Rockbridge Pieceworkers Quilt Guild

Volume XVIII Issue 2 February 2012

President's Message

Dear Quilters,

Welcome to 2012. If the world doesn't come to an end as predicted by the Mayan calendar, the quilt guild's future is truly bright.

Looking ahead to the coming events of this New Year, our annual Retreat and annual Quilt Show, these are going to be the shining stars for us to strive for. Just around the corner, our workshop event of making a floral tapestry wall hanging on February 11 is going to be a brand new experience in arrangement. Just as in Life, most flowers go together just because they are flowers and they are lovely. So, whatever combination you prepare in Kevin Womack's class, rest assured it will be beautiful. We do have space available, so those of you still considering, please sign up.

The most important thing that we gain from participating in all of our scheduled activities is the deepening sense of camaraderie and support developing amongst us. This support for others and each other is reflected in our Comfort Quilt Program and our Sunshine outreach. In addition, not only do we share our love of quilting, but we share our creative history handed down from our mothers and grandmothers. We share the love of sewing, of colors, of pride in making something beautiful for everyone's eyes. Our friends and families cherish our art and we take pride in seeing our quilts become showpieces in their homes for years on end.

So let's jump into 2012, learn all we can, participate in our quilt show and classes like never before and continue the tradition of the Rockbridge Pieceworker Quilt Guild.

Susan

Show & Tell

One of the favorite times at our meetings is Show & Tell. Below are two quilts from a 2007 meeting!!! The hard drive on my computer died on January 23 and I lost EVERYTHING including all my photos. I still have some on a camera card but have not been able to get them back on my computer. I found these photos that were probably used in a previous newsletter and saved in our file. I hope you will agree that it is fun to visit the past now and then.
Show & Tell

I'm sorry I don't know who these quilts belong to. I think the Bugs might belong to Erin. But, if you recognize one of these quilts, please let me know and I will publish the artists' names in the next issue.

Meetings and Programs

Program Notes from Carol and Judy
February: the instructor will be Kevin Womack
There will be a Friday evening business meeting and a trunk show. The Saturday workshop will feature a floral tapestry. Both will be at the Virginia Horse Center. (7:00 pm on Friday and 9:00 am on Saturday. The cost for the workshop will be $25.00 per person and there is a limit of 20 quilters.

Who Is Kevin Womack?

This is Kevin with an example of his Floral Tapestry - the technique he will be teaching at the workshop.

Kevin began making quilts in 1986. At last count, he has made close to 100 quilts. While he has a love of traditional quilts, Kevin is currently exploring art quilting techniques. He has been teaching and lecturing for seven or eight years.

As Carol and Judy have mentioned, you do not need to make a vase of flowers. A basket of fruit or veggies will teach you the same technique. When the workshop is over, your 18" x23" wallhanging should be complete, including the quilting, though minus the binding. .

CHARM SQUARE EXCHANGE



Buy, Trade, Sell

Do you have something to sell?? Are you looking for a quilt/craft related item to buy or trade? This is the place for you!! I (Nancy) am looking for a pom-pom maker. I have seen them online and I would either need to buy $35.00 - $50.00 of items or pay mega bucks to ship a $3.00 item. Can anyone help me here??

Check here each month for quilting related items to buy, sell or trade by members. If you have something to include, send your ad copy and photo (if applicable) to Nancy at webmistress@rpqg.com

February Birthdays


Gail Caldwell 2/6
Ann Gruner 2/7

Bits and Pieces

As you may have read above, I have had major computer problems. But, I am doing the best that I can to put together this newsletter in a timely manner. Susan, Judy, Carol and Mary Beth have been a major help resending documents I had lost and Erin, thanks for your contributions this month. I say muchas gracias to all! They have re-sent information that was lost when my hard drive died. Apparently, they do not last forever. Mine was from 2003 and I've been told I was incredibly lucky to have it last that long. In the meantime, I am trying to get used to my new one which does not behave exactly like the old one. My biggest issue so far is photos. I do have some on a card but I cannot get them into my pictures folder yet.

DUES WERE DUE in January. If you have not yet paid, please mail your check for $20.00 made out to RPQG to Julia Kozak at 9 Miley Court, Lexington, VA 24450. Julia is anxious to update our Member Directory and it would be a great help to have all of us pay up by the February meeting.

Aline McKenna is home after having a knee replacement and is doing well. Our sympathies to Katherine Truitt and to Kitty Tilson on the loss of their husbands. If you know of anyone we should keep in our thoughts and prayers, please let me know.

Bookmarks From Erin

Erin showed some bookmarks at the January Show & Tell. They were a big hit and the instructions follow:
Fabric Corner Bookmark Tutorial
  • 1. Cut 2 coordinating scraps into rectangles 6.5" x 3.5".
  • 2. Sew right sides together along both short sides and one long side. If your fabric is directional, keep in mind that the unsewn side is the top.
  • 3. Fuse some double-sided fusible (I used Wonder Under) to one side of the rectangle, and remove the paper backing.
  • 4. Clip sewn corners to reduce bulk and turn right side out. Press to fuse fabrics together.
  • 5. Fold rectangle in half so the two short ends meet with the outside fabric on the inside. Sew the top, un-sewn edge together, backstitching at each end. Clip corner to reduce bulk.
  • 6. Turn right side out and press seam open on the inside back. Smoosh flat into a triangle and press.

COMFORT QUILTS --- Mary Beth Baker and Gail Caldwell

If you know of someone who would benefit from the comfort of a quilt, please let Gail or Mary Beth know.

Hostess Schedule

Many thanks to the January Hostesses: Sandra Stuart, Kathy Morikawa and Jan Lowry.
Please sign up for one of the vacancies at the next meeting. Many hands make light work!

Judy Glick, as vice-president, is in charge of hostesses and supplies. See her if you have any questions.

Join a COLOR CLUB

To those who have voiced interest in The Color Club from Carol Schoner:
Some Notes from the January meeting

The Color Club Challenge
I had a few requests to change the rules slightly for our challenge.
  • 1.Alma asked if we could limit the number of blocks to four and create a table runner or table topper. Since time is a factor, I thought this might be helpful to some of you. You can do four, five or more blocks to make a quilt you want to do. Just make sure you are having fun with the value changes and create blocks that look completely different.
  • 2. Ann asked that we all use the same color scheme. To accommodate that idea, if some of you want to get together to create a common color scheme (even the same fabric) that is ok.
  • 3. You can use the same fabric in each block but it is not necesary. I suggest that you have a common color concept theme to your quilt, but you do not need to use the same fabric in each block. I have attached the challenge block and the revised rules.
Now on to our topic of the day: Color in Landscapes We reviewed the particulars of this color in landscape concept:
  • Faraway shapes in realistic landscapes appear lighter, cooler, and duller (less intense).
  • Foreground elements appear darker, warmer, and brighter (more intense).
  • As you go farther back in a composition, the details diminish and edges become softer.
  • As your eye travels from the foreground through the middle ground to the background, the contrasts are reduced with each plane.
  • Let the quality of light you want to imply guide you in choosing the fabrics and colors. On a bright day, the colors will appear clearer; on a overcast day the hues are muted. Morning light is generally softer and cooler, afternoon light is stronger and warmer.


In Search of Color Confidence - A Visit to Jinny Beyer's Studio

Five of us who are in the color club ventured north to the Jinny Beyer Studio in Great Falls, VA to hear Jinny herself talk about color confidence and her color theory.

Jinny Beyer's color theory in a nutshell - variety is the spice of any good quilt, but it must be the right variety. You had to be there to hear her explain the variety needed to get the whole picture. In the meantime, here are pictures from that adventure.

The Color Club group is still baffled over this color thing - why are we all so shy about our color choices? Where is that magical idea or concept that will make all our future quilt color choices just perfect?

Color Club members Sue LaRue, Carol Schoner, Alma Flippin, Mary Quarles and Ann Gruner.
Jinny Beyer imparting some knowledge.

Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XXIII

February 23 - 26, 2012 at Hampton Roads Convention Center

The Merchants Mall will feature everything for quilt, fiber, wearable and textile artists and home sewers. There will be a quilt competition and display with over $14,000 in prizes and a wearable art competition with over $3,000 in awards and prizes – all judged and a Viewer Choice ballot as well. Rounding out the event will be workshops, lectures and demonstrations by leading instructors throughout the Merchant Mall.

Contact www.quiltfest.com for lodging, on-line registration, and directions/details. Admission to public $14.00 for the 3-day event.

Another Erin Project



At the January Show and Tell, Erin displayed her "green" shopping bags made from old pillowcases. Here is the link to the instructions. http://blog.creativekismet.com/2007/10/27/pillowcase-tote-tutorial/

Artist in Residence

Mary Beth Baker
I started quilting in 1985 at summer camp. I was a camp counselor and wanted something to do with my hands, that didn't make me feel grumpy if I was interrupted, so I started hand piecing squares of fabric together. There was a quilt shop in town and I enjoyed seeing the quilts...fast forward to 1992 when I made my first quilt. I was attending a family reunion and had everyone paint their hands and make hand prints on an old sheet. I cut them up and made my first quilt for my mother. I knew NOTHING!!!! Living in Richmond at the time, I went to a quilt shop for help. I had gotten the quilt bug and started making wall hangings and baby quilts. I went to the Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival in 1993 and was so over stimulated with ideas and fabric that I couldn't sleep for 3 days. Every time I closed my eyes I saw fabric and had so many ideas. I still have more ideas than time or energy to bring to fruition.

I love combining pieced patterns with applique. Personally, I love bright colors and quilts with a folk art flavor. Some day I would like to take a workshop with Mary Lou Weidman. I adore her story quilts.

Right now I have not made big quilts but have focused on small projects for gifts and such for the children. I have lots of fun making napkins for the children's lunchboxes...tooth fairy dolls for the children's friends birthdays.

I have found quilters to be wonderful friends and people! I love the ladies at RPQG and enjoy any Saturdays and Mondays I get to spend with you all! Peace and Joy in 2012.

My husband, Mac, teaches Computer Science and Computer Engineering at VMI. We have 2 children, Ellie (2nd grade) and James (kindergarten). We live just outside of town with our dog, 2 children, 3 cats and 4 hens! We love this area!

Quilting Quote

Quilts are like friends - a great source of comfort and warmth.

Until next month, Happy Quilting and Happy New Year!!

Nancy

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