Crazy Quilters' Quilt Guild NQA Chapter #PA 497 No. 271 www.crazyquilters.org January 2014

The Crazy Quilters’ Quilt Guild From the President Meets the first Tuesday of every month* Bethanne Nemesh at The Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit 3461 Cedar Crest Boulevard From the Oval Studio: Emmaus, PA 18049 7:00pm A chilly winter's greeting all! As I write this, in the www.crazyquilters.org teeth of a snow storm, I am so grateful for my cozy Email: [email protected] warm house and piles of fabric stash. While I am not *except November a fan of being cold...this is one of my favorite times of year because I finish up my client quilting and hunker down with a project of my own! I hope all of A number of folks have already volunteered to be a you are finding time to step away from the busyness part of a show committee. I propose we have a jury of the season and do a little something for yourselves process that will select a range of skills and styles of as well. quilts with the most important criteria of having the quilts physically fit the space allotted. This would not In guild related info, I would like to call your atten- be a judged show, so you do not need to worry about tion to an issue that I will bring to the floor to vote on criticism, although a ballot for a "viewers-choice" rib- in January. Along with Sharon Yurkanin, I have bon is a good idea. An additional $200 should be bud- looked into holding a Quilt Show in 2014 at the Al- geted to make hanging rods and buy promotional post lentown Art Museum. Many of the negative compo- cards. I will ask the membership to approve this $500 nents of doing this in years past have been eliminat- unplanned expense for 2014, but in future alternating ed. It is my opinion that we are derelict in our duties years, the $500 can be raised with a holiday and other by NOT sharing our talents with the community and type of auction. allowing interested members an opportunity to expe- rience the pleasure of publicly sharing their hard Lastly, we are in need of a volunteer to EITHER take work. I know that when I asked folks to raise their over as President next September OR to take over guild hands in interest, there was only about 50% support program development for the fall 2013 to fall 2015 for this, but I feel that may have been because of lack time period. I have spoken to a newer guild member of information about the program position. She is mostly willing...however she NEEDS a commitment from an- I am proposing we sponsor a 3 week show in the other guild member to make this a dual position before Community gallery at the museum from August 12 to committing. Both are rewarding positions, and I am September 2nd. The cost for this is ridiculously rea- willing to do either...but I cannot and will not do both. sonable; a total of $300. We can also host a one day I have planned a few things, program –wise, already, open house with snacks, demonstrations, and raffle but will not do more unless I have a commitment for sales, but for the other days, we DO NOT need to someone to take over as president. Please contact me man the gallery. This guard duty was a major stum- ASAP regarding volunteering. bling block in years past. The museum will charge their standard admission of $12 adult, $10 senior, free Sundays but considering the $18 I shelled out the last time I went to a show, I feel it is reasonable, plus you can see the whole museum. Bethanne BLOCKS & SWAPS Julie Davidovich

Library Maxine Bernstein

Thank you Kathy Hurlbutt for the raffle quilt gift and to A.B. for selling raffle tickets. Reminder to Barb Kissell who has volunteered to bring the raffle gift for the month of January.

In January there will be books available to be adopted to good homes. ______

Quilters studio Julie Borden

For January we will work on a wooly snowman.

Kits will be a available for $3.00 please bring black or white embroidery floss or pearl cotton and a large eye needle. Email Julie if you are planning on coming. You can also bring your own snowman wool project if you'd like. We will meet before the meeting at 5:45.

Raffle quilt

Our next event will be selling tickets and white gloving at the New Jersey quilt show March 6-8. Please check your calendars and plan to sign up for a shift . The selling of the tickets requires help from all of us. We will have sign ups in January and February. Please email me if you know your availability and want first choice if selling dates and times.

______

Community Service Lorraine Bujnowski

WOW!! What a group of community minded sewers we have in our quilting guild. For the month of Decem- ber, 393 placemats were delivered to Meal on Wheels. As always, the people at Meals on Wheels were most appreciative. There were too many names to record but I will mention the top 3 donors. Ruth Skinner, our placemat champion, came in with 70 placemats (BTW, she has totaled over 1000 placemats to date), Debbie Heeps brought 53 and Rita Burnstein, friend of the guild, made 26 placemats. Thank you to everyone who con- tributed to this achievement.

For the New Year we will be focusing on our pillowcase race in February. We have received donations of fab- ric from 2 fabric companies, ConKerr Cancer, and have bought some fabric. But, if you have fabric already earmarked for pillowcases we can always use it and will not refuse it. We plan to have much of the fabric pre- cut so that at the meeting we can focus on sewing as cutting can be a challenge with the limited space.

In January our committee is considering a Saturday workshop for cutting projects for future use. Precut kits for various community service projects seem to be most popular with members for taking home to sew. We will try to continue to provide this to you all. Stay tuned for a date for the workshop.

Thank you for all that you do. It is so appreciated by those in need.

Also, Pat Laxar's stash of fabric, kits, thread etc. will continue to be brought to the meetings. Donations from her stash goes to the support of her cats.

Lorraine

Clean up the Sewing Room! by the Crazy Quilter

My sewing room is modest (I can't call it a studio with a straight face,) but it works for me, and spending time there makes time stand still. I put on some music or pop in a video to watch/lis- ten to and the day passes as the pile of stitched components or blocks or whatever grows. Be- cause my space is limited I need to keep things tidy which isn't always possible, especially when I'm in the middle of a creative frenzy, but whenever a project is finished I need to regroup and get my fabric, tools and storage under control.

I love cleaning up the sewing room. Oh, the things I find! A quilt I started on a whim can be rediscovered and before long will come to completion, a stack of fabric I bought six months ago might come onto the work table and get my juices flowing, a picture of a quilt I always wanted to make may get me pulling fabric and sorting colors to make it. Part of a cleanup also includes thinning out my stash and pulling out the cuts I don't like any more. Sometimes I come across fabrics that I have always loved, and still do, but I've used them in several quilts already. Ruth- lessly, the rejected fabrics go onto piles to donate for community service. I like to donate these fabrics - it makes me feel like I haven't wasted my money and it makes room for new designs. The scrap basket is part of the clean up process, too. It pleases me to handle the small pieces of leftovers from previous projects. I separate them into like sizes and color stories. Sometimes I press them. Sick, right?! Not really, pressed scraps take up less space. I have made several successful quilts from the scrap basket, so going through it every now and then can be really productive for me. I have not gone so far as to precut my scraps into ready to sew widths, however, I can see value in that method, and I might give it a try one day.

I admit that the clean up doesn't last for long as a new project gets under way and new piles of inspiration rise to the surface. Another drawback is that I occasionally can't find something that got moved to a "better" location. Over all, though, tidying up the sewing space isn't just an ob- sessive compulsive waste of time. When I finish a project or when I get into a funk and don't know what I want to work on next I go into the sewing room and start handling things, making neat piles, etc. This method never fails to motivate me all over again. Tidying up - for me it's part of the process.

Challenge Jane Grove "The Goose is Loose" We have been invited to display our 2014 challenge quilts at the quilt show in Oaks in September. To do this we need a minimum of fifteen quilts. If you haven't thought about making a challenge quilt this year, would you please consider doing so. It would be so nice to have a large display from our guild members. If you haven't picked up instructions, you can find them on the guild's website. Veterans We all get more mail with stamps this time of the year than any other. Don't forget to save the the stamps for hospitalized veterans. If you wish to cut them out, the hospital would like you to leave 1/4" on all sides (if pos- sible); you're welcome to tear off the stamped corner and let me cut them to size. Please, NO torn stamps nor heavily cancelled stamps. Old, new, foreign and domestic are all appreciated. Thanks. ______

Crazy for UFOs Club! Michele McLaughlin

Crazy for UFOs Club December Suggestions by Michele McLaughlin It’s time to get ready for the UFO challenge! Last January, my online group decided to create a UFO challenge for us. We were brutally honest about the number of our unfinished projects. I had 32 projects on my list—some that went back to a baby quilt for a niece who just graduated from high school. Although I have finished 18 projects on my list, I have since found more UFOs. This is part of the clearing out the clutter process. I didn’t create additional UFOs, I just found more blocks that I had stashed away through the years. It’s also the time to figure out why you have UFOs. One big problem I have is that when I make a quilt (especially a baby quilt), I use up all the fabric and make a bunch more blocks. So I have duplicate projects in my UFO box. Problem is, I don’t really want to tackle something I’ve already done. The UFO challenge I am finishing has helped meCrazy get over that perspective. for UFOs! Organize: It’s important to prioritize and decide which projects you really wish to complete during the upcoming year. The list that you hand in to me should be only the projects that you hope to finish for the challenge. However, as you are making decisions, I recommend that you evaluate all your UFOs. You may want to make an alternate list that encompasses ALL your UFOs and use it as a personal reference. Consider categories for your UFOs such as: Extra Blocks, Tops, What was I thinking?, Repurpose, Donate, or even (gulp) Trash—reserved for projects that are of poor fabric quality. This is also a great time to reassess your stash. Is there any fabric you wish to donate or sell? Could any of it be used for pillowcases and the upcoming Pillowcase Race? Create kits: If you have a UFO you want to complete, make a kit in a recycled plastic bag and label it. Having all the pieces together makes it easier to tackle the job. Put your UFOs in a place that you notice them. This is not the time to hide them away. Keep them where you will be reminded that you have things to complete. Clear plastic bags and boxes are a good but temporary solution. Remember that cotton needs to breathe and it is not good for your fabric to be packed in plastic indefinitely. Rediscovering what you already have in your sewing area can be fun and it is truly satisfying to finish a piece and cross it off your list. January is the time for fresh starts! Enjoy this next year and be sure to hand in your “Crazy for UFOs” list at the January meeting! Have a safe holiday and Happy Sewing! Point system for UFO challenge: Wall/Preemie Quilt: 4* Baby (36 x 54): 6 Throw (54 x 72): 8 Twin (54 x 90): 10

Comple- Date be- Needs for comple- Project tion gun tion: Date 1

2

3 4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Extra Credit:

______

______

______

______

______

Name: ______

Programs Nancy Skok

January's meeting will be Jackie Gauker from Jackie's Woolens talking about working with wool.

Jackie has been playing with wool for about 18 years. She started making traditional penny rugs and has branched into wool appliqué on her quilts, free standing wool snowmen and santas, and totes, handbags and pil- lows. Her motto is, “if I can sew through it, I can stitch wool to it.”

She also ventured into dyeing wool, and not just dipping pieces in a pot of color. She does shibori, gradation dyeing, mottled multi-color pieces and more. Loves creating the colors and textures on the wool surface.

Jackie has a studio set-up at her home that is open by appointment and has open houses throughout the year to display her “stuff”. She also vends at local guild shows. Guild Calendar from the editor Officers

January 7, Crazy Quilters’ Guild Meeting, 7pm President: Bethanne Nemesh Quilters’She hasStudio, taught 5:45pm high school sciences, worked in research Firstlabs, Vice-Presidentfarmed and milked: Nancy cows Skok (even made a costume Second Vice-President: Valerie Lee for a horse) but sewing has been her constant interest. Secretary: Nancy Horning Calendar of Events from the editor Treasurer: Margaret Timm She is always interested to share her excitement about quilting with wool. “Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival XXV” 2/27-3/2, 10am to 6 Committees pm (4pm Sunday) Hampton______Roads Convention Center, Blocks/Swaps: Julie Davidovich 1610 Coliseum Dr., Hampton, VA, $15 admission, Challenge: Jane Grove www.quiltfest.com Community Service: Lorraine Bujnowski, Chr.; Kathy Membership Flickenger, Sally Waggoner, ValerieAnn Lineberger, Lee Sharon **“Quilt Fest of New Jersey” 3/6-3/9, 10am to 6pm Schaffer, Kathie Laposata, Roberta Whitcomb (5pmJanuary Sunday), Birthdays Garden State Exhibit Center, 50 Atri- Historical: Karen Hartzell um Dr., Somerset, NJ, $12 admission, www.quiltfest.- Hospitality: Diana DeFanti com**Jackie Leipert 1/5 SuzanneLibrary Nelson: Maxine Bernstein/Michele1/24 McLaughlin Membership: Valerie Lee LancasterJeanne Quilt Schroder Show @ the Continental1/10 Inn, 3/12-3/15, DebNQA Veshinfsky Liaison: Irene Oehmke1/25 9am toEileen 6pm (4pmGorzelic Saturday), 2285 Lincoln1/15 Hwy (rt 30), SharonNewsletter Kaszyski: Allen Bernstein 1/29 Lancaster,Lorraine PA, BujnowskiFREE, www.lancasterquiltshow.com1/19 Phone Chain: Julie McDonell Programs: Nancy Skok AQS HappyQuilt Show, Birthday 3/12-3/15, to all. Lancaster, PA, www.ameri- Publicity: Kathy Schuessler canquilter.com Raffle Quilt 2013: Bethanne Nemesh New Member Raffle Quilt Marketing: Julie Borden, Chr; Sharon “Making Traditions, Old and New” by County Line Quil- Yurkanin, Marsha Heimann, Jackie Leipert, Anita Hert- ters, 4/5-6,Crazy 10am Quilters’ to 5pm, welcome: Buckingham Friends School, zog, Val Johnson, Kathy Schuessler 5684 York Rd., Lahaska, PA, admission $7, www.county- Show and Tell: Maria Hance linequilters.org Elizabeth Ann Nolen, Emmaus, PA Sunshine and Shadow: Sandra Mugridge UFO Club: Michele McLaughlin “Mason Dixon Quilt Show” presented by Friendship Quil- Website: Allen Bernstein ters’ Guild of Hagerstown, MD and Buchanan Trail Quilt- Workshops: Nancy Skok makers of Waynesboro, PA, 4/26-4/27, 10am to 5pm (noon to 5 Sunday), Hagerstown Community College, ARCC on Robinwood Dr., Hagerstown, MD, admission $5, www.fqgmd.org

“QuiltFest 2014” by Colonial Quilters, 5/3-5/4, 10am to 5pm (4pm Sunday), Charles Chrin Community Center, 4100 Green Pond Rd., Palmer Township, PA, $7 admis- sion, www.colonialquilters.org

“Show and Sale” by Penn Dry Goods Market, 5/16-5/17, 10am to 5pm (to 4pm Saturday), Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Ctr., 105 Seminary St., Pennsburg, PA, www.schwenkfelder.com

“The Quilters Hall of Fame Celebration” featuring Ruth B. McDowell, 7/17-7/19, Hall of Fame, 926 S. Washing- ton St., Marion, IN, www.quiltershalloffame@sbcglob- al.net

**Volunteers for white glove and raffle ticket sales need- ed!!