Note:  This text-only document is not the official graphical newsletter (which contains guild photos and may have additional information in graphical form).  If you’re not currently capable of downloading the official PDF version of the newsletter, you can easily remedy that situation by going to the following web site and following the easy instructions for downloading a free copy of Adobe Reader:  www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html  This is a completely safe download and will enable you to access a variety of other graphical material not related to the guild.

 

VFHQ News – April 2008

 

Clips from Chris ü

Spring has sprung….hooray!!   I must say I am finally able to let go of the snow idea and welcome the warmth and sunshine of spring. Spring somehow someway always stimulates me to want to take one of our collector cars out for a nice drive.  It is funny how the drive seems to always end up at a quilt shop or actually to as many quilt shops I can fit in to the drive.  I know it drives my husband crazy that I go so far at times to get quilt fabric.  My response to him is to ask him a similar question relating to his interests - and you know it works every time….silence!!
Happy spring! and Keep on quilting!!
Chris

 

April Meeting – April 15, 2008 ü

Cyndi Hershey will do a presentation on using color in quilts.  Cyndi resides in Audubon, PA.  She owned and operated Country Quiltworks, an American Patchwork And Quilting top 10 quilt shop, for eleven years.  She now works as a technical editor for Martingale and Company.  Cyndi has published two quilting books:  Nine by Nine and Sudoku Quilts.  For free Cyndi Hershey quilt patterns visit http://www.pbtex.com/html/free_patterns.html.

Refreshments

Sweet                    Savory                             Beverage

Sally Rapp                   Joan Shaw                   Ethel Hutchinson

Mary Plewinski            Laura Chaplar              Art Hutchinson

Gail Forrester               Ann Palmer                  Laura Sypniewski

Becky Weiland                        Maxine Close              Denny Shaw

Marsha Bullwinkle       Margaret Gingerich 

 

Bees Bees Bees Bees Beesü

Our Bees are open to all members of the Valley Forge Homestead Quilters Guild.  They offer a to share quilting information and renew friendships.  We work on our own hand projects (as there is usually not any room for sewing machines); we assist others with their quilts by suggesting ways to layout quilt blocks, work with colors, etc.; and it’s a time to enjoy each others company in a smaller venue than our guild meetings.  Please check your calendar and see if you are able to join one of the Bees.  If you would like to host one of the Bees, please contact Jean Hayden (Afternoon Bee) or Beth Quigley (Evening Bee).

Afternoon Bee—2nd Tuesday

The Afternoon Bee will take place on April 8, 2008, 12:30 – 3:30, at the home of Jean Hayden, 258 Lawndale Avenue, King of Prussia, PA, 610-279-2911. 

Evening Bee— 4th Tuesday

Beth Quigley, 504 Susan Drive, King of Prussia, 610.292-9090, will host the March Evening Bee, on April 22, 2008 from 6:30 – 9:00 PM. 

 

Congratulations! ü

Hats off and a round of applause for Becky Weiland who took a second place ribbon for her quilt at the Lancaster Quilt show, March 27 – 30, 2008.  Way to go, Becky!

 

Guild Workshops Mark Your Calendars!  ü

B. J. Titus – Iron-on Appliquéwww.bjtitus.com to see project.

DATE:    April 19, 2008

TIME:     9:30 AM4:00 PM

PLACE:  Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, King of Prussia, PA

COST:    $25.00 plus $15.00 for the kit

BRING:  Supply list will be provided upon payment to Jean Hayden

Fruits & Veggies – Given by Rosemary Geisler and Judy Snook

DATE:    June 7, 2008

TIME:     9:30 AM4:00 PM

PLACE:  Trinity Reformed Church, Collegeville, PA (on Main Street right across from Ursinus College)

COST:    $10.00

BRING:  Supply list will be provided upon payment to Jean Hay

Liz Hawkins   

DATE:    August 23, 2008

TIME:     9:30 AM4:00 PM

PLACE:  Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, King of Prussia, PA

COST:    $20.00

BRING:  Supply list will be provided upon payment to Jean Hay

 

Birthdays  ü

April

April 2   Marsha Bullwinkle

April 4   Rosemary Geisler

April 6 Arlene Greeenwald  
            Marge Quinn

April 7 Norma Brechbiel

April 9 Jean Corday

April 23 Kate Sevensky

April 27 Fatima Crespo

May

May 2  Beth Quigley

May 5  Shirley Horning

May 6  Cynthia DiLorenzo
            Margaret Gingerich

May 14  Ruth Heslin

May 22 Carol Dilks

May 23 Edith Neal

May 26 Irene Pettigrew

 

Fat Quarter Raffle  ü

The current Quarter Raffle drawing will occur at June’s guild meeting.  The fabric theme for this time is Contemporary/Retro fabric.  Here are a couple of ideas for contemporary/retro fabrics: Kaffee Fassett, Amy Butler, Michael Miller, Timeless Treasures, Marie Kelzer, and Free Spirit.  To participate, simply bring a fat quarter, place it in the designated basket, along with your name, and you’ll be eligible for the drawing to win them all!   You will receive one chance to win for each fat quarter you contribute.  The guidelines are simple:

1.  The fabric must be a fat quarter measuring 18" X 22".

2.  It should be washed and ironed

3.  It must keep to the announced theme

4.  It should be “quilt-shop-quality” fabric

Any questions, contact Jean Corday.

 

Marianne Fons  ü

Hinkletown Sewing and Bernina are co-sponsoring a presentation by Marianne Fons who will discuss “Why We Quilt” on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at Shady Maple Banquet Facilities.  She will be giving two presentations one at 9:00 AM and a second at 2:00 PM.  The cost is $15.00 each, groups of 20 or more $12.00 each.  Our guild is organizing an excursion to the 2pm event.  Please advise Susan Glazer if you can drive and how many passengers you can accommodate.   If you prefer to go individually, send ticket requests to:  John or Donna Groff, 307 S. Summit Ave., Quarryville, PA 17566.  Please include payment (payable to Hinkletown Sewing) time requested, address, and phone number.  For more information:  717-786-3771 or email: jogroff@epix.net.

 

Thank you! ü

Dear Members,
On behalf of the
Southeastern Veterans Center residents and staff, I wish to express our sincere appreciation for your generous support for our programs.

Your contribution of Quilts for our residents was greatly appreciated.  Estimated donation value is $500.00.  Your contribution will most certainly further enhance the programs and services provided to the residents at S.E.V.C.

We are extremely grateful for your continued loyalty, commitment and support as we “Serve Those Who Have Served.”

Sincerely,
Ken Iiams
Volunteer & Resources Coordinator
Commonwealth
of PA, Dept. of Military & Veterans’ Affairs

 

Special Exhibit - NQA Chapter Quilt Challenges ü

The National Quilting Association, Inc.
39th Annual Quilt Show
June 19-21, 2008       
Columbus, Ohio

Hi Linda,
I'm writing to invite your chapter - Valley Forge Homestead Quilters - to participate in this special exhibit for the NQA Show in June.  I've included the details below.  Your 2007 Quilt Proverbs Challenge sounded very interesting!

This promises to be a wonderful, diverse exhibit and I hope your chapter will agree to participate!  Please let me know by return e-mail or phone as soon as possible.  If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to ask.
   Thanks!
    
Lynn

PS.  On a personal note, I enjoyed speaking/teaching several times at Valley Forge Homestead when I used to live in NJ.  Your group was always so welcoming and energetic.  Sending warm greetings to anyone who might remember me!

Lynn G. Kough
NQA Past President; Exhibit Coordinator
LGKough@att.net
480-857-9499 (MST)

NOTE:  We need 8 – 10 entries to participate in this wonderful opportunity for our guild.  If you did participate in the challenge and would be willing to send your entry to this national show, please contact Linda Hamel.  If you started this challenge but did not have time to finish it for our September 2007 meeting and would have it finished by June 1, 2008 and would like to send it with the others, please contact Cathy Fennell.

 

VFHQ Quilt Show ü

Our bi-annual quit show occurs this year in October and it’s time to start gearing up.  Below are a couple of show aspects for you to start considering.

Chinese Auction:  this is an opportunity to buy many chances (25 for $5.00) to try to win an array of prizes.  Guild members donate the prizes.  They should be new or barely used items and can include anything to do with quilting or not.  Some suggestions would be a quilt wall hanging, quilting books, quilting gadgets, etc.  The prizes will be numbered and have a corresponding box/bag in which one would put one ticket, two, or as many as you want in that particular bag.  One would do this at the prizes one would like to win or until your tickets run out but you can always buy more.  The prizes are announced at the end of the quilt show on Saturday.  To donate a prize, please contact Patti McLain Fulton.

Staffing:  One of the few responsibilities we all have as members is participating in the staffing of our bi-annual quilt show.  Staffing can include: helping at the registration desk, the raffle quilt table, the Chinese Auction, Grandma’s attic, security, helping in the kitchen with the food, white gloving, and set-up and taking down of the show.  A sign-up sheet for assisting in the various areas will be forthcoming but if you want to communicate your preferences immediately, contact Chris Candello.

 

Calico Scraps Needed ü

Dear Valley Forge Quilters,

I teach quilting at the Wayne Senior Center, where two of our class members are well into their 90s.  We are making a scrap quilt using monochromatic patterned pastel scraps.  Each pattern can contain different shades of the same color or perhaps a dash of black or white, but no other colors on each scrap.

I hope your members might enjoy adding to our quilt with any scraps you can spare.  They can be dropped off or mailed to me:
   Sally Thompson
   Wayne Senior Center
   108 Station Road
   Wayne, PA  19087.

I hope this can be forwarded to your members and that they would be as pleased to participate as our class members would be to receive donations!  If you have any questions, feel free to let me know.  Thank you so much. 
- Sally S. Thompson

 

Newest books added to Valley Forge Quilters Library ü

One of the perks of membership in VFHQ is the opportunity to check out books from our guild library for free.  The library is available at each guild meeting.  Recent additions to the library include the following:

Beyond Log Cabin    Kerry Gadd

Quilt As You Go  –  Sandra Milleeett

Lap Quilting Lives    Georgia Bonesteel

Quick Triangle Quilts  

Worth Doing Twice  –  Morris/Muir

The Ultimate Scrap Quilt  –  Joyce Mori

Turning Twenty  –  Tricia Cribbs

Turning Twenty around the Block  –  Tricia Cribbs

Magic Quilts By the Slice     Bethany S Reynolds

Beautiful Foundation-Pieced Quilt Blocks     Mary Jo Hiney

Magical Hexagons     Martha Thompson

Pieced Borders   –  Martin - McCloskey

Heirloom Quilts from Old Tops     Morris/Muir

Dutch Flower Pots  –  Anja Townrow

Patchwork Quilting & Appliqué     Jenni Dobson

Magic Stack - n- Whack Quilts  – Bethany S Reynolds

 

Meeting Minutes – March 18, 2008 ü

Meeting Commenced:  7:05 pm
Chris Candello welcomed all including one new member, Linda Weimar and one guest. 

BOM winner:  Marebeth Conard.

Door Prizes: Chris Candello, Marge Quinn and Mary Plewinski.

Bees:   Laura Chaplar will host the evening bee on Tuesday, March 25th at 6:30 p.m.;
Jean Hayden will host the afternoon bee on Tuesday, April 8th at
12:30 p.m.  Volunteers are needed for future Bees.

Fat Quarters:  1st quarter winners were Susan Nann and Cathy Fennell.  Jean Corday announced the 2nd fat quarter raffle fabric will be contemporary/retro fabric.. 

Excursions:  Susan Glaser reminded the members that the first excursion is scheduled for Friday, March 28th to the Quilt in Mansion.  The second excursion is planned for Wednesday, May 14 at 2:00 p.m. in Shady Maple.  Marianne Fons of Fons & Porter will be speaking.  The cost is a discounted rate of $15 for 25 people.  Please advise Susan if you can drive and how many passengers you can accommodate.  

Tonight’s Program:  Sharon Densten spoke about triangles giving methods and tips and explained Thangles.  She also displayed some of her quilts with triangles.  Sharon gave away four surprise door prizes.  The winners were:  Maryanne Brooke, Chris Candello, Barb Jones and Margaret Gingerich. 

Stashbusters exhibited:  Quilts made at Stashbuster Workshop (March 7th) were exhibited.

Workshops:  Jean Hayden reminded everyone that the cost of the Saturday, April 19th  workshop with B.J. Titus is due.  The cost is $25 and an additional $15 if you would like to buy the kit, which includes hand-dyed fabrics by B.J.  The workshop will be a 14x14 Hibiscus flower.  The workshop will be held at Good Shepherd Church starting at 9:00 a.m.

Quilt Show:  Jean Hayden asked the members to start circulating the flyers as soon as they are available.  She reminded everyone to start working on quilts to be displayed.  Donna Raymond advised that the raffle tickets will be distributed at the April meeting.  Each member will be given and is asked to sell at least 10 tickets at $1 each.  Volunteers are needed for the show; a list will be passed around at the April meeting.  Members can start to bring in their treasures for the show at the next meeting. 

Cathy’s Raffle Quilt: Chances for a Raffle Quilt were sold by Cathy Fennell.  The quilt was made by Cathy and her co-workers and hand quilted by Cathy to benefit a Catholic organization.  Everyone sang Happy Birthday to Cathy. 

Comfort Quilts:  Comfort quilts were displayed from the workshop on February 23rd.  Shirley Horning read a Thank You letter from the Southeastern Veterans Center to which 14 quilts were donated.  Shirley advised that: theme quilts will be done for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, red/white/blue, and Christmas in July; Steve’s is having a sew-in on Sunday, March 30th for pillowcases; and Country Quiltworks in Montgomeryville is having a sew-in on Wednesday, April 16th for breast cancer. 

Conkerr Pillowcases:  Judy Snook thanked everyone who brought in pillowcases for this cause.  She will continue to collect pillowcases.  

Retreat:  Sally Rapp advised that there is a waitlist for the May retreat.  Money is due by April 10th.  If you are interested to be added to this waitlist, please let Sally know. 

MISC Announcements:  Chris Candello mentioned that the refreshment sign-up sheet is being passed - please sign up; and there are Alex Anderson – Quilt Show (on the internet) brochures available.  This show is also available for a $20/25 subscription fee.  Chris gave an update on Ann Lister who is recovering from knee replacement surgery and Lou Chandler’s husband who experienced serious surgical complications.  Linda Hamel advised that the Fons & Porter Quilting magazine is available for $15; included with that subscription you will receive 2 quilt booklets and 2 spools of Sulky thread.  See Linda for details. 

Show and Tell: Member-made quilts shown

Meeting Adjourned:  9:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted:
Marge Quinn, Recording Secretary

 

Quilter's Palette Anniversary Sale ü

The Quilter's Palette, 3130 Pricetown Rd, Ste L, Fleetwood, PA 19522, 610-929-3191,
www.thequiltpalette.com, will be 3 years old on April 12 so we are having a big sale!  Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday,
April 9, 10, 11, and 12.  All Fabric is 20% OFF; Books and Patterns are 20% OFF; and Notions and Thread are 20% OFF.  There will be Anniversary Cake on Saturday, April 12.

 

Hello from Steves!

For all of you who came to our Alex Anderson event last month, a big THANK YOU for making it so special!  And for all of you who could not attend - you missed a great show!  It was very special to hear such a talented quilter tell her quilting and personal story through her quilt collection.

We hope you will join us for our Autograph Party Weekend, May 2,3,4.  Here is a rundown on all the exciting events:

     Friday, May 2, 10 - 4  Modern Hugs and Kisses w/Christine Johnson

     Saturday, May 3, 9 - 4 Simple Simon Quilt w/Mark Lipinski - SOLD OUT!!

     Saturday, May 3, 6:30 - 10 Autograph Party and Fashion Show

     Sunday, May 4, 10 - 4  A Walk In The Woods Strata Quilt w/Barbara Persing

Come and hang out with your favorite Quilting Store - Steve's!

 

 

Fons & Porter Love of Quilting Magazine ü

Fons & Porter Love of Quilting magazine has made a special offer available to quilt guilds.  You can receive a 1-year magazine subscription, 2 spools of Sulky Blendables thread and 2 quilting booklets for $15.  Please bring a check made out to Valley Forge Homestead Quilters to the April guild meeting if you are interested in participating.  See Linda Hamel to subscribe.

 

Pasta Recipes from Stashbusters Workshop ü
     
From Chris…

Mediterranean Spinach & Orzo Salad

1 cup orzo pasta

4 oz. Organic baby spinach

1/3 cup oil packed sun-dried tomatoes - chopped

½ cucumber peeled, seeded, & diced

¼ cup kalamatoa olives pitted & chopped (I left them whole they were pitted)

2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano or ¾ tsp dried oregano

3 oz feta cheese

Red Wine vinaigrette (I used white balsamic vinegar)

½ tsp chopped garlic

1 teaspoon chopped shallots

¼ tsp dried oregano

¼ tsp dried thyme

½ tsp sugar

¼ cup red wine vinegar ( I always use a little more vinegar…a little less oil)

½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

¼ cup canola oil

       1.      To prepare the vinaigrette, combine all ingredients in a jar & shake to mix.

      2.      Cook orzo pasta according to package directions

      3.      While the pasta is cooking, combine spinach w/ the sun-dried tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and oregano in a large bowl.

      4.      When the pasta is cooked, drain under cold running water until room temperature.

      5.      Toss pasta with mixed vinaigrette to taste and the other ingredients in the salad bowl.  Season with salt & pepper, if needed.

      6.      Serve at room temperature, topped with crumbled feta cheese

Yields 4 to 6 servings.

 

Elbow Macaroni Salad

1 lb elbow macaroni

4 tbsp to 6 tbsp Hellmann’s mayonnaise

1 small can of sliced black olives

¼ cup of Shredded Carrots

½ tsp celery seed

Salt / pepper to taste

       1.      Cook pasta as directed

      2.      With 30 seconds or so remaining of the pasta cooking, drop your shredded carrots into bowling water with pasta ( just blanches the carrots a bit,  although it is not necessary to do this step)

      3.      Drain pasta & shredded carrots under cold running water until room temperature.

      4.      Toss mayonnaise, celery seed, salt, pepper, carrots & pasta together (you may wish to add or delete some of the mayonnaise…it is all personal preference.

      5.      Enjoy!!

 

AQS Order ü

It’s that time again to consider ordering books from AQS, the American Quilters Society.  A significant discount is available on books ordered via our guild through AQS.  Kathy Graff, chair, will be sending around the order forms and the book selection sheets