February 2021

Program: My Favorite 3-D’s with Lori Dickman

Tuesday, February 16, 2021, at 7:00 PM via Zoom

We had a great workshop in January. To be in your own sewing area and not have to pack everything up has been great. Please consider signing up for February’s workshop; we have plenty of spaces available.

Lori Dickman will be joining us at our February 16th meeting. Lori will share how quilting templates have always been her "go-to" tools for piecing fast and fun quilts, along with a trunk show of her quilts.

The workshop for February will be held on Saturday, February 20th. In this workshop the Drunkards Path block will take on a modern and updated look for Lori’s Fruity Melon quilt. For this workshop you will need to sign up early as you need to order her pattern for the workshop. You will also need to either make a template for the Drunkards Path or purchase the large drunkards path acrylic template. The pattern includes a copy of the Drunkards Path template. Please see our website for further information.

Put on your flannel shirt and join us for Tool Time at our March 16th meeting.

There are so many tools and gadgets that quilters have to choose from. Are they really worth the money? We’re going to try and answer that question. Marti and Sharon are looking for members to review some quilting tools. Have you bought an iron that rocks your world? Did that special glue baste make all of your seams perfect? Or maybe you bought fusing powder to help put together a quilt sandwich and it just didn’t work. If you have experience with an item and would be willing to share your review with the guild, please notify Marti Austin or Sharon Pierluissi. We would love to have you share your feedback at our meeting. Here’s another one – does that rotary blade sharpener really work? We need to know these things.

Kate Brennan and Sharon Pierluissi, Programs

Christine’s Chatter

Happy Month of Love! Hope you are enjoying the time spent indoors to stitch up things for the people in your life who mean so much to you.

As I write this, I am just home from a quilt retreat spent with friends and family. There were only six of us and we had a wonderful time as we watched the snow fall outside. I was very productive and made a quilt top from a jelly roll I won at our last brown bag auction. I was also able to complete my Quilt of Valor. I made two aprons and a little Valentine pillow top for our family room. It kickstarted me to get some UFOs finished and get in on the competition from Kate Brennan. (See our Village Quilters private Facebook page for details.)

Oh, how I have longed to make an improv quilt! After hearing Cindy Grisdela’s lecture and seeing the results of the two-night workshop she led, I think I could actually do this. The pictures posted are amazing. Time for me to get out the myriad of solids and let the creative juices flow.

I am hoping many of you can participate in the “Cozy up with Quilts” trunk show with Marianne Fons. Please see the details below.

All my love to you. My Valentine wish for you is that we can have many of our members vaccinated so we can meet in person sometime this year.

Christine Tindell, President

Cozy up with Quilts at Gorton – with Marianne Fons

National quilting celebrity Marianne Fons comes to Gorton from Winterset, Iowa, bringing a trunkload of her favorite quilts for a special show-and-tell session. She’ll share the story behind each quilt, offer design, sewing, and quilting-life tips along the way, and also answer questions from the audience. It’s a private quilt show and conversation with one of America’s best-known quilters designed to brighten a winter’s day!

This event will be live-streamed via Zoom from Gorton's theater. The event will be recorded for later viewing if you are unable to “attend” the live-stream.

DATE: Tuesday, February 16, 2021
TIME: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
PRICE: $20

Read more and purchase a ticket from Gorton Community Center.

Service Projects

QUILT OF VALOR Block of the Month

For February, continue to make two blocks for your “Flying Flags” quilt. I made a variation of the Sawtooth Star block for one of the blocks. Instructions for the Crystal Star block can be found on the Generations website. Follow the cutting instructions for the 6” finished version.

More information can be found on the Village Quilters Service page.

Hopes and Dreams Challenge

I would like to thank the 11 fantastic quilters for the 39 quilts donated and sent so far. We are very fortunate in that the Quilters Dream Batting company paid for the mailing of 20 quilts! A final mailing will be at the end of May, so there is still time to make a quilt. Lap or bed sizes are preferred. The minimum size requirement is 34” x 44”. Think of that $1000 prize!

Thank you for all your hard work and donations!

Kathy Sorkin, Service Committee

Quilts from the Village Show 2021

Winter Wonderland Greetings,

I love the beauty of fresh snow!

We are encouraged with the vaccine situation and how the progress relates to having our show in October. There will NOT be a Quilt Show meeting on Feb 8th. It is just too soon to make a decision. We are planning to sell tickets for the raffle quilt, starting in April/May, as usual. That process is to be determined.

Please continue to work on the Art Quilt Challenge, Quilts of Valor, and items to sell. Any ideas for alternative activities? If so, send them to Barb.

A positive attitude helps to get through difficult times!

Madge Pierce and Barb Jolley, Quilt Show Co-Chairs

Birthday Blocks

This time of year can be dreary, especially with the lurking virus that keeps us at home. Why not use this “down time” to make yourself a few extra birthday blocks to add to the tulip quilt? Have faith – Spring will be along soon!

Nancy Smith and Edythe Hirasawa

Treasurer’s Report

Balance as of 12/28/2020: $25,800.80
Income: $134.72 from Workshop fees
Expenses: $1,452.55
Ending Balance as of 1/26/2021: $24,482.97

Expenses were for January speaker and Workshop, Membership overpayment, Annie Smith – June speaker deposit, Service, Friendship (Sunshine).

Respectfully submitted,
Alice Hutchinson, Treasurer

Membership

Greetings from the Membership Committee!

Please join us in welcoming three new members to our guild. Nancy Giebel lives in Indian Creek, IL, Mary Ann Clemens is a Libertyville resident, and Elizabeth Culver is from Mundelein. Welcome ladies!

Invite a guest to our monthly VQ Zoom meeting, and we will waive the usual guest fee! To have a guest join us on Zoom please email Sue Ann Kuby with your guest’s name and email address a few days before the meeting. She will contact your guest and give them the link to access our meeting. Please do not give them the access information yourself. Note: remember that guests may only attend a maximum of three meetings per year.

Membership dues are $25 for the remainder of the fiscal year, until April 30, 2021 ($12.50 for active military or spouse). Your membership entitles you to attend our online monthly meetings and to access the Village Quilters (Members Only) Facebook page. It also allows you to sign up for retreats and workshops.

Please contact us if you have any questions.

Happy February Birthday to the following members!

Kathy Avellone – 2/5
Dorie Botimer – 2/12
Debra Dodd – 2/24
Kathy Heusinkveld – 2/03
Eleanor McMurrin – 2/23
Cheryl Mercy – 2/25
Carole Quille – 2/18
Dorothy Roderick – 2/16

Membership co-chairs Sue Ann Kuby and Kathy Avellone