Arnprior & District Quilters' Guild Newsletter - January 2020
President's Message
L to R: Bruce Young (November meeting guest) and Frank
Well, we've survived the "holidays" and now life returns to normal. We spent part of our holiday season re-organizing and expanding our quilting room. We now have a dedicated area for our Go Cutters and our serger. And then Paulette took advantage of the re-organizing spirit and did her semi-annual review of our fabric stash (or Fabric Library as I like to call it because it is REALLY organized).
So now we have no excuses as we start into 2020's quilting. I've got President's Challenge, Black & White Challenge and about 20 other quilts in my "to do" pile for this year. Time will tell how many get done. And my big hope this year is to step outside my comfort zone and figure out curved piecing so I can successfully make a Double Wedding Ring quilt top. Double Wedding Rings fascinate me. I have about a bazillion saved on Pinterest. I love the look of them, but curved piecing eludes me (at least until now). So that's my big growth project this year is to figure it out.
Happy Quilting! See you at the monthly meeting!
-- Frank McCarron, President
January Meeting
Our January meeting is on Wednesday January 22 at 7 PM, with doors open at 6:30 PM.
Location and more
We'll be welcoming three local shops: Sew Inspired, Textile Traditions, and The Pickle Dish to demonstrate some new and exciting quilting items at the meeting. These demo nights are always interesting, informative and fun!
Aztec Jewel BOM
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Your Aztec Jewel Block-of-the-Month completed items or (unfinished blocks) are due at this meeting. There's still time to make this fun block. Refer to the Block-of-the Month page for details. Your Blue Block Party Challenge blocks are also due at this meeting. Refer to the Challenges page for details. And do bring along your own mug for coffee or tea during the break. |
Blue Block Party fabric kit
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Charity
HOLIDAY GIFT BAGS AND PLACEMATS
In response to our donation of your gift bags and placemats we received this note from Nancy Peck, Programmer Coordinator for the Arnprior-Braeside-McNab Seniors at Home Program Inc. "The Arnprior and District Quilters' Guild are definitely ANGELS ON EARTH! Thank you once again for the CHRISTMAS GIFT BAGS and PLACEMATS for the Meals on Wheels Clients / Grocery Program! It was so much fun having my picture taken with all of your goodies. They are beautiful. I know they will truly love each and every one of them." -- Jane Wickware, Charity Projects |
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QUILTS FOR COUCH SURFING YOUTH
Three quilts made from your Bethlehem Star blocks were donated to the local Safe Shelter for Youth program for their homeless couch surfing youth clients.
Representatives of the Safe Shelter for Youth program were delighted to accept our donations. They absolutely loved the quilts and send many thank you’s to our guild members for the three beautiful star quilts for couch surfing youths.
For more information about the important work of this valuable program, which is offered through Family and Children's Services of Renfrew County, refer to their web site.
More photos on the Blog
Three quilts made from your Bethlehem Star blocks were donated to the local Safe Shelter for Youth program for their homeless couch surfing youth clients.
Representatives of the Safe Shelter for Youth program were delighted to accept our donations. They absolutely loved the quilts and send many thank you’s to our guild members for the three beautiful star quilts for couch surfing youths.
For more information about the important work of this valuable program, which is offered through Family and Children's Services of Renfrew County, refer to their web site.
More photos on the Blog
Quilts for Couch Surfing Youth
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SEW DAY
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We had so much fun sewing at Island View Retirement Residence on Saturday, January 11th. We were a total of 5 volunteers and we accomplished so much. We completed the sashing on one quilt, made 4 touch quilts, labeled a resident's special quilt, and cut over 40 blocks for the background of the new charity block. We had lots of residence visitors... and they teased us and said we were loud with lots of laughter !!!! Delicious coffee, tea, cookies and muffins were supplied by Island View. Hope to see you February 15th... for the next charity Sew Day. Thanks so much for the volunteers who braved the rainy weather to help out with our charity projects. More photos on the Blog -- Jane and Vickie |
Sew Day at Island View
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BREAKING NEWS
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Our winter retreat is on now from January 16-19 at Providence Point in Lanark.
By Friday morning, Brigid had already completed a new quilt top for our young friend Kory. As a newborn in the neo-natal unit at the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus, Kory was given a premie quilt made by a member of our guild. Three years ago we replaced his well loved (and worn) premie with a new premie. We recently heard that it too is worn out, and now too small for Kory. We jumped at the opportunity to provide Kory, who has ongoing health challenges, with a new, bigger quilt and here's the top! Thank you Brigid! 
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Cory's new quilt
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Library News
A new year has begun with new projects and, perhaps, the resolution to finish some UFO’s! Our Guild Library is a great place to find ideas for something different or some helpful hints to get past that roadblock that has led you to put a piece away ‘til later.
Our new book this month, “Irish Chain Quilts” by Melissa Corry, is so full of great designs from contemporary to patch work and even applique! I’ve never made an Irish chain quilt, but this book is quite inspiring and enticing! Come and have a look!
Our “Guess the Pages” book is all about Amish designs in quilting with many project ideas that will certainly get you diving into your stash. Come and take a guess and maybe get to take it home!
We will have some books out for sale this month, so bring some coins and increase your library while helping us clear our excess stock and keep our Guild Library current.
-- Nancy and Lucy
A new year has begun with new projects and, perhaps, the resolution to finish some UFO’s! Our Guild Library is a great place to find ideas for something different or some helpful hints to get past that roadblock that has led you to put a piece away ‘til later.
Our new book this month, “Irish Chain Quilts” by Melissa Corry, is so full of great designs from contemporary to patch work and even applique! I’ve never made an Irish chain quilt, but this book is quite inspiring and enticing! Come and have a look!
Our “Guess the Pages” book is all about Amish designs in quilting with many project ideas that will certainly get you diving into your stash. Come and take a guess and maybe get to take it home!
We will have some books out for sale this month, so bring some coins and increase your library while helping us clear our excess stock and keep our Guild Library current.
-- Nancy and Lucy
Meeting Notes
Cancellation - If a guild meeting is cancelled due to inclement winter weather, guild members will be notified on the day of the meeting by email. Also, a cancellation notice will appear on the web site Home page by 12:30 PM. If you are unable to access email or the internet you can phone a friend who does have access, or Janet Brownlee at 613- 623-7948 to determine if the meeting is cancelled.
Parking - Please DO NOT park in the church parking lot that is adjacent to the hall. Our lease does not include the parking lot - it must be available for church-related activities. There is plenty of on-street parking nearby.
See photos and more info from previous meetings on the blog....
December Meeting November Meeting
Cancellation - If a guild meeting is cancelled due to inclement winter weather, guild members will be notified on the day of the meeting by email. Also, a cancellation notice will appear on the web site Home page by 12:30 PM. If you are unable to access email or the internet you can phone a friend who does have access, or Janet Brownlee at 613- 623-7948 to determine if the meeting is cancelled.
Parking - Please DO NOT park in the church parking lot that is adjacent to the hall. Our lease does not include the parking lot - it must be available for church-related activities. There is plenty of on-street parking nearby.
See photos and more info from previous meetings on the blog....
December Meeting November Meeting