Updated blog finally

Sorry it took so long to update.  Been a little busy at work and then when I get home I just want to sew.  :)  I have a 3 days weekend so I don't have an excuse this month.

Our President Kristin was unable to be at the meeting in May so Charlotte the VP took control and also wrote the president's message.  here it is.

The May meeting was very busy. So many members stepped up to take offices or chair a position that we are ready to start working on the 2015/2016 year. Thank you to each one of you for helping make the guild a success. Mary Jane Loya encouraged members to work on items for the October Boutique. This is our main fundraiser for the year. Work on those bags, placemats, baby items, crayon bags, and any item you think will sell. This is a fun event. Great show and tell, did you get your entry for the Kings County Fair completed? Janice Minyard was our guest speaker. The journey through her quilting life was fun. I always thought Janice only did art quilts. Her traditional quilts are amazing and her quilting beautiful. June brings us a national teacher, Sue Garman. We are lucky to get Sue, she will be teaching next year at Asilomar, a class you can take for only $1500. The good news is you can take a class with Sue next month for only $40. Call Barbara Sindlinger and get signed up.
~~Charlotte Rogers

Our boutique is October 10th which is about 135 days away. I know that seems like a long time, but it will be here before you know it. Some of our members at last meeting brought what they have made to show and tell. I strongly recommend we do this every month so others can see what is being made.
See you at the June 4th meeting and until then happy sewing.
Thanks and sew, sew, sew. Mary Jane Loya

October's Update

Predident's Message

Greetings Everyone,

     I just wanted to take a moment and thank the auditing committee for their work.  I also wanted to thank Mary Jane for her hard work with the boutique as well as everyone else who participated in making the boutique a successful event. 

     The program for the evening of making cards or bags was enjoyed by all who participated and the table was completely full from start to finish.  I saw lots of creativity and heard plenty of people chattering as they were working on their cards or bags.  What a nice way to get to know members even better.  Many of those cards and bags created were donated to the boutique.

     Now for the block that I had posted, it was “Wild Goose Chase.”  This block apparently has at least 14 different variations.  Some have similar characteristics, and others do not seem similar at all.  The connection throughout them is the flying geese.  The history I found indicated that homesteaders watched flying geese and created quilts around that central theme.  The triangles themselves represent the geese.  The other names of the block in any of its variations are:  Baltimore Belle, Dutchman’s Puzzle, Dutchman’s Wheel, Wheel, Duck and Ducklings, Corn and Beans, Ducklings, Fox and Geese, Hen and Chickens, Handy Andy, and Shoo Fly.  If you happen to check out the Shoo Fly block you will certainly see what I mean by variations.  They don’t necessarily look anything like the “Wild Goose Chase” block I showed you.  Thanks to all of you who took a guess.  I think I might try something a little different with the block for next month.

Keep on sewing,

Kristin

Boutique Wrap Up

     A meeting will be held Monday, October 13 at Panera in Hanford at 6:30 pm to go over the boutique items and to see what went well this year and things that we can work on for next year.  I can personally say that we had a wide variety of beautiful items at the boutique this year and according to membership, over 30 members donated items and about that many helped either price, set up or work the boutique.  For a group of only 56 members (yes that is the current number) that percentage of working members is excellent.  Our estimated bottom line after expenses is about $4,348.41.  We may have a few other expenses not yet   Well done ladies, well done!  

     We have our next available date set for October 10, 2015 for the 4^th Annual Boutique.   I had some members tell me that they didn’t make as much as they wanted to because time got away from them.  I am giving you lots of notice so start planning and sew the things you love to sew.

Show and Tell 

If I can find time this weekend, I'll try to post some of the pictures I took during show and tell this past month.  The program chair asked everyone to bring any Halloween quilts to show if they had any.  Who knew we had a member who's anniversary is Halloween and had many quilts and items to share.  So much talent in our group.  

November 2011 Meeting review

Sorry it's taken so long to update.  We had a wonderful meeting with a great speaker and some big decisions made for the guild.  The biggest being that we will not be having our Great Little Quilt Sale at the Lemoore park on the 4th of July, instead we are planning on a boutique sometime in September.  


Don't forget to come to the Christmas potluck party (in lieu of a regular guild meeting)

Christmas Party

Thursday

December 1, 2011

Kings County Bowl

1050 E Lacey, Hanford

6:00 p.m. Social

7:00 p.m. Pot Luck Dinner

Bring a Guest

Christmas is coming and our party is set for December 1^st to start the month off right.  We will be having a pot luck dinner, raffle of baskets or other prizes and lots of fun.  Some surprises await.

      We need your help to have a very successful evening.  Baskets of all sorts are needed to raffle off.  Themes may be anything, not just quilting.  Try jewelry, any type of meal, chocolate, makeup, fishing, travel, framed photos, quilt racks, quilts or any of your wonderful ideas.  Drop your baskets off at my home or bring them the night of the party by 6:00. You may make up a basket or bring items to us and we will make up the baskets.  If we are to make up your basket we will need it ASAP so we have time to do the necessary preparations.

     The price of tickets will be 6 for $5 or 25 for $20.  There will be bags in front of each basket or item and you can drop tickets into the bag for the prizes you want to win.

     There will be a live auction for some items so bring your checkbook.

     The Pot Luck Dinner is another place you can show off your many talents.  Bring your favorite appetizer, salad, main dish or dessert (please include serving spoons).

     The guild will provide table service, coffee and punch.

If you have any questions, please contact any of the committee members. 

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I've updated the show and tell page and the committee update pages.  Please check them out as well.  Also, forgotten in the newsletter are the October board meeting minutes but they are posted here under the minutes tab.  
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Now that the guild has voted on having a boutique in the fall instead of the Great Little Quilt Sale in July, we need to get committee chairs to get the ball rolling.  Since this will be the first annual Holiday Boutique* (Name not yet chosen), we will need more time to organize.

The prospective dates will be either October 6 or 12, 2012, the hours would be 10 to 4 with a $3 admission fee.  We have a possible location in downtown Hanford (it would be storefront property).

Linda Carter has graciously offered to be the chairwoman but believes we need co-chairs for the different areas of the boutique.  The idea is to have several selling areas, such as baking, granny’s attic, sewing, quilting and other handmade items, possibly a consignment area.  We will also need someone to handle all the advertising, set up and admission.  Each department will be in charge of pricing their own items.  So we need volunteers.  If you have ever been part of a boutique your expertise would be welcomed.  Please contact either Linda Carter or Sheila Ockey.  You don’t have to do it alone either.  Grab a buddy and co-chair a selling area.

So you’re asking, (I know you are…..) what if I can’t be a committee chair, how can I participate and help the guild raise money for a nationally known speaker and to help fund the charity quilt program?  Here are some suggestions of what you can do.  Do you have a fun craft that you can teach a few friends to make?  You can hold a workshop to make and donate the items to the boutique.  Or while you’re making gifts throughout the year, make one or two extra and donate to the boutique.  If everyone in the guild would donate at least 5 items, we would have a wonderful boutique of craft items.  (Anything that does not sell, goes back to the maker.)

 Some ideas of things to get you thinking:  table toppers or runners, purses, pouches, clutches, napkins and placemats, stuffed animals, Christmas tree skirts, ornaments, banners, knitted scarves, knitted wash cloths, set of cards or gift tags (for the scrapbookers in our group), potholders, aprons, jewelry, fabric baskets, baby bibs, burp cloths, stockings, hair clips, hair bows, brooches, decorative towels, dog collars, dog leashes, pennants, bookmarks, bow ties and the list can go on and that is just craft ideas.  Don’t get me started on the food.  If you want ideas there are plenty of websites that offer tutorials and inspiration.  (Ask Barbara Sindlinger for good sites to go to for FREE tutorials.)