Rockbridge Pieceworkers Quilt Guild

Volume XV Issue 7 July 2009

President's Message

Hi there folks,

So now your bindings will look wonderful, and the quilts in our upcoming Rockbridge County Fair/ RPQG Quilt Show will be perfect in that respect! Thanks to Kerry Vansant, Kitty Tilson and Carol Schoner for sharing their expertise with us.

July is a month that is hot and lazy (we hope), thus the workshop by Mary Ann Bowden will require little forethought but fun work on our parts. We will be making comfort Quilts to add to our stash. Listening to Mary Ann and Teri Brasz tell of the joy the Comfort Quilts have brought to people at very stressful times in their lives has been so touching, and rewarding to those who have donated quilts.

And we should be cool in our meeting place. The W&L Law School has graciously allowed us to use one of their up-to-date classrooms, which has multi-plugins, lots of light, great acoustics and good sight-lines for any workshop or teaching use. The small difficulty involved in finding the Law School and then the room, for those not acquainted with this W&L facility should be well worth the effort. If you hate it let me know, but I am really hoping you enjoy it. There will be directions included or in emails to follow and after July 1, I will gladly offer help. There will be many signs along the path in the building and I hope you will find a map on the web at http://law.wlu.edu/directions to get you to the building.

We are trying a new place yet again, in search of a good place to settle down. There are several places that we have not tried yet, so please stay flexible.

Hope your summer is full of fabric, and time to sew and family and time to laugh!

Yours truly, Sue

Meetings and Programs

Information For the Quilt Show: We are hoping to again have a wonderful display of quilts. Sue has spoken with several people who were not aware that their quilts must have sleeves for hanging. If you have never made a sleeve and need instructions, Sue sent me a word document that I can forward to you. There are also countless articles in books and magazines offering directions.

And a reminder from Edie MacCorkle, At the last meeting I told the guild that quilt entries could be dropped off at the Horse Center on July 3rd. Well I just realized that we will be closed that day for the 4th holiday. If you want to hand deliver to me at the Horse Center then it needs to be done by Thursday, July 2nd. Thank you very much and I appologize for the inconvenience.

JUNE: Many thanks to Kerry Vansant for teaching the "French binding technique" with mitered corners and a super way to close your binding; Carol Schoner for demonstrating a 90 degree binding and Kitty Tilson for her lesson on piping.

JULY: Mary Ann Bowden will teach the "Strippy Method" for comfort quilt construction. It will be a simple comfort quilt - the top can be completed in a day! Please remember to let Kim Kerschl know if you will be attending so she can tell Mary Ann how many fabric kits to bring.

AUGUST: Sharon Owens will teach a Celtic Quilting workshop.

SEPTEMBER: Nancy Badertscher will be teaching us how to make those cute fabric baskets she brought to Show and Tell in the spring.

OCTOBER: Susan Divers, project TBA

NOVEMBER: Alma Flippin and Sue Larue teaching machine quilting techniques

DECEMBER: No workshop, but Chinese Auction/Gift Swap

CHARM SQUARE EXCHANGE

The Trading Post

There are no items for the Trading Post this month. My feeling has been that we should not charge members to use the trading post to buy, trade or sell quilting related items. So, are you looking for a special fabric or a tool? Would you want to tell the group about a website you have discovered? This can be the place! And, speaking of websites, Kim passes along the following: www.Quilt-Video.com She says it is "a wealth of videos on how to do just about anything quilty."

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

JULY Birthdays

Mary Adkins - 7/6
Joanna Lotts - 7/6
Martha Stuart - 7/9
Bunny Babcock - 7/11
Deb Work - 7/12
Michele Mathis - 7/21
Mary Quarles - 7/29

Bits 'N Pieces

At our June meeting, Katherine Truitt told us about her favorite special tool. The Altos QuiltCut 2 helps quilters accurately measure and cut fabric. It is a sturdy cutting board with clamps to hold down the fabric and lock in the cutting guide. Although you still use your rotary cutter, this tool makes it easier for people with arthritis because you do not have to hold down the fabric and the ruler. Diamonds, strips at any angle can be cut and Katherine has cut as many as 10 layers of fabric at a time! You can check out this tool and even view videos of it at www.quiltcut.com.

There will be a quilt show at the Bedford Central Library from July 15th - 28th during library hours - no Sundays.

You all should have received an e-mail about classes being offered at The Quiltery owned by one of our members, Maureen Smart. If you misplaced your e-mail or need more info, on the classes offered, you can call the shop at 540-377-9191. They are open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10-4.

Continuing with the McCall's article on guilds I began paraphrasing several months ago, most quilt guilds charge membership dues of from $5. to $45., depending on the group's size and the number of activities being funded. Speaking of which, have you all completed your surveys for the program chairpersons?? Kim and Nancy are working so hard to plan for us - at least give them your opinion. I could not answer all the questions, for example, what skills do you have??? (not many) but answer what you can. Nothing hurts more than knocking yourself out for a group or a cause and then hearing NOTHING! I know - I spend hours doing this newsletter and then when I tell someone --- that is in the newsletter and they say, oh, I didn't read it, I am crushed! I am so thankful for those of you who appreciate my meager efforts. AND, speaking of our program beauties, have you started your challenge yet?? Again, they worked so hard to put it together. I did my square but I ironed when I should have pressed or pressed when I should have ironed. Anyway, my triangles are askew so I will need to either use the seam ripper or start all over again. These things are such fun, even if you are not an expert. Give it a try and we can compare designs, colors and even faux pas!!.

Group News

Fabric Arts Group No news from them this month, but they meet at the Senior Center in BV on the third Saturday of the month. The members decided to spend the next couple of months embellishing their projects.

Second Tuesdays - Mary Beth tells me that this group is no longer meeting.

Monday Morning Group meets at Lexington City Hall on Mondays from 9:30 am until 1:00 except for the first Monday of each month when they can be found in the Piovano Room at the library. ust.

If you have a group of quilters or would like to start a group, please let me know so I can put it in the newsletter.


Hostess Schedule

June..Thanks to Aline McKenna and Terri Brasz

July ... Sally Carter, Melou Piegari and Julia Kozak

August...Zora Jenkins and Martha Stuart

September...Mary Quarles

October...Susan McDowell, Kerry Vansant and Carol Schoner

November...Marcia Vehrs, Linda Baldwin, Debbie Pfeiffer and Patricia Bird

Carol Schoner has put together a list of Hostess Duties and a checklist of supplies. See her if you have any questions.

Recipe Corner

The following recipes were prepared for The Retreat.
Vegetable Salad from Louise Tardy

Dressing
1. Drain liquid from all ingredients.
2. Mix dressing, pour over vegetables and toss.
3. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
4. Toss several times during this time for best flavor..

Sweet Caramelized Onion Dip from Judi Owens


1. Heat butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Once butter has coated the bottom of the pan, add onions, cayenne pepper and salt. Don't worry if the onions are piled high in the pan - they will cook down. Saute for 10 minutes, stirring often.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low, and cook for an additional 25 - 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onions are browned and caramelized..
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream and mayo. Whisk until smooth, then refrigerate..
4. Once onions are caramelized, add mustard and vinegar to the pan. Continue to cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove onions from the heat and allow to cool.
5. Once cool, add onions to the large bowl and mix dip thoroughly. Refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to combine. Serve at room temperature.

Nutritional Information: 1/3 cup serving = 74 calories; 1.75 g fat, 512 mg. sodium, 11 g carbs, 0.5g fiber, 4.5g sugars, 3.5g protein

ASK THE EXPERTS

Being somewhat new to quilting, I am just beginning to accumulate a stash and now I'm in a quandry about how to organize and store the fabric so that I have a chance of finding just what I need when I am starting a new project. So, I turned to a couple of "Stash Queens" (I know there are many of you, but no one replied to my question so I had to resort to the e-mail/twist your arm technique!)

The Roving Reporter contacted Joanie Wendt who really does have more than purple in her stash. Her answer follows.

" I sort my stash according to color, and then within that category, try to go from light to dark. I also sort batiks with the dominate color in a separate drawer. I use plastic rolling carts, since my space is limited. I also try and keep all the fabrics for one project together. Of course, sometimes I forget that I've put a particular fabric with another grouping. But, I've found that sorting by color, at least gives me a head start on looking thru my fabrics. I also sort floral fabric and unusual fabric separately; as well as flannel and baby fabric."

And, from Linda Baldwin, we have: "I HAVE SEVERAL WAYS TO TRY TO KEEP TRACK OF MY STASH. BUT IT HAS A WAY OF GETTING OUT OF HAND MORE TIMES THAN I CARE TO ADMIT...FIRST I SORT BY COLOR, THEN BY SEASONS, NEXT BY PANELS OR THEME ( LIKE CHILDRENS), LAST COMES THE PROJECT THAT I AM WORKING AND THE ONES THAT I HOPE TO DO NEXT..I KEEP THESE IN THE SMALL PLASTIC BOXES AND PUT THEM WHERE I CAN SEE THEM. I AM AFRAID THE MY SEWING ROOM IS ALWAYS IN A MESS, BECAUSE I AM ALWAY LOOKING FOR RIGHT STUFF FOR THE NEXT PROJECT."

I did not hear back from Alma because I am sure she was busy on the golf course. I saw her name in the paper along with Melou and Julia for some great golfing achievements. You go girls!!

Artist in Residence

Kim Kerschl

My travels have taken me from my birthplace of Syracuse, NY to Rochester, NY where I met my sweetheart (Walter) and then to New Hampshire, Vermont and finally to Virginia (with a few other temporary stops here and there and in between!). I began quilting while living in NH in the days before rotary cutters and fell in love with all the colors and fabric combinations.

My interests have taken me down other roads over the years (mainly horse related). I have spent time managing a very busy and elite show horse barn on a Keswick, VA estate but now am retired and manage my own farm and barn. Somehow though my interests in quilting have persevered and I am back at the sewing machine after I will not tell you how many years have passed since I started! I enjoy learning as much about everything quilt related as I can and enjoy our workshops and also those at the quilt shows. In fact I recently was awarded the Doreen Speckman Scholarship Award at the 2009 Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival in Hampton. It was a real honor for me and so touching. (For those of you who do not know of Doreen, she passed away recently and this award was created to perpetuate her memory. She was a teacher who taught all over the world and had a special brand of teaching which incorporated her craftsmanship, enthusiasm and helping attitude.)

Currently I am co-chair of programs for our guild and am having a wonderful time planning workshops and speakers. I also find time to be on the board of Hoofbeats Therapeutic Riding Center here in Lexington, which provides therapy on or around horses to children and adults who have various physical, mental and emotional disabilities. I am also an avid trail rider on horseback and love cardio kick boxing. My favorite and most cherished occupation is being momma to a super little girl named Chloe and also the momma to my collection of horses, dogs, cats and who ever else comes to the barn and is hungry. (Do not tell my husband, please!)


If you have something you would like to include in a newsletter, please contact the Webmistress at webmistress@rpqg.com.