December 2023 Newsletter

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NEXT MEETING: DECEMBER 4, 2023

WHAT TO BRING TO THE MEETING

• Name tag
• Show-and-tell
• Items for the Christmas Party, food for the Food & Clothing Co-Op, Coats for Kids

BIRTHDAYS

• Courtney Ridings … December 4
• Michelle Rodriguez … December 15
• Shirley Lewis … December 15
• Joanne Grant … December 21

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Tis the season for quilters to be in the home stretch finishing Christmas gifts and decorations. As Christmas approaches, my wish for you is to have time for any last-minute projects that need to be finished. I also hope you enjoy your time with family and friends this holiday season. This month’s free quilt pattern from Sew Can She is an easy gnome mini-quilt, whose easy blocks could be expanded into a table runner, placemats, or even a full-size quilt.

https://shorturl.at/hivR8

Elisabeth McMahon

DECEMBER PROGRAM

Can you believe it is the end of the year? That means it is time for a party! So a recap of what was discussed at the November meeting

• Bring canned goods for the food co-op
• Coats for kids will be collected
• Dessert potluck (we only need 8-10). Please e-mail me at dcypert@sbcglobal.net or text me at 469-400-8502 if you plan on bringing a dessert. Everyone should bring their own beverage.
• Bring a quilting-related gift for our game of “right/left”. Minimum of $10.
  I hope I haven’t missed anything. Have a great Thanksgiving.

Deborah Cypert

2024 SEW-A-LONG

Our 2024 Sew Along will start in January and will consist of 11 blocks and finishing instructions. All the blocks are some type of star block. The size of the finished quilt top is approximately 72” x 84”. For reference, our 2023 sew along quilt was approximately 70” x 70”. Fabric requirements are generous, but are a little tricky since each month’s block(s) has the fabric requirements. An example would be: 1/4 yard of background fabric plus 3 other fabrics – 2 fat quarters and 1 fat eighth. Total background fabric requirement for the entire quilt is approximately 5 yards – if using the same background fabric throughout the quilt. Because the finishing instructions include background fabric, the pattern designer suggests using the same background for the entire project. For the remainder of the quilt, I think approximately 20 -25 fat quarters will give you a nice variety. If you prefer to use yardage, I would recommend a total of 5 – 7 yards of fabric with at least 3 – 5 different fabrics. Some blocks have 4 or 5 fabrics, but if you are using only 3 or 4 fabrics plus the background, you could have your center be the same as another fabric in your block. This quilt could be made using your stash as well.

I will show the first block at the December meeting and will go over the details then.

Michelle Rodriguez

MINUTES

• The meeting was called to order by Elisabeth at 7 p.m.
• Members in attendance 16 with zero visitors
• Minutes from October were approved
• Treasurer report — Balance $1128.09 was filed for audit
• Remembrances — Holli Blackwell and Janice Overton
• Stitch Group — Held last get-together for 2023. There were 7 in attendance with several others that dropped in for a few minutes.
• Sew Along — 5 presented their Sew Along tops. Sy, Grace, Sue, Michelle, and Elisabeth.
  Shirley who is still recovering from knee surgery completed her first row for Sew Along.
• Show and Tell — Carol Miller, Grace, Elisabeth, Ruth, Courtney, and Virginia
• Election of officers — Grace made the motion and Barbara B. seconded to the slate of officers — Elisabeth: President; Debi: 1st Vice President; Sue: 2nd Vice President; Michelle: Secretary; Grace: Treasurer. Motion passed.
• The installation of officers for 2024 will be done by Paco.
• Next Meeting — December 4th. Elisabeth and Grace made the motion that we do a drive to collect coats and jeans for kids. Ages will be from kindergarten through high school age. It was also decided that guild members bring canned goods for the Grand Prairie food pantry.
• Debi will let us know the info for the rest of the December meeting in the newsletter.
• Elisabeth presented a program on resources the library has and how to use the electronic checkout for books, TV shows, etc.

Cathy Mullin

TREASURER’S REPORT

Beginning Balance … $1128.09
Ending Balance … $1128.09

Diane Lewis

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 (the 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 “quilters 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.