Bloomington Quilters Guild
Bloomington Quilters Guild
PO Box 5802
Bloomington, IN 47407
http://www.bloomingtonguiltersguild.org
January 2015
BLOOMINGTON QUILTERS GUILD NEWSLETTER
What is the BQG?
The Bloomington Quilters Guild is a 501-C3
organization. The purpose of the Bloomington
Quilters Guild is to develop an appreciation of
the history of quilting and quilters, and to promote a continuation of the art in our community.
-- BQG Bylaws
We are NQA
As Chapter #217 of the National Quilting Association, you, too, are NQA.
Visit
www.nqaquilts.org for more information.
While you’re visiting the website, be sure to
sign up for the newsletter. It’s free and you
don’t even need to be an individual member all we need is your email address. As Chapter
#217 of the National Quilting Association,
you, too, are NQA.
Meetings
Meetings are on the first Tuesday of each
month at:
North Central Church of Christ
2121 N. Dunn Street
6:00 pm: Doors open
6:30 pm: Show and Tell
7:00 pm: Program followed by Business
Meeting
Next Meeting: January 6, 2015
January Meeting Volunteers
Greeters: Donna Molzon & Ther esa Simpson
Set Up: Sue Connell & Valer ie Mer r iam
Set up and Greeters arrive at 5:30 pm.
President’s Message
By Lisa Dodson
While recently watching the online quilting show, “ScreenPrinting Serendipity”, from quilter, Leslie T. Jensen, she commented that people who quilt belong to a huge, worldwide subculture. For example, on her recent visit to Amsterdam, she posted on
social media that she was visiting the city and was interested in
quilting. Within a few minutes, she received a response with an
invitation to join other quilters at a local quilt show. Quilter’s find
it very easy to make friends no matter where in the world they are.
Leslie’s comment about the quilting subculture brought a question to mind. What kind of response do you get from non-quilters
when you tell them that you quilt? I posed that question on Facebook to see what the responses would be.
See if you can relate to some of the responses that I got:
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Could you hem my pants or sew on my button?
Can you make my daughter’s prom/wedding dress?
My grandma or great aunt was a quilter too.
My grandma could hand quilt 20 stitches per inch.
How long does it take you to make a quilt?
You should see the cute bows that they sell at the local craft
mall.
Would you make a quilt for me? I’m too young or old to quilt.
Why would you make a quilt that you can’t put on a bed?
Great, I have a pile of t-shirts that I want you to make in to a
quilt.
As for me, I often get a response of Oh…!! Followed by a
long blank stare.
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It is obvious that many non-quilters don’t have a clue of what it
takes to produce a quilt. That is why I really appreciate the numerous quilting guilds, bees and social media that make up the subculture of quilting. I love sharing my creative passion with likeminded people. I feel very comfortable in a quilting crowd with
people who understand the love and labor that goes in to each quilt
that I create and in turn, I greatly appreciate their work as well.
Soon, it will be time to say good bye to 2014. I hope you are anticipating the wonderful programs that the BQG has to offer in 2015
and share the joy of being a member of the often misunderstood
subculture of quilters.
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Bloomington Quilters Guild
2014-2015 Programs
January
February
March
April
May
June
Bloomington Guild Members “Bed Turning”
Ebony Love from LoveBugs Studio
Nysha Oren (will be doing workshops at IHQS)
Jane Sassaman
Laura Wasilowski
Pitch In
Susan Colston & Jane Pitt
What a YUMMY meeting we had in December! All that good food, seeing old friends, making new ones. The
hum of conversation. The joy of laughter. It was good to get together, just to "bee" together with no other agenda.
If the weather cooperates we will meet again on January 6th. On that evening four quilters from our own guild will
do a "bed turning" for us. Expect to come in and be seated around one of the 4 "beds" we will have set up. (really
two tables pushed together but use your imagination). We will still have show and tell and a business meeting, so
you might have to re-position your chairs slightly. Then when the program starts Pat Surra, Betsy Glassey, Brenda
Roach and Chris Allswede will take their places next to the "beds" of quilts they have brought. They will talk
about the quilts they brought to the groups around them. After around 15 minutes, we will ask the groups to stay
together and move as a group to the next bed. And so on until you have had the opportunity to visit each bed. If
you have questions please ask each quilter. But please, no side conversations, as it will be hard to hear your quilter
if there is a lot of other conversation. You are really going to enjoy the variety of the quilts you will see! This is a
can't miss it program!
By the first of the year we will have the ability to sign up for the spring workshops with our quilt teachers, Ebony
Love (February), Jane Sassaman (April) and Laura Wasilowski (May). If you haven't already looked them up on
the web, you should. This is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of an inexpensive class with nationally
known quilt teachers.
Ebony Love is coming on February3rd. The program that she will present is entitled "Quilts to 'Die' For.” She will
talk about her journey into die cutting, and show us how die cutting can be a very big deal if you want to make
more quilts, improve your accuracy and tackle those seemingly impossible projects. There will be a trunk show of
some of her own quilts. This is a perfect opportunity to learn about something you might not have tried before.
The next morning, from 9-12, on the 4th, there will be a half day workshop with Ebony. She is bringing her die
cutting machine and we will learn how to use it, and some tricks for piecing curves without pins as we use her pattern for the Rose Dream Table Runner. More on that next month. Class is limited to 25 so be watching for the sign
up pages on the website!
See you January 6th!
Susan Colston
Quilts for Charity
Thank you to all the community quilt makers. All quilts have found a home and I am looking forward to seeing
all the quilts you will make in the new year. Keep up the great work. The quilts are really appreciated.
Bev Lingvai
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Bloomington Quilters Guild
Condolences
It is always a challenging time when people lose loved ones and especially when people we care about are impacted. Unfortunately, we need to inform you that two members of our quilt guild family have lost their
spouses, Phyllis Durnal and Mary Young. Please give them your support during this difficult time.
Lisa Dodson
2014-2015 Quilt Challenge
Another Houston Inspiration...
Some of you who have started the Challenge Quilt have mentioned that it's harder then you thought to work
with solids! I KNOW! I found out several years ago when I did a quilt with all solid fabrics that I really missed
the patterns and designs and how they meshed or messed with each other. Remember, you can throw in some
printed fabric to enhance the overall design of the quilt and to keep the process fun for you too!
The rules of the challenge are printed below as a reminder.
Also, I'm sharing another photo from the Houston International Quilt Festival as inspiration. This was a focal
exhibit and features only red and white quilts in honor of the Ruby Jubilee for the 40 years of the show. Many
of these quilts were entirely done with not only solids but with just 2 solids--red & white! Aren't they glorious??!!
Accept the challenge and get started on those solids!
Effective use of SOLIDS
Must use solid fabrics in the design of the quilt
Solids may be any solid fabrics including shot cottons,
Cherrywoods, Moda or Kona solids
Tone-on-tones are not considered solids
Must be quilted and bound for entry
May use printed fabrics to enhance the design
No size restrictions
No color restrictions
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Bloomington Quilters Guild
Raffle Quilt News
Thanks to all our Guild members for selling raffle tickets for this year’s beautiful “Cozy Calendar” quilt designed by Becky Lomasney, pieced by the Friendship Bee, and quilted by Kathy Kessler. We have sold over
$800 worth of tickets so far! The drawing for the quilt will be held at the June 2, 2015 Guild meeting. Tickets
are $1 each or 6 for $5. The quilt will be on display at the IHQS at the Bloomington Convention Center March
5, 6, and 7th. Please contact Kathy Sheehan (720-284-1757) or email: [email protected] if you would like
to volunteer for a 2 hour shift to sell raffle tickets at the IHQ show.
Kathy Sheehan
Batting
Just a quick note from the Treasurer:
Every few years, the Guild is awarded a grant from the Harvey Foundation with the stipulation that the money
be used for batting to offset members' costs for making our fabulous community and charity quilts. There are
still funds available from this grant. All you have to do is bring the receipt for the purchase of batting that was
used in community or charity quilts to a meeting, give it to me, Pat Surra, and you will be reimbursed? What
could be easier?
Pat Surra
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Bloomington Quilters Guild
Winter Retreat: Spring Mill January 22-25, 2015
Plans are being finalized for our 23rd Annual Retreat at Spring Mill State Park. Sandra and I are working hard
to gather all the information and get a final count to the Inn by December 16. We have around 67 members
signed up (final deadline not yet here as we write this) and numbers so far are equal in requests for Oak and
Elm rooms with 9 quilters each. That will make the Elm room a little crowded so if some of you want to
move to Lakeview just let me know.
We will have extensive information available to all who signed up for the retreat at the January meeting. We
are still finalizing discounts for retreat participants and will share that information in the packet you will receive at January meeting. In the meantime, start planning on which projects you may want to take. I usually
take several so that if I get one finished (whoohoo) or simply decide to do something else I will have options. This is a good time to tackle something that you feel you might need a little advice to complete, since
we will have so many of us there to help!
I love the winter retreat and promise that it will be a stress-free, wonderful time for all who attend. Sandra and
I will be at a back table during the January guild meeting. If you signed up for the retreat please stop and see
us and get your retreat packet of information.
Susie Goodman
Pictures from the December Guild Meeting
Left: People going through the food line at the December
Pitch-in.
Right: Showing quilts at the show and tell part of the
program.
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Bloomington Quilters Guild
Below Right: Our illustrious Program Chairs, Jane Pitt and
Susan Colston entertaining us!
Above and Below Right: More Show and Tell!
Hats Project Report
Giveaway Update:
-12 long heavy scarves and 5 smaller hats were delivered to Fairview School
-40 colorful, charming caps were tucked into the “Back Pack Buddies” going to low income children
-6 soft caps were given to the Olcott Center for cancer patients
ALL were received joyously. Most caps were made by Jane Pitt. Thanks to everyone who donated.
R. J. Trubitt
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Bloomington Quilters Guild
BQG 2014-2015 Executive Board
President: Lisa Dodson, 765-813-0311, [email protected]
President Elect: Betsy Glassey, 336-3099, [email protected]
Treasurer: Pat Sur r a, 331-9870, cell 916-768-3492, [email protected]
Secretary: Susie Goodman, 327-6459, [email protected]
Standing Committee Chairpersons
Membership: Bever ly Br own, 876-8336, [email protected]
Historian: Betsy Glassey, 336-3099, [email protected]
Program Co- Chairs: Susan Colston, 334-0179, [email protected]
and Jane Pitt, 339-6531, [email protected]
Program Chair Elect: Becky Lomasney, 876-8486, [email protected]
Newsletter Editor: Ter r y Pate, 825-3143, [email protected]
Webmistress: Paulette Fagen, -287-8683, [email protected]
Community Quilt Chair: Bev Lingvai, 935-5568, [email protected]
Special Committee Chairpersons
Fall Retreat Co-chairs: Car ol Evans, 317-272-4634, [email protected],
and Ann Glass, 317-625-3665, [email protected]
Winter Retreat Co-chairs: Susie Goodman, 327-6459, [email protected]
and Sandra Siedel, 717-623-6676, [email protected]
Raffle Quilt: Kathy Sheehan, 720-284-1757, [email protected]
Challenge Quilt: Wendy Hodina, 327-3278, [email protected]
Quilt Show Co-chairs: Pat Sur r a, 331-9870, cell # 916-768-3492, [email protected] and
Kathy Kessler, 322-4934, [email protected]
Hats and Scarves: R.J .Tr ubitt , 339-0945
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Bloomington Quilters Guild
Other Important Dates
Retreats for 2015 and 2016
Spring Mill—January 22-25, 2015
Clifty Falls—October 22-25, 2015
Clifty Falls—October 21-24, 2016
November Newsletter
Articles for February Newsletter are due on January 16th, 2015, to [email protected]
BQG Board Meeting
The January Board Meeting will be at 6:00 p.m. on January 13th, 2015. Contact a Board member for more
information.
Bloomington Quilters Quild
P.O. Box 5802
Bloomington, IN 47407
Spring Mill
Winter Retreat
See You There!
Visit our website, http://www.bloomingtonquiltersguild.org/
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