from postings to the Daily Bernina Digest
If you would like additional information about any particular idea,
please contact the person who originally posted the idea.
This was a fairly "young" guild in both respects...newly formed and with quite a few younger gals new to quilting. About 10 of the "better, more experienced" quilters were asked to bring a favorite tool, a favorite tip, or an alternative method to the usual, etc. etc. and spend a few minutes demonstrating and talking about whatever they had chosen to share. Of course, some of us who had "been around the block" (PUN NTENDED!) had lots to share so it was a very informative and educational evening while being quite fun and relaxing. The board decided they would do it once a year with different people on the "podium" as it was so well received.
Dennie Sullivan rdsully@worldnet.att.net
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ How about: each person has a square of plain calico/muslin, and brings a piece of Crochet/Lace/Old Napkin/Doily/whatever, and you all make squares that are 'embellished' with the older bits.
How about: Bring a cheap plastic embroidery frame, maybe 6" across. everyone gets two squares of cotton organdy, and a piece of iron-on interfacing. This is cut into a circular design in the style of Hawaiian Quilts/German Papercuts /Little Girls Holding Hands/Kindergarten Snowflakes/Paper Doilies. Iron onto the one piece of organdy, place the other on top, put in hoop, quilt together by hand, trim off excess, neaten the edges with braid.
Hang as a "Sun Catcher"
Each member brings a small baggie full of scraps of 'interesting' fabrics: velvets, bits of braid, trim, ribbon, lace, evening dress or bridal fabrics, plus two 18," 20", or 24" squares of plain fabric such as corduroy, velveteen, heavy cotton, and is given a piece of plain calico/muslin. Cut the scraps into shapes and 'crazy quilt' with them, hand sewing the pieces down with embroidery stitches onto the calico. Then hand sew the finished square onto one of the Fabric squares and make up into a Cushion Cover.
Try your hands at making 'geodesic dome' type balls using the 'English Patchwork" technique; photocopy the right number of ? sided Polygons onto paper, most grade school teachers can sort this one out for you, it used to be a fav to make these from construction paper in math. Or study a small ball that is made to look like a basketball etc. Cut the paper shapes apart, place on WS of fabric, cut out leaving 1/3rd inch turnings, tack in place, then hand sew together, when all are joined except for a couple of seams, stuff with batting. This could be a baby toy, or a tree ornament depending on size. Small ones stuffed with horse feed bran, cornmeal, or something similar also make neat pincushions. You can make other than polygons, diamonds work well, 6 in a circle, twice, for top and bottom, then 6 more set in the sides to give depth, and an interesting shape. (The diamonds need to have 55' sharp ends, and 125' wide ends, or else 65' and 115', give or take a degree) If you make them exactly 60' and 120' you will get a much flatter top which isn't as interesting.
Italian or Trapunto Quilting, where two parallel lines of sewing hold two layers of fabric together, and cord or thread is threaded between them to pad the shape. This works well for "Celtic' type designs. Ideal for making things like a 'Cozy' for a Teapot, or a Coffee Pot. If the top layer is organdy or other transparent /semi transparent fabric and the filler is a strong color you can get attractive shadow effects, could be a Table Runner or Center. Can't think of any others just now, but at least there are some different ones for you to mull over.
Liz, Ontario Liz Powell" fivecats@onlink.net ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our guild just did a Quilt for a Cure challenge. You paid a modest sum for a packet of fabric which you had to use in your project (could be clothing, quilt, whatever). You could add other fabrics and buy more of the challenge fabrics too. Members had a swap of 2 1/2" strips and 4 1/2" squares of complimentary fabrics. There were 17 projects turned in. They were turned over to an independent judge, who brought them back to our meeting a month later with comments about construction, design, etc. There were prizes, and the newspaper came to take pictures. These projects will be displayed together at some point in the future. It was a good experience.
One guild did a crayon challenge - your project has to be the color of the crayon you pull out of a box (without looking). Projects were small, about 18 x 24...looked great when displayed
Our (public) librarian came with a list of quilt related books, and reviewed one fiction book
A therapist demonstrated exercises to do while quilting, rotary cutting, etc. to prevent fatigue and injury.
Another guild came to visit, brought show and tell.
Members can do trunk show occasionally.
Demonstrate how to mark borders, put a quilt in a frame, basting a quilt
Shop owner brings new notions, other products right after quilt market - let her sell products.
Newsletter quiz Quilting trivia game (you make up the questions -name this quilt block, etc., fill in the blanks.
Garbage bag luncheon: everyone brings 1/2 cup salad ingredients (all goes in white/clear plastic bag)or package of crackers; hostesses provide paper goods, beverage, dressing
If you make a list of all the ideas you get, I'd love to see it. Good luck, Nellie Mueller
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I am not sure how far away this is for you but it's a thought. We also belong to IRQN--Interstate Resources & Quilters Network. It costs $30 a year but well worth it for us as they publish teachers, quilt shows in the area, etc. They include WI, IL and IA. Their web site is http://www.artisticwebworks.com/irqn/ Our newsletter address is http://www.luvtoquilt.com/
Good luck. Karen KBQuilts@aol.com
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For our workshops here are some recent ones: In June we have a lady coming to teach the watercolor quilt technique using the fusible base. In July we are doing paper pieced Christmas ornaments. In May, a member taught English paper piecing. In April we had a lady come in and teach a black, white and gray workshop.
For our programs after the business meetings we have done:
a member demonstrated making continuous prairie points.
Two members showed pictures and discussed their trip to Paducah, one member gave a talk on and showed the block for each person from the book on Voices from the Past.
This one was a year long program.
We had a local repair man come in and talk about maintenance on your sewing machine.
Hope some of this gets the creative juices flowing. Grace in NW FL gcg4@home.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
What about a brainstorming program of "what you'd love to make but have been afraid to try" and then you have some hands on ideas to work with.
Another thing might be to have those older quilters pull out their quilts and talk about what they learned to do and not do as well as stories behind those quilts -what was happening to those women as they made their quilts.
Or how about a review of some of the recent books about quilters as mentioned on this list. Talk about different ways to bind quilts, square quilts, and change the measurements of blocks. There are lots of simple things that we need a brush up on.
Or how about a fat quarter swap meet---even pattern swapping. The sky is the limit for small or large guilds. You are only limited by your imagination---and perhaps not even that.
Try a mystery quilt that you order or that you make up. It could be simple or challenging. What about something on using and choosing color. There are lots of books and information available. The key is to just have fun, tell a few jokes, and keep the place alive.
What about finding out a way to show or display quilts from shows people have been to.
Make up food that fit block names and have a meal.
Make blocks and exchange them.
Again I say---HAVE LOTS OF FUN!!!! Blessings and best wishes,
Colleen segroves@airmail.net ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Guild meeting suggestions For info about quilt programs go to the
Virginia Consortium of Quilters web site: http://www.vcq.org Click on "Free Programs."
Ann aczompo@aol.com
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I was thinking of asking my guild if we could have a class on COLOR...I am still having trouble (or maybe it is fear) of putting the colors together....just a thought. Anna SoLoveQlt@aol.com
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How about ugly quilts, first quilts, old quilts, baby quilts, etc. to share with each other? dprentic@accn.org
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How about English Hand Piecing Appliqués OR ironing the double sided stuff to patterns on fabric (flowers, animals, etc.) and cutting them out & fusing onto prepared blocks (old jeans work well)...
Have each member bring some scraps & plan some crazy blocks. (You didn't say if you have your Sewing Machine with you, but "crazies" can be pinned to fabric, cardboard, Styrofoam, etc. & stitched later.)
I have inherited some "birthday club" blocks from a group in the country. Way back when (BigGrin) they hand embroidered their name and month of birth (and year) and then the flower for their own month. The peach colored ones were for the embroidery and the pale mauve were the alternate blocks. It will be wonderful, when & if I ever get it sewn together. These days signature blocks can be done with multi-colored fabric pens and the flowers can be cut from fabric & appliquéd or ironed on, people could draw & color them or you could "Deco" them!
Have fun and I'm looking forward to reading all the postings on this one!
Lorraine Foesier foesier@telusplanet.net ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our guild did a round robin type thing with denim shirts. We each purchased our own shirt and then filled out a prepared form that indicated a theme for the shirt--for example, I chose "Winter, but not Christmas" for my theme. We could put in our own fabrics or not, and etc. The shirt was passed to three people, so that for three guild meetings the shirts were exchanged at the guild meeting. It was great to see all the final products on the third month.
We also did a year long sampler quilt. Each person who participated chose their own color scheme and fabric ahead of time. We used Around the Block, but any block book would work. Each month one person in the group chose a block that everyone in the group made from their own fabric and had it for show and tell the next month. At the end of the year they had twelve blocks for a beautiful sampler quilt.
We also have a Quilter's Night Out. We meet for that month on a Friday night starting at 6:00 PM. We have pizza and etc. delivered so that no one has to cook. We assign everyone a # and during the evening we give out prizes, and at the end of the evening we have one big door prize, like a hard cover book etc.
Some years it's a Sit and Stitch to work on UFO's, one year we made a mystery quilt that evening, and sometimes we make things like sewing kits or some smaller project. Everyone gets a goodie bag when they walk in that has sewing goodies and candy and etc.
Shops and mail order folks will make donations.
Ruth Spangler Casual Quilter's Brighton, Mi. spangler4@mediaone.net ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
How about lap quilts for folks in nursing homes? I believe this is a forgotten segment of our society, and any attention and gifts is so appreciated? There is also always a need at homeless shelters and terminally-ill children's hospital wards (there is even an organization that does this, but I forgot the name right now...) Sunny rchandonais@mindspring.com +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our guild used a wedding theme for one program. Some brought their wedding dresses which were displayed on special mannequins, some wore their wedding dresses or dresses they had worn to a wedding. There were all sorts of handmade gifts, spectacular quilts, wedding pictures and decorations. Then everyone was invited to share a wedding memory (their wedding or one they had attended) and there were some wonderful stories. Neva stevenson559@mediaone.net ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Items were placed on a table with a lunch size paper bag in front of it. You, the guild member, would buy as many raffle tickets as you wanted for a dime each and then put however many you wanted in the bag for each project desired. At the end of an hour or so browsing would be stopped and someone would pull one ticket from each bag and that was the winner. How many tickets you put in raised your chances of winning but there was no guarantee. This raised a lot of money for the guild and we did it once a year, sometimes twice. Only thing is - have lots of tables and lunchbags - for a guild of about 100 women we needed 300 plus bags per time.
It got to be hard on the feet if you were the deliverer from the tables to the winner!
From: Alison Enzenauer <rjenzenauer@pol.net>
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