Arnprior & District Quilters' Guild Newsletter - December 2022
President's Message
Merry Christmas everyone!
Well we are now just a few days before the Christmas Potluck Party! Don't forget to bring along a "Stash Gift" for the guilty (Chinese) gift exchange. The gift should not cost you a thing, by shopping in your stash! Please bring you gift in a gift bag, easily unwrapped, and displayed for stealing. If you don't happen to have a UFO that is no longer loved, you can gift a pattern and maybe a fat quarter, five fat quarters that you want someone else to enjoy, or use your imagination and bring something from your quilt room. We will play a game and everyone who participates will go home with something. Win, Win! Let's have some fun with this activity! We could have a challenge to see if anyone finishes or creates something over the holidays with their new acquired gift for show and tell in January.
Don't forget the opportunity to offer charity Raffle tickets for the "Out of the Blues Quilt" during the holidays. I realize that the draw is only held in April, but I intend to put ballots in my family's stockings along with a picture of the quilt. I believe that they have a much better chance in winning the quilt, than they do with scratch lotto tickets, and the ticket benefits our local charity at the same time! Maybe you can use some of your tickets this way as well, or use it as a small hostess gift tucked in a Christmas card when you visit family during the holidays. It is one beautiful quilt and I am sure they would love to win it!
As the year 2022 comes to a close, I have been pondering that I am half way through my second season of presidency! It has been lots of fun so far and a great opportunity to expand my volunteer experience. I am sharing this thought right now because it gives everyone plenty of time to think about our guild community, and if you would be interested in taking on this challenge for next season. I must say, when I was asked to consider being president, at that time, I knew I couldn't take on a challenge like this until I was retired. I am so very glad that I have been able to serve, and it gives you a real different perspective on how the guild runs. I have learned a lot and it has given me a great chance to get to know many members better. As this year ends, I hope you take the time to consider this idea. I know that I didn't start out as president, I got to know the executive positions by serving as the secretary then VP/Charity position, then the President. This gave me the time to get to know what was expected and all the members much better. It is not a daunting position if you are open to new challenges and there are many members who have served on the executive that are very helpful.
I wish you and your family health, happiness for the Christmas season. Take care if you aren't able to make it to our December gathering, I hope to see you at the Zoom meeting in January. Joyce and Rennie have some great speakers lined up for us during our three winter months!
-- Vickie MacNabb, ADQG President
Don't forget the opportunity to offer charity Raffle tickets for the "Out of the Blues Quilt" during the holidays. I realize that the draw is only held in April, but I intend to put ballots in my family's stockings along with a picture of the quilt. I believe that they have a much better chance in winning the quilt, than they do with scratch lotto tickets, and the ticket benefits our local charity at the same time! Maybe you can use some of your tickets this way as well, or use it as a small hostess gift tucked in a Christmas card when you visit family during the holidays. It is one beautiful quilt and I am sure they would love to win it!
As the year 2022 comes to a close, I have been pondering that I am half way through my second season of presidency! It has been lots of fun so far and a great opportunity to expand my volunteer experience. I am sharing this thought right now because it gives everyone plenty of time to think about our guild community, and if you would be interested in taking on this challenge for next season. I must say, when I was asked to consider being president, at that time, I knew I couldn't take on a challenge like this until I was retired. I am so very glad that I have been able to serve, and it gives you a real different perspective on how the guild runs. I have learned a lot and it has given me a great chance to get to know many members better. As this year ends, I hope you take the time to consider this idea. I know that I didn't start out as president, I got to know the executive positions by serving as the secretary then VP/Charity position, then the President. This gave me the time to get to know what was expected and all the members much better. It is not a daunting position if you are open to new challenges and there are many members who have served on the executive that are very helpful.
I wish you and your family health, happiness for the Christmas season. Take care if you aren't able to make it to our December gathering, I hope to see you at the Zoom meeting in January. Joyce and Rennie have some great speakers lined up for us during our three winter months!
-- Vickie MacNabb, ADQG President
December Meeting
Win!
The meeting will feature draws for door prizes, and tickets will be sold for draws of a basket of quilting goodies, and 50-50. The library's "Guess the Number of Pages" is back too. Please Bring:
Covid-19
Ontario's current Covid-19 Public Health Measures and Advice can be found here. Guests We welcome guests to our meetings for a $5 guest fee. |
Program Notes
Retreat
The guild will be offering a retreat to be held Monday, February 13 to Friday, February 17, 2023 at Spruceholme Inn in Fort Coulonge, Quebec.
The price will be $475.00 for four nights or $390.00 for three. Unfortunately this is an increase. Not surprising as everything is going up.
Additionally we will be asking for $25.00 up front. This money will be used as gratuity.
I have just returned from a retreat there and can vouch that it was wonderful. In addition to very good meals, coffee, tea and water were always available in addition to muffins, cookies and fruit.
Hope these dates are suitable.
You can sign up at the December meeting.
-- Joyce Murray
The price will be $475.00 for four nights or $390.00 for three. Unfortunately this is an increase. Not surprising as everything is going up.
Additionally we will be asking for $25.00 up front. This money will be used as gratuity.
I have just returned from a retreat there and can vouch that it was wonderful. In addition to very good meals, coffee, tea and water were always available in addition to muffins, cookies and fruit.
Hope these dates are suitable.
You can sign up at the December meeting.
-- Joyce Murray
Tote-me-Tote Bag Workshop
Tote-me-Tote bag
A workshop is being planned to make this diamond quilted front and back bag. It will be 2 parts on Thursdays May 18th and 25th 2023 from 10AM -12:30 with additional work at home in the intervening week.
Click/tap here for more information
-- Gwen Pennings
Click/tap here for more information
-- Gwen Pennings
Winter Guild Meetings
For our 3 months of hibernation, January, February and March 2023, we have been able to book virtual presentations from some of Canada’s Award Winning Textile Artists! Below are Bio’s of the three artists we will be Zooming with in the New Year.
January 25 2023
Andrea Tsang Jackson is a textile artist, quilt designer, author and educator. After working in various design fields and settings ranging from architecture to museums, the quilting medium called to her as a way to explore place, belonging, and agency. She holds a Master of Architecture from McGill University and a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She was the 2017 Artist-in-Residence at the Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. In 2016, she was awarded the Etsy Canada Award for New Talent. Her work has been published in Flare, Design Milk Everyday, Uppercase, and various quilting publications. Andrea’s first book, Patchwork Lab: Gemology, was published by Lucky Spool in 2019. Andrea lives in Kjipuktuk / Halifax with her husband and two sons.
You can also check out Andrea’s website, 3rdstoryworkshop.com
Andrea Tsang Jackson is a textile artist, quilt designer, author and educator. After working in various design fields and settings ranging from architecture to museums, the quilting medium called to her as a way to explore place, belonging, and agency. She holds a Master of Architecture from McGill University and a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She was the 2017 Artist-in-Residence at the Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. In 2016, she was awarded the Etsy Canada Award for New Talent. Her work has been published in Flare, Design Milk Everyday, Uppercase, and various quilting publications. Andrea’s first book, Patchwork Lab: Gemology, was published by Lucky Spool in 2019. Andrea lives in Kjipuktuk / Halifax with her husband and two sons.
You can also check out Andrea’s website, 3rdstoryworkshop.com
February 22
In February, Johanna Masko will be joining us to give us a presentation on Colour and Print
About Johanna Masko
Johanna Masko is an award-winning Toronto-based textile artist and designer. Born and raised just south of Detroit, she holds a Fine Arts degree from the University of Michigan. Her mother, an avid textile crafter with a variety of interests, let her start with a needle, thread, and some scraps around the age of four. She has been sewing ever since.
Efficient construction techniques that speed the creative process while also preserving a high level of craftsmanship are a focus in Johanna’s work.
Johanna draws inspiration for her textiles from a variety of unconventional sources. Often called a skilled colourist, she strives to build confidence in both colour and technique in her many patchwork, quilting and cross stitch students.
Let’s Talk About Colour and Print
For many quilters, choosing fabric for a new project is fraught with uncertainty. Where do we begin? Let Johanna Masko help you get going with her lively discussion about working with colour and print in quilts. Spoiler Alert- a scholarly understanding of the colour wheel is not required. Johanna shares many of her sources of inspiration and the methods she uses to make artistic choices for her work, and hopes you’ll walk away with a boost of confidence to do the same for yours.
Johanna's web site johannamasko.com
About Johanna Masko
Johanna Masko is an award-winning Toronto-based textile artist and designer. Born and raised just south of Detroit, she holds a Fine Arts degree from the University of Michigan. Her mother, an avid textile crafter with a variety of interests, let her start with a needle, thread, and some scraps around the age of four. She has been sewing ever since.
Efficient construction techniques that speed the creative process while also preserving a high level of craftsmanship are a focus in Johanna’s work.
Johanna draws inspiration for her textiles from a variety of unconventional sources. Often called a skilled colourist, she strives to build confidence in both colour and technique in her many patchwork, quilting and cross stitch students.
Let’s Talk About Colour and Print
For many quilters, choosing fabric for a new project is fraught with uncertainty. Where do we begin? Let Johanna Masko help you get going with her lively discussion about working with colour and print in quilts. Spoiler Alert- a scholarly understanding of the colour wheel is not required. Johanna shares many of her sources of inspiration and the methods she uses to make artistic choices for her work, and hopes you’ll walk away with a boost of confidence to do the same for yours.
Johanna's web site johannamasko.com
March 22
For March, Tracey Lawko. will give us a presentation on thread painting. Her landscapes and still lifes are amazing!!!
Tracey Lawko biography
Tracey is an award-winning quilter, longarmer, embroiderer, and textile artist.
She combines her love of traditional needlework techniques with free-motion longarm machine stitching to create realistic landscapes and still life that are drawn with thread.
Tracey’s textile artwork has been selected for many prestigious North American and International exhibitions, including CQA’s National Juried Show, Grand National Quilt Show, MQX, AQS Quiltweek, Art Quilt Elements, Fantastic Fibers, Fibreworks, Ontario Society of Artists, Society of Canadian Artists, and the Textile Biennale of Mini-Textiles in Angers, France. One of her landscapes has been selected for the permanent collection of the US National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky.
She is a member of the Canadian Quilters Association, York Heritage Quilters Guild, Embroiderers Association of Canada, Toronto Guild of Stitchery, and Craft Ontario. She is a Juried Artist Member of Studio Art Quilt Associates. She has now retired from being a CQA/ACC Certified Quilt Judge.
A professional artist, Tracey is represented by Roberts Gallery in Toronto.
She is delighted to speak to guilds about her work and sources of inspiration.
Email: tlawko@sympatico.ca
Web site: www.traceylawko.com
Facebook: TraceyLawkoTextileArt
Instagram: @traceylawko
Tracey is an award-winning quilter, longarmer, embroiderer, and textile artist.
She combines her love of traditional needlework techniques with free-motion longarm machine stitching to create realistic landscapes and still life that are drawn with thread.
Tracey’s textile artwork has been selected for many prestigious North American and International exhibitions, including CQA’s National Juried Show, Grand National Quilt Show, MQX, AQS Quiltweek, Art Quilt Elements, Fantastic Fibers, Fibreworks, Ontario Society of Artists, Society of Canadian Artists, and the Textile Biennale of Mini-Textiles in Angers, France. One of her landscapes has been selected for the permanent collection of the US National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky.
She is a member of the Canadian Quilters Association, York Heritage Quilters Guild, Embroiderers Association of Canada, Toronto Guild of Stitchery, and Craft Ontario. She is a Juried Artist Member of Studio Art Quilt Associates. She has now retired from being a CQA/ACC Certified Quilt Judge.
A professional artist, Tracey is represented by Roberts Gallery in Toronto.
She is delighted to speak to guilds about her work and sources of inspiration.
Email: tlawko@sympatico.ca
Web site: www.traceylawko.com
Facebook: TraceyLawkoTextileArt
Instagram: @traceylawko
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A huge thanks to those of you who have volunteered to make our guild season great so far, keep up the good work! We hope that everyone can enjoy a beneficial time together by helping out wherever you possibly can. Remember it doesn't have to be a big task, but if we work together it becomes less onerous. -- Vickie MacNabb on behalf of the Executives |
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November Sew Day
The participants in our Sew Day were delighted to get together to sew and enjoy each other's company. Attendees were working on their personal projects, guild charity placemats and gift bags, and on the notebook covers led by Gwen.
For more photos and more information see the Sew Day Blog post.
The participants in our Sew Day were delighted to get together to sew and enjoy each other's company. Attendees were working on their personal projects, guild charity placemats and gift bags, and on the notebook covers led by Gwen.
For more photos and more information see the Sew Day Blog post.
November Guild Meeting
Our Charity workshop evening in November was a huge success, both in the camaraderie and the amount of work that was done. It was a very active and busy hands on meeting making Christmas gift bags and placemats, and preparing materials for other guild Charity projects.
For more photos and more information see the November Meeting Blog post.
Our Charity workshop evening in November was a huge success, both in the camaraderie and the amount of work that was done. It was a very active and busy hands on meeting making Christmas gift bags and placemats, and preparing materials for other guild Charity projects.
For more photos and more information see the November Meeting Blog post.
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Charity
This is a busy time of year for our Charity endeavours!
We have donated 6 quilts and 42 gift bags to Teachers Against Poverty (TAP) Arnprior. There are 400 children from the Arnprior area listed for Christmas gifts, their identities given in by teachers and the community. They've been operating out of a store-front in downtown Arnprior for donations during these weeks before Christmas. This is definitely a worthwhile cause for the guild.
We have donated 6 quilts and 42 gift bags to Teachers Against Poverty (TAP) Arnprior. There are 400 children from the Arnprior area listed for Christmas gifts, their identities given in by teachers and the community. They've been operating out of a store-front in downtown Arnprior for donations during these weeks before Christmas. This is definitely a worthwhile cause for the guild.
Quilts for TAP
Gift Bags
Placemats have been delivered to local Meals on Wheels organizations for distribution to their clients with their Christmas meal.
Thank you for your creative recent donations of Fidget quilts.
And thank you for your ongoing gifts of preemie quilts. You've donated a total of 64 already this guild year!
Refer to the Charity page for more information about participating in our various charitable projects.
Thank you!
-- Marilyn Erskine, Charity
Thank you!
-- Marilyn Erskine, Charity
Guild Projects for YOU!
November BOM blocks 7 & 8
We have several interesting and fun individual projects this year, which are suitable for all skill levels.
Our guild leadership group are hoping that all of our guild members will participate in one (or more, or all) of these guild projects this year.
-- Janet Brownlee, Communications
- Block of the Month - Two blocks will be announced each month until January so you can complete your quilt in time for the quilt show
- Mystery Quilt - One set of instructions each month from September - December, and the mystery revealed in January
- Challenge - Using the scraps from your Mystery Quilt, make another small quilted item
- Jelly Roll Quilt - Make a twin sized quilt from 2 1/2" strips to donate to our Charity initiatives. Fabric kits are available.
- CQA Guild Challenge - As a guild member of the Canadian Quilters' Association (CQA) we are entitled to submit one entry from a member of our guild to this year's CQA Member Guild Challenge. The quilts from all of the guilds will be judged and displayed at Quilt Canada in Halifax June
Our guild leadership group are hoping that all of our guild members will participate in one (or more, or all) of these guild projects this year.
-- Janet Brownlee, Communications
Note: The CQA offers additional Quilt challenges for individual quilters. Click/tap here for information about all of the Quilt Canada challenges.
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Library
It’s nearly Christmas and I’m not ready! Have you heard this before? But there is still time to finish your gifts and projects in time; at least, that’s what I’m telling myself! I’m looking forward to our Potluck Dinner meeting and seeing some of the gifts that you have made. I think they will inspire the rest of us!
This month, the “book” I chose to review is really an issue of a magazine. I didn’t realize that “BLOCK” is a magazine published by Missouri Star Quilt Company and if you subscribe to the magazine, you have free access to their app. We all know how great Jenny Doan’s tutorials are… The issue we have in our Library is ‘Winter Volume 6 Issue 6 2019”. It has lots of great quilt patterns from squares and half square triangles to ones with curves and stars. There are many tricks and tips and even a chili recipe. I have made quilts from Missouri Star patterns and I have to say that the directions are very clear and detailed. Look for this book/magazine out the next time you browse the Library!
And take a look at the rulers that are now included in our selection.
We will have our “Guess the Number of Pages” contest again this month; I wonder if someone will guess the exact number like last month? Don’t forget to return any books you have on loan.
See you on Wednesday!
-- Nancy Hayley, Librarian
This month, the “book” I chose to review is really an issue of a magazine. I didn’t realize that “BLOCK” is a magazine published by Missouri Star Quilt Company and if you subscribe to the magazine, you have free access to their app. We all know how great Jenny Doan’s tutorials are… The issue we have in our Library is ‘Winter Volume 6 Issue 6 2019”. It has lots of great quilt patterns from squares and half square triangles to ones with curves and stars. There are many tricks and tips and even a chili recipe. I have made quilts from Missouri Star patterns and I have to say that the directions are very clear and detailed. Look for this book/magazine out the next time you browse the Library!
And take a look at the rulers that are now included in our selection.
We will have our “Guess the Number of Pages” contest again this month; I wonder if someone will guess the exact number like last month? Don’t forget to return any books you have on loan.
See you on Wednesday!
-- Nancy Hayley, Librarian
Rulers
I am excited about our donation of our first bag of rulers. Thank you to the donor.
These rulers will be available to borrow at the December meeting. We can't hold our one month rule for borrowing rulers during the winter because of course we won't meet again until April, so happy cutting. What?? You may run out of fabric? Well the stores will welcome you!
The rulers are:
1. Easy Circle Cut by Sharon Hultgren
Jenny Doan offers Adorable Fabric Ornaments for those of you with a circle ruler. Watch the video on her Missouri Star Quilt Company YouTube channel.
You can watch this Fiskars Fabric circle cutter video for how to, and ideas of what this ruler can do - except you will use your rotary cutter.
2. Shape Cut Half Inch Ruler by June Tailor Shape Cut
This is one of my favourites to cut multiple squares and rectangles in a hurry. It will cut strips, diamonds and hexagons up to six layers at a time! Your rotary cutter blade needs to be sharp.
Watch this video from June Taylor
3. Quarter Cut Ruler by June Tailor Shape Cut
Watch this video from June Taylor
4.. Fiskars Rulers 3 inch Ruler x 18 - very handy to have in your tool box.
Remember if you have any rulers you would like to donate to the library, we are anxious to have them.
-- Gwen
Tip: If you're wondering if a particular book is in our guild library collection, use this web site's Search to look for the book name or author, or any other text that's in the new Library Catalog document.
Membership
We are pleased to see new members still enrolling in our Arnprior & District Quilters’ Guild. We also welcome guests for $5 at the door. We had 33 members at the last meeting in November.
If you have friends who would like to join us, please let them know we will be welcoming them throughout our virtual meetings in January, February and March as well. They can register the day before, e-transfer $5 and will be eligible for the door prizes as well!
-- Martha Palmer, Membership
If you have friends who would like to join us, please let them know we will be welcoming them throughout our virtual meetings in January, February and March as well. They can register the day before, e-transfer $5 and will be eligible for the door prizes as well!
-- Martha Palmer, Membership
Tip from Gwen
Concealing an opening in journal covers and placemats
Start at the seam allowance, stitch out to the edge of the fabric and back to the seam allowance. Then stitch around the your project stopping to leave your opening, again stitch out to the edge of fabric and stitch back to the seam allowance. Turn the right side out. The opening will be "coaxed" into place to be concealed with a ladder stitch. I only learned this trick recently.
Start at the seam allowance, stitch out to the edge of the fabric and back to the seam allowance. Then stitch around the your project stopping to leave your opening, again stitch out to the edge of fabric and stitch back to the seam allowance. Turn the right side out. The opening will be "coaxed" into place to be concealed with a ladder stitch. I only learned this trick recently.
-- Gwen Pennnings
Sustainable Quilting
We introduced you to the impressive work on environmentally sustainable quilting being done by Bridget O'Flaherty who presented at our meeting in October 2018. We learned that Canadians, on average, send 80 lbs of textile waste to landfill per person every year.
Through a series of 3 articles for the Canadian Quilters' Association (CQA), Bridget O’Flaherty (aka The Sustainable Quilter) is helping us understand what we can do to help make the quilting industry more sustainable.
The first of Bridget's three articles was published on October 1 and the second one is now available. Both articles can be found here.
The second article, Eleven things quilters can do to help make the industry more sustainable has also been provided to us in PDF form to share with our guild members. Read the report
You can also check out Bridget’s Threads of Sustainability podcasts, including a recent episode regarding Ways to Save T-shirts from Landfill.
-- Janet
Through a series of 3 articles for the Canadian Quilters' Association (CQA), Bridget O’Flaherty (aka The Sustainable Quilter) is helping us understand what we can do to help make the quilting industry more sustainable.
The first of Bridget's three articles was published on October 1 and the second one is now available. Both articles can be found here.
The second article, Eleven things quilters can do to help make the industry more sustainable has also been provided to us in PDF form to share with our guild members. Read the report
You can also check out Bridget’s Threads of Sustainability podcasts, including a recent episode regarding Ways to Save T-shirts from Landfill.
-- Janet
Quilt Shows
In person quilt shows have started again!!!
I try to track down any upcoming shows in Eastern Ontario, and when requested, I publish information about shows that are further afield.
Here's a list of the upcoming shows that I'm aware of. See our Upcoming Quilt Shows page for more detailed information for each of these shows.
I try to track down any upcoming shows in Eastern Ontario, and when requested, I publish information about shows that are further afield.
Here's a list of the upcoming shows that I'm aware of. See our Upcoming Quilt Shows page for more detailed information for each of these shows.
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Tips:
- You can find the up-to-date quilt show information from anywhere on our web site More... --> Resources --> Upcoming Quilt Shows
- If you know of any upcoming local shows that are not listed on our web site, please let us know
- Browse the CQA Events Calendar for information about quilting events across Canada by province, territory, or date.
-- Janet Brownlee, Communications
Guild Facebook Group
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Have you joined our guild members only Facebook Group yet? If not you are missing out on all the fun. This is a great way to get to know your fellow guild members, to ask questions, learn a new block, a new tip or trick. Last year we saw some lovely photos of the Charity Pick Up Sticks quilts being assembled and finished off, Blocks of the month, completed mini-maker cases from a workshop, and much more.
Tina is doing a fantastic job of monitoring and facilitating the activity in this group. Thank you Tina for this wonderful guild initiative! Hope to see you there soon. Click/tap here to join the group now. -- Janet Brownlee, Communications Advertisers
Thank you to our newsletter advertisers! Your support funds our Communications budget which includes the hosting of this web site. We are very grateful for this financial support. Our advertisers for this year are:
-- Janet Brownlee, Communications & Newsletter Editor |
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THANK YOU to Gwen, Joyce, Marilyn, Nancy, Martha, and Vickie for their guild updates and other news this month.
-- Janet Brownlee, Communications & Newsletter Editor
I am still not so patiently waiting to restore our guild web site to its usual look-and -feel once a glitch in the underlying technology is repaired.
-- Janet Brownlee, Communications & Newsletter Editor
I am still not so patiently waiting to restore our guild web site to its usual look-and -feel once a glitch in the underlying technology is repaired.
Our next meeting is on January 25th 2023 via Zoom