Guild of Quilters of Contra Costa County

This is a perfect segway for a request for some volunteers. Shari Wildschutte is no longer able to carry out responsibilities as workshop chairperson. She has done a tremendous amount of work, thank you Sheri. So whoever follows in her footsteps has a great foundation laid. Are you interested?

We are still in need of someone to arrange for travel of the 2011 Opportunity Quilt, which Linda Elder reported to the Board, is ready to travel. Need more information about what that entails, please inquire. No experience required.

I‘m also looking for a few members to meet to discuss ways we might include youth under our education umbrella and then present recommendations to the Board. Got time, got ideas? Contact me and I‘ll be making a couple of contacts to people who shared ideas with me after the August meeting.

At the Board meeting a decision was made to contract with the Concord Centre for our new meeting space to begin in March 2011. Many venues were pursued (25+) and the Centre was by far the most comparable to the Pleasant Hill Community Center in terms of space and cost. Becky Styles is to be commended for all her time and effort in searching for a new space. Also, thanks to all who presented their ideas. It‘s a significant change but we‘re up for the challenges.

See you in September.

Carole Bibeau, President

October 18, 2010  Joe Wood   Art of Quilting, Piece by Piece

Joe from ThimbleCreek will be our speaker.  More info to follow.

If you're interested in giving a workshop or if you have any suggestions, just give me a call or see me at a meeting. Our guild gives its member teachers a pretty nice stipend for their time and effort so, besides sharing knowledge, techniques and fun, your pockets will jingle a bit louder. Having a few more greenbacks in your wallet is always a good thing.....think more fabric!

We had snowmen in August, when Cindy Allen received her paper-foundation pieced snowman blocks. They're very cute. At the same meeting Chris Roloff handed out a paper-foundation pieced tilting tree pattern. Although she provided some of the fabrics, each member of the Block Exchange group will need to add 4 green fabrics.

We have a group of 12 stitchers who have signed up for the 2010-2011 Block Exchange Group. Chris Roloff and I will be sending out the list via e-mail, so the group can get started at the September meeting. If you haven't signed up for the group, it isn't too late to join. Just contact Chris Roloff or Ann Gimbel.

We currently have 7 quilters signed up to work on Round Robins in 2010-2011. We will form two groups. We'll try to work out the details via e-mail or phone, but may set up a meeting before starting the first rotation. If you have any questions or want to join, please contact either Chris or Ann.

Chris Roloff Membership Chair

Our Bear project is growing. We've had a request for more bears bodies so that older kids in CASA can stuff them and give them to their younger siblings. If we get enough bear bodies, we'll try to help them out. Bear bodies can be brought to any of the meetings. Thanks for the do-nations of stuffing we have received. Keep it coming since it takes quite a bit to fill the big bears.

As of July the Guild of Quilters start their 2010 - 2011 year. I, as chairman of Quilts to Share, thought it best to clear up any confusion with past practices. I am excited with the opportunities we as a Guild provide to many of the non-profit organizations and local hospitals, along with many of our elder care facilities within our county. It is my hope that with these changes Quilts to Share will better serve its members and community

2010-2011 agenda

Frances Allen has accepted the task of Quilts to Share bookkeeper. This will be an added help with updating our donations and providing information to Kathy Callahan with current donations and other information for our website.

All donations will be collected by the chairman. Items will be collected monthly and distributed in a timely manner. This will be helpful with not only distribution of items but keeping records and acknowledging members and their quilts and other very much appreciated donations.

The members of Contra Costa Guild of Quilters are known for their very generous donations to the community and it is a wonderful privilege working with the members. I thank Carol and Catherine Smith for making quilt kits and pillowcase kits.

August we had a total of seven quilts line our walk way. Hope everyone had a chance to admire the lovely quilts. We thank the following: Lupe Withers (3), Chris Roloff, Julia Nakao(2) and Birgit Knuth. Frances Smith for donated knit blankets and hats. We welcome Frances to Quilts to Share.

Quilt kits will be available. We encourage you to sign one out. We appreciate all those willing to machine quilts or tie quilts. If you would like to help with future quilts, contact me so we can make arrangements. This year the need for baby quilts is up and we thank Bonnie Engel for her donations of baby fabric. Since the number of births is up we have an opportunity to dig into our stash of blues, pinks, and soft colors and make a difference in someone‘s life. Carolie Hensley donated diapers, clothing and other items that we will put with our quilt donations. Thank you, Carolie. Not sure of a baby size quilt? All sizes are listed on the web.

We received thirteen pillowcases. We thank the following: Susan Swindell (4), Pam Smith (2), Sandy Bower, Kathy Berger (2), and Dianne Slattery (4). We will continue with our pillowcase challenge through December for Patch Work 2010 "make a million pillowcases." After December we will accept pillowcases but kits will be limited. It has been a fun goal. Kathy has updated the web site with the pillowcase numbers, be sure to click on information for Quilts to Share

BIG thanks to all those who donated poly fill for our December Teddy Bear activity, Valleria Furtado for fabric scraps and Mary and Meredith Morrow for yarn. January we will have new block kits available and a few new projects. Update will be in our January newsletter. Fresh start in January. Set a new goal or challenge for the New Year!

INFORMATION ABOUT QUILTS, ETC.  [more information on the Location and Information page]

Patriotic Quilts:  If you  would like to complete a quilt, quilt top, or quilt block, we will be accepting them all year long. The completed quilt or top size should be 50” x 60”.  The quilt back size should be 56” x 66”. The quilt block can be any size.

Teen Quilt Project : We are continuing towards completing twin size quilts appropriate for ages 13 through 18 to be given to the foster teens.  Consider making more than one block of whatever you are working on at the moment and bringing to the Quilts to Share table.  Everything is appreciated.

Pillowcase Project: WOW! Those pillowcases keep a coming. Aren’t they just so fun! They are totally addicting. Don’t forget to bring those pillowcase kits back next month and pick up a few more.  Below is a link to a video that shows how to make a "sausage" pillowcase.   It's so easy and everything ends up neat and clean!

http://www.qovf.org/index.php?option=com_seyret&Itemid=241&catid=2

We continue to need children’s and teen quilts for several different organizations.  Remember the sewing of strips to foundation blocks technique for left over material.  Variation of strip sizes and colors make the blocks interesting and then sewing the blocks together is a snap.  Have we said thank-you?  If not – Thank you so much – you are making many feel better with your generosity.

Rosemary Raker is at home, slowly gaining strength following surgery. She‘d appreciate hearing from her fellow quilters. We wish her the very best.

If you know of anyone needing a note of cheer or sympathy, please call me.

The 2011 Opportunity Quilt, "Rhapsody in Blue" is ready to travel!

The 2012 Opportunity Quilt pattern has been selected.  It is the Conway Album Quilt designed by Irma Gail Hatcher. The quilt features a center appliquéd medallion, appliquéd flowers, baskets and a swag border. Our talented appliquérs will have a great time with this quilt!

Bart Cubbage will be at the Farmhouse on Thursday, Oct. 7, and Friday, Oct. 8. His fee is $60 for sewing machines and $70 for sergers.

There is a $5 additional fee which is payable to the Guild. We would prefer this payment to be made by check.

The annual C & T Publishing sale is September 11. Please check www.CTPub.com for location. Lots of good quilting books at very reasonable prices.

Wilcoxen & Montgomery
Trustee for Anthony LaVelle
2114 K Street
Sacramento, CA 95816

Make checks payable to Wilcoxen & Montgomery Trustee for Anthony LaVelle. Our thoughts are with Mary Ann and her family

The LOPCided Quilters meet at Lafayette Orinda Presbyterian Church, 49 Knox Drive, Lafayette, in Room 202 on Thursdays from 1-3. We invite you to join us in making quilts for the Bay Area Crisis Nursery. Bring your sewing machine and basic sewing supplies; we have fabric and batting. We also have fabric that is already cut and ready to sew. Several members of the guild are also in the group. We hope to have you join us. If you'd like more information, contact Ann Gimbel