September 2020
/Virtual Speaker: Accept the Challenge & Win a Prize with Diane Murtha
Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at 7:00 PM via Zoom
This time of COVID-19 has been a challenge for everyone. We have been forced to rethink how we can stay together as a quilt guild and also how we can continue to expand our quilting knowledge with workshops. We have two upcoming workshops, one in September and one in November that you can still register for. The price for a workshop has been reduced to $35.00. Doing a virtual workshop has some advantages, like not having to pack up your sewing machine and supplies to get to the class. Heck, you can stay in your P.J.’s if you want. We hope that if you are able to join us you will give a virtual workshop a try. Sign up now if you can.
At our September 15th meeting Diane Murtha will present her lecture on challenges titled “Accept the Challenge & Win a Prize”. Diane will present an informative and humorous perspective on her quilt challenge experiences, including a trunk show via Zoom. [image: multi sample variationsQAYGO.jpg]
We are very excited to have our first virtual workshop on September 16th; the fee for this workshop is $35.00. Diane Murtha will provide a workshop called Modified Quilt as You Go. Diane will teach a technique of two-step quilting. This class yields 25 perfect 4 ½” quilted blocks embellished with a variety of applique options, then assembled. We hope that many of you will join us for this workshop.
Looking ahead you will not want to miss the October 20th guild meeting. Our guest speaker, Sarah Evans, will be talking about a very impressive quilt called Rita’s Quilt. This is a quilt project that had a humble beginning and turned into a project that a whole community of quilters embraced with dedication and passion. We are very excited that Sarah will be sharing this story with us. There will not be a workshop in October.
In November Sarah Thomas will share her quilting journey with us. Sarah will also be teaching a virtual workshop on free motion quilting. Her work is amazing and we are looking forward to Sarah sharing her techniques with us. The fee for this workshop will be $35.00.
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.
Kate Brennan and Sharon Pierluissi, Programs
Christine’s Chatter
Summer will soon be over. What a strange time. No big family vacations, no travel, no big picnics, no church gatherings. Today the weather is gorgeous, and I am grateful for my home, my family, my friends and my craft. I was able to attend a small quilt retreat with friends and family in August and it was wonderful to sew for six days straight, laugh and eat, but at a distance, of course. I trust you have been able to sew. For me, it helps alleviate the stress of the times. I just finished an adorable gift for my granddaughter for her first birthday in October.
There are several members keeping us in touch as a guild. Jocelyn Galloway has maintained the Village Quilters (Members Only) page on Facebook. What a joy to see that many of you are all in the creative mode. Post what you are working on or what inspires you. It is encouraging to all of us.
I really learned a lot about sewing machine needles at the last meeting with the Schmetz representative. I had no idea about the color bands on the needles. I immediately downloaded the Schmetz app on my iPhone. It has all of the bullet points from her lecture. The app is very helpful and best of all, it’s free!
Our meetings continue to take place the third Tuesday each month on Zoom. Unfortunately, we don’t see as many of you as we’d like. If you are having an issue with getting on the meeting, Kate Brennan is willing to have another Zoom tutorial. The meetings open at 6:30 pm for chit chat and to give you time to get on the platform before the meeting starts at 7:00 pm. Please let us know if you are having an issue. We want you to stay connected.
International Hang a Quilt Outside Your Home Day is Saturday, September 12, 2020. It’s a grassroots idea to help fill the void of no local quilt shows, exhibits, state fairs, etc., due to COVID-19. Jocelyn has posted information on the VQ Facebook page. If you aren’t comfortable hanging your quilt outside, you can also hang it in your front window. There will be a map on Facebook for the participants so you can drive around and see the quilts. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.
Our Programs co-chairs Sharon and Kate have worked on getting exciting upcoming programs with workshops. The virtual workshop fee has been reduced to $35.00. There’s room, so please sign up.
Kate Brennan has graciously offered to co-chair Advance Programs but she needs a partner. Would you be willing to help her? Contact me or Kate; she has many ideas but would like help.
Barbara Schober has taken the Friendship position. This involves sending cards and reaching out to members who are ill, have had surgery, or have lost a loved one. Please contact her if you know of someone who needs a lift.
I hope your September is full of all of the joys that September brings. We go apple picking every year with our daughter and that brings pies, apple butter, and yummy cakes. I think September is up there as one of my favorite months.
Hope to see you all soon,
Christine Tindell, President
Service Projects
QUILT OF VALOR Block of the Month
Beginning this month, you will be making two blocks/month of your choice. The blocks can have a square of fabric or a star block in the star portion of the flag. You can make the quilt as the pattern suggests or use any quilt block you like for the star area.
Block 1: Cut out a 6.5” square (unfinished) in your chosen fabric for the star area of the block.
Block 2: Last month we made a Sawtooth Star block. An alternate block suggestion is to make a 6” (finished) Friendship Star block.
More information can be found on the Village Quilters Service page.
Pictured is a finished quilt top by Celia Stratman. Celia recently completed this at a retreat and made it almost entirely from her stash. For Block 1 Celia used various star prints. Block 2 is the Sawtooth Star detailed in last month’s newsletter.
Service Donation
The Guild received a very large donation of fabrics and quilt tops to be used for service projects. I have organized the donation into kits and fabric groupings. Pictures are posted on the Village Quilters (Members Only) Facebook page. If you are not on Facebook, contact me, and I will send you the pictures. Let me know if you see something you would like to finish. Arrangements will then be made for pick-up at my house. There is also a lot of yardage in fat quarter size to yard pieces. I will bring these to our first in-person guild meeting for your selection.
Kathy Sorkin, Service Committee
Quilts from the Village Show 2021
Greetings! So glad to have projects to keep us busy. Imagine not having quilting during this time; I would go stir crazy.
The dates are set for the Quilt Show, October 1 & 2, 2021. We will again be at the Libertyville Sports Complex. The rumors saying that they are selling are not true! They are only selling the mini golf and driving range. The Sports Complex will be opening as soon as it is safe to do so.
A big THANK YOU to everyone who has taken a position on a committee. They are:
Art Quilt Challenge – Julie Milne
Boutique – Judi Young – the Boutique needs a couple of people to help with organization.
Cataloging – Kearstie Grenier and Enid Mattimiro
Check in/Check out – Feather Schroeder
Hospitality – Jo Bailey and Sylvia Bat
Publicity – Jocelyn Galloway
Quilts of Valor – Cheryl Mercy
Raffle Quilt
Design – Donna Derstadt and Celia Stratman
Appraisal – Judy Hillebrand
Travel – Dorothy Roderick, Laurie Waldron, and Lorraine Pott
Ticket sales – Kathy Avellone
Show Production Committees
Floor Plans/Quilt Placement – Kate Klein, Nancy Smith, and Erica Jarrett
Marking floors – need someone to fill this position
Setup/Take Down – Sue Minster
Equipment – need someone to fill this position
Silent Auction – Donna Derstadt and Liz Greenhill
Staffing – Barbara Schober
Vendors – Marti Austin
All members are expected to work on the show. Please look over the committees and think about what you will do to help. No experience necessary!
The raffle quilt is in the final stages. It is beautiful! Celia and Donna and everyone who has worked on it, have done a fabulous job!
The only thing we MUST do now is get rid of COVID!
Stay safe,
Madge Pierce and Barb Jolley, Quilt Show Co-Chairs
Birthday Blocks
There aren’t any October birthdays to make a block for. This is a good month to work ahead for upcoming fall/winter birthdays. Happy sewing!
Nancy Smith and Edythe Hirasawa
Treasurer’s Report
Balance as of 7/31/2020: $26,954.28
Income: $284.63 (Membership fees)
Expenses: $7.35 (Bank service charge)
Ending Balance as of 8/25/2020: $27,231.56
Respectfully submitted,
Alice Hutchinson, Treasurer
Membership
Greetings from the Membership Committee!
Welcome new member Elizabeth Williams from Gurnee, IL.
An updated membership list has been posted to the Village Quilters Members Only page. Please check the updated membership roster on the website to see that your information is correct.
We love new and renewing members! We are still collecting membership dues which are $50 for the year ($25 for active military or spouse). Your membership entitles you attend our online meetings and access to the VQ 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 welcoming you at the check-in desk ASAP!
Happy September Birthday to the following members!
Patricia Buino – 9/8
Mary Dietz – 9/26
Ann Hamlin – 9/24
Cynthia Karabush – 9/15
Linda Krismer – 9/28
Monica Larson – 9/12
Tera McBlaine – 9/17
Lorraine Potts – 9/15
Maggie Schmude – 9/18
Feather Schroeder – 9/12
Nancy Smith – 9/5
Linda Spring – 9/17
Laurie Waldron – 9/24
Membership co-chairs Sue Ann Kuby and Kathy Avellone