September 2016 Newsletter

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NEXT MEETING: SEPT. 5, 2016

WHAT TO BRING TO THE MEETING

• Name tag
• Block party block
• Show-and-Tell
• Door prizes for N, O, P, R

BIRTHDAYS

• Lillie Martinez … September 14
• Margaret Alsup … September 23
• Evelyn Moore … September 27

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Life recently threw several major challenges my way all in the course of 48 hours. Daily challenges became monumental as my support team, aka hubby, was unavailable physically, mentally and emotionally. The waiting for answers, fear of the unknown, and worrying started taking its toll in all the bottled up stress. It was at this point that I turned to my sewing not for comfort and joy but as a mental break. I had temporarily forgotten all the benefits having a creative outlet offers.

Our bodies are in a constant state of stress. When we are in the zone creating, we lose all track of time. The effects are similar to those of meditation. The reward center in your brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine when doing something pleasurable. It’s a natural anti-depressant. Creative activities may even protect against aging because of its ability to involve many different areas of the brain. It can work your memory and attention span while involving your visuospatial processing, creative side and problem-solving abilities. Just something to consider the next time you find yourself in front of your sewing machine.

Happy sewing.

Tory Swartzwelder

SEPTEMBER PROGRAM

I hope everyone that is participating in our UFO challenge is getting them finished up!  In September, we will be showing off any UFOs that you signed up with and getting your tickets for each one that is complete….those tickets will be placed in a drawing to win the pot (made up of the money everyone who is participating paid in for the UFO challenge). Remember, to be deemed “complete” your item must be quilted and bound.

Also, as a side item, we will also be joined by Haley Barr. She is a Girl Scout working on her Gold Award and would like to come and speak to our guild.

*Please make sure that if you volunteered to take a box last month for Operation Shoebox that you bring it back for the next meeting. No need to replenish the boxes with fabric. There should be plenty in each box to finish out. We are coming close to the end of the year!

Carrie Stanford

TAQG REPORT

Thanks to all who helped us make TAQG Rally Day a success. A special thanks to Penny Johnson who helped me setup on Friday and worked the main entrance. Thanks to Shirley Lewis and Michelle Rodriguez for working with the Raffle Quilts. Thanks to Janis Hill for making Quilters Guild of Grand Prairie aprons for each of us. It helped us to look really official! Thanks also to Janis Hill, Barbara Burnaugh, Jeri Bush, Debi Cypert, Sue Heard, Shara Hill-Scheibner, Lillie Martinez, Nancy Mills -Dickens, Grace Norris, Kathleen Poole, and Tory Swartzwelder for helping at the doors and being runners. Things went very smoothly thanks to all of your cooperation. The speaker for 2017 Rally Day has been announced as Cynthia Regone. Rally Day will be on Saturday, July 8, 2017 in Mesquite. Mark your calendars now.

The next meeting of TAQG will be September 27th at Garden Ridge Church of Chirst in Lewisville at 10 a.m.. I would love to have company, if anyone is willing to go along with me. I normally leave around 9 a.m. and will be happy to pick you up.

Our main focus now that TAQG Rally Day is finished is the website. Check out TAQG.ORG. There is a lot of information there. Katrina Lindley, TAQG Representative

REMINDERS

• Be sure to wear a name tag at our meetings. If you don’t wear a name tag, you will be charged 50 cents each time.
• Articles for the newsletter are due by the 10th of the month. Any articles not received by the 10th of the month may or may not get published in that month’s newsletter.
• The newsletter is published monthly usually within 10 days of the meeting date (first Monday of each month). You will receive an e-mail with a link to the website (qgogp.wordpress.com).
  All previous newsletters are archived on our website. You may also go to our Facebook page. Our newsletter link is posted there monthly. If, at any time, you cannot find your newsletter or have deleted the e-mail with the link, you could do an internet search for “quilter’s guild of grand prairie” to find our website.
• If you have a question about a program, a workshop, or the block of the month, be sure to contact the person(s) in charge of whatever you have a question about. The names, phone numbers and e-mails are all listed in the newsletter.
• Please silence your cell phone during our meetings.

Michelle Rodriguez

MINUTES

• Vice President Carrie Stanford called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
• The minutes of the June meeting were corrected as follows: Old Business was changed to reflect a question about the $300 grant was made by Christine Blanton and not Jane Lamb as reported.
• President Tory continued the meeting from this point.
• The Guild has 5 birthdays for August: Katrina Lindley, Ruth Goodman, Lauren Metang, Nancy Conner and Judy Meador.
• Remembrances: College friend of Lauren’s passed away as a result of depression medication. Janis reported that Nancy Conner’s husband, Wren, will have bypass surgery. Tory has a new job as third grade teacher and Baby Jack will be one year old this month.
• Janis reported that the balance in the guild account is $1,908.58. A check in the amount of $300 was written to the Grand Prairie Food and Clothing Co-0p leaving a current balance of $1,608.58.
• Shirley Lewis, Membership, reported we have 22 members present and 3 visitors.
• Kathy Poole had a new way of drawing for door prizes. Each attendee was given two tickets. Each person then put their ticket in the door prize sack of their choice. Winners for door prizes were Lauren Metang, Pam Landrum, Evelyn Moore and Becky Petross. Janis Hill won tickets to the Plano Quilt Show. Margaret Alsup and Jane Lamb won tickets to the Canton Quilt Show. A final drawing was a “loser” drawing and was won by Evelyn Moore.
• Michelle Rodriguez, Newsletter, reminded members that the newsletter information deadline is the 10th of the month.
• Lauren Metang reported the next workshop is scheduled for August 20th. The workshop will be an “Easy Cathedral Window” table runner. The table runner will require two charm packs along with batting and backing.
• Lauren Metang drew the August winner, Shirley Allein, for the “Irish Chain” blocks. The pattern for September will be Little Blue Basket and will be published in the newsletter.
• Katrina reported that the TAQG focus for the next year is a revised web site. A special thanks to everyone that helped at Rally Day. Next year’s Rally Day speaker will be Cynthia Regone.
• Grace reported that the “Stitch a Bit” group meets on the 4th Thursday – 9:30 to 3:30 at The Woods United Methodist Church, Robison at Bardin Rd. The next meeting will be August 24th. A meal is available. A donation is appreciated for the meal and meeting area. In July the Stitch a Bit group pieced a Circle of 9 quilt with some of the Block Library Blocks.
• Kathy Poole advised the guild that the Grand Prairie Fire Dept. has a group that provides bedding for people when their homes have been destroyed by fire.
• Jane Lamb made a motion to support Hearts and Hoses and Grand Prairie Fireman with quilts made from the Quilt Library blocks. Kathy Poole seconded. Motion carried.
• Old Business: Debi Cypert read a thank you letter from the Grand Prairie Food and Clothing Co-Op for the 87 pounds of food donated in July.
• New business: None
• Show and Tell: Katrina Lindley, Lauren Metang, Kathy Poole, Janis Hill and Michelle Rodriguez.
• Operation Shoe Box participants for the last round are Jeri Bush, Kathy Poole and Janice Overton.
• Carrie reminded everyone participating in the UFO Challenge that UFO’s are due at the September meeting.
• The program for the evening was Linda McPherson. Linda had a trunk show of miniature quilts she has made. She also shared that Laurie Smith is the author of several small quilt patterns. Linda is a member of the

Debi Cypert, Secretary

BLOCK OF THE MONTH

A couple of things: I encourage everyone to shop for Civil War fabric.

I would suggest getting 10-12 fat quarters to choose from for the Blocks of the each month. Please stick to the color scheme that you see each month on the example. The blue can be light or dark for example, but it should be blue.

We will be drawing each month for a winner of the blocks. The finished blocks are 8.5″ squared.

Any questions, contact Christine at blntn606@sbcglobal.net or 214-284-4906.

Christine Blanton

LITTLE BLUE BASKET

For Directions, visit this site: civilwarquilts.blogspot.com

TREASURER’S REPORT

Beginning balance … $1603.58
Auction Proceeds … 300
GP Food & Clothing … <300>
Bank Adjustment … 5
Ending balance … $1608.58

Janis Hill