 A chapter of the Greater Hartford Quilt Guild 
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Our monthly workshop is Wednesday, November 14th
We will meet Wednesday, November 21st, at HB Stowe School on Post Office Road,
doors open at 6:30pm and the meeting will begin at 7:00pm.
( we realize this is the night before Thanksgiving ) Raffle: Sharon Snyder & Betty Pearson
Sat. Nov.10th (9:30-4:30) & Sat. Nov. 11th (12noon-4:30)
Tue. Nov. 13th (7pm)
Nov. 16th (2-8), 17th (9-5), & 18th (10-4)
Sat. & Sun. Jan. 26th & 27th
April 4-6 (Fri.-Sun.)
Cyndi Ostraut did the CT Shop Hop in September. "My sister and I did the 18 shops in 5 days, and took a picture of each shop. I just finished putting together a few scrapbook pages, which I can bring to the next meeting. Of course, we found some new shops that we LOVED, like Commons Threads in New Preston, CT, and some that we found to be pretty bad, like Patches and Patchwork in Portland. I did the driving, and my sister did the navigating, as even with MapQuest and a paper map, some shops were very difficult to find. It was an adventure, and even though I would not repeat it again soon, I am glad we did it, and that we sort of accomplished something. We received a Thangles block pattern at each shop, and a tote bag and FQ for joining the Hop. Do I need to add that we purchased a least one item at each store, much more at others?" Mary Shaw did the Mass shop hop "..my first shop hop. I dragged my husband along and we had 2 great days. The weather was great. The trees were beautiful. And all the shops were wonderful. I love all the goody bags with fat 1/4's and my husband instigated my spending so much. What a guy. I also stopped in at the last hour of the annual meeting and listened to a slide show by the sisters and was there to hear them reveal that one of the West Hartford Chapters won the Oriental Geisha Challenge. All the Challenges were beautiful. I do have pictures and will bring them to the next meeting. I will see if my husband can get them on our web site before the week is out." Virginnia Brezza took a class with instructor Roberta Horton on Sunday, 10/21/07, as part of the Annual Gathering. "Roberta is a warm, wonderful instructor who generated confidence in all her students in this Folk Art Quilt class." I (Vicky) was able to go to the Mass. Shop Hop Friday & Sat. Oct 19&20, with 3 other quilting friends! We put over 360 miles on the car, 10 shops and 3 others along the way!! I won a Hess gas card at the shop in Northampton!! Most everyone were beyond nice (2 shop owners, not so nice…..), each shop gave us a goody bag with a fat quarter in it and many others had other gifts, sewing machine needles, stationary, a bookmark, candy!!! And the food!! We didn't have to stop for lunch Friday, chicken soup, pumpkin soup, fresh fruits, cookies, cheese and crackers, meatballs, baked beans, apple cider!! The scenery and foliage were beautiful too! This was my first shop hop (I have done 2 on the internet), also enjoyed running into 3 other guild members and a long time friend who lives in Sprigfield.
Eliminating fabric is not the only impact on the crafting world. Yarns, beads, jewelry supplies and more are all being affected. Knowing that a few stores are actually listening to the consumer, we can hope that our voices will be heard. Even if you've called or written before... try again! Maybe they will listen.
Did you ever wonder how the pincushion came to be? They have actually been around for hundreds of years, faithfully doing their job of keeping pins from being lost. In this day and age when people prefer magnetic pin catchers, the pincushion is still going strong and usually a popular item, for any quilter or sewer. The first evidence of the use of a pin holder, was recorded during the Tudor era in England. Metal pins were considered very valuable and were impossible to find if they were misplaced. Out of this need, boxes of ivory, silver, bone and other metals were created. The boxes themselves were considered as valuable as the pins they held. Over time, the boxes were replaced with small, stuffed, decorated shapes, made of silk or linen. During the Victorian era, pincushions became a greatly admired item to have in any sewers kit. Very ornate and fancy, made out of fabrics such as silk and velvet, they often were made to go with a rooms decor. A women's good taste was often reflected by the accessories she carried in her sewing basket. Many years have gone by since the pincushion and pin holders were introduced, but over the years they have always managed to hold their own, and still be a vital staple to today's sewers and quilters. Did you know the first rotary cutters were never marketed until 1979? Founded by Yoshio Okada, he developed this fine product after watching a television show, that had a tailor cutting silk with big, bulky scissors. After watching how the scissors left the fabric with frayed, jagged edges, Okada got busy. Along with his development team and plenty of determination, nine months later, the rotary cutter was born! First designed for the garment and pattern cutting industries, quilters put this tool on the map in the early 1980's, and things have never been the same since!
The number of moving stories about the giving, receiving and sharing of Laurel Burch art are a reflection not only of the woman herself, but of all the collectors who are drawn by her spirit as well as her designs. Many of them know and have been deeply touched by her life story. HER EARLY YEARSAt the age of 14, Laurel Burch left her tumultuous home life in Southern California with nothing more than a paper bag of clothing and the rare bone disease osteopetrosis, that she was born with. Cooking, cleaning, and babysitting for her room and board, she embarked on a search for some stable ground to support her fragile body. With no job, no money, and no dreams, Laurel Burch reached the Golden Gate of San Francisco.HER JEWELRYLaurel's search for connectedness was evidenced in the jewelry she began to make for herself and wear - old coins, bones, and beads arranged into earrings and necklaces. Wearing them gave her a sense of belonging, if only to an exotic world of her own making. Fascinated by her adornments, people on the street began to ask her where she got them. Her creations became bridges to friendships and patrons. Through trading, selling, and giving them away, these artifacts found their way into the lives of people all across the country, and the phenomenon of collecting Laurel Burch began.HER ARTLaurel was a self-taught painter. She saw herself as a folk artist, telling stories. "In our fast-paced, changing world," she said, "we need symbols that are a reminder of the ongoing world of the spirit." On some level, her work was always about bringing different cultures together, and about our connection with the earth and all living things, ideas that have only increased in relevance today. Laurel was always incredibly prolific. Even during her long periods of convalescence, when she was forced to paint from a bed or wheelchair, she seldom put her brushes down. Laurel said, "I refuse to have anything in my life that I can't turn around into something magical and beautiful. I just refuse." Her art will forever convey a sense of joy and passion and lightness. There is an inner strength in her figures, with their bold lines and sinuous curves, and something irrepressible in the explosion of her colors. The universe of her imagination was fertile, burgeoning, uplifting, egalitarian, a place where every flower and dragonfly was transformed into something...magical and beautiful.HER GIFTLaurel performed hundreds of speaking engagements around the country. For obvious reasons, the subject of healing was always close to her heart. "Being physically vulnerable is, in a lot of ways, a tremendous advantage in terms of human wisdom. My bone disease was my gift," she said. Laurel always lent her talents to a long list of charitable causes, designing book covers, posters, and murals around the issues that were of special concern to her.HER SPIRITOn September 13, 2007, Laurel passed away due to complications from the bone disease, osteopetrosis. She will be greatly missed, but her spirit will continue to brighten our world.
For the Quilts of Valor project, please cut the center strip 9 inches long,
instead of 8.5. Thanks to Priscilla for discovering that a little bit of the
corner of the square can be lost with the 8.5" strip. Please remember, make
as many blocks as you like, using red, white or blue in the block.
Please save any empty spools for Diane Derose, she is the art teacher at Parkman Elem. School, and hopes to make a project with the children.
Embroidery Sewing Machine
If you have news or events, Classified Ads or other information you would like to submit for publication, please Email it to Vicky, or mail it to Vicky Altenhein, 3 Elizabeth St., Enfield, CT 06082, or call 745-4956. The deadline for newsletter submittals is the first Wednesday of the month. (Dec. 5)
© 2003-2009 Enfield Quilters - All rights reserved.
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