MVQU 2007 Membership Form

Below is the Mt. Vernon Chapter Quilters Unlimited 2007-2008 Membership Form. (Click to enlarge, then print out on your computer.) Fill out and mail to Barbara Dove.

Your payment and form must be received by September 30th for inclusion in the Annual QU Directory, but don't wait until then.

Our membership year runs July 1-June 30. That means this year's membership will expire in 2 months. Sign up now, before your the expiration date.

Blocks for June 2007 Luncheon

Here are the blocks for the June luncheon. They are scanned in, but please measure and adjust for size: they should finish at 8 1/2" finished. Click to enlarge, then print from your computer.

Mystery Quilt, part 3

(Click to enlarge the picture, then print from your computer.)

Nancy Hovis Whole-cloth Jacket Workshop

Well that’s a wrap, no actually that’s a sweatshirt turned Wholecloth Jacket!! Nancy Hovis of Lewes, DE joined us for a full day workshop on Saturday, April 14, 2006 where we turned fabric too beautiful to cut up, into glorious jackets perfect for Spring’s arrival.

Nancy designed her own patterns and by using her knowledge of garment making, has become an expert at turning oversized sweatshirts into beautifully fit jackets. Her students gain the confidence needed to succeed and her patterns allow room for creativity by the individual maker in their fabric selection, quilting style and embellishment choices…no two jackets
are alike. (For someone not familiar with machine quilting, I found the quilting of the jackets pieces very freeing. It made me step out of my comfort zone, put on that walking foot, and just GO for it!)

Nancy has been quilting for over 25 years transitioning from doing Counted Cross Stitch and Needle Punch before it became popular, to running a shop in the basement of her home for years. She continues to quilt with vigor and has hopes of being selected as an instructor for NQA to teach in the future. She currently teaches at her hometown quilt shop, Mare’s Bears in Lewes, DE. So if you find yourself traveling across the Bay Bridge this summer, be sure to stop by the shop to see Nancy’s latest creations.

Joining us for the workshop were who I will call “The Ladies of the Wholecloth Jackets”, Dotty Eisenhour, Frankie Carroll, Beverly Krysa, Joyce Nichols, Margaret Chandler, Kathy Edwards, Cathy Hanratty, Nancy McGlasson, Mary Stauss, newest members Carol Conahan, Trish Hogan and Aby Dolinger, a surprise visit by long time member Barbara Tucker, and to top it off, we
made a new friend, Sharon Emory, from the Fairfax Chapter. Kudos to Sharon for nearly completing her jacket from start to finish having gotten the details and the pattern to make the just a day earlier. Sharon’s Bernina with stitch regulator hummed the entire day as she quilted her jacket pieces with dedication and determination. And, to Nancy and Mary, it will be “our
little secret” that you needed a friendly wake-up call from the Governmental Center reminding you the workshop was under way…thanks for rushing over to join us, we would have missed you.

Nancy Hovis starts off our workshop by sharing some of her jackets. Some are made using one piece of fabric (wholecloth) while others are pieced from traditional block patterns or feature Broiderie Purse appliques which have been machine stitched in place. She also showed us some of her quilts.

The next are of some of the ladies showing their fabric choices, getting instruction on how to get started, and then zooming off into their sewing.

Sharon Emory, our new friend, presses her jacket pieces as she gets ready to quilt them.

Dotty Eisenhour, the first to cross the finish line, shows off her jacket in blue with white roses, a fabric by one of her favorite designers, Kaffe Fasset.

Don't you just love Aby Dolinger's pieced blocks placed in her jacket. Aby has had this collection of fabrics in her stash just waiting to be used in a jacket...good things come to those who wait!

Frankie Carroll is dressed for spring in her new jacket in this great choice of batik fabric in plums and sea foam greens.

Kathy Edwards and Cathy Hanratty are definitely "dressed to the nines" in their new jackets.

Carol Conahan used beautiful threads to free motion quilt around the leaves in her jacket, making them come to life.

Think Pink News!

Rhonda, our co-VP writes:
I received a phone call from a free lance writer who contributes to Better Homes and Gardens magazines. She was calling to request background information about one of our quilts, Twist and Turn for the Cure, which we submitted as this year’s effort to “Quilt for the Cure” sponsored by American Patchwork Quilting Magazine.

From over 1000 quilts, our quilt has been selected as one to be featured in a hard cover book, due out in January of 2008, showcasing some of the quilts from this year’s submissions. I stood listening to what she was saying, holding my breath, and not believing what I was hearing.

As icing on the cake, when we finished talking about Twist and Turn for the Cure, she went on to ask about our other quilt, Pretty in Pink. This one has been selected to go into a soft cover book that will feature instructions for making some of the blocks in the quilts presented -- to include my butterfly block which I made to honor my mother, an 18 year breast cancer survivor. I'’m so tickled. I hope you share my excitement a job well done by all. (If you lived as close to me as Dotty Eisenhour does, then you would have been jumping up and down in the alley with us--we we’re not crazy, just very excited.)

Thank you, again, to all who contributed blocks and especially to those who joined us on September 30, 2006, for National Quilt Pink Day to put the quilts together. This wouldn’'t have been possible without everyone’'s inspiration and dedication to the project.

Mark your calendars now! You will find both of our quilts up for auction on E-bay starting during Week 5, May 3 - May 10. So, tell all your friends and family to bid, Bid, BID!!!

www.ebay.com/quiltpink

If you have news to share, please send to your newsletter editor, Elizabeth at a new address: mvqu.news@gmail.com.

Deadline for May's Newsletter is May 1st.

End of April: Shipley Lecture, Show-n-Tell

Although it's no surprise to all of you, I've been remiss in posting all the wonderful news from our guild and activities. Trying to get back on track, so. . . here we go. (Hint: grading Research Papers) This will probably be in two or three installments, so check all the new posts to get everything. All the headers are in Pink, in honor of our Think Pink Quilts!


First up: Check QU's website (http://www.quiltersunlimited.org/news.htm) for updates on Big QU activities: the Annual Meeting & Lecture (Thursday, May 3); and the Spring Workshops (Friday and Saturday, May 4 & 5). They are also looking for input on updating their site; you have until May 10th to submit comments. Information can be found in their latest newsletter.

Speaking of Big QU, here are some Activities and Workshops from other chapters. As I'm late in posting this, the number of spaces in the workshops will have changed. If you want to sign up, please contact the chairman if you have any questions.

Wednesday, May 16, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Grace Presbyterian in Springfield
Fran Kordek, "String-pieced Eight Pointed Star"
Sign up with Aby Dolinger at aby.dolinger@us.army.mil
20 spaces available, $40
Sponsored by SQU

Thursday, May 17, 12:30-3:30 p.m., St. Peter's in the Woods, Ox Rd. in Burke
Virginia Walton, "Illusions-Crystal Facets", $25
www.creativecurves.com
Sign up with Elaine Stemetzki at newpony2go@yahoo.com
Sponsored by Fairfax QU

Friday, May 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Peter's in the Woods, Ox Rd. in Burke
Virginia Walton, "Batik Stars in a Desert Sky", $40
www.creativecurves.com
Sign up with Elaine Stemetzki at newpony2go@yahoo.com
Sponsored by Fairfax QU

Corrine Shipley Lecture Photos
We had a great workshop and lecture given by Corrine Shipley. Rhonda, my ace reporter, took photos and wrote captions. (Thanks!)

Quilter's Christmas

Corinne's complete design foundation available for purchase through HGBG Productions.

Flight Path
The sky sections of Flight Path are divided into wedge shaped "blocks" that suggest depth.
Pattern available on CD Rom included with the purchase of The Right Side of Quilting, Introducing The Whole Quilt Method.

Bag It U Bag
Abigail Dolinger shows off Corinne's handbag. Pattern also available through HGBG Productions.

Polar Bear
Doesn't he remind you of the little polar cub rescued at the Berlin Zoo? Complete quilt foundation available for purchase.

New Directions
Even the pointiest points can be achieved using the TWQM approach. Pattern available on CD ROM with purchase of book.

Tumbling Stars
Just look at the three dimensional effect of the tumbling blocks and the spinning effect from the inner star. Pattern available on CD ROM with purchase of book.

April Show and Tell--April 10th meeting
Dotty Eisenhour sent along these photos and captions. She's another Ace Reporter in the field--thanks to you as well, Dotty!

Donna Walbrecht and her black and white string quilt

Jim Melton - "Japanese Cherry Blossoms" with beautiful Japanese fabrics

Pat Alfredson - a batik quilt that she finished on the recent retreat

Pat Alfredson - reverse applique with dragonflies in the quilting

Barbara Zygiel - Wonderful Alzheimers project quilt of two kittens

Pat Alfredson - Pink and green scrap quilt

Helen Lineham - Diamonds are a Girls's Best Friend - pattern by Gyleen Fitzgerald

one of our newest members - rooster redwork and applique quilt

same new member with a quilt of many blues

Anne Poulin - her brown "ugly quilt" top

Anne Poulin - "Moon over the Mountains" with lots of blue plaids

Nancy McGlasson - a beautiful antique in great condition which she purchased for a song at a Ben Franklin store that was closing in Smithfield, VA

Janet Betz - These blocks were made by a former member, Martha Plank (with four added by current members. It is hand pieced and is currently being hand quilted by members of the guild. Janet and friends marked the quilt at one of our bees. Rhonda Adams set the blocks with the beautiful blue stars. The quilt will be given to Martha's husband. It got a big hand at show and tell!

Anne Berard - paper pieced teacup quilt top

Ann Marlin - A very fun cowboy boot quilt to be donated to the Fisher House charity

Ann Marlin's Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend - wonderful red and white fabrics

Kathy Z - A prize winning quilt (at the Woodlawn show) - for her mother with pictures, hankies and her father's ties

Ro Coller - Two appliqued quilts for the Alzheimers project

Ro Coller - Green and yellow quilt

Ro Coller - Dinosaurs with alternate blocks
Ro Coller - Red and purple quilt with wild red backing!

Ro Coller - her crayon challenge quilt of pinks and purples
(Ro finished most of these quilts at the retreat)

Kathy Edwards - "Cafe au lait" Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend from our class with Gyleen

Kathy Edwards - An art quilt with fish and painted background and needle felting


Another Crayola Crayon Challenge completed!
Trish Hogan's hand made baby doll, bedecked in a homespun dress featuring beautifully detailed purple and brown patchwork along the lower hem line qualifies her for the drawing to be held at our Spring Luncheon. Because this doll is a quilter, you may notice she has a quilt of her very own to match her dress.

Time is running out...only 6 weeks to go to complete your challenge. Dig into your stash and amaze us with your completed challenge projects.