Threads
Find us online at www.quiltersfedway.com
Crazy Quilters of Federal Way
Executive Board
and Committee Chairs
EXECUTIVE BOARD
President
- Linda Hill
Past President
- Janine Walker
Vice President
- Cathy Norgaard
- Pam Elliott
Secretary
- Kathy Wyckoff
Treasurer
- Nan Naubert
Membership/Newsletter
- Jill Ellis
253-927-1260
jillzquilts@hotmail.com
October 28, 2010
Lines from Linda
It’s true. I am addicted to football. What better time to sit and sew and still be
entertained. Watch a play, sew a little, watch another play, sew a little more. The
cadence of the announcers seems to fit my sewing style. What a way to spend a Sunday
afternoon and evening. How dare my darling husband think I need to cook!! Oh, well,
that is what halftime is for, isn’t it. (By the way, I watch more football than hubby. He
starts to change the channel between plays and I head to the Meadow. I wouldn’t want to
miss some of those darling commercials.)
Enough of that. This is supposed to be about quilting, isn’t it?
The auction was a huge success!. You increased our bank account to the tune of
$1,300+. A big thank you goes to Pam Elliott, Cathy Norgaard, Marianna Garrett, Nan
Naubert, Jean Snedden, and numerous others who helped make the evening a success.
You all did an awesome job. I know a lot of work goes into making this activity a success
and you achieved that result beyond any of our wildest dreams. And everyone who
brought items to sell — you were awesome. The organizers were overwhelmed by your
response. And we get to do this again on a smaller scale after the first of the year so we
can finish selling what was brought this time.
One quick reminder. The batik fat quarters the owner of Gee-Gee’s gave us the night of
her presentation need to be made into a block and taken to her store by the end of
October to get your discount coupon. The quilt we make with these squares should be
spectacular. I can hardly wait.
It is time to close for this month. May your month be filled with the joy of sewing. When a
bad day seems to take my smile away, going into the Meadow will bring peace back into
my life and a smile to my face. Remember, it takes more energy to frown, and the act of
smiling will boost your energy.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Linda
MSC donations for November will be food items for Thanksgiving & Christmas dinners:
stuffing, canned yams, vegetables, cranberry sauce. You can also donate cash, which
the MSC will use to buy turkeys for their clients.
The Multi-Service Center is currently NOT accepting any household goods. Also, please
be aware that MSC does not accept cosmetics or any partially used personal items; i.e.,
hand/body lotions, body wash, shampoo, etc. If you have any questions, please give me
a call. Linda
General monthly donations should be baby items, candles, children’s books, general
food items, paperback books for adults.
Newsletter Contributors
Linda Hill
Eileen Peacher
Carol Berge
Kathy Wyckoff
Janine Walker
Jean Snedden
Pam Elliott
Agnes Rischard
Mici Wiggins
Nan Naubert
Susan Alcala
This is YOUR newsletter. If you have something you’d like to contribute, please
email me (jillzquilts@hotmail.com) or send it to me (P.O. Box 4243, Federal Way
98063) by the 15TH of the month. Thanks! jill
Page 1
2010 Raffle Quilt – Jean Snedden
Our raffle quilt is called, “Scrappy Hugs & Kisses.” It is 79 x 94 inches. The quilt is done and will be displayed at this meeting.
The pictures are taken and ready to be distributed along with tickets; Carol Berge will have tickets for distribution at each guild
meeting.. The Evergreen Quilt Store, 4106 South M Street, Tacoma, will be displaying the quilt in the near future. I would ask
that you take a look at the excellent job that was done by everyone on the quilt, and, once again THANK YOU. This feels like a
quilt by the guild for the guild.
I am looking for volunteers for the 2011 Raffle Quilt to do the color planning.
Auction – Nan Naubert
The auction was a success, even though we only got through roughly half of the donations. We’ll have another mini auction in a
few months, which gives you time to go through your sewing rooms to find more great things to donate! Below is the tally, from
Nan Naubert, our treasurer:
$1340
48
67
$1455
Auction items
Donation table items
IOUs from people who forgot their checkbooks (silly monkeys!)
Total
=
$$
Thank you to all that worked so hard. This makes a huge difference in the budget for the year.
2010 CQ Retreat Schedule
Those who didn’t attend the previous retreat may sign up first. Retreats are $30 a night. Contact Janine Walker.
2010: November 15-18
2011: February 4-7, March 11-14,
and July 8-11 (more to come)
Reminder: if you’d like to attend a retreat, but find it to
be a financial burden, the guild may be able to sponsor
you. Contact Janine Walker.
The November 15-18 retreat still has space available. This is the Monday-Thursday retreat, which has a different
“feel” than the weekend retreats. If you've never been to a retreat, you’re welcome to come visit during the day to
see why we think retreats are so great. Gwinwood Retreat Center is just a 45-minute drive down the freeway to
Lacey. Check us out.
Wear Your Badge! – Jill Ellis, Membership
At each meeting, please sign in to the Membership Book. Signing in not only satisfies the
insurance requirement to know who is present in case of an emergency, but you may also win a
prize! At each Business meeting, I will draw a name from the members signed in and if the
person whose name is called is wearing her membership badge (one made of fabric, not the
plastic one), a prize will be won! If I draw a name of someone not wearing her badge, there will
be no winner for the month. If you need directions for making a badge, please see me.
Crazy
Quilters
of
Federal Way
Secret Pal Program – Jill Ellis
We have 16 people participating in this fun activity. There’s a lot of fun in covertly watching your Secret Pal pick up her
gift, then peek inside to see what she received this month.
Because we only have one meeting in November, please bring a gift for your pal to the Program Meeting (November 11).
Reminder: We will have the reveal in January 2011. At that time, bring a little thank-you gift for the person who’s been
making you smile for six months!
Page 2
Quilt Buddy Program – Jill Ellis
The Quilt Buddy program is underway and a big thank you to all who have stepped up to be a mentor to new members.
Being a Quilt Buddy is simple: seasoned guild members explain to a new member how things work, introduce her to other
members, and help her feel comfortable at meetings. You will NOT be teaching them how to make a quilt, unless you want to
do so. Please see me to volunteer; I’d like to have 3-4 names in reserve so we’re ready each time someone joins the guild.
This will be a rewarding experience for new and old members alike!
Websites for Quilters – Bea Tulls
www.quiltingassistant.com: There are all kinds of cool things on this site, including a border pattern that is so easy and so
COOL, I said, ‘WOW!!” out loud.
www.victorianaquiltdesigns.com: There are a lot of free things on this website. You can also join for $19.95 a year and get a
lot more useful information, but I like FREE the best!
• You can make a great travel design board by covering an old game board with flannel.
• To keep your rotary cutting mats flat between uses, hang them on men's dress slack hangers, the ones with metal clips. The
clips will hold the mat securely and in a flat, vertical position.
• When doing paper piecing, print just one copy of the pattern. Take the pattern to your sewing machine with a stack of paper
(8-10 pages) and sew the lines without thread (using an old needle and regular stitch length). This gives you copies with
double the holes to tear off, making the paper tear away easier.
• Pipe cleaners are the best for fishing dust bunnies out of your sewing machine. They seem to be magnetic and the best part
is they go around corners!
• To keep your sewing machine foot peddle from slipping, place it on a mouse pad.
• If your machine is not set up to handle the large cones of thread, simply drop it into a largemouth canning jar and thread it to
your machine.
Upcoming Events for Crazy Quilters
Friday Friends
(every Friday)
Join several club members every Friday, 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Milton Community Center, 1000 Laurel Street, Milton 98354
Bring your lunch, work on your unfinished projects or start a new one, and have fun with fellow Crazy
Quilters. We generally do not meet the Friday before a major 3-day holiday such as July 4, Memorial
Day, Labor Day, or if the Community Center is closed.
Available for our use: iron and table-top ironing board, large cutting mat, and some rulers.
October 28
Business Meeting, 7:00-9:00, Emeritus
Committee reports, Show & Tell, Block-of-the-Month, Drawing prizes
November 11
Trunk show, featuring our very own Mici Wiggins. This should be a fun time to see the many
quilts she has completed.
From the Website Corner – Agnes Rischard, Webmaster
First of all, I would like to extend a belated thank you to Janine Walker for keeping the website up-to-date during my
absence. Janine, you did a great job!
There are some new inputs on the website. Of course, the raffle quilt for 2010 is out there. I must say the picture does not do
justice to this beautiful quilt. Also, I added the photos of the Arts commission quilts. If you were like me and never made the
trip to see these quilts while they were hanging, you might want to take a look. I extended the name of the page, ‘Raffle Quilts’
to ‘Raffle Quilts and More’. This page holds the all these photos.
In addition, Linda made a trip to Olympia to give a pitch on quilting. This very interesting and informative pitch along with her
notes are on the front page of the website. Linda did a great job on this pitch. I put it on the front page hoping visitors might
check it out.
Any comments or corrections on the website should be mailed to rischarda@comcast.net. Thank you!
Page 3
Places to Go . . . Quilts to See!
How about a road trip? Near or far, there’s a trip for you.
WHEW! Lots of fun places to visit in the upcoming months ...
July 30-October 31: Annual Heritage Quilt Festival at Fort Walla Walla Museum, 755 Myra Road,
Walla Walla WA. Special exhibit of museum's 90+ heritage quilts and coverlets. Museum hours are 10-6 daily, admission $7
adults, $6 students and seniors, $3 for children 6-12. Info www.fortwallawallamuseum.org.
October 22-31: Quest for the Cure Southwest Washington Fall 2010 Shop Hop. Passports will be available at all participating
shops during the Hop, or can be downloaded soon from www.sw-washingtonshophop.wetpaint.com and participating shop
websites. Participating shops include Cranberry Bay (Ocean Shores), Quilt Harbor (Aberdeen), Pfaff Creative Sewing (Lacey),
Just for Fun! Quilting (Vancouver), Art & Sew’l (Vancouver), Quilter’s Junction (Centralia), Sugar ‘n Spice (Morton), Country
Manor Fabrics (Battle Ground), Quilt Nest (Castle Rock), Gee Gee’s Quilting (Yelm), Sue’s Stitch in Time (Shelton), Ruby
Street Quiltworks (Tumwater), Paisley Duck Quilting (Kelso), The Quilt Barn (Puyallup), The Quilter’s Stash (Westport),
Creative Quilter (Graham), Wilde Rose Quilt Shop (Orting), Parkland Parish Quilt Shop (Parkland), Shibori Dragon (Tacoma),
and Variety Story (Elma). You have 10 days to visit all of the shops.
November 5-7: “25 Years in Stitches!”, sponsored by Block Party Quilters. Issaquah Community Center, 301 Rainier
Boulevard, Issaquah. Friday-Saturday, 10-5; Sunday, 10-4. Featured quilter Nancy Lee Chong. Admission $5.00.
Through November 7: “Politics and Bedcovers,” White River Museum, Auburn (see article, page 8).
November 13: Whidbey Quilter’s Club Biannual Quilt Show & Sale, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Greenbank Progressive Club, corner of
Bakken and Firehouse Roads, one block off Highway 525, town of Greenbank, on Whidbey Island, WA.
November 18-20: Quilt, Craft, and Sewing Festival. This is a smaller version of SewExpo, geared more toward quilters.
Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s irritating they close at 5 and they’re not open Sunday. Puyallup Fairgrounds, 110
Ninth Avenue SW, Puyallup. Go to the website for $1.00 admission (www.rustybarn.com/festival-dates.html).
Quilt your Colors Contest – Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
The Quilt Your Colors Quilt Contest 2001 began August 29 and ends December 18. I should’ve put this in the newsletter a few
months ago, but hey, if you’re fast, you can get something in the contest! Quilts must be minimum 36x36, maximum 93x104
inches. You have to have purchased all of your fabrics at Jo-Ann’s, plus have a photocopy of the receipt, along with pictures of
your completed quilt. Hmmm, that’s a little more difficult, but hey, you can still do it!
The first-place prize winner will receive $3,300+ in prizes (including $2500 cold hard cash!); second place $1700+, third place
$960+, and there will be seven runner-up winners who will receive a $50 Jo-Ann gift card.
Find the complete rules at www.joann.com/static/landingpage/quiltcontest/2010quiltcontestrules.pdf.
New Guild Member
Kathy Anastasiadis
2503 South 364th Place
Federal Way 98003
email: alexkathya@comcast.net
253-838-6350 home
Birthday February 21
Kathy works with Sue Hopper, met me when she had a free folding table to give
away (“I’ll take it!”), and went to her first retreat this past weekend. Kathy had so
much fun, she joined the guild!
Speaking of retreat, you hear interesting remarks just out of the blue: “I don’t
think I’d want to go to prison because they wouldn’t let me take my rotary cutter.”
UFO Challenge 2010-11 – Diane Kellar
Project must have been started prior to June 2010 and completed by April 21, 2011.
Project start date is the date CQ member began work on the project.
“Started” means some progress has already been made (cutting, stitching, etc). Simply buying fabric/patterns doesn’t qualify
as a UFO.
Total outside perimeter must be at least 54 inches.
“Finished” means that quilting and binding are done. Embellishments are optional.
UFO Entry forms should be submitted when project is shown during “Show ‘n’ Tell at business meetings.
Entry forms may be submitted with a picture of completed project (if project is not be available for show ‘n’ tell)
UFO projects other than quilts are eligible for entry if project has at least 6 hours labor involved in completion.
Have fun. Get creative.
Page 4
Making Time to Quilt – found at www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1332.asp
We live in a time that our ancestors could never have dreamed of. We have every possible time-saving appliance that you can
imagine available to us. We can purchase food that is already cooked and ready to be served up to our family. All our cleaning
products and gizmos are designed and guaranteed to save us time. We have people who will come in to our home and do our
chores when we don’t have the time to do them ourselves. We have the internet at our fingertips. All of the above is available
just for us to save TIME.
Why, then, do so many quilters say they can’t find the time to quilt?
When I starting quilting back in 1976 I was newly married and worked full time. I quilted on weekends when we didn’t go away.
Let’s face it; I had plenty of time, no children, and a husband who was studying; so I had lots of time. Heaven. Then babies
came along. Luckily I had two babies only 14 months apart, so it was a little like having twins. After three years they were both
out of nappies and great little mates. These two little possums were also very good sleepers. Every afternoon until they were
old enough to go to school, they would have a little nap after lunch. Usually for a couple of hours, so I had some time to myself
then.
Once they’d started school, I became involved in all the school things parents do, as well as I managed to get a part time job.
This is the time I realized that making time for quilting wasn’t as easy as it had been. I needed to be diligent about this special
time for me. So for the next few years I would get out of bed at about 5:00am each morning and sew before the household
started to wake up. That hour was heaven on a stick for me. Nothing but peace and quite, the odd bird singing and me quilting
without interruptions.
As the possums got older and started high school, my time to quilt became less and less easy to manage. They both undertook
extra curriculum activities that saw me coming and going at all hours of the day and night. I knew that this was an important
time for me to be available for these blooming young adults. Not necessarily being Mom, but just being there.
So the possums were off to University and finally found other nests to occupy, which meant more time to quilt. The only
problem was I was getting involved in various cottage groups, organizations that needed volunteer committee members, the
odd charity work and of course, still providing for my DH (darling husband), who by the way had been quietly slaving away at
his career all this time.
It was at this point that I realized that I needed to get some quilting’ time back into my life. Time wasn’t finding me, so I had to
find time. I looked at how much quilting I was doing at the present time and it was very, very hit and miss. A little here, a little
there. Certainly not enough to sate my appetite for creating and keeping my hands busy.
So I devised a plan that still works for me to this day. I call it my Quilt Time Plan (QTP). I developed the habit of never having
my hands idle. Never. Every moment where my hands are free, I will now have some sort of stitching going on. For example,
when I cook tea, I have a small box containing my needle, pins, scissors, glasses, thimble and a current project. I find that when
I’m cooking tea, once I’ve done my preparation of cutting and slicing, I’m really usually standing at my post keeping an eye on
things as they cook. I can’t leave the stove so I bring my quilting to the stove. Sometimes I’m piecing, sometimes I’m stitching. I
may be taking the paper backing out of a finished block; I may be stitching the binding on a finished quilt. I usually pick
something that I can put down in a hurry (when things are burning or need turning) and pick up again without losing my place.
Since I’ve developed this habit I find I get so much done, that would otherwise be languishing in my workbox waiting for “time”.
Even as I write this article, I’ve got some stitching in my lap ready to pick up. When I need time to compose my thoughts, I pick
up my quilting and get those hands working. My brain works the same whether my hands are busy or not.
My (QTP) plan also includes making the most of my waiting times. I spend a big amount of my waking time waiting – waiting for
public transport, waiting to be picked up, waiting for a doctors appointment, waiting for arrivals at airports, waiting, waiting. So I
pack a similar box to my kitchen box and it travels in my handbag where ever I go. I’ll often have small pieces of piecing to do,
or just some fabric and scissors for cutting out leaves in readiness for my next appliqué adventure.
The most important part of my plan was to actually set aside “appointments” for my quilting. At the beginning of every week, I
make appointments with myself to quilt. Just like making an appointment for the dentist or hairdresser, I set appointments for
time to quilt. These appointments are non-negotiable just like a doctors appointment might be. No compromise, the time is set
aside for an occasion which is just as important as a doctors appointment. It works very well for me. I always consult my diary
before making arrangements with others, to ensure I don’t break any of my quilting appointments.
This way I find the time to quilt, instead of waiting for the time to find me.
The Quilting Forum has a topic called Time to Quilt and you are welcome to make a comment or offer a hint on how you make
time to quilt. You never know, you just might help a quilter out there who thinks making time to quilt is an impossibility!
Page 5
Community Service Block – October: Sheepfold Block, due back November or December – Carol Berge
Thanks to everyone who participates in the Community Outreach Block of the Month program. Generally I have a different block pattern
each month. Members are encouraged to participate either by checking out a kit or by submitting a quilt block made from your stash. Your
stash blocks are made into either lap quilts or full-size quilt tops, depending on how many blocks are received.
Note: since we do not have a business meeting in November or December, please return your completed block kits to me prior to the
January meetings.
Just a friendly reminder: These block kits are free to all members. Please return the blocks at the business meeting the second Thursday of
the month.
Thanks again. If you have questions about this program, please call me (253-859-8913).
Make this block with
dark corners &
dark center
A
OR
Make this block with
light corners &
light center
A
B
C
B
C
Directions for one 12.5-inch block (unfinished)
A
B
C
Cut FOUR 3.5-inch squares (pansy print)
Cut ONE 6.5-inch square (pansy print
Cut FOUR 3.5 x 6.5-inch rectangles (cream tonal)
Please use a scant ¼-inch seam.
Your block should measure 12.5 inches.
Excerpt from Article by Diana Tavis, owner, The Quilting Cottage, Oakville WA (www.thequiltingcottage.com)
It doesn't matter WHEN we started quilting. We have always been quilters. It was in us at birth, working its way to the surface in
time. Those times may have been different for each of us, but what matters is that it did come out. All we see and all we do is
written in our quilts. Our experiences, both good and bad, are in each stitch and fiber. Quilting is our creative outlet, our way of
expressing our thoughts, the way we show the beauty within ourselves in a physical form.
A Mushy Moment
I just had a burst of love spread throughout my entire body thinking of my quilting friends, and for all I have learned
from you. I know one person who is rolling her eyes right now, but truly, the friends I’ve made, the support I’ve gotten
from you, the quilt- and nonquilt-related things I’ve learned from you---just a big thank you for enriching my life. Some
of you know who you are, but I bet a lot of you don’t realize the impact you have on others. Hugs to everyone!
Midpoint for UFO/Stashbuster Challenges – Diane Kellar / Jill Ellis
November is the midpoint of our guild year (May-April). At the November meeting, there will be incentives given out pertaining
to the UFO and Stashbuster challenges.
Sometimes it’s hard to keep working on UFOs when there are so many new and exciting patterns and techniques to try. I know
I feel a bit more light-hearted each time I finish a UFO. Maybe it’s because I’m silencing that voice that’s nagging at me, “Finish
me, finish me, you know you need to finish me!”
It’s also hard to not buy new fabric, when they just keep making more beautiful stuff. I’ve recently made four baby quilts from
just stash (okay, I’ve misplaced one and can’t find the dang thing anywhere, but it WAS all from stash), and that made me feel
less guilty when I bought two yards of something perfect for the next baby quilt. Actually, I don’t feel guilty about buying new
fabric, just a bit sick to my stomach when I get home and try to stuff it in the proper bin and it just won’t fit. But I digress....
Get some UFOs completed and put your info in the Sputnik box that Linda brings to the Business meeting. Shop your stash
and make something out of all that beautiful fabric you just HAD to have. I have the box for the Stashbuster challenge with me
at meetings, along with a measuring tape. Show off your accomplishments and maybe get a little prize at the same time!
Page 6
Fat-Quarter Exchange at Business Meetings – Marianna Garrett
In Our Thoughts
Special thoughts and big hugs
go out from all of us to:
Here is a list of what we’ll exchange this month and throughout 2010:
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Anything
Animals / autumn colors
Halloween / darks
Plaids / golds / browns
Red / green
Your name will be in the drawing for each fat quarter
you bring, so the more you bring, the more chances
you have of winning. Reminder: A fat quarter is
18x22 inches. If you’re bringing more than one,
please make them different, so we get a variety of
fabrics.
November Hospitality and Birthdays
Please bring hospitality goodies to guild meetings during the month of your
birthday. In addition to bringing treats, you are responsible for helping with
room setup and cleanup. Contact Pam Elliott, 253-941-9052, if you have
questions or are unable to attend.
Happy Birthday!
Sonya Parisi
Connie Mayor
Lu Olson
11
13
14
Carolyn Grennan
Beth Tays
16
26
Helen Backer
Chick Greenough
Theresa Fancher
Nita Leiser
Mauvaneen McMullen
Quotable Quotes
A creative mess is better than tidy idleness.
'She was determined to hit some balls out of
the park---she just didn't know whose. On
second thought, yes, she did."
Residents of Emeritus are welcome to attend
all meetings of Crazy Quilters, without being
paid members. Please remember we meet in
their home, and we are their guests.
Chicken Enchilada Casserole - made by Diane Kellar for retreat – DELICIOUS (as is all of the food at Retreat!!)
12 servings
16-oz sour cream
16-oz salsa
1/4 cup diced onion
6 (12-inch) flour tortillas, cut into strips
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cooked and shredded
1 can condensed Cream of Chicken soup
8-oz can chili beans, drained
4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 350. In a large bowl, mix sour cream, salsa, soup, onion and chili beans. Layer the bottom of a 9x13-inch
baking dish with 1/3 tortilla strips. Top with 1/3 chicken, 1/3 sour cream mixture and 1/3 Cheddar cheese. Repeat layering with
remaining ingredients. Bake 20-30 minutes, or until golden and bubbly. Let stand about 10 minutes, or as long as you can
stand it!!! You're done!
Nutritional Information per serving: Calories: 537 | Total Fat: 28.1g | Cholesterol: 95mg
Marianna Garret collects empty wooden and plastic thread spools and cones to give to her niece, who is a nurseryschool teacher. If you’d like to save a little bit of landfill space, please bring your empty spools to Marianna at any guild
meeting.
Pillowcase Challenge
American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine is challenging quilters across the country to “Make a Pillow-case, Make a
Difference.” Local quilting enthusiasts will join the cause to help reach the goal of making and donating one million pillowcases
to benefit local charities. Every pillowcase can make a difference in your community. A pillowcase can provide comfort for a
cancer patient, hope for a foster child, encouragement for a battered woman, or beauty for a nursing-home resident.
One Million Pillowcase Challenge information is available at www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases, including a list of shows
where you can turn in your pillowcases.
Page 7
“Politics and Bed Covers” Quilt Exhibit at White River Valley Museum, Auburn
Long before they had the right to vote, women creatively expressed their political views using quilts and other textile arts. The
White River Valley Museum is celebrating the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage in Washington state with "Politics and
Bedcovers," on display Aug. 11 through Nov. 7. The exhibit delves into the historic and contemporary political beliefs of women
articulated through quilting and textile arts.
The museum has collected more than 40 quilts from New York to Gig Harbor, each specifically made to embody political and
social ideals ranging from distress over election results to a desire for men to stop drinking. Quilts in the collection were made
as early as 1825 and as recently as 2009.
“Politics and Bed Covers” is sponsored by the Covington Quilters Guild and Western Washington Quilt Study Group. Educator
and quilt historian Anita Sheneberger is the exhibit’s guest curator.
White River Valley Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Regular admission is $2 adults, $1
seniors/children, and free each Wednesday and the fourth Sunday of the month.
While River Valley Museum, 918 “H” Street SE, Auburn WA. Exhibit through November 7 at 4:00 p.m.
Mildew on Fabric – article found at www.how-to-quilt.com/articles/1043-fabric-mildew.php
If you have a sizeable stash of fabric, you probably know that mildew is not your friend. Actually, it’s difficult to think of any case
where mildew is actually a good thing. Why is mildew your enemy? Because the mold by-product will attack your fabrics. In
addition to leaving a musty odor, they can discolor your fabrics and sometimes eat away enough fibers to actually rot your
fabric. It’s one thing to have your fabric worn out in a quilt because someone loves to use it. It is horrible to have your fabric
worn out because of mildew, especially if the fabric is in your closet and hasn’t even had a chance to be in a quilt.
Mildew is that nasty mold that grows on fabric. It loves dark and damp places, so the object is to store your fabric where the
mildew can’t find it.
To prevent endangering your fabrics with mildew, follow these tips:
Make sure your stash is stored in a dry area. It does not need to be damp. If you keep your fabric shelved by a window that
often has condensation on it, you need to move your fabric. That kind of nearby dampness can trigger mildew growth.
The best way to keep your fabrics dry is to make sure they are completely dry when you store them. For everyone who washes
their fabrics before stashing them, it is very important that your fabric pieces be completely dry before storing them. A little
dampness in one piece of fabric can ruin your entire stash.
Your fabric doesn’t need to be stored in an area that is too warm, especially if you live in a humid climate. Circulating air keeps
mildew on the move with less growth or buildup on your fabrics.
Use a fan to keep air moving in the room in which you store your fabrics. A ceiling fan is great. So is a small, oscillating fan.
During winter months, keep air circulating by not closing off your fabric storage area.
Poorly lit areas encourage mildew growth. Mildew thrives in dark spaces so keep your fabric open to light. That doesn’t mean
that you have to leave the light in your craft room on 24/7, but it does mean that storing fabric in attics, basements and closets
is not a good idea.
Molds love starch. That means if you wash and dry your fabrics before storing, don’t add starch to them. We all love the crisp
feeling of new fabric, but sometimes it is best not to store them with that crisp, freshly starched feel.
Inspect your stash regularly. This gives you a chance to familiarize yourself with the fabrics you’ve got on hand and just might
inspire a new project as you look for signs of mildew. Even if you store your fabric in garment bags, it doesn’t hurt to look them
over from time to time.
If you can, air out your fabrics occasionally. Take them outside for natural sun exposure on a warm, dry, sunny day. Don’t leave
them in the sun for an extended period of time, though, as the sun will damage your fabric, too.
Page 8
Business Meeting Minutes – September – Kathy Wyckoff, Secretary
Our meeting was called to order by President Linda Hill. A welcome to new members and visitors was extended. Nancy Neff
brought her daughter from Centralia to visit.
Multi Service center: Next month…..Holiday Food items, stuffing mix, cranberry’s, olives, pickles, cake mixes, frosting, cookie
mixes…you get the idea. And any of the regular donation items are always welcome, peanut butter and jelly…don’t forget that
kids love it Thank you so much for helping out those who need it.
Insurance for Officers….Nan is working on it.
Treasury Report: Checking account…. $3686.00
Savings…. $3607.00. New figures this month
Vice-President Report: Pam Elliott explained how the upcoming Auction will work, bring your items in a clear plastic
bag…clearly marked with what is inside, including measurements of yardage and trim.
Auction in October: at our program meeting in October we will have our auction/fund raiser. Gather your donation items
(notions, fat quarters, yardage, rulers, whatever you want to donate that is quilting/sewing related), package them in a clear
plastic bag with an inventory, item by item, of what is in the bag, posted clearly in the bag (for easy viewing). If you are giving
yardage please put down how much yardage in enclosed. This makes it easier to know what is in the bag and how much…also
makes it much easier for our auctioneer. Preview time for shoppers will be prior to the Auction so come a6 6:30 to scope out
what is new to bid on.
Block of the month: Eileen has new block of the month. $1.00 each
Community Outreach: we stuffed Christmas stockings tonight for the residents of Emeritus
Comm. Outreach by Carol Berge … pattern in newsletter
Block in the Box: Box exchange at the business meetings.
Retreats: Janine Walker has the October and November sign-up sheets for retreats.
2010 Raffle Ticket are available now. Please pick up your tickets from Carol Berge. Each CQ member is required to sell at
least 20 tickets (sell them or purchase them yourself). NOTE: If you sell more than the required number, Crazy Quilters
benefits!! Yahoo! The finished quilt it beautiful--thank you, Jean!
UFO Challenge: When you complete a UFO, fill out an entry sheet and put it in our SPUTNIK container. First year we had 100
entries, last year we had only 30. Diane Kellar is working on some incentives to get us to finish our UFOs. She wants us to
give her a list of all our UFOs by October 14; she is doing something special with the lists.
Lap quilts for the residents of Emeritus: Please work on these quickly; we still need to get them quilted and bound. Thanks to
Susanna Gantt and Marianna Garrett for volunteering to quilt these quilts; that’s a big job and we appreciate it.
Hospitality has a new chairman: Roxy Dysert will chair. During your birthday month, you are responsible to bring or send your
food treats. You are responsible to help Roxy stage the food and clean up. You are also responsible to take your leftovers
home; do not leave them for someone else to dispose of. Your help with putting the room back together is also appreciated.
Mentoring: We need a few more people to work with our new members; please talk with Jill Ellis. Jill explained what a
Mentor’s job is, which is explaining to new members about the different programs and activities in CQ. You will not be teaching
them how to quilt, unless you want to do that! Thank you, Jill.
Drawing Winners:
Block of the month: won by Karen Holmes
Community Outreach: won by NO DRAWING
Fat Quarters: won by Margaret Mortensen (20 fat quarters)
Badge Drawing: won by
No WINNER
Library: Laura Coy (she won $8.50)
We had a great Show & Tell--wonderful stuff, you guys. Some quilts for the residents of Emeritus were shown and given to
Barb McClure. And we had one TELL: congratulations, Laura Coy, on becoming a Grandmother. Fun times coming up for
you. Beautiful baby!
For those that helped clean up and put the room back together we thank you….keep up the good work.
Page 9
Graveyard Quilts – found at www.how-to-quilt.com/articles/1402-coffin-quilt.php
It may seem a little gruesome to us these days, but once upon a time graveyard quilts were very popular. Sometimes they are
referred to as cemetery or coffin quilts. They were created with a large, dark (often black) panel in the center of the quilt. Small
coffin shapes were appliquéd into the borders, each with a family member’s name embroidered on it. When that family member
died, the quilter moved the appliqué from the border into the center of the quilt and added the date of death as stitch work. The
dark panel in the center was the “cemetery.”
Certainly it does seem a little morbid to us today, but this was popular in the mid 1800s. At that particular time, cemeteries
were growing in popularity in rural communities. Until then, most family members were buried in clusters of graves on the
family property. When cemeteries became popular final resting places, the grounds served two purposes. They were a burial
site for the dead, but were kept nicely – almost park-like – for the living to enjoy, as well. So, at that particular period of time,
there was nothing morbid about a cemetery.
Some of these old quilts were made using a favorite quilt block pattern with the large black panel added to the center. Some
more elaborate ones were created to resemble a cemetery, with a quilted design of an entry gate or a pieced picket fence
surrounding the dark center piece. These quilts were respected as important family information way back before many paper
records of death even existed. This is just another example of how quilts help preserve history.
Is this something that we as quilters would adapt today? Probably not, for many reasons. For one, we have the paper records
easily at our fingertips. Another reason is that it just doesn’t seem fitting to display a quilt with the names of living family
members on the coffins.
But the same idea could make a unique ancestry quilt, using only deceased people on the quilt. Perhaps the borders, then,
could list names of family members who hailed from each deceased member. Another border idea is to embroider in marriage
and birth facts about each deceased member.
The graveyard quilt is one type of mourning quilt. Mourning quilts were popular in the mid to late 1800s. Aside from the
graveyard quilt, other mourning quilts don’t have a particular theme or design associated with the term. After the death of a
loved one, quilters (at this point in time, predominantly women) would work on a quilt to help them grieve.
A quilter might choose to make a quilt using a deceased person’s favorite color or favorite pattern. Or, the woman might simply
quilt any old quilt block pattern just to keep her mind occupied and to help her work through the grief process. Most of the
quilting back then relied on groups of women, so that fellowship also offered help in the healing process.
In a way, mourning quilts are still around today. Some of us still quilt to help us think or give us time to process events or think
through solutions to problems of every-day life.
Comments on My First Quilt Retreat – Susan V. Alcalá (joined CQ in August 2010)
• The Location: Soothing green woods; distance far enough away from home to feel the
trip was a "mini-vacation," and a reasonable drive.
• The Facilities: Modern enough and just right for our needs.
• The Work Room: Spacious and well-lighted.
• The Food: Absolutely delicious! (Way to go, ladies – you can invite me to dinner any time!)
• The Company: Simply the BEST! Quilters are wonderful people – friendly, warm, and helpful!
• Highlights: Making new friends, watching everyone's works in progress, seeing their color and pattern choices, and sharing
their elation of project completion. Everyone was very helpful and loaded with hints (special thanks to my mentor-buddy,
Barb McClure, for "showing me the ropes" and being such good company). Needless to say, I got a lot of cutting, piecing,
and designing completed!
• Lessons Learned (i.e., reminders for my next retreat):
- Bring:
-- A fan to control temperature
-- Chair pad
-- Topper for mattress
-- Some soda pop for thirst
-- Correct size blades for cutter
-- Correct thread for each project
-- Tissue paper for stitching leads
-- Manual for my new sewing machine
- For baby quilts, make my patches bigger (I spent too much time struggling with teeny 4-inch flying geese)
Page 10