IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
We have one new member since the April meeting. Welcome Donna Haas. This gives us a total membership of 71.
NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Threads of Friendship Quilters' Guild is Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30 at the Farmington Senior Center on Wallace Road behind Mineral Area Hospital.
NEW LOOK!Wow! The website has a new look!!! Thank you Melissa!!!
FRIENDSHIP GROUP PROGRAMS & BLOCK-OF-THE-MONTH
May 2008
Block-of-the-Month: Sew Scrappy Sisters
Program: On Pins & Needles (contact person: Lori Younker)
June 2008
Block-of-the-Month: Busy Bobbins
Program: Better Late Than Never (contact person: Phyllis Hargis)
July 2008
Block-of-the-Month: On Pins & Needles
Program: Better Late Than Never (contact person: Phyllis Hargis)
August 2008
Block-of-the-Month: Crazy Scrappers
Program: Stasher Sisters (contact person: Janet Murphy
UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Retreat: The guild is planning a retreat for September 19-20, 2008. The retreat will be held at the Methodist Church in Farmington. Janet Murphy and the program committee are working on this event. If you have ideas, don’t hesitate to contact Janet (431-6849 djmurphy@onemain.com). Mark your calendar for the retreat and watch your monthly newsletters for updates from Janet.
After Meeting Workshops: We had a “supply” meeting for the machine quilting with Ginny and Martha after the April 8th meeting. In case you were unable to attend the supply meeting but want to attend the quilting workshops, this is the list of supplies you’ll need:
1) Sewing machine (If you have a plate to cover the feed-dogs, you should bring it.)
2) Walking foot (if you have one)
3) Embroidery/free motion foot (if you have one)
4) Quilt top or muslin: If you bring a twin size quilt, only bring ½ of it. Once quilted, Ginny will teach how to put the two parts together. (One option: Make a quilt top of 6-7” squares that would be appropriate for a donation and use it as your “practice quilting” project. Once you finish with your quilting practice, you can donate the quilt to A Friend’s Place.)
5) Batting
6) Backing
7) Machine quilting thread
8) Safety pins – enough to pin the quilt sandwich every 6”
9) Washable marking pen/pencil
10) Machine quilting gloves (highly recommended)
11) Quilting patterns (if you have any)
HAND QUILTING
Within the guild, we have a hand quilting group. We have finished two quilts, and we will be starting on a few more. We are going to start meeting at Chestnut Ridge Baptist Church on Hwy 32 just 3.9 miles east of Farmington. We have a room to work on our quilts and keep them set up. The schedule will be Mondays from 10:00am – 2:00pm, Thursdays from 5:00pm – 8:00pm, and the first and third Saturdays from 10:00am – 2:00pm. Anyone can drop by during these times. This schedule should allow someone to come at least once a week. If you want to be involved, just let Melissa (747-2606) know. We can work on anyone’s quilt as long as they are willing to wait. We can be working on more than one quilt at a time. Experienced quilters and newcomers are welcome. Carol Grix has given us a quilt top to work on. It is blocks she won from block-of-the-month. When we are done, she is going to donate the quil to the battered women’s shelter. If someone didn’t want to quilt but wanted to join us for the friendship, she could bring a UFO to work on. Also included in this schedule, we can have lunch breaks at the church. At this time we would like to mention that Larry Daniels, the new owner of The Factory, is inviting traditional crafters to set up and work on their projects at The Factory on the first Saturday of each month. We could have a portable quilt frame set up and also sell some items for the guild. Get your thimbles ready!
A CHALLENGE FROM BUSY BOBBINS
The Busy Bobbins issued a challenge to the other friendship groups – make quilts for A Friend’s Place, a shelter for victims of domestic violence. They did more, however, than issue a challenge. They made and showed us four quilts that they will donate to A Friend’s Place, and they brought in Karen Farrell to tell us about A Friend’s Place.
During your friendship group meetings, please talk about your desires to complete charity projects. At the May meeting, we’ll have a discussion and hopefully an agreement on “adopting-a-charity” for the 2008-2009 year. We can make this a meaningful opportunity to share our quilting talents with those in need within our community.
Paducah Trip -- Inspiring
After an early morning departure and a 3 1/2 hour drive, our group of 22 arrived at the Paducah Quilt Show. We fought our way through the aisles as we stood in total amazement at the wonderful quilts that lined both sides of the aisles. The quilts are truly breathtaking and works of great art. We looked, gasped with delight, and shopped our day away. Although we tended to be exhausted, the snacks kept making their rounds and quilters kept up a steady stream of conversation. If you didn't have a chance to take the trip this year, I urge you to mark your calendar and try your hardest to go in 2009. Wow! You will not be disappointed.
Elections
In April, the nomination committee introduced its slate of candidates for each office. At the May meeting, additional nominations can be made by the membership before members vote by paper ballot. The new officers will begin their term of office in June. As out-going president, I'm thrilled that members stepped up to fill the vacant officer positions. The downfall of many groups is a refusal by members to take leadership positions; that is not the case with this guild. I look forward to the leadership of the 2008-09 officers and the continued growth and success of the guild. I'm so proud of all of us!!!
CRAYOLA CHALLENGE
May is end of the Crayola challenge. Be sure to bring your challenge quilt top to the May meeting and put it on display!!! How exciting. I hope someone takes a lot of photos so that everyone can enjoy – even if they are on their way to Alaska!
FRIENDSHIP BLUBS
Small news report from "On Pins and Needles."
For our friendship group meetings we usually meet just after work at 5 pm, so our meeting always include a light meal of some kind. One month we sat around at Nancy's house and hand pieced our block of the month and enjoyed conversation. After a lot of work with our "stack and whack," we treated ourselves to a friendship night of "Surfing the Net" for quilting websites. We all sat side- by- side on nine computers at a local library. Since most of us live in outlying areas with only dial-up service, this was really a treat for us. We actually got to look at our own guild's "Show and Tell!""On Pins and Needles."
---Lori Younker
“BETTER LATE THAN NEVER & NIMBLE THIMBLES”
We had 5 members attend the April meeting. We’re still working on the raffle quilt. We discovered we need 9 more blocks so Loretta cut 5 kits with the batiks we had. She also worked on figuring the size of the setting squares. The rest of us sewed sashing and piano keys. We have months to go before the top is finished.
Minutes of April 8, 2008 meeting of Threads of Friendship Quilters' Guild
President Phyllis Hargis called the meeting to order and reminded us that in order to join you must be at least 14 and attend 2 meetings. Phyllis then read a thank you note from Bobbie Christopher.
Those who took part in Show and Tell were; Phyllis Hargis, Janet Murphy, Barbara Viitanen, LaVada Rawlins, Ginny Ward, Kay King, Beverly Hovis, Freda Brewer, Diana Dawson, Melissa Thomas, Diana Gore, Lori Younker, Betty Caughron, Saphrona Brewington and Mary Beth Parish, Claudia Weiss, Leslie Reinitz and Busy Bobbins Friendship group had 4 quilts that they will be donating to SEMO Family Violence Council. Pictures of the quilts are available on the web site.
Reports
Judy was not present to give the library report, but the library is available for self check-out. The combination on the lock is 123.
Kay King reported she mailed the tax exempt application on April 3. Thank you Kay for all your work.
Barbara Viitanen reminded us to check the newsletter for the featured quilt shop which is Red Rooster in Farmington.
Vice President Janet Murphy reminded us the Paducah Bus Trip still has open seats. We will meet at the Blockbuster/KFC parking lot in Farmington at 6 am Wednesday, April 23 with a stop in Fredericktown at 6:25 am. The retreat is scheduled for September 19-20. 2008. The after meeting workshop begins tonight. It is not too late to take part in Machine quilting with Ginny Ward and Martha Smith. We received the supply list tonight which will be in the newsletter. Next week we will begin.
The Senior Center asked us to have a quilt show for them April 15. Our product donation for this month was pasta and our group really came through. Thank you, all who brought pasta to donate to the center. Watch the newsletter for next months item to be donated. We will make another monetary donation to the center in either May or June when there will be matching funds.
There were 42 present with one new member, Donna Haas and visitor Karen Farrell from the SEMO Family Violence Council. Our total membership is now at 71.
Old Business
There were no corrections to the minutes or treasurer’s report and they stand approved.
New Business
The nominating committee (Judy Douglas, Cris Sumski and Loretta Smith) presented the slate of Officers for next year, they are: President-Nancy Medley, VP-Janet Murphy, Secretary-Barbara Viitanen, Treasurer-Lori Younker, Newsletter-Melissa Thomas, Membership-Kay King, Member at Large-Saphrona Brewington, and Hospitality-Freda Brewer. At the May meeting there will be a time for request of additional nominations and a vote on printed ballot. June will begin the new officer’s term.
According to the bylaws we must have an audit of the books which must be completed by the end of the year which is June. If you would be interested in helping please let Janet Murphy know ASAP.
New Business from the floor
The Fredericktown guild is taking a bus to Paducah on April 26, and there is room for more. They also have a beautiful quilt which they will be raffling off. Many members were present to sell tickets and will have them for a few months. St. Louis Art Museum will be featuring Quilts in a material world through May 26. The Art Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday. The cost is $6.00 for adults and admission is free on Fridays.
Drawings
50/50 Belinda Cromer
Block of the Month Mary Herblie
Raffle (tote bag) Sandy Henderson
Door Prizes Carol Grix, Leslie Reinitz and Judy Douglas
Program
Saphrona demonstrated the block of the month. Busy Bobbins introduced Karen Farrell with the SEMO Family Violence Center. She told of the things they do there, and we all agreed we could help. Please discuss in your small groups what you would like to do, and bring any ideas to the May meeting.
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