GODERICH QUILTERS' GUILD
CUTTING EDGE NEWSLETTER
Greetings, fellow quilters. I can hardly believe that it is already June. It seems like yesterday that we were putting 'our toes in the water' to test having meetings virtually. According to Moe Gelbart, PhD:
"Some people feel that time is creeping along, while others feel it is whizzing by at lightning speed. But mostly, I hear both from the same person: That day to day time all feels to be in slow motion, but larger chunks of time, like looking back at a week, go by fast."
Quilting helps with the monotony of some of our days. I know that when I am quilting, I look up at the clock and the whole afternoon is gone.
The other thing that has sped by is my term as President is done. It has been a privilege overseeing guild business. Having a great team of the guild executive to work with, has helped things run smoothly. Without their help, this job would be much harder. Thank you to them all. Another big thank you to Anne Wickie who is passing the baton of newsletter editor to Alice Sikma.
Have a great summer and see you in the Fall. Hopefully we can meet in person.
Nancy
On behalf of the membership, goes out to Nancy for a wonderful two years as our president. Great Job!
Afternoon. Program - 1:00 p.m:
Melissa Marginet’s Trunk Show – Myth: Quilting doesn’t have to be expensive!
Please don't discourage others from embarking on the wonderful world of quilting by telling them it's an expensive hobby OR if you would really love to take up quilting yourself but think you can't afford to, I'm here to tell you anyone can afford to quilt. I will show quilts I've made at very little cost and tell you all my money saving secrets.
Melissa Marginet is an avid quilter whose passion is to teach and inspire other quilters. Since the onset of Covid,Covid, she has embraced online teaching. She is known for quilting with a walking foot and has published two books “Walking Foot Quilting Designs” and “Edge-to-Edge Walking Foot Quilting Designs”. Visit her website melissaarginet.ca to find out more about her and see her work.
Do what you love and love what you do.
Notes from the May 10, 2021 Meeting:
Nancy opened the meeting welcoming everyone. She let members know that Lori Chalmers is devising a spreadsheet with our names and photos attached, thus reminding us that Lori is still waiting for pictures to come in.
Treasurer’s Report: The report was accepted as read and there were no questions put forth.
Guest Speaker: Bill Stearman was our guest speaker today with a delightful trunk show. Being quite a story teller, he held our interest. Bill looks at most things in life in a positive manner and is incredibly optimistic. His quilts are very unique and he had a story to tell with each one, some sad and others humourous. After completing his presentation, he generously answered questions from the membership of which there were plenty. He was an easy person to communicate with and motivated us to try new techniques.
B.O.M.: Betty Thomasson circulated the last block for this year prior to the meeting which was a 12” Lighthouse. She stated that we are all looking forward to seeing how members put the blocks together representing “our home town”, mentioning that this could possibly take a year, maybe? But to our surprise, Marie Webster showed her finished quilt today. Wow, it looked spectacular! Did I mention, Marie, that you are ‘speedy’?
For those who were unable to attend the May meeting, I have added a copy of her quilt. Isn’t it super!
Outreach: Marie Webster wanted to share these “Thank You Notes” with Guild Members:
#1 - I would like to thank you very much for a blanket that I received from your guild that you give to cancer patients. It is such a beautiful quilt and I appreciate it very much. I use it every day.
It is such a thoughtful gift and I will treasure it always. Many blessings to all your guild members.
#2 - Thank you so much for your caring and the gift of the lovely quilt. I am so very pleased and thankful at this hurting time.
#3 - Thank you for the lovely quilt. It will be treasured and very used while R. tries to fight this nasty cancer. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
#4 - I want to thank you and the Goderich Quilters’ Guild for the beautiful caring quilt. The artistry and workmanship is amazing and I keep admiring it in awe. Dealing with cancer and COVID has been a struggle the past 15 months. I have remained strong and positive through the love, support and caring gestures and thoughts of family and friends. I will treasure this quilt and what it represents.
Sharon
#5 - Thank you for the beautiful quilt. It is a gift from God. The teal colour is perfect and matches my living room accents. Thanks so much for thinking of me. This brought tears to my eyes and my husbands. Dale
#6 - Thanks for being so thoughtful and dropping off a quilt. This is such a beautiful quilt and so unexpected. Everyone is being so kind to me as I go through my treatments. Julie
#7 - What a lovely quilt and such a beautiful gesture. Very much appreciated. I have never owned a quilt before so such a blessing. Chris
Monica Mason also shared a lovely Thank You Note sent from the recipient of the quilt that the family of former member Betty Bodaly had purchased from the Guild to be donated.
“I can’t begin to tell you how much pleasure and comfort I have gotten from the beautiful quilt that I have received from the Goderich Quilters Guild. I love everything about it, its colours, size, pattern, etc. and the connection to Betty Bodaly only made it that much more special. I knew her for years, and she was a warm and lovely lady. Please pass along my sincere thanks to any and all who contributed to the making of such a treasured gift. I truly appreciate the kindness and caring of everyone.”
Marie reports that it has been quite a year for care quilts. We have made 80 quilts this year and handed out 80 quilts. Currently, there are 35 quilts available for new homes. If you know of someone who would benefit from a care quilt, please contact Monica or Betty and arrange to get one that you could deliver. The thank you messages that were received show how important this project is. The recipients are blessed, as well as the ladies who generously spend time and material to make the quilts.
In Memoriam
As many members are aware, Diane Sutton’s beautiful, talented daughter, Amy, passed away on May 20th and I am at loss for words to express our sympathy. It is something that is unthinkable to a parent. Just know that our hearts are breaking with you and your family, Diane.
Death leaves a heartache
No one can heal.
No one can steal.
Other: Marlene Mooy - FYI:
Chantal Lynch of Hyggeligt Fabrics in St. Mary’s now has the capability of cutting custom acrylic templates and the corresponding EPP paper templates. I thought this might be of interest to know that this service is relatively close at hand rather than ordering from the US.
Hyggeligt Fabrics in St. Mary’s new service! WhattheHex.ca would like to be your Canadian paper and acrylic stop for all your Paper Piecing and template needs. From the smallest hexagon for your Grandmothers Garden to supersized - don't see what you want or have an idea- send us an email!
Based in St Marys, Ontario we ship with Canada Post, UPS and curbside for now.
All papers and acrylics are shipped flat to save on shipping and easier for you to store, it's a breeze to pop them out.
Door Prize: Congratulations to Sabine Behnk who was the lucky winner of today’s door prize.
Factor – A statement from Anne Beaudoin, member of the Waterloo Quilt Guild.
I am very surprised that when I was asked to prepare an “Artist Statement”, which is something I never thought I would be required to do. Do I consider myself an Artist? I prefer to refer to myself as a Precision Piecer, or a “Quiltsmith, or as my son once described me – a Quilt Technician.
I am always surprised by how much fabric it takes to make a quilt – I seem to start with plenty, but usually by the time the quilt is done, I am scrambling for just one more piece, or trying to figure out which other fabric will work just as well.
I am always surprised that a small pile of fabric can cost so much, even if it is on sale.
I am always surprised by the different designs that emerge when I “fussy-cut” the centers of my blocks. And how most of this leftover fabric resembles the holes in Swiss cheese after I’m finished fussy cutting each individual piece from a template.
I am always surprised that I can sew something back together exactly the same way after I have ripped out a mistake. I figure if I have to rip something out twice, and it is still incorrect, it stays in the quilt and is now a design element.
I am always surprised by how long I can agonize over adding a colour, and surprised that the first one I picked is usually the fabric that works.
I am always surprised by how competent I feel when my corners are square and my points match.
I am always surprised that what started out as pieces of fabric can evolve into something of which I am proud.
I am always surprised by the way the quilt looks when the longarmer has finished quilting it.
I am always surprised by the different interpretations the same block can have, depending on the piecer, the quilter, and the colour choice and setting. So many different techniques to learn ensure that I will have to live to be 100 in order to try them all.
The Surprise Factor gets me every time!
This is my last newsletter. Fifteen years! How time flies when you are having fun. This job allowed me to be on top of all the events, etc. of the Guild, and since I have a copy of every newsletter I have written, it is like having a history of the past events. I’m going to miss all the communications I have had with members over the years. Please email me now and then to keep me from experiencing “withdrawal”.
I hope everyone has a wonderful summer and comes back in September refreshed and in the quilt show spirit (surely there will be some this coming year). I wish I could say “see you at the June pot luck meeting”, but things have changed and being a realist I have to accept that this event is not in the cards at this time.
As we move into summer, a number of you will be taking a break from quilting to garden and enjoy the outdoors. I like quilting in the summer as my sewing room is cool and bright and it certainly keeps me occupied. I hope that everyone appreciated all the programs that were offered during the year on Zoom and join me in saying thank you to our program committee for their hard work in making sure that we had something to look forward to each month.
I leave you with my last quote (I know you will miss them):
Make it Do or Do Without!
Signing off!- Anne Wickie
Taking up the helm – Alice Sikma – asikma@eastlink.ca
