February 2023
/New Member Invitation!
We are planning a New Member get together with the Village Quilters board members on February 7, 2023, from 5-7 p.m. We have had several quilters join our guild since the beginning of Covid, but due to pandemic restrictions we have not been able to have regular in person meetings and have not been able to meet and get to know our new members as we would like. We also want to give our newer members an opportunity to get to know our guild a little better. We have sent an invitation to all the newer members with more details about the event. Please respond if you can make it!
February Program: Margaret Brewster Willingham - Eye of the Beholder Quilt Designs: Reverse Appliqué - Revealing Beauty
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Join us as Margaret talks about the art of creating Reverse Appliqué quilts.
What is reverse appliqué? What is the difference between appliqué and reverse appliqué? When was it developed and by who? How do you do it? Can you do it by machine or by hand? Is it hard or easy to do? How do you quilt reverse appliqué? What is hidden will be revealed!
Margaret Brewster Willingham, the creative mind at work behind Eye of the Beholder Quilt Designs, is a national teacher and lecturer, pattern designer and author. Margaret’s quilts are influenced by the dynamic elements of movement, color and design she used for over 40 years as a choreographer of dance as she composes unique quilts full of beauty, elegance and inspirational color. Her greatest joy is in passing on skills and growing confidence in quilters new and old, inspiring us each to listen to our own creative voice and to have the confidence to try something new. She is most well-known for the innovative (and foolproof!) methods she’s devised for reverse applique – ‘Trace, Baste, Snip and Stitch’, which takes the mystery (and hardship) out of reverse applique. Many of her designs can be completed by either hand or machine, for those times when you just have to have it finished quickly!
February Workshop: Margaret Brewster Willingham – Eye of the Beholder Quilt Designs: Reverse Appliqué is Fun
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 9:00am via Zoom
Class Project: Machine Appliqué – Woodland Fern Block
Join us as Margaret presents how the beauty of reverse appliqué is revealed as you stitch, adding dimensional beauty to your quilts by playing with positive and negative space, fabric layering, and color value and contrast. Expand your creative possibilities and be empowered by the thorough, step-by-step, how-to demonstration of Eye of the Beholder Quilt Design’s easy Trace, Baste, Snip & Stitch methods of reverse appliqué. You will be amazed how simple it is to make her beautiful reverse appliqué designs. Reverse Appliqué is fun with the easy 4-step process.
The main focus of the class will be on Machine - Reverse Appliqué, but Margaret will also present a short session at the end of class on Hand - Reverse Appliqué.
Deadline to order supplies: 2/8/2023 - This will ensure that any orders that need to be shipped will arrive in time for the class. See the supply list for details on ordering the pattern and recommended tools/supplies for the class. www.eobquiltdesign.com
Advance Programs
As Advance Program Chairs we have been looking for exciting, entertaining, and informative programs for the 2023-2024 calendar year. Based on the responses we received from you through our questionnaire, we plan to have something for everyone! Due to your input we are planning programs including Bargello quilts, wool applique, and foundation piecing of diamonds… to name a few. All Workshops will be geared for Beginners to Advanced Beginners.
In November, we will have a fun-filled evening of STRIP POKER. Now we know what you're thinking, but take your mind and imagination back to where it belongs. We're talking about 2-1/2 inch jelly roll STRIPS. The game uses fabric and dice instead of chips, money, or cards. We will use strips, layer cakes, and charm squares. So start collecting your odd or lonely jelly roll strips, left over charm squares, and mismatched layer cake pieces, and get ready to STRIP in November.
We are looking forward to a fun-filled and informative year! As always, we welcome your program suggestions.
Happy Stitching,
Kathy Sorkin and Cheryl Mercy
Christine’s Chatter
A huge thank you goes to Donna Fitzgerald and her committee for another successful Brown Bag Hustle at our January meeting! You would think that after such a huge Brown Bag in August we would have fewer items, but we again had a very successful night with a great amount raised for the guild. How is it that I brought two bins of merchandise to donate and arrived home with more than I brought? I have had fun sorting it and planning future projects.
Our next two meetings will be virtual with virtual workshops. I look forward to “seeing” you on-screen for the February and March meetings.
If you joined the guild since March of 2020, our board would like to welcome you with a new member open house on February 7th from 5-7 p.m. at Andrea Krier’s house. Please RSVP to your invitation. We’d love to get to know you.
In April we will have our annual meeting with installation of a some new officers. We will eat together and you as members will provide the food. Can you sign up to bring a salad? The board will provide desserts and beverages.
As I write this, I am anticipating my annual quilt retreat “up north”. There isn’t enough time to work on all of the things I have packed, but really this time is to catch up with family and friends and share our wonderful hobby. I encourage you to take the time to hang out with people who share your passion!
President Christine Tindell
Brown Bag Hustle Report
The Ways & Means Committee is proud to report our January 17, 2023 Brown Bag Hustle was a tremendous success. Our net profit was $1,345. Thank you membership for the overwhelming donations and participation. We were cleaned out by the end of the evening. Thank you Ways & Means Committee members for your tireless efforts collecting pick-ups, transporting, communicating and setting up.
One of the big highlights were the invited guests who enjoyed and participated so abundantly. When I thanked one guest she replied “My pleasure… this was really fun! Always good to laugh!”
Donna Fitzgerald, Ways & Means Chairman
EQ8 Demystified…
Photo Caption: This is Barb Jolley’s result from the first workshop lesson. She loved the class!
A big thank you to our guild member, Kearstie Grenier, for teaching our January Workshop: Designing Quilts with BB+ & EQ8. As I write this, we have only completed the first session, but we are well on our way to having a solid foundation in navigating the program and have been assigned homework to start designing a quilt and making a block from our design for the next session.
Kearstie not only took us through many features of the tool, but also showed us her “Quilt Sketchbook” and discussed her design process for creating the Village of Lake Bluff Anniversary Quilt. One of the things I love about quilting is when given the same pattern, each individual quilter will create something totally unique – see what we created!
Raffle Quilt Finished
The raffle quilt is finished, and it is beautiful! Thank you Kate Klein and Donna Derstadt (pictured with the quilt) for the hours and effort you put into designing and creating such a stunningly beautiful quilt for the 2023 VQ quilt show! It is literally awesome!
Many thanks also go to all of you who used your considerable talents to assist in the creation of the quilt. I have jokingly said I was fired the day I tried to prepare petals for the flowers, because I was so bad at it! Thankfully, others of you have talents in excess and were willing to contribute your time and talents to bring this beautiful quilt to fruition!
It’s February - What should you be doing this month to support the guild and the 2023 show? Sew!
There are many ways we want you to showcase your work in the October show: personal quilts, workshops projects, red and white quilts to celebrate our 40th anniversary, Art Quilt Challenge, donations to Silent Auction and Boutique, and Quilts of Valor (QOV). You will be hearing more about all of these things in the coming months.
Veteran members know how all this works, but if you are a new member and have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! My email and phone number are on the member roster. I’d love to hear from you!
Kathy Avellone, Quilt Show Chair
Quilt Show Submission Deadlines
They say a picture is worth a thousand words – how about a couple of hexies…
Mark these dates on your calendars! We will start accepting quilt entries in March.
Enid Mattimiro and Kearstie Grenier – Cataloging Committee
Art Quilt Challenge Theme
I am so excited to share the theme of this year’s Art Quilt Challenge – Denim & Lace!
Each Art Quilt must contain the elements of denim and lace in the design, and you may use other fabrics as you desire. The lace can be anything from an old crocheted doily, grandma’s hankie, a piece from a wedding dress or Christening gown, to a piece of lace from your scrap bin. Similarly, grab some denim from an old pair of jeans, overalls, or jacket. The sky’s the limit with your design, so use your imagination and start creating! There are plenty of ideas on Pinterest.
Here are the requirements for the Art Quilt:
The quilt must measure 12” x 12”
The quilt must include 3 layers – top, batting, and backing, and must be quilted
Each member is allowed to enter 2 quilts, if desired
Hanging sleeve is not required.
Here are a couple of examples of how denim and lace can be combined:
I can’t wait to see your creations at the Quilt Show! Please reach out to me with any questions.
Carrol Stovold, Art Quilt Challenge Chair
Quilt Show Silent Auction
We would like to start collecting Silent Auction items this summer for our 2023 Quilt Show and we need every guild member’s help! Last show your contributions were awesome and raised over $4,500 for the guild!
Again, we are on the hunt for treasures large and small – quilts, wall hangings, table runners, pillows, etc. Seasonal items are popular – Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Birthday. Also consider Valentine’s Day, Easter and Patriotic.
Need an idea? Here are a few:
What have you always wanted to make for yourself? Give yourself permission to take the time to do it. But make two! Keep one for yourself and donate one to the Silent Auction. If you love it, someone else will, too.
Have an orphan block, or a UFO you don’t know what to do with? Consider creating a small piece for the Silent Auction, and call that UFO done!
Which quilting skill are you most proud of? Paper piecing? Applique? Improv? Create a small piece that shows off your talent! Your quilting friends will love it – maybe even fight over it! Last show several people approached us and said “show me items made by -------------- “ Yes, many of you are stalked!
What technique would you like to learn? We would love the Silent Auction to be the recipient of your practice piece!
Sometimes challenged by color? Try a small piece in a new-to-you colorway. Table mats are great for experimenting with color.
Win something at the Brown Bag Auction you don’t know what to do with, or isn’t quite your style? Consider completing it and donating it to the Silent Auction.
We are hoping one of these ideas will inspire you to get started. We cannot wait to see what you create!
For each item, please download, print, and complete the form found on the Members Show Info page of the web site.
Thank you for supporting the guild with your talent!
Liz Greenhill and Donna Derstadt, Silent Auction Co-Chairs
Spring 2023 Quilt Retreat Announcement
The upcoming retreat March 24 through 26 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Mettawa.filled up very quickly! If you did not get your registration in and you want to attend the retreat, please email Sharon Pierluissi to be put on the waitlist. In the past we have gone through everyone that was on the waitlist due to cancellations.
If you have registered for the retreat and want to stay at the hotel, please email Sharon Pierluissi to request a room. We have a block of rooms set aside for Village Quilters. The cost of the room is $145.00 plus tax per night and does not include breakfast.
The cost of the retreat is $60.00. This covers the cost of the ballroom for the three days of the retreat. There is more detailed information about the retreat on our website.
If you have any question regarding the retreat, please contact Sharon Pierluissi.
Treasurer’s Report
Balance as of 11/30/2022: $27,376.31
Income: $522.04
Expenses: $3,527.00
Ending Balance as of 12/31/2022: $24,371.35
The guild generated income from workshop fees, holiday dinner fees and the post office box key refund, and incurred expenses in 2023 Quilt Show venue deposit, Insurance, and a membership refund for overpayment.
Important! Effective immediately the guilds’ new mailing address is:
Village Quilters of Lake Bluff/Lake Forest
c/o Grace United Methodist Church
244 E. Center Ave.
Lake Bluff, IL 60044
The church where we meet has offered to handle our mail to make it easier and more convenient for us. Thank you!
Please address future mail correspondence to this address.
Respectfully submitted, Donna Derstadt, Treasurer
Membership Report
Welcome new member Leitha Schaal from Lake Forest. Welcome Pamela Eulberg who joined during Covid but finally attended her first in person meeting! We had 11 guests attending the Brown Bag Hustle in January!
Beginning November 1st through April 30th, 2023, dues are $25 for the remaining 2022-2023 fiscal year. Invite a friend to join our fun. We love new members!
The VQ Membership Directory was updated and posted online in January. The directory is updated on the VQ website in January, April, and October. New members’ information and changes in current members’ information will appear in those months.
If you have any questions about VQ Membership, please contact Andrea Krier or Sharon Pierluissi.
Happy February Birthday to the following members!
Kathy Avellone – 2/5
Debra Dodd - 2/24
Kathy Heusinkveld – 2/3
Eleanor McMurrin – 2/23
Cheryl Mercy – 2/25
Carole Quille – 2/18
Dorothy Roderick – 2/16