Mount Vernon Chapter Officers 2008 – 2009
Co-Presidents—Lynn Miller and Carol Kunkel
Co-Vice Presidents—Angela Miller and Lynn Fishburn
Secretary—Dotty Eisenhour
Treasurer—Kathy Edwards
Nominating Chair—Jim Melton
Presidents’ Message
Greetings, MVQU Quilt Friends!
As we regroup, following busy summers, we are starting to feel the “E”xilaration of blocking those dates on our calendars for an “E”xciting new year of quilting and socializing with our friends at Mt. Vernon.
Our focus for the upcoming year is "NEW." Angie and Lynne have a busy schedule of programs to stimulate your creativity and help focus our future fabric purchasing. We have new charity and community outreach options to discuss at our first business meeting on September 9th. We are also trying out a change in format for our annual fund raiser. We have selected an earlier date (September 23rd) to avoid conflicts with the Hollin Hall Senior Center's craft bazaar, and will have a live auction instead of our recent silent auctions. We are increasing the advertising with the hopes of building up this annual event.
In addition to the array of scheduled programs, there will be lots of opportunities to delve into your scrap bag with a mystery quilt, block-of-the-month program, a fabric exchange, and other activities to reconnect all that we love about quilting.
Another great opportunity for quilters to gather will be through the continuation of our night-time bees. We tried this over the summer with success, but the true test will be over the next three months as we all get back into our quilting schedules. Our goal is to meet the needs and offer additional opportunities to our membership with no additional cost, a real win-win situation. With the diversity of the group, we will continue to strive to meet the needs and wants of as many as is practical.
Remember that most of the board members are relatively new to the guild, so what seems like a "new" idea to us may actually be an idea that the guild has tried it the past. However, circumstances are different and the people are different, so let's give "new" ideas our full support. We also look forward to receiving your ideas and input as we progress through the year.
The main benefit of belonging to a guild is the chance to be inspired by and learn from our fellow guild members. With that in mind, we “E”ncourage you all to present your ideas, “E”xperience and work at show-and-tell, inspiring others as you do so. If you see something you don't know how to do, come to a meeting or bee and ask for help. If enough people “E”xpress an interest, we may even be able to arrange an in-house workshop. This coming year we are going to focus on "E" words: Enthusiasm, Energy, Exchange, and Excitement. We are looking forward to an “E”xceptional year!
Keep on Quilting!
Lynn Miller and Carol Kunkel
A Message from the VPs
With the August heat nearing an end, now is the perfect time to sip lemonade and think of cooler days ahead... and what could be more exciting than to think about the return of our guild activities? There is so much in store for 2008-2009 that we just can't wait to share it. This is quite an adventure for us, and we hope it will be for you as well!
What is going to happen, you ask? Well, in keeping with the spirit of variety offered in years past, there will be a little something for everyone: quilting challenges, a live auction, intriguing lectures, workshops, a retreat, luncheons, and our annual QU Quilt Show just to begin with.
To kick off the year, our first business meeting on September 9th includes the 2008 Summer Challenge Reveal…we can't wait to see the creativity unleashed on all those beautiful totes! Then it is on to the Live Auction, Craft and Bake Sale on September 23, 2008.
In October, we will host quilt designer and author of
Simply Amazing Spirals, RaNae Merrill. A trunk showing of spiral quilts and lecture will be held on Tuesday, October 7, 2008, from 12:30-2:30 pm at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, VA. On October 8, 2008, RaNae will teach a full day workshop on the techniques for drawing, coloring, and sewing a spiral block. The "Spiral Roses" workshop will be held at the Artistic Artifacts Annex, 4750 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Be sure to check out RaNae's website at
http://www.ranaemerrillquilts.com/. There will be an in-house activity during our regularly scheduled program meeting on October 28th.
On November 25, 2008, Quilt Artist and Teacher, Cyndi Souder will present a lecture on "Overcoming Quilters Block". Cyndi will discuss sources of inspiration and share some of her amazing quilts. She will also share tricks and tips to jumpstart your creativity. Take a moment to visit Cyndi's website at:
http://www.moonlightingquilts.com/. Finally, our 2008 activities culminate with the annual Holiday Luncheon to be held on December 9th. Look for more details in the months ahead.
We’ll start the New Year in style by hosting “Scrap Quilting Queen,” Bonnie Hunter, with a few of our sister guilds. A full day workshop will be held on Monday, January 19, 2009, at the Mount Vernon Governmental Center followed by Bonnie's “Crumb Quilting” Lecture & Trunk Show hosted by Springfield QU, Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at Grace Presbyterian Church, 7434 Bath Street, Springfield, VA. **Please note that this program will be held the 3rd week in January vice the 4th, so mark your calendars accordingly. Bonnie's website is:
http://www.quiltville.com/. On January 27th our own Barbara Zeigel will be sharing her "Frilly Frocks" Lecture & Trunk Show.
Join us on February 24, 2009 for an afternoon lecture with nationally recognized Master Quilter, Sharon Schamber. Sharon teaches everything from Piec-lique and fabric painting to machine quilting. The lecture is to be determined, stay tuned. Take a look at Sharon’s phenomenal work at
http://www.sharonschamber.com/On March 24, 2009 we have the honor of hosting local Hand Appliqué Quilter, Emily Martin. Emily will be sharing her collection of bed quilts and wall hangings during a trunk show followed by a full day needle-turn workshop on March 25th. The workshop offers skills in fine stems, perfect circles, and smooth, gradual curves. Also, Mt. Vernon’s third annual Quilt Retreat in Bird-in-Hand, PA, will be held March 16th through 19th.
For the month of April, we have the pleasure of meeting international Quilting Instructor and Pattern Designer, Cynthia England. Cynthia is most recognized for her Picture Pieced Quilts, one of which was selected as one of the "The Twentieth Century's Best American Quilts" in 2000. We will share in a full day workshop hosted by Burke QU on April 27, 2009, followed by a lecture on April 28, 2009 at Hollin Hall Senior Center, 12:30 pm. Cynthia's website is
http://www.englanddesign.com/.
In May, we round out the year with Quilt Artist and Teacher, Frieda Anderson. There will be a lecture on May 26, 2009 followed by a full day workshop on May 27, 2009 hosed by Mt. Vernon and shared with our sister Chapter Burke QU. You may view Frieda's creative style at
http://www.friestyle.com/.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Lynne Fishburn at 703-888-2596 or by email at lsfishburn@hotmail.com or Angie Miller at 703-360-7306 or by email at a2miller@live.com. Be sure to check your emails and the MVQU Blog often at http://www.mvquilters.blogspot.com/ for updates as they become available.
Angela Miller and Lynn Fishburn
MVQU Programs 2008-2009
September 23, 2008 Mt. Vernon Live Auction and Bake Sale
October 7, 2008 RaNae Merrill Lecture: “Spiral Quilts”
October 8, 2008 RaNae Merrill Workshop: “Spiral Rose Block”
October 28, 2008 In-house Activity
November 25, 2008 Cyndi Souder Lecture: “Overcoming Quilters Block”
December 9, 2008 Holiday Luncheon
January 19, 2009 Bonnie Hunter Workshop: “My Blue Heaven”
January 20, 2009 Bonnie Hunter Lecture with Springfield QU: “Crumb Quilting”
January 27, 2009 Meet the Quilter: Barbara Zygiel: “Frilly Frocks” Lecture & Trunk Show
February 24, 2009 Sharon Schamber Lecture
March 24, 2009 Emily Martin Lecture & Trunk Show
March 25, 2009 Emily Martin Workshop: “Needle-turn Applique"
April 27, 2009 Cynthia England Workshop: “12' Floral Block”
April 28, 2009 Cynthia England Lecture: “Why Did I Buy this Ugly Fabric?”
May 26, 2009 Frieda Anderson Lecture: “Walks in the Woods with George”
May 27, 2009 Frieda Anderson Workshop: “Autumn Glory”
Membership
It’s time to renew your MVQU membership if you have not already done so. Scroll down past this newsletter for a copy of the membership form. Please have your completed forms ready to turn in to Kathy Edwards on September 9, 2008.
MVQU Annual Auction and Bake Sale
Tuesday... September 23, 2008... 12:30 pm... Hollin Hall Senior Center
Preparations are well underway for Mt Vernon’s Annual Fund Raiser on September 23, 2008. Your committee is working hard to make this year’s Annual Auction and Bake Sale a FUN and successful event. . 
We are in need of items and/or services that can be sold for a fixed price as well as “live” auctioned off during our fund raiser. Members who have a "service" to offer are asked to provide Barbara Tucker the FULL details of that service in writing. Examples of a “service” offered could be longarm quilting, quilt binding, cutting fabric for blocks, hand quilting, knitting, etc. Barbara is offering up her personal service of baking for Thanksgiving and Christmas. There are probably many other services you could think of to offer so give freely of your time.
The deadline for donating all items and services is September 9, 2008. Your Fund Raising Committee has set aside a d
ate for sorting and pricing items; therefore, having them to the fund raising committee in a timely manner would be greatly appreciated. If you are unable to attend the business meeting on September 9, Barbara Tucker welcomes your donated items be dropped off at her home, 8340 Wagon Wheel Road, Alexandria, VA. Please leave your items under her car port if she is not at home.
As a reminder, if you are donating baked goods for the bake sale, please have these items to the Hollin Hall Senior Center no later than 12:15 pm on September 23, 2008. To greatly assist your committee, please put a “suggested price” on these items prior to drop off.
Contact Barbara Tucker 703-780-3580 with any questions.
MVQU’s Third Annual Retreat 
March 16-18, 2009
Mark your calendars to attend MVQU’s third annual retreat at Bird-in-Hand, PA. The scheduled dates are March 16, 17, and 18, 2009. You can opt to stay all three nights, or any two.
Rates are as follows:
Single room--two nights, $191; three nights, $276
Double room (roommate)—two nights $105 per person; three nights, $148 per person
In the event you want to share a room with two roommates—two nights $84 per person; three nights, $117 per person
We have carpooled for the past two retreats and that has worked out well. We are on our own for meals. There is a restaurant connected with the Inn and many other eating places nearby. There is also a kitchenette connected to the meeting room with a refrigerator, sink, microwave and coffee maker. Many of us have brought food with us for the past retreats. If you are interested in attending, please contact Ro Coller at 301-630-3243 or via e-mail at
russ.coller@verizon.net. A non-refundable deposit of 1/2 the room charges are due by February 1, 2009
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 e-mail 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 e-mail 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
FYI
“The QU Quarterly Newsletter”, Volume 36, Issue 1 is now on the QU website at: www.quiltersunlimited.org/docs/Aug_Sep08Nltr.pdf.
If anyone wishes to have his/her machine serviced (dusting and cleaning) at one of our future bees, Ro Coller will arrange to have Jim Gillich come again. He charges $55 per machine and can do 3-4 machines during one bee. Contact Ro at 301-630-3243 or via e-mail at russ.coller@verizon.net.
If you pre-ordered the book Quilt Pink for Hope, they are in and will be available for pick up on September 9, 2008. Please contact Barbara Dove if you need to make alternate arrangements to collect your book.
September Calendar
September 2, 2008—Bee, 12:30 pm , Room 216, Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria
September 9, 2008—Business Meeting, 12:30 pm, Room 112, Hollin Hall Senior Center
September 10, 2008—Evening Bee, 6-8:30 pm, Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria
September 16, 2008—Bee, 12:30 pm, Room 216, Hollin Hall Senior Center.
September 23, 2008—MVQU Annual Auction & Bake Sale, 12:30 pm, Room 112, Hollin Hall Senior Center
September 24, 2008—Evening Bee, 6-8:30 pm, Mount Vernon Governmental Center
September 30, 2008—Bee, 12:30 pm, Room 216, Hollin Hall Senior Center
Looking Ahead
October 7, 2008—“A Spiral Quilts” Trunk Show and Lecture with RaNae Merrill, 12:30 pm, Mount Vernon Governmental Center
October 8, 2008—“Spiral Roses” Workshop with RaNae Merrill, 9 am to 4 pm at Artistic Artifacts Annex, 4750 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria
October 14, 2008—Business Meeting, 12:30 pm, Room 112, Hollin Hall Senior Center
October 15, 2008—Evening Bee (location to be determined)
October 21, 2008—Bee, 12:30 pm, Room 216, Hollin Hall Senior Center
October 23, 2008—Big QU Special Meeting and “So Many Quilts, So Little Time” Lecture with Carol Taylor, 7:30 pm Lake Braddock Secondary School, 9200 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA (Workshops are offered on October 24th and 25th, go to http://www.quiltersunlimited.org/docs/Aug_Sep08Nltr.pdf for sign-up). To learn more about Carol Taylor and see her amazing body of work, visit http://www.caroltaylorquilts.com/.
October 28, 2008—In-house Activity (to be determined)
October 29, 2008—Evening Bee (location to be determined)
Upcoming Area Shows and Exhibits
September 4-7, 2008—Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza XV, Harrisburg, PA. Go to http://www.quiltfest.com/ for more information.
September 7, 2008—35th Annual Sully Plantation Quilt Show, 10 am to 4:30 pm, Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794. Vendors assemble on the grounds of the 1794 home of Richard Bland Lee at the annual fall event to show and sell new and antique quilts, quilt-related merchandise, other fiber arts, antique linens, antique sewing tools, books, and fabric. Quilters Unlimited members provide quilting demonstrations and lectures. Visit http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/sully/calendar.htm or call 703-437-1794 for more information. A list of demonstrations and times is posted in the QU Newsletter http://www.quiltersunlimited.org/docs/Aug_Sep08Nltr.pdf.
September 27 & 28, 2008—Historic Occoquan’s Fall Arts & Crafts Show will once again be held in the streets of Occoquan with over 350 juried artists and crafters from 41 states in residence. For more information call 703-491-2168 or visit http://www.occoquancraftshow.com/.
October 2, 3, & 4, 2008—Original Sewing & Quilt Expo Returns to “Explore New Trends in Sewing.” It will be held once again at the Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, VA (where we have our QU Show). Don't miss the very latest in patterns, fabrics, notions, machines and resources available when you browse the booths of more than 125 exhibitors. A complete class schedule is available at http://www.sewingexpo.com/ or call 800-699-6309 for more information.
Upcoming Area Workshops and Opportunities
The Clustered Spires Quilt Guild of Frederick, MD invites MVQU to an October 16th lecture with quilt artist Dianne Hire. Dianne is the author of Quilters Playtime, Games for Quiltmakers and editor of Oxymoron: Absurdly Logical Quilts, as well as an international award winning fiber artist. Go to http://dhquiltsandclasses.blogspot.com/2005/06/dianne-s.html for examples of her work. The guild has also invited MVQU to participate in two of Diane’s workshops, "Organdy Ribbon Transparency" Friday, Oct. 17th (all levels), and "Positive and Negative Scroll Work" Saturday, Oct. 18th (intermediate to advanced). Each 6-hour workshop is $50. Sign up with Sharon Price at therightprice@verizon.net.
Southern Comforters of Bowie Quilt Guild invites MVQU to their second annual Quilt Bingo on Sunday, October 12, 2008 at Knight of Columbus Hall, 6111 Columbian Way (MD Rt. 3), Bowie, MD. Doors open at 12:30 pm with Bingo from 2 to about 4 pm. Prizes are lap-sized to full sized quilts. They will have raffle baskets, a raffle quilt (to be drawn for in March 2009), a bake sale, door prizes and food. Admission is $20 at the door, $15 in advance. Tickets gain you admission and cards for all regular games. Double sets of "specials" will be available for $5. You can call Loretto Cartney at 301-464-8982 or email her at kansaswx@verizon.net for advance sales and will call tickets. They are glad to reserve a "guild table" for groups of eight to ten people.
Ricky Tims is bringing one of his Super Quilt Seminars to the Maranatha Community Church of God in Frederick, MD April 30 - May 2, 2009. Alex Anderson and Libby Lehman will be with him and he will have a store. For more information email rtqs@rickytims.com.
September Birthdays
September 7 Marjorie Parkyn
September 13 Simone Pointon
September 16 Joyce Keating
September 21 Mary Mazzuchi
September 26 Carol Kunkel
September 29 Barbara Van Keuren
October Birthdays
October 3 Tammy Fletcher
October 6 Angela Miller
October 16 Lynne Fishburn
October 16 Marjorie Barondes
October 17 Jean Smith
October 24 Kris Bishop
Our Annual Auction and Bake Sale is on Tuesday, September 23rd at 12:30, in Room 112 of the Hollin Hall Senior Center, 1500 Shenandoah Road, Alexandria.
Marianne Urban made the envelope quilt and gave it to Barbara Edler filled with messages
Carol Kunkel's Pinwheels and Planes... such great motion in this quilt!
