulous things you could donate. Our target is at least 100 projects so we can make our goal of $2,500. We are ready to collect them as soon as you finish. We would appreciate only new current projects. Holiday projects sell very well, especially Halloween and Christmas. We will also accept items that are quilt-related like purses, large tote bags, etc. If you can, please consider putting a label on the back of your donation identifying the creator.
If you have any questions please contact Donna Derstadt or Liz Greenhill.
Birthday Blocks
The holidays are already in full swing! Just a couple blocks due for the December birthday ladies; a nice addition to their gift receiving season. Then we are up for the 2021 blocks. Many of you probably have a head start on these.
Wishing all of you the happiest of holidays and an improved, happy 2021, filled with wonderful quilting projects.
Nancy Smith and Edythe Hirasawa
Treasurer’s Report
Balance as of 10/27/2020: $26,698.41
Income: $319.32 from Workshop and Membership fees
Expenses: $630.00 for HollyAnne Knight workshop and lecture
Ending Balance as of 11/30/2020: $26,387.73
Respectfully submitted,
Alice Hutchinson, Treasurer
Membership
Greetings from the Membership Committee!
Guests are invited to join our monthly Zoom meetings, and we are waiving the usual guest fee! To have a guest join us on Zoom please email Sue Ann Kuby with your guest’s name and email address a few days before the meeting. She will contact your guest and give them the link to access our meeting. Please do not give them the access information yourself. Note: remember that guests may only attend a maximum of three meetings per year.
Please be sure to reference the current membership roster (available to download on the Members Only page) when you need to contact another member. Recently there have been some instances where members had difficulty contacting other members, but it seems they were using prior versions of the membership roster. The new roster, posted in October 2020, is the most accurate information we have.
Beginning in November, Membership dues are $25 for the remainder of the fiscal year, until April 30, 2021 ($12.50 for active military or spouse). Your membership entitles you to attend our online monthly meetings and to access the Village Quilters (Members Only) Facebook page. It also allows you to sign up for retreats and workshops.
Please contact us if you have any questions. We look forward to the day we can welcome you in person at the check-in desk.
Happy December Birthday to the following members!
Jo Bailey – 12/17
Rae Bradley – 12/26
Joan Decleene – 12/14
Donna Fitzgerald – 12/27
Kearstie Grenier – 12/16
Lee Logeman – 12/30
Mary McMillen – 12/20
Sharon Pierluissi – 12/23
Kathy Sorkin – 12/14
Heidi Stark – 12/04
Christine Tindell – 12/11
Membership co-chairs Sue Ann Kuby and Kathy Avellone