February 2024 Newsletter

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NEXT MEETING: FEBRUARY 5, 2024

WHAT TO BRING TO THE MEETING

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

BIRTHDAYS

• F. Rodriguez … January 12

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

When I was surfing the internet looking for inspiration for this month’s newsletter, I came across an old saying in a South Carolina guild’s newsletter. “Mind your p’s and q’s” is an old saying from the time when printers setting type had to tell the difference between two virtually identical bits of lead type. When you quilt, mind your p’s and q’s, too!

P’s:
peace: be mindful, and actively enjoy the peace that comes with familiar steps.
patience: rushing is a false economy – you’ll only end up with mistakes and seams sewn with no bobbin thread.
planning: time planning will help you be efficient in your fabric and pattern selection, cutting, sewing, and finishing.

Q’s:
quiet time: maintain a pleasant environment for your sewing space.
quality: use materials and methods worthy of the unique quilt you’re making.
quilt: enjoy the hobby you love!

Elisabeth McMahon

DUES ARE DUE

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

DECEMBER PROGRAM

Hope everyone is staying warm and sewing on…

I have pulled out my crazy quilt books and look forward to getting a program together. I’ve been saving old silk ties for this very thing along with scraps of velvet and other scraps. You will know if I’m successful in February. Fingers crossed.

Deborah Cypert

2024 SEW-A-LONG

2024 Sew Along
Our 2024 Sew Along started 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 e-mailed after the Guild meeting. If you are participating, bring the next blocks to the February meeting.

Michelle Rodriguez

MINUTES

• Meeting called to order by Elisabeth at 7 p.m. on January 1, 2024.
• Minutes from the December meeting were approved as printed in the newsletter.
• Treasurer’s report — Balance $578.09 was filed for audit
• Remembrances — Carol Miller’s grandson
• Birthdays: Francisco R.
• Membership: 18 members in attendance. A draft of the membership list will be available at the next meeting for everyone to check their info.
• Stitch Group — Next meeting will be on Thursday, January 25th.
• Sew Along 2024 — Michelle brought the block to bring for February and 5 people showed their January blocks. The pattern will be sent after the meeting
• Workshops: Sue discussed that we would have our first workshop of the year on Saturday, March 16th at The Woods United Methodist Church. We will be making pillowcases to donate to Isaiah 117 House. There will also be a June workshop to be determined and a Jelly Roll Workshop for National Sew a Jelly Roll Day in September.
• Show and Tell — Debi, Michelle, and Elisabeth.
• New business: The audit committee to audit the treasurer’s books for 2023 formed tonight. Debi, Holli, and Elisabeth will audit the books at the February meeting.
• Debi’s program was about borders and how to decide what kind of border for a quilt and calculating the size of the borders.
• Meeting adjourned at 8 p.m.

Michelle Rodriguez

TREASURER’S REPORT

Beginning Balance … $578.09
Ending Balance … $578.09

Grace Norris

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.