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 – February 2008

Clips from Chris

Time flies when we’re having fun…. another great success story for Jean. Her workshop coordination of “Ladies Bag Day” went well without a hitch, or disruption from nature (i.e., snow). Although I must admit that I, personally, have been wishing for a snow day—a day off from work… to be stuck inside forced maybe to cook and of course sew. Oh what fun, sorry off dreaming again. Anyway back to our success. The bags were wonderful! we do have such terrific talent!! Great job to all who attended, I can’t wait to see them at Show and Tell. Happy Valentines Day and please spend a day loving what we all do…quilt!
- Chris

February Meeting – February 19, 2008

Along with our regular monthly meeting, guild members will participate in two activities demonstrated by Jean Corday and Jacqui Santangelo. Your choices are a tree or an embroidered pillow. For the tree, one will need to bring 8 to 10 - 1½” and 2” strips of assorted Homespun fabric and scissors. The guild will provide the Styrofoam tree form and a wooden spool for the base. There will be some extra strips of Homespun fabric if you want to change out some of your colors to add more variety. To make the embroidered pillow, you have a choice of two sayings: "Friends Gather Here" or "Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Quilting." The guild will provide: sage green embroidery floss for lettering; deep red, gold, and blue for accents; a 10-inch square of tea-stained muslin; a copy of the saying you prefer; and directions for finishing your pillow at home on your sewing machine. You will provide: your own embroidery hoop; your own needle; and scissors to cut thread. Needless to say, if you prefer, you may bring your own embroidery floss and your own background in place of muslin. We will also need some light boxes, if you have one and are willing to bring it to the meeting, please contact Gloria Clark, 610-687-1728 or gloriaquilts60@aol.com.

Refreshments

Sweet Savory Beverage

Erin Holvoet Joan Markowitz Carole Armstrong

Jeanne Dzedzy Joan Gunder Sherlee Hilberg

Norma Brechbiel Ann Palmer Gerry Fontaine

Nancy Hannum Susan Gustafson Denny Shaw

Gail Forster Gail Dovalovsky

Bees Bees Bees Bees Bees…

Afternoon Bee—2nd Tuesday

The Afternoon Bee will take place on February 12, 2008, 12:30 – 3:30, at the home of Vickie Lopresti, 2001 Sterigere St., Norristown, PA 610.631-5675. Everyone is welcome. Bring whatever project(s) you’re working on. We’ll sew, eat, and chat.

Evening Bee— 4th Tuesday

Donna Raymond, 106 Spring Ridge Road, King of Prussia, PA, 610.265-0440, will host the February Evening Bee, on February 26, 2008 from 6:30 – 9:00 PM. Work on your own projects, get help and advice and refreshments, and enjoy the company. Hope to see you there!

Guild Workshops
Mark Your Calendars!

Comfort Quilt Workshop - Shirley Horning

DATE: February 23, 2008

TIME: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

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

BRING: Your sewing machine, normal sewing supplies, and your lunch. We will also need extra mats, rotary cutters, Irons and ironing boards and power strips/extension cords.

Stash Buster Pajama Party
with Linda & Amy of Generations Quilt Store
Get comfortable in your PJs, and/or sweats and get ready to have some fun

DATE: Friday, March 7, 2008

TIME: 6:00 – 11:00 PM

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

PRICE: TBD – See Jean Hayden to sign up

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

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

DATE: April 18, 2008

TIME: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

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

COST: TBD

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 AM – 4:00 PM

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

COST: TBD

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

Liz Hawkins

DATE: August 23, 2008

TIME: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM

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

COST: TBD

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

Our Quilt Show

Take a moment right now to mark your calendar to make sure you don’t schedule a vacation or anything else on top our quilt show which will be held on October 24 and 25, 2008 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, King of Prussia, PA. All members may enter three quilts plus any quilts from the workshops from the past two years, the BOM, and Challenge Quilts. we will check-in our quilts at our October 21, 2008 guild meeting. The set-up for the event will be October 23 (after 12-noon). Please remember that all members are needed to help with this event so when the sign up sheets come around to help, please sign up!

Spring Retreat Weekend

VFHQ Quilter's Retreat at Kline Lodge, Mensch Mill Retreat Center, Berks County, May 1, 2, 3, and 4, 2008

Package A - $180 - 4 days, 3 nights, 7 meals; Breakfast, lunch, dinner on Friday and Saturday; Breakfast on Sunday; no dinner included on Thursday night.

Package B - $130 - 3 days, 2 nights, 4 meals; Dinner Friday (optional) = $8.00 additional cost; Breakfast, lunch, dinner on Saturday; Breakfast on Sunday.

Linens are included in the price. $20 deposit holds your space. Deposits will be taken by Sally Rapp at the March meeting. Balance is due by April 10th. A one page informational sheet will be available at the March meeting for those needing more details of the weekend.
- Sally Rapp

Birthdays

February

February 10 Barbara Jones

February 17 Esther Canning

February 19 Janet Lentz
Ann Lister

February 24 Sandra Dounce

March

March 4 Lou Chandler
Susan Glaser

March 6 Marie Waters

March 8 Linda Reese

March 9 Lisa Hudock
Patti Fulton

March 14 Dawn Heefner

March 15 Lisa Steuer

March 18 Cathy Fennell

March 23 Mary Plewinski

March 25 Marie Trexler

March 27 Patrician Brant

Excursion – Change in Plans

The trip will now be to “Quilts in the Mansion” on March 28, 2008. Admission is $5.00. This is a collection of antique quilts dating from the 1800s – 1950s. Poole Forge is located on Route 23, three miles east of Shady Maple in the village of Churchtown. For more information visit www.historicpooleforge.org. They will be stopping for lunch at Shady Maple. Please contact Susan Glaser for more details or to sign up.

Alex Anderson

Attention Alex Anderson fans!  Steve’s will be hosting Alex on March 14 and 15, 2008 at the Radisson Hotel in Valley Forge.  She will be giving two presentations each day at 10am and 3pm.  Tickets are only $20.00!  Get your tickets while supplies last ASAP at Steves!

Marianne Fons

Hinkletown Sewing and Bernina proudly present 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. 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!

Dear Friends at VFHQ,

Thank you so much for my beautiful comfort quilt. Rosemary and Judy delivered it last week and I can’t tell you how lovely it is! The colors are so happy and spring-like, I feel just as happy when I’m snuggled in it.

I’m doing great and thank all for their prayers and good thoughts for me.

Quilters really are the best, especially VFHQ!
Love,
- Carol Divis

Fat Quarter Raffle

The current Quarter Raffle drawing will occur at March’s guild meeting. The fabric theme for this time is Civil War Reproduction fabric. 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.

Meeting Minutes – January 15, 2008

Meeting Commenced: 7:05

Chris Candello welcomed all including three new members: Sharon Miller, Margaret Gingerich and Laura Sypniewski.

Door Prizes: Art Hutchinson, Barbara Melnyk, and Amy Frazier

Bees: Evening: Tuesday, January 22 at 6:30 p.m. – Lou Chandler’s home; and Daytime: Tuesday, February 12, at 12:30 p.m. – Vickie Lopresti’s home.

Fat Quarters: Jean Corday explained the program for new members.

February Meeting Activity: Jean Corday explained the two choices: a pillow or primitive tree. Supplies needed are a needle, homespun fabric cut or torn into 1½ or 2” strips (some fabric will be provided by Guild but it was suggested to bring some with you), embroidery hoop; thread.

Workshop dates were discussed by Jean Hayden:

Bag Workshop on 1/19 – still a few openings at Trinity Reformed Church, Collegeville;

Comfort Quilt on 2/23 from 9 to 4 at Good Shepherd Church;

Stash Buster/PJ Party on 3/7 from 6 to 11 p.m. at Trinity Reformed Church, Collegeville; Amy and Linda from Generations will be the speakers, cost is $15 which includes pattern;

Iron-on Appliqué on 4/19 by B.J. Titus at Good Shepherd Church – details to follow;

Fruit and Vegetable runner on 6/7 by Judy Snook and Rosemary Geisler;

Liz Hawkins on 8/23 at Good Shepherd Church.

Quilt Show on October 24 and 25: Jean Hayden reminded all to mark their calendars. Jean asked that everyone help out and to bring your quilts, BOM, pillows, challenge quilts for display. Steve’s will be our vendor and is donating a Bernina Sewing Machine to be raffled. A meeting for chair people is scheduled for February 4 at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2530 Stinson Lane, Trooper, PA 19401. Don’t forget to look for items for Grandmother’s Attic such as fabric, bric brac.

Excursions: Susan Glaser advised that the trip to the Heritage Center is postponed because it is closed until after the Lancaster Quilt show. The next excursion is scheduled for March 28, 2008 to Quilts in the Mansion with a stop at the Hayloft and dining at Shady Maple. Check the Newsletter on page 4 under Quilt Shows for additional details. Please let Susan know if you can drive and how many passengers you can accommodate.

Speaker: Sally Rapp spoke about the life of Ruby Short McKim and her quilting accomplishments. Sally displayed the quilts she has made using Ruby’s patterns. Sally gave hints for the BOM such as using iron on freezer paper to stabilize fabric for tracing, tracing with the Ultimate Marking Pencil or a quilters/crafters Wash Out Cloth Marker, using a embroidery hoop with 2 or 3 strands of embroidery thread. See Sally if anyone is interested in ordering Ruby Short McKim patterns. There’s a discount offered on orders over $75.00 placed before mid-February.

BOM: Rosemary Geisler discussed the BOMs for 2008, which are Ruby Short McKim bird patterns. See Rosemary for a copy of the booklet of the BOM, which she prepared. The blocks should finish at 8 inches square.

Break Time.

BOM winner: Gloria Clark

Comfort Quilts: Laura Chaplar requested, in Shirley’s absence, to come to the Comfort Quilt Workshop on Saturday, February 23, 2008 from 9 to 4 at Good Shepherd Church.

2008 Challenge: Linda Hamel reminded everyone that this year’s challenge is “Pennsylvania”. Check the website for information and details.

Show and Tell.

Meeting Adjourned: 9:35 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted:
- Marge Quinn, Recording Secretary

Welcome

Margaret Gingerich pf King of Prussian heard about us at “Curves” in King of Prussia at their Home Day. Margaret has been sewing clothes for her family and herself for 45 years. She has pieced and hand quilted queen size quilts for each of her three children to celebrate their 25th birthdays. She has also helped sew and hand quilt with her church ladies. Margaret got involved with quilting through her church by working with them to do a quilt for a fund-raiser auction. For the last few years, she and several of her quilt guild members also went on quilting retreats at Beaver Camp Retreat Center, which she loved. Margaret and her husband, Emanuel, have recently moved to our area from upstate NY and now reside next door to their daughter and son-in-law and their three children. She enjoys all types of quilting projects such as wall hangings, table runners, bed-size quilts, window valences, mantle covers and post cards. Along with all the quilting, Margaret enjoys gardening, traveling, reading, and cooking. Margaret is a homemaker and attends Norristown New Life Mennonite Church. Besides the daughter she lives next door to, Margaret and Emanuel have another daughter and son-in-law in Florida, and a son and daughter-in-law and three grandchildren in VA. Welcome, Margaret!

Quilt Shows

Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival XIX: February 21 – 24, 2008; Hampton, Virginia in the fabulous, new Hampton Roads Convention Center, Greater Chesapeake Bay / Williamsburg Area. For more information visit http://www.quiltfest.com/.

The Quilt Fest of New Jersey IV: February 28 – March 2, 2008; Garden State Exhibit Center, Somerset, NJ. For more information visit http://www.quiltfest.com/

2008 Quilt Preview, Pennsylvania Relief Sale: March 6, 7, 8; Thursday and Friday 9 AM – 8 PM; Saturday 9 AM – 4 PM. View approximately 100 of the quilts that will be sold at the PA Relief Sale. Location: Material Resources Center , 517 W. Trout Run Road, Ephrata, PA 17522. For more information call 717-733-2847.

County Line Quilters presents “Fiesta of Quilts”: March 24th and 25th from 10 AM to 5 PM both days; Archbishop Wood High School, 655 N. York Road, Warminster, PA. Admission $5.00, Seniors $4.00. For more information visit www.countylinequilters.org.

Historic Poole Forge presents “Quilts in the Mansion”: March 24 – 30, 2008; Mon. - Sat.: 10 AM – 4 PM; Sun.: 1 PM – 4 PM. Admission is $5.00. This is a collection of antique quilts dating from the 1800s – 1950s. Poole Forge is located on Route 23, three miles east of Shady Maple in the village of Churchtown. For more information visit www.historicpooleforge.org.

Quilters’ Heritage Celebration: March 27th – March 30, 2008; Lancaster Host Resort and Conference Center, Lancaster, PA; for more information: www.qhconline.com.

Pennsylvania Relief Sale: April 4 and 5 at the Harrisburg Farm Show Complex. Please visit and shop at the Quilter’s Attic – a new venture at the Relief Sale featuring used, unused, or unfinished quilt projects, as well as quilting tools, fabrics, and supplies. For more information: www.pareliefsale.org.

March Meeting Preview – March 18, 2008

Sharon Densten will present a trunk show made up of quilts in which she has used Thangles entitled “Untangle Those Triangles”.

Sharon Densten of Sharon’s Creations, is a Certified Teacher of Home Economics and teaches many classes at Quilted Treasures, Inc. Sharon resides in Clementon, NJ and is a past president of Love Apples Quilt Guild. Sharon also runs a long arm quilting service. For more information visit: http://quiltedpath.netfirms.com/sharonscreations.htm.

What are THANGLES?  Thangles are paper template strips for turning same sized straight grain strips into half square triangles (HST). For example, if you want a 2" finished HST, you cut 2 1/2" strips of your two fabrics and use Thangles.  No more confusing math....no more 7/8" and cutting of odd sizes of fabric…no more worry with bias edges.  Thangles make half square triangle construction EASY, FAST and ACCURATE. For more information visit: http://www.thangles.com/

Snow Policy

Just a quick reminder of our snow policy… In order to improve reliability (since phone chains are notoriously un-reliable), our snow policy is as follows:

We'll make a determination by 5pm on a snowy day.

We'll e-mail that determination to guild members at that time. 

If you normally get notification regarding newsletter availability, then you will get one of these e-mail messages.

If you do not have e-mail, then you'll simply identify a buddy who does have access to e-mail and call that person to verify whether or not we'll be meeting.

If your e-mail access is through your work and you've been sent home early due to snow, then you'll identify a buddy who has e-mail access at home to find out our meeting status. 

Hopefully our meeting nights will be free of snowy complications, but it’s good to have a clear-cut way of determining our status in the event of inclement weather.

Main Line Quilters Guild Programs 2008

February 15, 9:30 am, Pieces of Love Bee for community service at the Devon Marriott Courtyard, 762 W Lancaster Ave, Wayne and contact 610-688-5388 information and location www.mainlinequilters.org

March 21 at 9:30 am: Trish Chambers "Freedom Quilts and the Underground Railroad".

All programs follow a general meeting, guest fee $4.

Hi from Steve's!

Our next newsletter will be mailed out mid-February and has many exciting events and classes to choose from. Most exciting to all of you Homesteaders, is the Alex Anderson event March 14 and 15 at the Radisson Hotel and Convention Center in King of Prussia. This is an all new seminar from Alex featuring her personal quilt collection and a question and answer time! Steve says that all of you are REQUIRED to attend!! It's only $20.00, and you need to purchase your tickets in advance. We'll see you there!

Saturday Sampler will be held on Saturday, February 9th from 9:00-9:30am. Pat Miesse will be talking about Sewing for Charities and the different sewing skills needed. Liz will be holding a Quilts For Kids workshop on Sunday, March 30.

Would you like to be a Thimbleberries quilter for a day? Mindy and Liz will be hosting another Thimbleberries Camp on Saturday, February 23 from12 noon-5:00. Registration is required.

We are getting in lots of new fabrics daily - be sure to check them out! Don't forget - when we get in new fabrics, some of our current stock goes on the Sale rack....

Our Autograph Party will be held on Saturday, May 3rd and Valley Forge Homestead Quilter's will have a table there! We will be hosting a Customer Wearable Art and Garment Fashion Show, so gather your wonderful wearables and look for more info in the newsletter!
Happy Sewing,
-The Staff at Steve's

Guild Officers President – Chris Candello Vice President – Jean Hayden Treasurer – Gail Dovalovsky Recording Secretary – Marge Quinn Corresponding Sec – Linda Hamel Immediate Past President – Lou Chandler Committee Chairs Program Chair – Gloria Clark Workshops – Jean Hayden Newsletter – Cathy Fennell & Lou Chandler Web Master – Lou Chandler Refreshments – Paula Pettyjohn Set-up – Cathy Fennell Hostess/ Door Prizes – Patti McLain, Marebeth Conard Hospitality – Donna LeBlanc, Joan Gunder, Lisa Hudock Block of the Month –Rosemary Geisler Quilt Show – Jean Hayden Quilt Bees – Jean Hayden (day) Beth Quigley (night) Retreats – Sally Rapp Excursions – Susan Glaser Comfort Quilts – Shirley Horning Publicity – Nancy Hannum Historian – Nancy Hannum, Lisa Hudock Library – Art & Ethel Hutchison AQS book sales – Kathy Graff Member Comfort – Judy Snook, Rosemary Geisler Sunshine – Norma Brechbiel

Newsletter Submissions Inclusions for the next newsletter must be received by March 1, 2008. (If e-mailing your article, an MS Word file is preferred, articles embedded in e-mails are acceptable, of course, but require more work on our end.) Cathy Fennell fennell@rosemont.edu (preferred) 32 Clearfield Avenue Eagleville, PA 19430 610-630-8645 (home) 610-526-2973 (work) Guild Meetings DATE: Third Tuesday of each month TIME: 7 p.m. PLACE: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, King of Prussia, PA