January 2024 Newsletter

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NEXT MEETING: JANUARY 1, 2024

WHAT TO BRING TO THE MEETING

• Name tag
• Show-and-tell
• January 2024 Sew Along Blocks

BIRTHDAYS

• F. Rodriguez … January 12

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

I’m looking forward to the beginning of a new year of quilting. I don’t usually make resolutions, but I do have a goal this year: to manage my scraps more consistently to make my actual sewing more enjoyable. I have a bad habit of letting scraps, strings, and selvedges pile up on my workspace in little mounds until they infringe with my cutting and sewing. I’m determined to manage these “snowdrifts”, and be ruthless when needed.
I’m also looking forward to our next Block of the Month. I love the one we just made, and I’m excited to create something new.
As the year ends, I’d like to thank our officers, this year’s and next, for their hard work and service. It can be difficult to fill these positions which make such a positive difference in our guild community. As you enjoy our meetings, projects and workshops this year, please consider holding an office next year, if you’ve never served before.
With best wishes for a happy, healthy, and creative 2024.

Elisabeth McMahon

DUES ARE DUE

Don’t forget the dues for 2024 are due at the January meeting. The cost is $15 for members 65 and older and $20 for those younger than 65.

DECEMBER PROGRAM

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Our program for January will be Borders and Other Unfinished Programs. Look forward to seeing you in the New Year and hope you have a Merry Christmas.

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.
Instructions were mailed after the Guild meeting. If you are participating, bring the January blocks to the meeting.

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

Michelle Rodriguez

CO-OP DONATION

Grace Norris delivered the groceries collected at the December meeting to the Grand Prairie Food and Clothing Co-Op. The Guild gathered 97.5 pounds of food, in addition to a donation of $40 in cash and checks.

MINUTES

• Meeting called to order by Elisabeth at 7 p.m. on December 4th, 2023
• Members in attendance 19. Perfect Attendance Award: 8 members had perfect attendance for the year – Barbara Burnaugh, Grace, Ruth, Michelle, Paco, Elisabeth, Carol Miller, and Diane. Diane’s name was drawn and she won the free membership for 2024.
• Minutes from the November meeting were approved as printed in the newsletter.
• Treasurer’s report — Balance $1128.09 was filed for audit
• Remembrances — Janice Overton
  Birthdays: Courtney, Michelle, Shirley and Joanne.
  Door Prizes: 2 gift certificates for Must Love Fabric were won by Sytire and Molly.
• We are collecting food for the Grand Prairie Food & Clothing Co-Op tonight and Grace and Barbara will make sure it gets taken this week. We are also collecting Coats for Kids for GPISD. Elisabeth will take them with her and have totals in the newsletter.
• Stitch Group — The next meeting will be 4th Thursday in January.
• Sew Along 2024 — Michelle brought the blocks to be made for January as well as a couple other months to give everyone an idea of what the blocks would look like. The pattern will be sent after the meeting.
• Show and Tell — Shirley & Michelle
• Installation of officers — Paco did the installation with a fruit basket theme – Elisabeth: President; Debi: 1st Vice President; Sue: 2nd Vice President; Michelle: Secretary; Grace: Treasurer.
• New business: church use gift. There were multiple motions and votes. Debi made the motion, and Shirley seconded to give First Presbyterian Church $250 for the church use gift. Motion passed. Shirley made the motion and Holli seconded to give $250 to the Woods UMC for a church use gift. Motion passed.
• Debi will let us know the info for the January meeting in the newsletter. Tonight’s program was our Christmas party with yummy desserts and a fun right-left game.

Michelle Rodriguez

TREASURER’S REPORT

Beginning Balance … $1128.09
Gift Cards … ($50.00)
Church Donations:
  1st Presbyterian … ($250.00)
  The Woods U.M.C. … ($250.00)
Ending Balance … $578.09

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.