January 2008
Issue No 196.
Web Address: http://www.aaqg.net
Web Address: http://www.aaqg.net
Mailing: Ankeny Area Quilters' Guild, P.O. Box 961, Ankeny, IA 50021
"Sharing a common thread!"
"Sharing a common thread!"
The January board meeting will be conducted by email—so be sure to check your email!
We're going to try this again! Come hear Ankeny's own: Dawn Cavanaugh. Since 1994 Dawn's custom freehand quilting has been winning awards for clients of her business, "Rockin' Bobbin Quilting, Inc." Dawn's lecture is titled " Quilting Camouflage"— it includes a slide show of tips on how to camouflage your piecing mistakes with machine quilting.
Please note that there will NOT be a potluck this month and the meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m.
No better time to stay in and quilt!
December was supposed to be the last month for the "Bring a Friend" membership drive However, since "Mother Nature" had a PMS attack and forced us to cancel the December meeting, we will extend the membership drive through January's meeting. For each guest you bring, your name goes into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate from a local vendor. A winner will be drawn at the January meeting.
Don't forget to bring your partner's quilted item, part of the President's Challenge, to the January meeting.
President's Letter cont.
Don't trade them as soon as you get there—there will be a special time in Show and Tell when we will exchange. Also don't forget to bring your Christmas block for the block exchange. I guess those blocks will have to be for NEXT Christmas.
We are still in need of someone to take the Program Chair Elect Position. All but 3 months have already been scheduled, and there is an abundance of interested speaker's names and addresses—all you would need to do is contact them and get them scheduled. Even the Quilt Show speaker has already been scheduled. Jenna is more than willing to give you guidance and a helping hand. We have a GREAT Board this year; please consider being a part of it.
If you didn't pick up your directory at the last meeting, don't forget to pick it up at the next meeting.
Remember as the weather turns nasty, if the Ankeny schools close, we will not meet. To cancel December's meeting, I called all three TV stations, but they stuck the notice on their website rather than scrolling it across the crawler.
A short while ago, I sent a letter out to former members inquiring why they had not rejoined the Guild. There were two main themes: Programs (lack of good one) and Friendliness (cliques, new members not being made to feel welcome.) Jenna has worked quite hard to correct the Programs issue, and we have scheduled a number of great speakers for 2008/2009, such as:Barb Broshous, Cathy Busch, Mickey Depre, Carol Doak, and Pam Clarke, and there will be more. To address the issue of Friendliness, I would encourage members to greet anyone you don't know
President's Letter cont.
and introduce yourself. New members are introduced at the beginning of each meeting; so, please greet them and help them feel at home.
TIP of the month:— Try using hand-quilting thread for turning your bindings. It is made for the repeated trips through the fabric and doesn't seem to fray, knot or break the way other threads do. Also, if you're tired of all those stray threads getting in your way when binding, use your Serger on the edges. By serging the edges first, it allows your binding to go on evenly, also preventing the fabric from "clumping" and makes a nice cleaner appearance.
Cyndee Davis——President
909 Prairie Street in Adel, IA
phone: 515-993-1170
450+ PATTERNS TO CHOOSE FROM
2-4 WEEK TURNAROUND—SHIPPING AVAILABLE
SMOKE & PET FREE ENVIRONMENT
JUDY & JIM MILLER CEDAR FALLS, IOWA
319/290-1829 OR 319-277-5537
aplusquilting@cfu.net
CALL FOR FREE ESTIMATE
Thanks to Jenna Ingle, Joyce Wisgerhof, Tamera Watts, Janette Pierson, Gloria House, Rita Bigelow, Kathy Arndt for the January treats! Please bring 2 dozen cookies or bars and 2 liters of pop. Feel free to substitute items-like juice for pop. Please also bring the cups and napkins (plates are optional).
Lots of uninterrupted time to sew. Discounts at local quilt shops (Cornerstone Quilts in Newton, Grinnell Fiber Works and Pella Hometown Variety and VandeLune's in Pella) for retreat participants. Meals are provided, no cooking! The rooms are like motel rooms with 2 queen size beds and a bathroom, up to 4 people in a room.
There is room for 40 quilters. The cost includes room and meals; $125 for 4 days and $90 for 3 days. We will also have a massage therapist there on Saturday. The cost of that will be determined once we have our masseuse. There may be some other surprises also.
Registration will begin for Guild members at the January Guild Meeting . You must pay in order to reserve a place. Checks will not be cashed until after the March meeting.
If you have not been to retreat before check with those who have. It is a fun time and most everyone gets lots of quiltin' and dancin' done over the 3 or 4 days. Put together your projects, bring your best sewing chair and comfy clothes and join the fun.
If you have any questions call (515-491-8382) or talk to Sharon Hawthorne.
515-276-1977
Hours: Mon-Wed 10 am-5:30 pm, Thurs 10 am-7 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-4 pm
975 W. Lincolnway; Suite B
Nevada, Iowa
515-382-1815
Classes, Retreats, Workshops
641-774-2116 or carolsampler@mchsi.com
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:45 am-6:00pm, Sat 9:45 am-3:00pm
Monthly report for
submitted by Diana Weirich
No new news, block of the month for December will be given away at January meeting, and I'll move the January block to February. Will have challenge info soon. if anyone has any donations for door prizes, we would appreciate them VERY MUCH!! That includes any speakers who come. I haven't hit them up much, but will start doing that soon. That's it, folks!!!
submitted by Jenna Ingle
February speaker is Ami Simms from Flint, MI. Her lecture is titled "How not to make an award winning quilt". It is a slide show and stories of her personal quilting experiences, it is a very entertaining lecture!
We will have a half day workshop the following day, Wednesday Feb 13. The workshop is called " How to improve your quilting stitch".
Ami says: If the only advice on how to get your stitches smaller has been, "Just make 'em smaller!" then this workshop is for you. There are certain variables that you can control in order to get smaller, more even stitches. I'll tell you what they are and we'll practice together. Class time will include evaluating approximately 40 different batts for "needle-ability," loft, and bearding; plus learning exactly how to position your fingers to make a small and even running stitch.
Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate
Supply List: Thimble, hoop (at least 12" diameter), pre-washed 100% cotton muslin to fit it (top and back), batting, contrasting quilting thread, needle, and lamp with extension if available. Reference: See How To Improve Your Quilting Stitch.
The workshop fee is $20 and is limited to 17 people. The only meeting the sign up will be available is January, since she is speaking in February. If you cannot make the January meeting, but want to sign up, contact Jenna Ingle at 965-1585 or email jingle77@aol.com.
Learn everything from determining the right quilting design through managing the long arm machine. I provide one-on-one teaching and mentoring while you work.
Flat hourly rate $27.00
515-221-2737
629 Main Street, Jewell
515-827-6151
3 miles west of 1-35 at exit 133
Hours M-F, 10-5, Sat 10-3
Long-Arm Machine Quilting
Jennifer Peil
Ankeny, Ia
515-277-0187
peil3104@msn.com
Call for a free estimate.
12/4/07 Board meeting—Attended by Susan, Diana, Sharon, Deb, Donna Jo, Jenna, Cyndee, Anne, Mary Lee and Charlotte.
We discussed the results of Cyndee's membership survey and the reasons for not rejoining, some of which include: programs not interesting to certain members, moving out of town, members seem too "cliquey" or not welcoming, member has become too busy or has other commitments. A reminder to the membership to greet our guests/new members—first impressions mean alot!
Jenna and Cyndee continue to work on programs. Future possibilities include Ami Simms, Mickey Dupree, Cathy Busch, Harriet Hargrave, Carol Taylor. Program chair elect position is open. Retreat is March 27-30. Sign up begins in January. The raffle quilt is being quilted by Gloria Ross. The raffle license is all lined up.
Meeting adjourned—dinner served
submitted by Charlotte Stordahl, Secretary
Janome—Harmony 8100 Embroidery Sewing Machine
Perfect condition, used less than 20 hours. If you've always wanted an embroidery machine, but didn't want to spend thousands, this one's for you. Includes all attachments, extra bobbins & thread.
Sell for $800.00. Retailed for $1300.
Call Amy at 515-287-8849
It's getting to be that time of year again—so here's a reminder about our guild's winter weather policy!
If the Ankeny schools are cancelled (or evening activities at the schools are cancelled) due to weather there will be no quilt guild meeting or guild activities in the evening.
We are beginning a new mystery quilt series by Judy Hopkins this month. She calls it "Golden Oldie". For those of you that would like to make the mystery quilt we will be doing Steps 6 and 7 this month.
President-Cyndee Davis-289-2868
Vice President-Deb Pierschbacher-685-2036
Secretary-Charlotte Stordahl-965-1556
Treasurer-Randie Bartleman-979-8141
Director at Large-Diana Weirich-289-1189
Director at Large (elect)-Donna Jo Smith-963-9224
Communications Editor-Celeste Muehlenthaler-965-8966
Communications Editor-Susan Body-984-6937
Program Chair-Jenna Ingle-965-1585
Program Chair (elect)-open
Quilt Show Co-Chairs-Sharon McCarthy-289-2200
Quilt Show Co-Chairs-Anne Kruse-965-3442
Quilt Show Co-Chair (elect)-Lanae Rohwer-963-8186
Quilt Show Co-Chair (elect)-MaryLee Martz-779-2538
Retreat Chair-Sharon Hawthorne-986-1246
Retreat Chair (elect)-Therese Lumley-964-3328