Letter from the President

By Jeanne Vogel

The October meeting presented us with a few issues but moving to the North parking lot, moving upstairs, and rearranging tables for all the activities of the guild brought a great response as we were able to see and hear as we learned how to use the mic and admit folks to the meeting on zoom, but we adapted well! And it was great practice as we will be again upstairs on Nov. 9. If you come early, park in the North parking lots as we will have greeters there to open the secured doors for you. If you come late, park in the South lot and walk to the end to use the elevators to come upstairs.

We have hired one of the church’s employees, Brondon Esco to set up Zoom, so please thank him for the great connections we can make with those not able to attend.

We are talking about sending out Text Messages to members regarding the meetings as most of you are familiar with those coming from your medical personnel regarding your latest appointment.

Join us on November 11 at 2pm for the next Quilts of Valor presentation. (See info below.)

So, mark your calendars for the November 9th meeting upstairs using the North lot, arriving after 6:15 to socialize.

And the best plan for the future is at the end of the newsletter regarding our Christmas Holiday Party! Want to join in the party plans? Please email activitiesqgplano.org

Programs

By Beth Swiatek and Linda Sullivan

Hello All!

We’re happy to report there were fun times and laughter at October’s Maltese Cross and Improvisational Machine Applique Workshops. Creativity was stretched and new techniques learned as Karen Stone shared her quilting wisdom. Everyone be sure and finish up your pieces so you can submit them to be shown in the Workshop Special Exhibits area of Quilt Plano 2024!

Sign ups will begin in person at the November Guild meeting for upcoming workshops, so bring your checkbook and give yourself an early Christmas present! Stop by the Programs table to get your Registration sheet. In November Paula Golden will Zoom with us from Virginia to share her expertise in Hawaiian Quilting. The Guild WILL meet in person and then Zoom together with her as a group. December brings our Holiday Party and Free Standing Lace lecture with our very own Donna Petrick and Tisha Harms. Connie Keller will join us in January with her Longarms and Legacy lecture. If you are curious who is after that, speakers are now listed on the website calendar.

See you at the Guild meeting!

Guild Activities

By Chris Fredericks

I hope all of you felt as excited as I did after last month’s guild meeting. It was wonderful to connect and to hear about all the doings the guild is offering this coming year! These programs will be detailed on the Guild’s website as soon as possible – it’s a work in progress for this newbie!

To recap what Guild Activities is offering and to remind everyone to sign-up to participate here’s a list of the activities planned so far for this year:

Fat Quarter Lotto

When: December’s Guild Meeting

What’s it About: December is the month for gifts and giving! Join in on the fun and the possibility to win a stack of Fat Quarters. Think of the possibilities of creating a new quilt with some yummy new fabrics!

Guild Guidelines and Deadlines

We’re plotting to have two or three fat quarter bundles ready to raffle off. This is dependent on how many people participate. This one is easy:

Fat Quarter Categories:
Batik Fat Quarters: Provide fat quarters in shades of purples or blues
Red, White and Blue Fat Quarters: Oh Say Can you See! Gear up to win some patriotic fat quarters where you can make yourself a quilt to hang on the Fourth of July or to make a Quilt of Valor quilt to donate to the guild. Provide fat quarters in red, white and blue colors and we’ll combine them to make a true red/white and blue bundle.
Grunge Bundle – What’s not to love about Grunge? If this one hits a chord with you then you’ll bring in a fat quarter of your favorite grunge.
You have the option to participate in just one category, or two or all THREE. You’ll receive a ticket for each category you provide a fat quarter for doubling or tripling your chance to win!
Raffle numbers will be given out and drawing will occur at the December meeting!

Riley Blake Mystery Quilt

When: Begins in January and runs through May.

What’s it About: Happy New Year! Welcome in 2024 by signing up for the 2024 Mystery Quilt Challenge. This year we will be following along with Riley Blake Designs as they release the 2024 Block Quilt Challenge. Basically, you’ll receive an email every Tuesday, except the last Tuesday of the month, with block instructions. The last Tuesday of the month is when we can pause (or catch-up!) and admire our work to date.

Registration is required. This will allow participating guild members to receive each week’s instructions along with a place where we can share our progress, support and encourage each other. You can also sign-up directly through RBD at rileyblakedesigns.com. You will then receive emails from both Guild Activities and RBD.

We’ve received the invite and fabric requirements and these will be provided. The sign-up date has not been released by RBD (as of 10/1/23). After signing up with the guild, you will receive an email notifying you when online RBD registration has opened.

Guild Challenge 2024

When: Begins Now!! Ends in April!!

What’s it About: The 60’s

The goal of this challenge is to create a quilt that you feel defines this era. Did music impact you? Perhaps the quilt could be your interpretation of a song by the Beatles, Bob Dylan, or Joni Mitchel. If you’re drawn to historical events, perhaps you’ll design a quilt about the Vietnam War or Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. It’s time to get your creative juices flowing and start designing!

Guild Guidelines and Deadlines

Size: Quilt should be 16” x 20” inches.
Quilts are to have a sleeve for hanging.
Registration: Sign up for this event so that the Guild has a count of who is participating. Signup will begin at the October meeting.
Submission Deadline: Quilts to be turned into the Activity Table at the May meeting.
Guild Member Judging: Will take place at the June meeting. Ribbons will be awarded for Member’s Choice Best of Show, Member’s Second Place, Member’s Third Place, Best Use of Color, and Best Embellishment.
Selected quilts to possibly be shown at the Plano Guild Quilt Show 2024.

Springtime Potholder Exchange

When: April Meeting

What’s it About: Welcome Spring! Sign up at the Activities Table at the January and February Guild Meetings to participate in April’s Pot Holder Exchange. Make two potholders and bring them to the April’s meeting to swap with other participants. Potholders can be Spring themed, or any design of your choosing.

Guild Guidelines and Deadlines

Registration is required so that we have enough batting to give the participants.
Signup will be held thru the February meeting.
Guild to provide 8” squares of Insul-Brite batting along with a brown paper bag to use when turning in your completed project.
Batting and paper bags will be given out at the March meeting.
April Guild Meeting – Write your name on the paper bag and place your potholders in the bag and tape/staple shut. Brown bags will be arranged and participants can select a bag (not their own) to take home and enjoy!

Please contact me with any questions at activities@qgplano.org

At the November meeting, we’ll introduce you to the entire team of QP24 volunteers and then we’ll share with each of them the job descriptions, detailed timelines, and task list. The more organized we are, the easier this is on everyone! A special shout-out to Carolyn Cosgriff for her work getting things so well-documented over the last two years!

We encourage you to keep working on your Mini Quilts for the auction! It was a record-breaking success last year and the Minnies’ aim is to beat it again in 2024. They need your help to do that!! Looking forward to seeing the masterpieces that you create!

Community Service

By Val Schlake and Debbie Blair

Our Community Service Program is a charitable initiative undertaken by the guild using quilting as a means of giving back to the community. The program involves our members coming together to create quilts and other fabric items that are then donated to various charitable organizations in our local community. Whether you are a seasoned quilter or just getting started, your enthusiasm and willingness to contribute are what truly matter. Our projects are diverse and cater to various skill levels so there is a role for everyone. Together we can make a real impact in the lives of those in need of a little kindness. It’s a great way to meet new friends doing what we love to do…. SEW.

CS Sew Day.

We meet on the second Tuesday of each month from 10 until 2 at the Plano Sewing Center. Just bring your sewing machine and basic sewing supplies and we will provide the rest. You are invited to join the fun!

November Deadlines and Reminders:

Last Call: PISD Program: School Age Parent Program

All items for these new mothers and fathers must be turned in this month. Items needed are baby quilts, clothing, diapers, or anything brand new parents can use would be appreciated.

Last Call: Birthday Quilt Challenge entries due this month! We will draw the winner of the Sewing Gift Basket at the December Holiday Guild meeting.

Quilts in Progress – Roundup: We are hoping to “round up” as many “Grab and Go” projects as possible so they may be donated during the holidays. These are items that have been picked up at the meetings to complete at home such as quilt kits, pillowcase kits, quilts to be quilted and quilts to be bound.

Thank you for all you do to support our community and guild.

For more information on how to get involved in Community Service, join us on Sew Day, stop by our table at the guild meeting or give us a call, we would love to hear from you.

Valerie Schlake 804-651-9026

Debbie Blair 469-226-9376

Quilts of Valor

By Evelyn Cheek

The mission of the Quilts of Valor® Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing.

QOVF Core Values:

Treating people with respect
Promoting excellence
Valuing service over self
Being accountable

www.QOVF.org

Our guild is joining with the Rotary Club of East Plano for a Veterans Day Quilts of Valor presentation. The ceremony will start at 2 pm Saturday, November 11 with a Presentation of the Colors. This ceremony is the conclusion of the Rotary’s Flags of Honor, a week-long expression of gratitude. See planoflagsofhonor.com for the week’s schedule.

The public is encouraged to attend. The stage is near Red Tail Pavilion. There is plenty of parking off Spring Creek (east side) between Jupiter and East Parker—look for the field of flags. Please come support the guild and our veterans.

Education

By Liz Beaty and Lorrie Gray

At last month’s meeting, we did a demo showing the difference between using your seam ripper for seam unpicking versus seam ripping. We also took the mystery out of that little red ball at the end of your ripper. If you missed the demo or need a refresher, check out this YouTube video:

How to use a Seam Ripper Properly / Unpicking VRS Seam Ripping / Beginner Sewing Tutorial

Be sure to seek out our demo table at the November meeting. Sharon Holliday will be showing us how to make half-square triangles, flying geese units, triangle-in-a-square, and other shapes, perfectly-sized every time with no bunny ears to trim afterward. She’ll also include an easy, fast method of using two pieces of fabric to make both half-square triangles and squares for creating variety for faster scrap quilting.

Worker Bees – Third Thursday on Zoom – Sharon McGinnis

We are buzzing with excitement to start this new group! Held via Zoom on the 3rd Thursday of each month. Our next meeting will be November 16th at 7:00 pm. This small group is a great fit for anyone with time available in the evenings. This group will include ANY type of quilting activity—piecing, hand quilting, machine quilting, embroidery, you name it. The name of our game is friendship and fellowship around our virtual quilting circle. Contact Sharon McGinnis at sharon.mcginnis@verizon.net to be added to the roster and a Zoom link will be sent out a day or two before each meeting. Any questions can also be directed to Sharon at 972-467-5799.

Sew Happy Quilters – Aurora Chancy

We meet at Sam Johnson Senior Center corner of 75 and 16th Steet on 1st Thursdays and 3rd Thursdays 9:00 to 4:00. We are a sit-n-sew, so bring your favorite project and enjoy the fellowship! Contact Aurora Chancy achancy@msn.com

Pieceful Organization – Sarah Krauss, Jeanne Vogel, Monica Hendewerk (Now we meet every Wednesday afternoon)

If you are feeling “abode overload,” we will: relieve clutter, stress, struggle and feelings of being overwhelmed. We are Zooming every Wednesday from 1:30-3:30 pm using the inspiration from a workshop we attended. Organization will change your clutter and chaos to start the day fresh with your stuff organized. Less chaos leads to more productive quilt making. Please contact mhendewerk@gmail.com for an invitation.

Free Motion Quilting Bee (we actually sew during the meeting!) – Monica Hendewerk

Our meetings have been a huge success. It turns out that Zoom blocks out background noise, so we can sew and chat at the same time! Monica or one of the other members provide some designs to practice on a small sandwich which you can choose to use or not. The designs are sent out in advance and include step by step instructions, with both beginner and intermediate designs. A number of us generally “doodle” on paper first, and then sew. Some people do the designs that have been sent out, others do their own thing. We have beginner beginners all the way to advanced members of the group. We also share our samples and ask/answer questions. Meetings are on the second Monday of the month, from 1:00 – 3:00 (or longer sometimes!). Please contact Monica so that she can send you the Zoom link if you are interested. mhendewerk@gmail.com (713) 569-8798

Hoop It Up Bee – Donna Petrick

The machine embroidery group meets the third Thursday each month on Zoom. We talk about problems or successes we might have had in using our machines as well as having show and tell. We are open to all levels of users. If you have an interest in machine embroidery, please join us. Email me petrickdl@outlook.com so I can send you the Zoom invitation.

Featherweight Fellowship Groups – Jeanne Vogel

Singer Featherweight sewing machines make happy owners as we sit and sew. We share tips for caring for the machine, our best notions, and have several members experienced with problem-solving both machine and quilting problems. If you work, join us on a Saturday! When we share a lot of tips and tricks we follow the meeting with an email to those attending. Those who have not previously notified me, please email at pickincotton26@verizon.net to get the invitation to join the Zoom meeting.

Chicks with Feathers—3rd Saturdays in person at Sam Johnson Recreation Center at 401 W 16th St. Plano, TX or on Zoom from 1-3pm
Fourth Friday Featherweight Friends—4th Fridays in person meeting at Best Little Retreat Center in Texas all day

Membership

By Raj Aggarwal and Barbara Goetz

Welcome Fall!! Where have you been?

October welcomes new members. Welcome to Diane Nestande, Sue McCormick, Donna Hougen, and Evelyn Meany. There were 77 members in attendance to listen to our guest speaker, Karen Stone, as well as 5 guests.

We are still accepting renewals, and of course, any new members. You are always welcome to do so at the meeting. You can print a membership form for new or renewal online, or we’ll have some at the meeting. Membership is $35 for the year, payable by check or cash. Or you can always join on the Quilters Guild of Plano website.

Nov. 1 Pat Fenton
Nov.2 Roxanne Gross
Nov. 3 Terry Reisinger, Sally Pitre
Nov. 4 Angela Watts, Cindy Harkins
Nov. 5 Carole Murray
Nov. 6 Margaret Neyman
Nov. 9 Betty Rivero, Todd Allen, Libby Priddy
Nov. 10 LuGay Chiang, Victoria Dean, Ada Loetzerich
Nov. 12 Michael Davison
Nov. 13 Jeanne Smith, Loren Wilhelm
Nov. 14 Laura Vehige
Nov. 16 Judy Horton
Nov. 17 Lisa Terry, Holly Laughlin, Dana Ryan, Wanda Lankforg, Elizabeth Chaddick
Nov. 18 Deb Van Winkle
Nov. 19 Sue Dexheimer, Melinda Proper
Nov.20 Pam Crocker, Linda Newman, Debbie Weaver, Wendi Walthall
Nov. 22 Carol Surrells, Tya-Mae Julien
Nov. 24 Virginia Braley, Debbie Burns, April Trekell
Nov. 25 Kathie Wheeler
Nov. 26 Cathy Gilley, Stacey Procter
Nov. 27 Rose Davis, Diane Duda
Nov. 28 Chris Simon
Nov. 30 Susan Morris

December Holiday Party!!

The Board is looking forward to connecting with all guild members at the December Holiday Party! There will be lots of fun activities to enjoy including the Fat Quarter Lotto (see Guild Activities for details), the Birthday Quilt Raffle being awarded (see Community Services for details), and Donna Petrick and Tisha Harms giving a lecture about Free Standing Lace (see Programs for details)! How much better can it get you ask?

We’d like to have time during the December meeting to socialize and gather to share conversations, food and beverages. To that end, we’re looking for members to bring in a munchie so we can create a Holiday Snacks & Sweets Charcuterie Table!! Savory Ideas to bring: Cheeses and crackers, deviled eggs, olives, humus with dippers, nuts, bite size cold appetizers, raw veggies, dips, and chips. Sweet Ideas to bring: Cookies, cookies and more cookies! Did we mention cookies?

There will be a signup at the Activities Table where you can give us an idea of what you would like to contribute. This will allow us to make sure we’re not top heavy in one area. But who couldn’t use more cookies! So let’s gather, connect and make another great Guild Memory!

Quilters Guild of Plano, Inc.

Letter from the President

Programs

October Workshop fun with Karen Stone!

Future Guild Meetings

November Guild Meeting – Thursday, November 9, 2023

Speaker: Paula Golden

December Guild Meeting – Thursday, December 14, 2023

Speakers: Donna Petrick and Tisha Harms

January Guild Meeting – Thursday, January 11, 2024

Speaker: Connie Keller – Longarms and Legacy

Guild Activities

Quilt Plano 2024

Community Service