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NEXT MEETING: JUNE 1, 2009
DOOR PRIZES: If your last name begins with M please bring a door prize to the February meeting and give it to Elisabeth McMahon. This is a voluntary effort, but most of us like to receive a door prize and we hope everyone will participate. Please bring only quilting related items such as: Quilting Notions, fat quarters, triangle paper, magnetic pin holders, scissors, Pigma pens, etc.
WHAT TO BRING TO THE MEETING
- Name tag
- Door prizes for M
- Block party Block
- Show-and-Tell
PRESIDENT’S CORNER I thoroughly enjoyed the Arlington Quilt Show, not only for the lovely quilts, but also for seeing people I haven’t seen in awhile. Quilters are such a happy group. I noticed that Susan Hamilton entered her “Christmas Through My Window” wall hanging with all the pretty bead work — makes me want to get mine finished. Bead embellishments were very popular at the Houston Quilt Show — there were several aisles devoted to beads and buttons of all kinds. There is just no limit to the imagination… I wonder what our next inspiration will be.
BIRTHDAYS
Ernestine Redman: June 6
Susan Hamilton: June 17
Grace Norris: June 19
Joyce Smith: May 18
Pray for no wind on June 1st! If we do not have wind, we will be doing June’s program outside for as long as it takes to discharge fabric. It is really a simple process to take a piece of black fabric, spray a solution with bleach and water on it, and watch it change color. There has to be a solution to stop the discharge process, and all of that will be demonstrated for your viewing pleasure. The technique is taken from the pages of “Casting Shadows” from Colleen Wise, and was featured on a Simply Quilts show with Alex Anderson.
Also: If you took any charity quilts home to finish after the May meeting, don’t forget to bring them back finished to the June meeting.
CHARITY PROJECTS: A big thank you to the five women who attended the Irish Chain workshop May 16. We got a lot done and had fun visiting. As always, the food we shared for lunch was delicious. It was disappointing that only five people attended when 12 originally signed up. Since it rained all day, it was a perfect day for sewing.
I’m planning a charity workshop for late June to work on quilts. We will use Grace’s strips and charm squares some of us have. If several of us work together, we can get quite a few quilts done in one day. I always have good intentions of working on charity projects at home and always get sidetracked. I know some of you feel the same way, so this will be a good opportunity to sew, sew, sew. I will have the exact date at the June meeting.
I am tentatively planning a September workshop for a particular pattern……more on that later.
“Sail Away with Me”
SAILBOAT
This is a picture block. I found this block at http://www.quiltaholics.com/bom/sailbt.htm. The entire instructions with pictures can be copied. I will attempt to condense the contents. ALWAYS REMEMBER TO COORDINATE COLORS IF YOU PLAN TO KEEP A BLOCK FOR YOURSELF.
Needed: Four fabric colors-scraps or fat quarters, a light blue for sky, a medium blue for waves, a brown or tan for hull, and a bright for the sails.
Cut: Lt. Blue — cut 1 – 2 1/2″ x 12 1/2″, 2 – 3 1/2″ x 6- 1/2″ and 1 – 21/2″ square and cut 4 – 3″ squares.
Med. Blue — cut 1 – 2 1/2″ x 12 1/2″, 2 – 21/2 x 11/2″ and
1 – 3″ square.
Brown/Tan — cut 1 – 21/2″ x 61/2″, and 1 – 3″ square
Bright — cut 4 – 3″ squares
Sewing Instructions:
1. Draw diagonal line on wrong side of all light and medium 3″ squares.
2. Match right side of light blue square to right side of bright squares; stitch 1/4 inch on either side of diagonal mark — cut apart on diagonal mark. Press toward bright.
3. Match right sides ofmed. blue square to right side of brown square; stitch 1/4 inch seam on either side of diagonal mark; cut apart on diagonal line — Press toward brown.
4. Square up half- square triangles to 2 1/2″.
5. Attach 2 – 1/2″ x 1 1/2″ rectangles of med. blue to med. blue/brown half square triangles. Press toward rectangle.
6. Attach units from Step 5 to either side of the 21/2″ x 61/2″ rectangle of brown — Press toward rectangle.
7. Create 1 double unit and two triple units of light blue/bright half-triangle squares using diagram. Press seams of double unit half square triangle on the right, press seams of 1 triple unit toward center half sq., triangle press seams of other triple unit toward outer hsts.
8. Attach 2 – 1/2″ squares of light blue to lt. blue side of double half-square triangle unit using diagram above to ensure correct placement — Press toward 2 1/2″ square.
9. Join triple half sq. triangle units and unit from Step #8 together as shown in diagram below to create sails, set triple unit with seams toward center as the middle row. Press toward the top/bottom rows.
10. Attach a 3 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ unit of lt. blue to either side of Step# 9. Press seams toward rectangle.
11. Attach unit from Step #6 to unit from Step #10 to create sailboat. Press seams toward hull unit.
12. Attach 2 1/2″x 12 1/2″ rectangles of lt. blue to top of sailboat. Press toward lt. blue rectangle.
13. Square block to 12 1/2″.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Beginning balance: 1532.61
Ending balance: 1532.61
MINUTES
- The May 4, 2009 meeting of the Quilter’s Guild of Grand Prairie was called to order by president Debi Cypert at 7 p.m.
- The minutes were approved as printed in the newsletter.
- The treasurer’s report was approved as printed in the newsletter and filed for audit.
- Remebrances were Carol Franklin and Jennifer Wright, Cathy Mullin’s daughter.
- Birthdays were Sandy, Sue and Joyce.
- Membership: 15 members present including one returning member who rejoined, Jane Coffey.
- Block Party had five blocks turned in and Lillie won the drawing.
- Next month’s block will be “Sail Away with Me”.
- Workshops: Irish Chain Workshop will be on May 16 at the church from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sign up sheet is still available.
- Upcoming programs: June will be on distressing fabrics. July will be our birthday party.
- Retreat update: Ten people have signed up so far — limit is 12. If you are interested, please let Michelle know.
- Announcements: there is a new quilt shop in Arlington that recently opened — Magnolia Quiltworks, 2224 W. Park Row.
- Mary Ann Hartsell with the Grand Prairie Food and Clothing Co-Op is thinking about organizing a quilt show in October to benefit the Co-Op. Grace will try to get Mary Ann to come to our July meeting.
- Door prizes: Debi, Jane, Michelle. Show & Tell: Sandy, Joan, Michelle, Wanda.
- Program for tonight was working on charity quilts.
Michelle Rodriguez
Quilter's Guild of Grand Prairie 