November 2004 Newsletter

Workshop

Jean Hoagland will be presenting ideas for basic tools for new quilters plus some new things on the market for everyone.

The Next Meeting

Christine Goldschmidt will be doing a hands on project.
Supplies you need to bring include, pins, cutting mat, rotary cutter, 6" square ruler or a 6" x 12" ruler.
A sewing machine, if you wish, it is not necessary though.
Magic 9 patch (3 ¾ cut squares)
Pinwheel pattern (strip sets 4 ¼" cut strips)

Feel free to call Christine if you have any questions.

Local Fabric Stores

• Wal-Mart
  9 Prospect Hill Road
  East Windsor, CT 06088
  (860) 292-1235

• Thimbleworks
  56 Shaker Road
  East Longmeadow, MA 01028
  (413) 525-4789
  By the way, Thimbleworks offers 10% discount if you present your Guild Card

• Hancock Fabrics
  384 Cooley Street
  Springfield, MA 01128
  (413) 782-3888
  Michael's in Enfield is now accepting competitors coupons, except for cut fabric from Joannes.

Steering Committee

Sally Cummings is the new librarian for GH.

Announcements

The brother-in-law of one of our members, Diana Collins, was killed in Iraq on October 14. Eric Minor leaves a wife and three young children in Brooklyn, CT. We would like to make a quilt for the Minor family and invite anyone who wants to participate to make a block in red, white or blue fabrics. The block can be of any pattern, and should measure 9.5" (9" finished). Barbara Hull has agreed to sew the blocks together. I know that "sewing a quilt with love and thanks" for Eric's service to his country would mean a lot to the family. Thank you.

Raffle for the November Meeting

Tips and Hints

Dog ears (in the quilting world) have nothing to do with our canine friends. They are those little protrusions that pop up when two seam triangles are pressed open. Cut them off at this stage and they won't haunt you when you're quilting.

If you're having trouble threading your needle, try cutting the thread at an angle. This assures fewer threads will travel through the eye at the same time.

Thread, like a strand of hair, has a grain. Working against the grain will cause the tread to unravel or break easily. Always thread your needle before cutting the thread off the spool and you'll stop going against the grain.

(I would like to include 2-3 quilting and sewing tips and hints each month, let me know if you have any ideas to share!)

Book Review

Quilter's Playtime: Games With Fabrics, by Dianne S. Hire, American Quilter's Society, 2004, 128 pp., $24.95 (paperback)

Dianna's new book, invites readers to join her in an exciting and playful approach to quilting. Dianne presents 11 fun games that help readers develop their own design sense and gain confidence with color, fabric selection, and composition, while they have a blast creating unique quilts. Once readers are introduced to other philosophy, the games begin with variations of rules from childhood. The best part is that the rules for games are simple and you don't even have to follow them! Try her methods for making flexible grids for blocks and borders and experiment with layered circles. Dianne sprinkles tips for success throughout and provides many photographs from her "playmates" to entice you to join the fun!

Dates to Remember

November 4-7, A Quilters' Gathering, Sheraton Hotel, New Hampshire.

Planning ahead for next year, August 20-21, 2005, GHQG Quilt Show, at the Colony in Vernon.

Classified

WANTED: Does anyone in the guild have an extra luggage cart (with wheels) they would be willing to share with the refreshment lady? If so, please call Jackie at 749-3152 or Darleen at 749-0091. One of us would be happy to pick it up.

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