Arnprior & District Quilters' Guild Newsletter - May 2020
President's Message
Good Morning/Good Afternoon/Good Evening!
I hope this newsletter finds you well and safe in this quarantine times. I have been out of the house several times (including daily trips to work) and it is weird to see so little traffic on the highways and so many businesses closed, or observing limits on numbers of customers allowed inside at one time.
In the good news column a number of quilt shops are offering "curbside pickup" and some are allowing limited numbers of customers into their stores at one time. This is a good thing because after all these weeks a few of us need a supply or twelve. Luckily most of us have stashes (or as I call ours "the fabric library) so we are good for fabric, but our supplies of things like thread aren't limitless.
In the sad news column we are seeing that a number of small businesses, including quilt shops and retreat centres haven't all survived this economic downturn. That is sad. It makes me more determined to shop locally and help the remaining shops. We all know that Amazon and Walmart will survive, but our local small businesses need us, and we need them.
From what I see on TV and read it appears that social distancing (2m) and face masks are going to be with us for a while. I'm not sure what format future guild "meetings" will take. I see a few guilds are starting to do meetings via the internet. I also hear of small groups of quilting friends meeting in shopping centre parking lots so a half dozen friends can share their show and tell with each other while maintaining social distancing guidelines.
What do you think the future will hold? Would you attend an internet meeting? Drop me a line and let me know your thoughts. Mail me at the quilt guild account arnpriorquilters@gmail.com or on my personal account erebus59@gmail.com
and let me know what you've been up to and what you are thinking. Please share!
When I signed on as President I certainly didn't picture my first year being this filled with challenges and adventures.
I hope everyone is doing well, but drop me a line and tell me what you are doing. What you are working on? What do you miss? What you don't miss? Would you attend an internet meeting? How's your family doing?
I'm also on Facebook if you are looking for pics of things I'm working on. I haven't been working on a lot of late because I've been exhausted when I come home from work and our household has discovered Netflix (we are currently watching "Heartland").
I'd love to hear from you.
-- Frank McCarron, President
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Charity
Preemie quilts - We have been asked where can we drop them off? Well, Marilyn Erskine is the preemie quilt volunteer who will collect them, and ensure that a guild label is attached. Please drop them off in the bin provided anytime at Marilyn's home, 261 Bell Street, Arnprior.
Touch quilts - We have 5 made from the two sew days at Island View this season. These small quilts will be donated to the Arnprior District Memorial Hospital shortly. They would still like to have about 10 more, which we will continue to work on next season with your generous help.
Looking for some volunteers to quilt a few more charity star quilt tops for the Homeless Youths. You could quilt them over the summer. We hope to be able to donate them in the fall, before the cold weather comes.
Please email the guild arnpriorquilters@gmail.com attention Jane or Vickie with your name and address and we will make arrangements with you to drop one off. Thanks!
Would like to join the charity team for next season? If you are a team player with lots of new ideas, love to help out, wish to learn a more about our Guild, and the local Charity Organizations, this position is for you! It also is a great way to get to know more guild members if you are new to the guild, ask Jane she found it helpful. Please submit your name to: Arnprior District Quilters Guild
Some of the duties are: To represent the guild to find or answer community charity opportunities, help organize the charity table at the meetings, events, store some supply bins,and help communicate the activities. Vickie will continue to represent the charity team at executive meetings and be the other part of the team.
A huge thanks to Jane Wickware, who has completed a couple of years volunteering and wishes to hand over the position in September. The position would start at the September meeting and Jane could hand over information at that time.
Keep on quilting! We will all have our Covid quilting stories to share when we get together again. Stay safe!
Vickie & Jane
Your Charity Team
Program
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Hi Fellow Quilters: I am sure many of you are producing great piles of quilting. I, on the other hand, seem to be in a rut which I can’t seem to escape. I plan to get lots done but somehow it just doesn’t happen. It does appear that summer is finally coming, at least all that outdoor work is here. And now they say the golf courses are opening. Wow! I have a son visiting for part of his unemployment and he keeps me busy as well. If only there was somewhere to go. I so miss dinner parties and just getting together with friends and family. Rather than complete the many projects staring at me I have an urge to start another. Yes, I finally broke down and started one. My design wall is full and I am deep into another, easy but huge project. That is true of me, I like things big but easy. Wait till you see this one! Can’t wait to see everyone's black and white projects. Remember you can complete our project and make whatever you wish from the black and white blocks. I expect to see lots of wall hangings and gorgeous quilts. While we are away from our regular meetings (and who knows how long that will last) your program committee would like to see at least one UFO. I have decided to call this your FFO (Finally Finished Object). We trust you to finish something and surely can come up with some sort of small prize. Possibly names in a hat. You just have to tell us the story. For anyone looking for another project have you checked out the CQA website for their new Row by Row Quilt Along? They are now at week seven (they have been putting out patterns every 2 weeks) and it looks like an easy enough project with endless possibilities depending on your fabric choices. If anyone is unable to print the earlier patterns let me know and I may be able to help. There is so much available on the computer. Though this year at the guild is a bust, everything booked for 2020 is now booked for 2021. Lets hope we can get together soon!! Wait till you see what we have done with the blue and white blocks. Hope you like it. -- Joyce Murray and the Committee Sue Hodgins, Jackie Lavictoire and Anne Cruickshank |
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Library News
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Well, we’re now in May and still self-isolating! My fingers are itching to get back into our Library and see what new ideas and patterns I can find. So now, to find new ideas, colours to try together and patterns and shapes, I’ve been trying to look more carefully at my garden, especially when I take a break from hoeing and planting. Nature has it all perfected and all we have to do is sit quietly and reflect on our surroundings. We are so fortunate to have the ability to sew and quilt these natural inspirations, even if we sometimes find we’ve stitched ourselves down the wrong road. I saw a post on Facebook today which roughly said that when you find a mess, stop and clean it up and I immediately thought about “ripping”! We’ve all done our share of this with lots of sighing and maybe more, but in the end it increases satisfaction and pride in our finished projects. I know a lot of you have been using the internet to search patterns, tips and fabrics, etc. I played around one day and put a fabric manufacturer’s name into my search and found a cute, free pattern at moda.com. You can try any maker’s name or shop that you know, as well. I have also tried some Blueprint workshops and now have a tiny bit of skill in quilting with my walking foot. There’s lots out there to have a look at quickly or delve into more deeply. I’m a newbie in terms of internet skills but learning fast! Please take care of yourselves and take this time to do something for yourselves whether it be sewing, gardening or just … nothing! It’s all good! We’re looking forward to seeing you again when we can! Your librarians, Nancy and Lucy |
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Virtual Show-and-Tell
Many thanks to those of you who have sent in photos of your recently completed projects for our Virtual Show-and-Tell.
Jane W recently completed her "7 Year Stitch" quilt - yes that's how long she says it took her to make it.
I invite you to send in photos of your completed projects to us at arnpriorquilters@gmail.com and we'll post them for all of us to see. We would love to see whatever you've been working on, including any premie quilts. And we look forward to also seeing these projects live at our next real time show-and-tell.
-- Janet Brownlee
Personal Charity Projects
Many of you are devoting Covid-19 self-isolation time to projects to help others from those in local health care facilities, to grieving families in Nova Scotia, to our friends, and to family members. You have been very generous with your time, your creativity, and your fabric stashes (or for Frank and Paulette, your fabric library!)
Face Masks
Shirley Fedoruk reported earlier this month that she's aware of 499 face masks being delivered to Arnprior Regional Health for people coming into the Arnprior & District Memorial Hospital for appointments or lab work, and to The Grove nursing home from the initiative that many of you participated in. Shirley suspects that the number is actually higher because some people delivered their face masks to the hospital rather than dropping them off to Shirley. Our efforts were augmented by other sewists in our community who heard about this project and wanted to be part of it. Thank you to all of you who contributed face masks to this effort.
And from Debbie C:
I just want to add that some guild members (me included) have also made a bunch of face masks that went to the Renfrew Victoria Hospital (I had seen their request first in our local paper out here). Also, I supported the Almonte General Hospital with some. I have family in Almonte. I’m sure we are all experts at making masks and I just wanted to do a shout out to everyone who has been contributing to the cause. We are an awesome guild and do so much for our communities.
I just want to add that some guild members (me included) have also made a bunch of face masks that went to the Renfrew Victoria Hospital (I had seen their request first in our local paper out here). Also, I supported the Almonte General Hospital with some. I have family in Almonte. I’m sure we are all experts at making masks and I just wanted to do a shout out to everyone who has been contributing to the cause. We are an awesome guild and do so much for our communities.
Janet Brownlee:
I was once again pleasantly surprised by an email message i recently found in our guild's email Inbox which I monitor in my role of guild Communications.
I was once again pleasantly surprised by an email message i recently found in our guild's email Inbox which I monitor in my role of guild Communications.
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Would anyone in your guild be able to provide a mask or two to a senior who lives by herself in Arnprior and is now wanting to go out a little. I got a request to send her a few masks but I am in Auburn, California and it will take a week or so before they get there. I would really appreciate if someone could drop off even one fabric mask to her. If you are unable to do so I totally understand.
I am a quilter from the Foothills Quilt Guild here in Auburn, CA. Thank you! Marina |
Of course I replied "yes" and I just happened to have an extra face mask on hand. I was able to deliver it to a very grateful Gail in Arnprior that afternoon, and a second one to her a couple of days later.
I was somewhat curious as to how this all came about and Marina quickly filled in the blanks.
Gail had asked her best friend, who is Marina's sister, if Marina would be able to make her a couple of masks and mail them to her. Concerned about the mail delay, Marina checked to see if there was a local quilt guild and found our guild web site. I'm so pleased that she did ask us because it took a little over 2 weeks for an envelope containing 6 face masks to get from me to our son in Cincinnati Ohio, so Gail would have been waiting a long time for them.
If you're interested you can check out Marina's quilt guild the Foothills Quilt Guild web site.
In the Ottawa Citizen:
Transparent masks made to assist deaf, hard-of-hearing
Transparent masks made to assist deaf, hard-of-hearing
Eleanor with her scrub caps
Scrub Caps for Queensway-Carleton Hospital Nurses – COVID-19
May we live in interesting times! That’s what a colleague of mine used to say. We certainly are living up to that statement with the COVID-19 pandemic upon us.
A few weeks ago, a friend informed me that Tracey Zoobkoff, a registered nurse at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital, had reached out to the public through our local on-line newspaper advising that the nurses were in desperate need of scrub caps. My friend asked if this was something our ‘Monday Stitchers’ group could assist with. Absolutely! During this pandemic, the nurses have been advised that they must wear scrub caps and a mask during their entire shift, which is twelve hours. In order to be comfortable during this long shift, it was requested that we fasten a button to each side of the scrub caps so that the elastic could go around the button and not the nurses’ ears.
An email was sent out to the ‘Monday Stitches’ at Bethel-St. Andrew’s United Church to request their assistance. To-date we have sewed over 25 scrub caps! To say the least, Tracey Zoobkoff was thrilled to receive our donations.
The ‘Monday Stitchers’ is a group of ladies who meet the first and third Monday of each month to quilt, sew, crochet, weave or just to come by our Church to chat. We meet from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tea and coffee is provided for everyone, we bring our own lunch and enjoy a day filled with fellowship, fun and laughter!
Submitted by: Eleanor Leben
May we live in interesting times! That’s what a colleague of mine used to say. We certainly are living up to that statement with the COVID-19 pandemic upon us.
A few weeks ago, a friend informed me that Tracey Zoobkoff, a registered nurse at the Queensway-Carleton Hospital, had reached out to the public through our local on-line newspaper advising that the nurses were in desperate need of scrub caps. My friend asked if this was something our ‘Monday Stitchers’ group could assist with. Absolutely! During this pandemic, the nurses have been advised that they must wear scrub caps and a mask during their entire shift, which is twelve hours. In order to be comfortable during this long shift, it was requested that we fasten a button to each side of the scrub caps so that the elastic could go around the button and not the nurses’ ears.
An email was sent out to the ‘Monday Stitches’ at Bethel-St. Andrew’s United Church to request their assistance. To-date we have sewed over 25 scrub caps! To say the least, Tracey Zoobkoff was thrilled to receive our donations.
The ‘Monday Stitchers’ is a group of ladies who meet the first and third Monday of each month to quilt, sew, crochet, weave or just to come by our Church to chat. We meet from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tea and coffee is provided for everyone, we bring our own lunch and enjoy a day filled with fellowship, fun and laughter!
Submitted by: Eleanor Leben
Brigid's PPE and More
Where has the time gone?
When I bought my longarm last year, I kept saying that I would retreat to my quilt room and quilt the winter away. Careful what you wish for!! Although, I would like to be quilting!!
We have been self-isolating since mid-March and I have been able to play with a bunch of my toys. From the Go-cutter cutting 2.5” squares to mail to my mom (more on that next month) to my longarm being repurposed to crank out masks, lots of various tools, and fabric, have been used in the last couple of months.
I must admit that making masks was not something that I wanted to do. One of my non-quilting friends heard a newscast in late March on the noon news and they were talking about making caps for hospital personnel with buttons to save their ears. Now that was something that I thought could be interesting. The group was called Canada Sews and it’s since grown so much, that we are now Canada Sews-Eastern Ontario. There are chapters in 9 provinces and we just keep sewing!
I have not been very good at keeping track of the things I have made, but I have tried to keep scraps so that I can make a memory quilt from those pieces. I made about a dozen of the caps, then some were asking for just a headband instead of a cap ... well I can make 10 times more headbands than caps, so there were a couple hundred of those in no time. I raided my button collection and used every button that could be machine sewn on.... oh yeah, I had forgotten about that feature on my machine! Sweet!!
Where has the time gone?
When I bought my longarm last year, I kept saying that I would retreat to my quilt room and quilt the winter away. Careful what you wish for!! Although, I would like to be quilting!!
We have been self-isolating since mid-March and I have been able to play with a bunch of my toys. From the Go-cutter cutting 2.5” squares to mail to my mom (more on that next month) to my longarm being repurposed to crank out masks, lots of various tools, and fabric, have been used in the last couple of months.
I must admit that making masks was not something that I wanted to do. One of my non-quilting friends heard a newscast in late March on the noon news and they were talking about making caps for hospital personnel with buttons to save their ears. Now that was something that I thought could be interesting. The group was called Canada Sews and it’s since grown so much, that we are now Canada Sews-Eastern Ontario. There are chapters in 9 provinces and we just keep sewing!
I have not been very good at keeping track of the things I have made, but I have tried to keep scraps so that I can make a memory quilt from those pieces. I made about a dozen of the caps, then some were asking for just a headband instead of a cap ... well I can make 10 times more headbands than caps, so there were a couple hundred of those in no time. I raided my button collection and used every button that could be machine sewn on.... oh yeah, I had forgotten about that feature on my machine! Sweet!!
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Intermixed in this adventure, I answered Shirley’s request for masks for Arnprior, made a few for the volunteers at my local food bank and saw that there was a greater need in the Ottawa area for them. My week would start with selecting fabric, washing it, hanging it to dry (it’s windy here, so that’s like drying and ironing in one step!) ... I was longing to be quilting, so the rebel in me loaded a quilt on the machine for a change of pace and quilted something every now and then. But then I came across a video on the Handy Quilter website - I could use my long arm to make masks - what! That’s a game changer ... I can play with my longarm ... gotta like that! So now, I can load fabric on the longarm right sides together and have masks ready to turn, pleat and add elastic.
That sounds like we could get something happening ... and then I turned around and it was not only May, which means Mother’s Day, my wedding anniversary and gardening ... but wait, where did April go? Poof - April is gone!
Admittedly, I have other commitments that keep me away from sewing and quilting and those commitments kept me busy these past few months as well.
This quilt has gone to Saskatchewan ... one of my rebel projects!
That sounds like we could get something happening ... and then I turned around and it was not only May, which means Mother’s Day, my wedding anniversary and gardening ... but wait, where did April go? Poof - April is gone!
Admittedly, I have other commitments that keep me away from sewing and quilting and those commitments kept me busy these past few months as well.
This quilt has gone to Saskatchewan ... one of my rebel projects!
Quilt to Saskatchewan
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If any of you are looking for things to do, here’s a list:
New requests keep coming in to Canada Sews and the numbers keep growing (I am just a small part of this, but every little bit helps). For more information about Canada Sews, check out the Canada Sews web site and Canada Sews - Ontario East on Facebook.
Here's the pattern for the first head band I made ... we have since altered the pattern to be only 4” elastic and a longer fabric piece (19-20”). Some are also making the strips wider than 2.5”, but for keeping my hair back, I find 2.5” comfortable. This pattern has photos and is a wider piece of fabric.
-- Brigid Whitnall
- Sort through your button collection (you know you have one!) and donate flat 1/2 - 3/4” buttons for caps and headbands
- Want to finish masks that need ties and pleats sewn - call me, I can supply you with loads
- Want to take a bite out of your scraps - check in next month for a great scrap busting project ...hint: it’s all about 2.5" and 4.5” squares.
New requests keep coming in to Canada Sews and the numbers keep growing (I am just a small part of this, but every little bit helps). For more information about Canada Sews, check out the Canada Sews web site and Canada Sews - Ontario East on Facebook.
Here's the pattern for the first head band I made ... we have since altered the pattern to be only 4” elastic and a longer fabric piece (19-20”). Some are also making the strips wider than 2.5”, but for keeping my hair back, I find 2.5” comfortable. This pattern has photos and is a wider piece of fabric.
-- Brigid Whitnall
Beds for Dogs in Animal Shelter
I’ve just finished a bed for the animal shelter. I filled a pillow case with all the scraps that would have gone in the garbage and then made a second case for protection. I emailed the Arnprior & District Humane Society and they are accepting these beds. They currently don’t have any dogs but will store them for future use.
I thought that maybe more members would also be throwing out scraps and appreciate such a good idea to put them to use.
-- Donna Kurmis
I’ve just finished a bed for the animal shelter. I filled a pillow case with all the scraps that would have gone in the garbage and then made a second case for protection. I emailed the Arnprior & District Humane Society and they are accepting these beds. They currently don’t have any dogs but will store them for future use.
I thought that maybe more members would also be throwing out scraps and appreciate such a good idea to put them to use.
-- Donna Kurmis
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Quilts for Nova Scotia Families
Guild member Debbie Cauvier quickly responded to an open invitation from the Halifax Chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild to quilters to make blue and white themed quilts for the families of the mid-April shooting victims in Nova Scotia. Debbie has previously lived in and around the Halifax area and retains a special connection to Nova Scotia.
Debbie quickly put together the top of this quilt using the blue and white Snowflake blocks she had won from the guild's January 2019 Block of the Month. What an interesting pattern these blocks make when pieced together!
When we notified you about this opportunity, Lucy Voss, who spends the summer and fall months on Cape Breton Island, responded by offering a metre of Nova Scotia tartan fabric to Debbie. And Brigid Whitnall offered to quilt it on her long arm.
It wasn't long before this quilt, which is actually a quillow, was completed and sent off to Nova Scotia.
What a wonderful combined effort of many of our guild members to create this beautiful quilt for a grieving family.
Guild member Debbie Cauvier quickly responded to an open invitation from the Halifax Chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild to quilters to make blue and white themed quilts for the families of the mid-April shooting victims in Nova Scotia. Debbie has previously lived in and around the Halifax area and retains a special connection to Nova Scotia.
Debbie quickly put together the top of this quilt using the blue and white Snowflake blocks she had won from the guild's January 2019 Block of the Month. What an interesting pattern these blocks make when pieced together!
When we notified you about this opportunity, Lucy Voss, who spends the summer and fall months on Cape Breton Island, responded by offering a metre of Nova Scotia tartan fabric to Debbie. And Brigid Whitnall offered to quilt it on her long arm.
It wasn't long before this quilt, which is actually a quillow, was completed and sent off to Nova Scotia.
What a wonderful combined effort of many of our guild members to create this beautiful quilt for a grieving family.
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Mary deVries also responded to this invitation, and quickly made this beautiful blue and white pinwheel quilt from fabrics in her stash.
Mary deVries also responded to this invitation, and quickly made this beautiful blue and white pinwheel quilt from fabrics in her stash.
Mary wasn't finished! She also engaged fellow guild members Chris Gordon, Mary Moss, and (her sister) Joanna Vlaming to contribute blue and white blocks for this stunning sampler quilt. Mary then assembled the quilt top, quilted, and bound it.
Update on Zara's Quilt
In the April newsletter I asked if any of you recognized this cute little premie cupcake quilt that was given to Zara 2 years ago and I got a prompt reply. Shirley Fedoruk made it!
-- Janet Brownlee, Communications
In the April newsletter I asked if any of you recognized this cute little premie cupcake quilt that was given to Zara 2 years ago and I got a prompt reply. Shirley Fedoruk made it!
-- Janet Brownlee, Communications
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Quilt Canada
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While Quilt Canada 2020 has now been cancelled due to COVID-19, the Canadian Quilters' Association is developing plans to present some aspects of the show in a virtual manner, including for the Gateway to Adventure - CQA Member Guild Challenge. Visit the CQA web site for more information as it evolves. |
Meeting Notes
Cancellation - If a guild meeting is cancelled due to the Covid-19 health situation, or 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.
Cancellation - If a guild meeting is cancelled due to the Covid-19 health situation, or 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.