Mount Vernon News
Quilters Unlimited
September 2007
Mount Vernon Chapter Officers 2007 - 2008
Co-Presidents—Cathy Hanratty and Beth Smith
Co-Vice Presidents—Joyce Keating and Rhonda Adams
Secretary—Dotty Eisenhour
Treasurer—Barbara Dove
Nominating Chair—Tammy Mannarino
President's Message
We hope everyone had a productive summer and finished many projects. We can’t wait to see them at Show and Tell. We have an exciting year coming up with a lot of great lecturers such as Monique Schutsky, Paula Nadelstern, and Barbara Olsen. Our Pat Sloan workshop on September 18th is “sold out” and we look forward to seeing the completed items. Our first program of the year is “Back to School.” Thanks go to Rhonda and Joyce for all of their hard work on the programs.
We have some big responsibilities this year to Big QU. We are in charge of the Winter Quilt-in (lead and food) and we have the duty of finding volunteers for the quilt show in June. We need everyone to pitch in to help with these duties. Many hands make light work, so grab a friend or two and volunteer to help with these committees. Don’t be afraid to volunteer because you’ve never done it before. Neither have we. Look at it as a learning experience.
Our major fund raiser, the Silent Auction, is coming up in October. Look through your projects and see what you can donate. Finished items such as baby quilts and wall hangings will appeal to the non-quilting shoppers who we hope to attract. We will once again offer food items for sale. Books will be limited to those published within the last two years. Kay Brill, Pat Alfredson, Mary Mazzuchi, Joyce Keating, Tammy Mannarino, and Anne Poulin have been already hard at work to make sure that this is our most successful auction yet.
It should be an exciting year and we look forward to sharing it with all of you.
Cathy and Beth
A Message from Rhonda
As the saying goes, it’s that time of year again. Summer is nearing its end, the kids are back in school, and before you know it we all will be looking to finish our holiday shopping… okay, perhaps I’m rushing the year to a close too quickly, but we have so much to look forward to in 2008 that I can hardly wait for the New Year to get here. Not to worry, we’ll be sending off 2007 with the same amount of enthusiasm that we plan to greet 2008.
As I collect my thoughts and sit down to write, I must tell you that I’m feeling a little bit like a school girl getting ready for her first day of classes. After counting down the dog days of summer, I am really looking forward to seeing all of those familiar Mount Vernon smiles… this truly could be the best part of 2007-2008. I hear that the “bees were buzzing” on Tuesdays, but alas, that “work thing” got in the way for me. I trust that each of you had a fantastic summer. It should be surprise that with the start of every new school year that there is the first homework assignment.
Now here is yours: please take a moment to share a few lines with us on the blog about “What I Did on My Summer Vacation.” Send your entries to
mvqu.news@gmail.com by October 1, 2007. Photos are welcome.
Here's a little preview of what's on our agenda for the upcoming year. You may want to grab a pen and your calendar and mark the dates... you won't want to miss a thing! There's a little something for everyone: fascinating lectures, workshops, a retreat, a block exchange, starting in October, in lieu of a Block of the Month--a Blog of the Month (BOM), a Quilt Challenge, luncheons, our annual QU Quilt Show, and so much more. We'll call it a year of "Happy Endings and New Beginnings."
Let’s get to what you really want to know—what’s in store for this year? We’re kicking off the year with our own in-house “Back to School” event on September 25, 2007, and we’ll share the rules for the 2007-2008 “Mount Vernon Challenge,” as well. Remember, Challenge Quilts, are meant to try us and stretch us… taking chances. The goal is simple enough: to start a quilt, finish it, and then show it together with those other guild members who are using the same guidelines, rules, and fabric. And let’s not forget our much anticipated workshop with Pat Sloan on September 18, 2007.
On November 27, 2007, we will host textile artist, Monique Schutsky. Monique will share with us her inspiration and love of the ancient art of Japanese Shashiko. Following our lecture there will be a two hour workshop for those interested in giving this beautiful art form a try under the direction of Monique who has combined the best practices gleamed from her studies in Japan with those taught in the United States to provide a true Japanese - American teaching experience.
On January 22, 2008, Springfield QU Member and Associate Mount Vernon QU Member, Aby Dolinger, will be sharing her friendship and signature quilts during a program called, “It’s Not About the Quilts.” Aby will also be leading us in our Block Exchange for this year. She has chosen a Bow Tie block in keeping with our “Happy Endings and New Beginnings” theme and will share the rules for the exchange during the months of November and December. This will be a lot of fun, so I hope you’ll plan to participate… the setting options are endless and will make for a variety of quilts as individual as the maker. Aby’s talent as a quilter has spanned the world, and I can promise you that you will be awed by her collection of quilts.
Lynda Poole Prioleau will be sharing her trunk show, “The Good, the Bad and The Ugly” on February 26, 2008. Lynda has been featured on “Simply Quilts” and instructs locally. To see some of her three dimensional works and quilt designs, please visit her website at
http://www.matlyndesigns.com/. Also, Mount Vernon’s second annual Quilt Retreat in Bird-in-Hand, Pennyslvania, will be held in February. More details to follow, but if you have questions please see Ro Coller.
For the month of March, we’re going to change things a bit, so be sure to mark your calendars. Paula Nadelstern will be here to share her lecture, “Symmetry & Surprise: The Kaleidoscope as a Design Inspiration” on March 4, 2008, and a full day workshop, “Needle Stars,” will follow on March 11, 2008. To see more information or to get the supply list, please visit her website at the following link:
http://www.paulanadelstern.com/. Our business meeting will move to March 25, 2008.
In April, another great opportunity to expand your quilting horizons presents itself with a visit from fiber artist and teacher, Barbara Olson of Billings, Montana. A one day workshop will held on April 21, 2008, followed by Barbara’s lecture on April 22nd. The workshop and lectures are to be determined. Be sure to check out Barbara’s website is
http://www.barbaraolsonquiltart.com/.
We are still determining our May program, so stay tuned.
If you have any questions or comments, please see Joyce or me. I can be reached at
princessntlv@hotmail.com. Be sure to check your emails and the blog often for updates and new information as it becomes available. Here's to another great year. See you on Tuesday!
Silent Auction Preparation Our chapter’s Silent Auction will be held on Tuesday, October 23rd. As usual, it’s our major fundraising event that makes the programs and other activities throughout the year possible. The major part of the Silent Auction is just that—you place a bid on the item that you’re interested in buying and then watch it like a hawk. If someone else raises the bid, then you have to decide how high you want to bid.
Our chapter is looking for items to auction. Donations can be given to Kay Brill throughout September and until our business meeting on October 9th. We want quilted items and quilt-related items, food, and services. Books will be accepted that are fairly new—a copyright date of 2005 or later. Also, we’re looking for fat quarters of fabric, preferably with one dominant color. Kay will collect these items and make jars of fabric to sell at the auction. Bring in your fat quarters on Tuesday and Kay will have a sample jar for you to see.
We’ll also have a short, live auction during the afternoon. There will be about half a dozen items that our co-president, Cathy Hanratty, will auction off. The Silent Auction will be suspended during this live auction, but it’s only about 20 minutes and there will be time afterwards to “check” your bids one last time. This year there are a few new highlights. Some of the bid items will have a BUY NOW price similar to EBAY. On these items, you can pay the BUY NOW price and take the item away right away. There will also be a PRICED AS MARKED table with things that are multiples, such as note cards and ornaments.
Food items will also be accepted and they will be in the PRICED AS MARKED area. There will be a SERVICES table and there will be silent auction items. Examples of these would be perhaps: a dessert for you and your company; a quilt made from one of three patterns using your fabric, someone will bind your quilt, and someone will quilt your quilt. Please keep in mind that this is our major fundraising event and we need nice things to sell.
Secret Pals
Back by Popular Demand--Mount Vernon's Secret Pal Exchange! Based on feedback from last year's participants and its success, Mount Vernon will once again engage in a Secret Pal Exchange. Won't you join us and make a new friend and enjoy being remembered by one of your fellow quilters? Please fill out the questionaire below and return it to Rhonda Adams by September 30th at either of the QU meetings or through US Mail if you would like to participate. Her email is
princessntlv@hotmail.com. Remember, the more information you share on your questionaire the better. Secret Pals will be drawn at random and the exchange will run from October 2007 through May 2008, with the "Big Reveal" at our June luncheon. All that we ask is that you remember your Secret Pal in some way once a month. A Secret Pal table will be set up at each of our meetings if you wish to leave something for your pal to pick up. Of course, you may creatively remember them in any other way you choose. If you have any questions, please contact Rhonda Adams or Joyce Keating.
(click to enlarge, then print)Subscribe to “QU Digest”
Subscribe to the “QU Digest.” Since 1995, the “QU Digest” has been an informal way for members (1,140 plus) to network and share information between official newsletters. It is sent electronically via email or it can be viewed at a YahooGroups website (for members only). Once you subscribe, you will receive news about QU members, quilting tips, interesting websites, and pleas for missing books or fabric. There is also ongoing news on workshops by QU and other guilds, bus trips, members' news, job announcements, quilt shows, moving notices, classified ads, yard sales, etc. A submission doesn't even have to be quilt-related!
The “QU Digest” is published every few days, depending on the amount of news submitted. At the Yahoo website, you'll also be able to see “QU Digest” archives that go back a number of years, an email directory of subscribers, quilting tips, quilting websites, and other pertinent files. If you wish to subscribe to “QU Digest,” contact Barbara Tricarico (McL, V) at
QUDigest@cox.net.”
Quilters Needed Arlington County Parks has a craft show and sale at Fort CF Smith in Arlington each December. They would like to add quilters to the show this year. Interested quilters should contact Sharon Casey at 703-243-7329 or email her at
scasey@arlingtonva.us. She looks forward to working with Northern Virginia quilters. You can also check this park’s website at
www.fortcfsmith.com/ and click on Hendry House.
Calendar Events for SeptemberSeptember 11—Business/Show & Tell, 12:30, Hollin Hall Senior Center
September 18—Pat Sloan “Wild and Free Applique Workshop,” 9:00-4:30, Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane (sold out)
September 25—“Back to School" program, 12:30, Hollin Hall Senior Center
Calendar Events for the Future
October 23, 2007—Mount Vernon Silent Auction, 12:30, Hollin
Hall Senior Center
November 27, 2007—Monique Schutsky, “The Ancient Art of Sashiko” Lecture and Workshop,12:30, Hollin Hall Senior Center
December 11, 2007—Mount Vernon Holiday Luncheon
January 22, 2008-- Aby Dolinger, It's Not About the Quilts,” 12:30, Hollin Hall Senior Center
February 18-22, 2008—2nd Annual Mount Vernon Retreat, Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania; details to come.
February 26, 2008—Lynda Poole Prioleau, "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," 12:30, Hollin Hall Senior Center
March 4, 2008—Paula Nadelstern, “Symmetry & Surprise: The Kaleidoscope as Design Inspiration”
March 11, 2008—Paula Nadelstern Workshop, “Needle Stars”
April 21, 2008—Barbara Olson Workshop (title to be announced)
April 22, 2008—Barbara Olson Lecture (title to be announced)
Upcoming Quilt ShowsSeptember 6-9—Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza XIV,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, more information can be found at
http://www.quiltfest.com/September 9—34th Annual Sully Plantation Quilt Show and Sale, Chantilly, Virginia; more information at the following link:
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully/calendar.htmSeptember 22-23—Friendship Quilters, Linthicum, Maryland; more information at
September Birthdays
September 8th Marjorie Parkyn
September 14th Simone Pointon
September 17th Joyce Keating
September 22nd Mary Mazzuchi
September 30th Barbara Van Keuren
October Birthdays
October 4th Tammy Fletcher
October 17th Jean Smith
October 17th Marjorie Barondes
October 25th Kris Bishop
Please submit items to our newsletter editor, Beverly Dasch, at
mvqu.news@gmail.com. The deadline for October's newsletter is October 1st.
Hexagon Flower Garden by Libby Dudley
Barbara Zygiel made this for a new nephew... all machine done! 400 different fabrics were used!
Barbara's hand pieced and quilted "Honeymoon Cottages"
"Government Center Stitch-In" quilt in purple batiks by Joyce Nicholas (machine quilted by Aby Dolinger)
Ann Marlin's "Marie Osmond"quilt
Pat Alfredson's "I Spy Alaska"... an Alaskan trip memory quilt
Pat's "Fireweed" wall hanging... also, an Alaskan trip memory quilt
2006-2007 BOM quilt by Blanche Carpenter
A colorful quilt by Mary Stauss
"Lily" by Ann Steck... banana fabric is used for the binding
Red, White, and Blue quilt by Nancy McGlasson
Anne Berard's finished quilt from Gyleen Fitzgerald's 2006 Workshop
"Curves" by Anne (machine quilted by Aby Dolinger)
Anne's jelly roll quilt made with Hancock browns
2006-2007 BOM quilt by Kay Brill
Another BOM quilt by Kay in green, peach and yellow
Christmas stockings by Kay
"Yellow Rose" by Donna Walbrecht
Fall table runner by Donna
Joan Bingman's wool applique flowers... a project 3 years in the making
Marjorie Parkyn's bright "Chinese Coins"
Marjorie's scrappy triangle quilt
Lucy Petitt's "Nine Patch" in browns and whites 
Lynda Poole Prioleau will be sharing her trunk show, “The Good, the Bad and The Ugly” on February 26, 2008. Lynda has been featured on “Simply Quilts” and instructs locally. To see some of her three dimensional works and quilt designs, please visit her website at 
