Rockbridge Pieceworkers Quilt Guild

Volume XIV Issue 7 August 2008

President's Message

Dear Quilting Friends,

Well, the dog days of summer are here. That gives me a good excuse to stay in the air conditioned house and quilt.

The quilt show was a great success. Kerry Vansant and her committee deserve big thanks for a beautifully hung show. My thanks also to everyone that volunteered to be a hostess at the show. See you at the August meeting.

Happy quilting,
Alma Flippen

Meetings and Programs

AUGUST: "Back to Basics" with five members presenting
Kerry Vansant - binding and finishing
Joanna Lotts - needles, threads and batting
Kitty Tilson - rotary cutting
Marcia Vehrs - applique with paper backing
Shirley Hemmings - applique with needle turning

SEPTEMBER: Three-dimensional flowers with Joan Savage - click here for a supply list.

CHARM SQUARE EXCHANGE

Charm squares for August are ??? (sorry, I missed that part of the meeting - be sure to check the minutes)
Cut ten (10) 5" squares of washed 100% cotton fabric - all the same (you can get at least 10 out of one fat quarter).
Place your ten squares in a ziploc or other baggie with your name on the outside.
The following month you will receive ten different squares.
Each month will be a different color or focus.
You may do as many packets of 10 different squares as you like.

The Trading Post

2005 Bernina 440QE with BSR for $2,500 (new today $3995) - contact Kerry Vansant

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 Erin at webmistress@rpqg.com and pay the nominal fee of $1 per ad at the following Business Meeting.

August Birthdays

Kay Carter - 8/1
Kitty Tilson - 8/4
Zora jenkins - 8/6
Lyte Youngblood - 8/16
Nancy Badertscher - 8/25
Melou Piegari - 8/27
Edie MacCorkle - 8/28

Tidbits and Stuff

There are some wacky laws regarding quilting on the books around the country? Most of them are old and forgotten, but did you know...

No one in Kidderville, NH, is allowed to read the newspaper while selling quilts in his or her front yard?
Any woman working with others on a quilting project in Bluff, UT, can wear heels measuring more than one and one-half inches in height?
No one is allowed to carry quilts down Main Street in a wheelbarrow within the boundaries of Okanoggan, WA?

A New Sewing Circle
Mary Beth Baker is starting a quilting circle at the Lexington library in the Piavano room. It will be once a month on the second Tuesday of the month. The time will be in the evening from 7-9. The first evening will be on September 9th. Come out and bring your hand work, your sewing machine or maybe get some of those tops basted on their large tables. Mary Beth has also invited her Mom's Club to participate. Maybe some of them will become quilters.

Looking for thread information?...Superior Thread Company ...does a wonderful newsletter about the qualities of and uses of different threads we use for quilting.

Quilt Show
The 35th Blue Ridge Folklife Festival will be held at Ferrum Collage, Ferrum VA, on Saturday, October 25, 2008. If anyone would like to enter a quilt there will be some forms at the August meeting. If you won't be at the meeting you can contact Lucy Ricardo at 540 483 1039 or email VAKwilter@aol.com.

Monthly Hostesses
Thanks to Sue LaRue and Mary Beth Baker for supplying the refreshments in July. August's Hostesses are Bonnie Gates and Zora Jenkins.

Artist In Residence

Marcia Vehrs

I am originally from Massachusetts. Ten years ago my husband, Dave, was transferred here to Virginia with Mead-Westvaco. We live in Covington. We have a son that lives in Illinois and a daughter that lives in Fork Union, VA. They are both married and each have two children.

I have always liked to sew and do all different crafts. I've tried them all! Sewing, Needlepoint, Cross Stitch, and Crocheting Afghans were my favorites. My grandmother was a quilter and I always thought some day I would like to make a quilt. I even started one many, many years ago in 1978, but gave it to "Grandma" to finish!!! In 1985, when I lived in Illinois, I took a Quilting class and made twelve blocks all by hand. I wasn't until we moved here to Virginia that I finally put the blocks together.

One day, on the way home from Roanoke, Dave and I stopped at a Quilt Shop. I thought I was in "Quilter"s Heaven". I signed up for a beginner's quilting class and I have been addicted ever since. (It's all Dave's fault!!) This was five and a half years ago. Since then, I have made several quilts. I started making them for my grandchildren. I have taken several classes on different techniques to learn more about quilting. Some of my quilts are tied, some machine quilted, and some are hand quilted. I love Civil War and 1930's Reproduction Fabrics. My favorite, which I have been working on for the past four years, is my "Dear Jane" quilt.

I belong to two Quilt Guilds, and I am a member of VCQ. I have been to several quilt retreats and I have gone on some of Virginia's and West Virginia's Shop Hop Quilt Rallys. I work part-time and teach some classes at Tender Heart Quilt Shop in Millboro, VA. Of course, when we travel I have to check out all the quilt shops on the way. (Dave is such a good sport!)

I must say, in the past five years I have met some wonderful and talented quilters. I have learned a lot from all of them. I treasure ALL my quilting friends!

Quiltfully yours, Marcia

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