Letter from the President

By Jeanne Vogel

Spring brings new beginnings for our days filled with sunlight, new flowers blooming, and getting such inspiration from attending the Dallas Quilt Show.  And with my work in doing some spring cleaning, I am going through all of my fabric stash to see what “no longer brings me joy” and getting ready to bring items to the Bones Table at the May 9th guild meeting.  Please send me an email/text/call if you or your small group would help set up the table and help with the leftovers to give to another charity. 

Quilt Show 24 online entries are open and ready for you to register your quilts.  Limit 4.

Dates to watch:

• April 9 -- Community Sew Day
• April 11 -- Guild meeting–bring your potholders for exchange, PISD donations
• April 12 & 13 -- Workshops
• April 13 -- Plano Art Quilt Group meeting
• April 20 -- New Member Day Retreat
• May 9 -- Guild meeting -- bring your unwanted quilting items & your 60’s challenge quilt
• August 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 -- Quilt Show Week 2024 and Quilt Judging Seminar

Membership

By Raj Aggarwal and Barbara Goetz

We had 64 members in attendance for our Zoom presentation in March, including one new member who joined us at the meeting.  Welcome, Susie Luttrell.  There were 8 members attending via Zoom.  Our current member count is 319.

We’re looking forward to the New Member Retreat on April 20th.  The space is now full, but if you are a new member and didn’t sign up in time, email Barbara Goetz or Raj Aggarwal and we will add you to a wait list in case of a cancellation.  See you there!

Programs and Workshops

By Beth Swiatek and Linda Sullivan

April Showers are watering our Flowers…

And ushering in our next Workshop Month!  Audrey Esarey will be at our April meeting to tell us about her path to becoming a Modern Quilter, and how she applies traditional techniques to her modern quilts.  Remember since she is one of our national speakers, there will be a $5 fee at the door for non-members to attend her lecture.  We have 1 slot left in each of her Friday/Saturday workshops.  (Hope all Saturday attendees saw in their email that the Saturday time is now 9:00am-4:00pm).  Online sign ups are now working, or you can print a registration sheet from the Guild website to mail or bring to the Guild meeting.  Speaking of Workshops, as announced at the March guild meeting, it appears the June workshops Love in Bloom and Bounce didn’t have much appeal to our membership.  We do have cancellation deadlines in our contracts, so we have gone ahead and canceled those workshops with Robin Koehler.  HOWEVER…we’ve planned a fun substitution event at BLRCT for those dates coordinated by Chris Fredricks from Guild Activities.

Stay tuned and see you at the April Guild Meeting!

April Guild Meeting - Thursday, April 11, 2024

Speaker:  Audrey Esarey – Finding My Voice in Modern Quilting

 

Workshop:  Friday, April 12, 2024, 10:00am - 5:00pm (1-hour lunch)

Audrey Esarey – Watercolor Quilt Workshop -- Fabric Gradation and Stress Free Curved Piecing

 

Workshop:  Saturday, April 13, 2024, 9:00am - 4:00pm (1-hour lunch)

Audrey Esarey – Ultraviolet Radial Workshop -- Paper Piecing on an Arc, Curved Piecing, Precision Piecing

May Guild Meeting - Thursday, May 9, 2024

Quilt Plano 2024 Show Rollout and Judging Seminar Info Talk

Details of the Show will be presented and there will be opportunities to be first in line to sign up for your favorite positions to help out Show days!

Guild Activities

By Chris Fredericks

The April Meeting will be so much fun as we’ll be holding the Potholder Exchange.  If you didn’t sign up but would still like to participate you can!  All you have to do is make two potholders and bring them to the meeting in a brown sandwich paper bag (I will have some extra at the meeting).  Put your name on the bag and then sometime during the meeting we will select a bag that does not have our own name on it and you will go home with two new potholders to enjoy for spring!

The Riley Blake Block Challenge is going strong!  The blocks have been interesting and I’ve enjoyed watching what fabrics other quilters are using on the Riley Blake FaceBook page.  The last block (#16) will be released on May 28th so we’ve rounded the corner and are headed towards the finish line.  Anyone interested in entering their quilt in the Quilt Plano 2024 Show should register online ASAP.  You can enter the quilt as a juried entry or as part of the Special Exhibits.  Wouldn’t it be fun to see all our quilts in the show?  

May brings about the deadline for the “60’s Challenge” and I hope many of you are working on a quilt that defines the 60s to you.  Quilt size is 16 x 20.

Community Service

By Val Schlake and Debbie Blair

PISD:  We are collectling donations for PISD, all donations need to be turned in at the April Meeting.  The young parents are so grateful to all that participate in helping them get a head start caring for their new family.  Items needed most are infant clothing and diapers.  Although, any items that will help them in their new journey of parenting will be appreciated.

Grab and Go Projects:  If you are unable to participate at Sew Day in person, a Grab and go can be finished at home on your schedule.  We appreciate any help you can provide.  All the Grab and Go's can be picked up during the guild meeting or at the CS sewing day.

• Quilts to be quilted
• Quilts to be bound
• Quilt tops to be completed
• Cuddle kits
• Pillowcase Kit
• Dog bed covers

Caring and Sharing:  Each member who donates a completed quilt (including quilting and binding) will be entered into a special drawing for a door prize (valued at $350 and growing).  The completed quilt should be from your stash and can be turned in at the Community Service Table at the guild meeting.  We can’t wait to see what you have created!  

Thank you for all you do, we could not do it without you!

Quilt Plano 2024

By Laurie Lumston

This month’s update is sweet and short.

• Minis
• Entries
• Judging Seminar Participants
• Special Exhibits from workshops and small groups

We need them all!  If you’ve thought about making a mini or a quilt to enter into the show, now’s the time!  The June deadline will be upon us quickly, so don’t wait to get started!  Bring your completed minis to the Guild meeting and leave them at the Quilt Show table. 

QP24 Volunteer shirts are for sale at the guild meeting and they’re going fast along with the Raffle tickets.  

At the May meeting, we’ll have our Quilt Plano 2024 Open House where you can sign up in the various volunteer slots, pre-order your meals, buy your coveted Show pins, and more!

Introduction to Judging Seminar - August 9-10, 2024

Do you enter quilt shows and want to understand what makes a winning quilt?  Are you interested in learning to judge quilts and wearables?  Do you know someone at another guild who coordinates their quilt show’s judging process?

The Quilters Guild of Plano is proud to once again sponsor a 2-Day Quilt Judging Seminar on August 9-10, 2024, at the same time as the Quilt Plano Show.  We offered this seminar last year at the same time as Quilt Plano 2023 and it was a huge success! 

During this seminar you will learn through a combination of discussion, lecture, PowerPoint presentations, and hands-on mock judging from qualified instructors certified by the National Association of Certified Quilt Judges (NACQJ). 

The 2-Day Seminar covers all aspects of quilt judging, including the job of judging, evaluating design and workmanship, categories and awards, judging systems, setting up the judging floor, and judging versus jurying.  Discussion includes certification requirements for the National Association of Certified Quilt Judges (NACQJ), the only national certifying organization for quilt judges.

Participants receive handouts including resource recommendations, art and design terms with definitions, a glossary, and sample contracts and invoices among others.  This seminar does not certify students nor is it a prerequisite for certification.

Stay tuned!  More information and online registration will be available in the coming weeks.

Education

By Liz Beaty and Lorrie Gray

In April, look for Deanna Tucker at the Education table.  She’ll be demonstrating how to make a pillowcase.

In case you missed it last month, here’s a quick YouTube video on How to Sharpen a Seam Ripper 

If you have a suggestion for a future demo or would like to volunteer to do a demo, please either talk to Liz or Lorrie at a guild meeting or fill out this simple Google form to give your ideas:  Education Demo Ideas

Record Your Volunteer Hours!

By Tisha Harms

We want to know what you are up to.  Record your volunteer hours and receive a volunteer bar for 30 hours of service!   For volunteering at Quilt Plano 2024, you will receive a charm for your bar! 

To record your hours just email volunteer_hours@qgplano.org.  If you do not have access to a computer, you can call Tisha Harms at 214.316.5066.

Record your hours at your convenience – daily, weekly, monthly or once a year noting the following categories:   Community Service,  Show, Education or Guild Work.

Send an email or make a call and we will keep track of your hours for you.    

When you have reached 30 hours, we will notify you that your bar can be picked up at the next general meeting!  

You can purchase a Vintage Sewing Machine pin for $5.00 at any guild meeting to hang you bar and charm on.For more information, contact Tisha Harms (214-316-5066 or volunteer_hours@qgplano.org).

Sunshine & Shadows

Sunshines:

Happy April Birthdays to the following members:

• 2 - Donna Petrick
• 4 - Jennifer Huser, Jaynee Eshbaugh, Connie Ryan
• 7 - Jeanette Grimm 
• 8 - Sara LIndsay
• 9 - Tina Connolly, Liz Beaty
• 13 - Sharon Holliday
• 15 - Laurie Becchtel, Mary Neflin
• 17 - Beverly Geise, Deanna Tucker
• 18 - Rose-Clair Fletcher
• 20 - Norma Bautista, Sharon Laney
• 21 - Barbara Washler
• 23 - Ann McDougal
• 27 - Mary Alice Caffarel
• 28 - Misty Cannefax, Dena Limpede, Elaine Henry
• 29 - Donna Demby, Deborah Skorepa, Pat Fowler

News from the Zoom Bees

Pieceful Organization - Sarah Krauss, Jeanne Vogel, Monica Hendewerk

Every Wednesday from 1:30-3:30 pm -- Join us any week you can!

Need a friend to relieve clutter, stress, struggles and feelings of being overwhelmed?  We are Zooming 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 the zoom link.

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

Hoop It Up!  Come join us for a machine embroidery Zoom meeting.  Contact Donna Petrick – donna.petrick16@gmail.com to get the link for the monthly meeting on the third Thursday each month from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.  We share ideas and hints as well as sew during the call.  We are working on our challenge for the QP2024 show.

From the Bee Keeper -- In Person Meetings

Fourth Friday Featherweight Friends- Jeanne Vogel: pickincotton26@verizon.net

• Meeting at the Best Little Retreat Center in Texas  from 9am-9pm.
• Singer Featherweight sewing machines where we share tips for caring for the machine, our best notions, and have several members experienced with problem-solving both machine and quilting problems.
• Make your reservation by calling 469-708-2378 or email: info@blrcit.com   
• Either bring your lunch or we'll go out as a group to eat together.

Sew Happy Quilters - Aurora Chancy achancy@msn.com  

• • 1st and 3rd Thursday 9-4pm  
  • Sam Johnson Recreation Center @  401 W 16th St.  Plano, TX  
  • Bring your own project, sewing machine & supplies
  • We have lunch together at the Gazebo Cafe for $5 or less.

Sit N Sew Community Service Day–Val Schlake & Debbie Blair–communityservice@qgplano.org

• 2nd Tuesday from 10-2 pm
• Plano Sewing Center, 2070 Spring Creek Pkwy # 326, Plano, TX
• Bring your sewing machine and sewing supplies.

 

Monthly Meeting Photos

Access our monthly meeting photos and photos from the quilt show in our Gallery.

 

General Meeting Minutes

To read the minutes, use this link:  General Meeting Minutes

Then go to Guild Meeting Minutes and pick the last dated minutes.

 

 

Board Meeting Minutes

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