Mount Vernon News
Quilters UnlimitedFebruary 2009
Mount Vernon Chapter Officers 2008 – 2009
Co-Presidents—Lynn Miller and Carol Kunkel
Co-Vice Presidents—Angela Miller and Lynne Fishburn
Secretary—Dotty Eisenhour
Treasurer—Kathy Edwards
Nominating Chair—Jim Melton
President’s Message
On this snowy and blustery day, “Greetings” to my fellow quilters of Mt. Vernon QU!
We have our first snow of the season finally behind us. Unfortunately, it fell on a very special day for Mt. Vernon QU. Our own Barbara Zygiel was slated to present her trunk show, Frilly Frocks. I was particularly disappointed by the snowy conditions as I had scheduled a day off from work specifically to come hear Barbara speak and to see her beautiful work. I hope that we can find time to get Barbara back on our schedule in the coming months.
Holidays past, it seems everyone has put away the last of their holiday decorations and pulled out those infamous UFO’s. I have heard a number of you say that this is the year of the UFO. Many of you have resolved to finish them at long last. Good luck on achieving that goal. We should have some wonderful Show & Tell as everyone shares their completed UFO’s. Guess those UFO’s will no longer be UFO’s. What do you call a completed UFO????
January was as busy as ever. As the country braced for “change” and in the midst of all the inaugural events, Mt. Vernon along with our sister chapter Springfield QU, hosted scrap queen Bonnie Hunter for a workshop and lecture/trunk show. It was exciting to have such a spirited quilter come and share her quilting know how and sense of humor. Luckily for me, it fell on my days off and I was able to join in on the fun. Now, to make sure I don’t have another UFO, I need to get to work on “My Blue Heaven” started in the workshop.
February brings lots of excitement with the much anticipated lecture with Sharon Schamber on February 24th. Angie and Lynne have done a wonderful job of coordinating with area guilds to host Sharon, a nationally recognized Master Quilter and recent “Best in Show” winner of the 2008 Houston International Quilt Festival. We are thrilled to say that there have been numerous requests from other guilds requesting that their members join us for this lecture. Isn’t it wonderful to be able to welcome our sister guild members to this exciting lecture. Isn’t that part of why we quilt, the networking and subsequent friendships we develop?
Of course, we have our ongoing Block-of-the-Month appliqué project presented by Lynn Miller. Not sure you are ready for appliqué? Stay tuned, March brings with it locally renowned appliqué artist Emily Martin known for her needle artistry.
I can hear those sewing machines purring along as everyone hunkers down with the snow falling outside. Some would say the perfect place to be on a snowy afternoon is in front of the fireplace with a nice cup of cocoa, but I would bet we could all agree that the best place to be on a snowy afternoon is sitting before our sewing machine stitching up that next quilt to snuggle under on the next snowy day!
Happy Stitching!
Carol Kunkel, MVQU Co-President
Co-President’s Tip of the MonthAn easy-to-follow 12-step picture tutorial on how to make “the best knot ever!” can be found at:
http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/photos/my_favorite_knot/index.html. (Click on “Enter Gallery”)
Sharon Schamber Lecture and Trunk ShowFebruary 24, 2009, Hollin Hall Senior Center room 116, 12:30pm
Join us in welcoming nationally recognized Master Quilter Sharon Schamber for a lecture and trunk showing of her phenomenal quilts on February 24, 2009, 12:30 pm at the Hollin Hall Senior Center, room 116. Sharon recently won “Best of Show” at the 2008 Houston International Quilt Festival. The program is open to all QU Chapters. This is an opportunity not to be missed! For those unable to attend the daytime lecture, the Faithful Circle of Columbia, Maryland, invites you to attend their lecture with Sharon on February 23rd at 7 pm, at the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, Maryland. For more information, please contact Sheva Farkas at sbpowers@verizon.net.
To learn more about Sharon and see some of her latest work, visit http://www.sharonschamber.com/
Hand Appliqué Workshop with Emily Martin
March 25, 2009, Mount Vernon Governmental Center, 9:30-3:30pm
Our upcoming workshop with Emily Martin will focus on needle artistry in where you will learn precision appliqué using a relatively new off unit technique. The class project includes a Cardinal bird pattern with fabric kit. Both the novice and those well versed in needle art will appreciate the handwork results, and you may even develop a stitching rhythm that you never knew you had. 
Emily Martin has been quilting for over 30 years, but only within the last 12 years has she found her love for appliqué. It wasn’t until after taking a class with the ‘pro’ Elly Sienkiewicz in 1997, that she discovered the world of Baltimore album quilts and started her first all appliqué quilt. It is named “Baby Steps to Baltimore” and it launched her teaching career. She teaches at Fairfax's Quilt Patch, tours the country giving trunk shows, and has joined the staff of Elly's Appliqué Academy. Her large Baltimore album quilt, “Arriving in Baltimore,” has seen more travel miles than Emily, having gone to Houston to hang behind Elly when she was awarded her Silver Star. Latest honors are her selection to serve on the faculty of Quilting by the Bay in December 2009 with Elly in Lewes, Delaware, and an invitation to teach at Road to California in January 2010.
The workshop will be held at the Mt. Vernon Governmental Center, 2511 Parkers Lane, Alexandria, Virginia, from 9:30-3:30 pm. Registration forms will be sent via e-mail and available on February 10, 2009 at our business meeting. Sign up early to reserve your spot. The deadline for cancellation and refunds is March 4, 2009. Vacancies will be filled from a wait list.
2009-2010 MVQU Nominations
All MVQU offices are open for 2009-2010. Please call Jim Melton at 703-549-2592 if you are interested in serving. Don’t be shy!! Consider sharing a position with a friend.
June Luncheon to be held at The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant
We are pleased to announce that this year’s annual summer luncheon will be held at The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant, located at the entrance of George Washington’s historic estate and gardens. It is a picture perfect setting offering a traditional colonial luncheon with selections from a full course menu. Meals are accompanied by a tossed salad of crisp greens, homemade corn muffins, a slice of apple or cherry pie, and beverage. Space is limited, so reservations are required. The cost of the lunch is $20 per person and is due when you add your name to the sign up sheet along with your entrée selection. Sign up begins on February 10, 2009. Mark your calendar now and plan to join Beth Smith and Rhonda Adams as they host our annual summer luncheon on June 9, 2009, 12:00 pm at The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant. More details to come.
Chase Away the Winter Blues
Chase away the winter blues and join Beth and Rhonda in making “Fun with Frosty” or “Mt Vernon’s Tree Farm” pieced and appliqué blocks for this year’s annual summer luncheon block drive. This year’s blocks are sure to keep idle hands busy while waiting for spring to arrive, are quick to piece and are almost like eating a bag of chips without the calories…bet you can’t just make one.
Patterns and sample blocks will be available on February 10th at our business meeting and
are given below for both sets of blocks and finish 12” x 12”. Choose a variety of deep reds, lovely blues and cream to tan fabrics in tone on tone or small prints to make the pieced blocks, adding the appliqué tree or Frosty to complete your block. For those who do not enjoy the art of appliqué, “pieced only” blocks are welcome as well. See block instructions for more information.
Make as many as you like between now and the summer luncheon on June 9, 2009. Blocks may be turned in to either Beth or Rhonda as they are completed. Over the summer the collection of blocks will be sorted, kitted and some made into tops for our annual fund raiser scheduled for November 2009, perfect for going into the holidays. Enjoy!!
A “Thank-you” from Lynne
“To my dear quilting friends at Mt. Vernon, 
Yesterday my husband, Jack, said I’m off to check our mail. I told him it could wait until tomorrow, because it was only going to be bills and I didn’t want him to slip and fall walking on the icy sidewalks just for bills. He promptly reminded me that he grew up in Iowa and he knew what he was doing, blah, blah, blah, blah. Off he went to the middle of the block for the mail. When he returned, I was correct in my prediction that the mail would be end of the month bills. But to our surprise and delight, there was also a treat. MVQU had sent me a token of appreciation from Grape & Bean in Old Town as a thank you for hosting Bonnie Hunter. Jack and I thank you very much for the gift. Bonnie was a delight. She said she was so thankful she could stay in a home and did not have to spend the week alone in a hotel. By the end of the week we were both pleased to call each other friend and plan to see each other in Hampton at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival at the end of February. Thank you again for the lovely gift. It was unexpected and much appreciated. See you all soon.”
Lynne Fishburn
February Calendar
- February 3, 2009—Bee, 12:30 pm, Room 216, Hollin Hall Senior Center
- February 10, 2009—Business Meeting/Show & Tell, 12:30 pm, Room 112, Hollin Hall Senior Center
- February 11, 2009—Evening Bee, 6:00-8:00 pm, Mt. Vernon Governmental Center
- February 17, 2009—Bee, 12:30 pm, Room 216, Hollin Hall Senior Center
- February 24, 2009—Sharon Schamber lecture, 12:00 pm, Room 112, Hollin Hall Senior Center
- February 25, 2009—Evening Bee, 6:00-8:00 pm, Mt. Vernon Governmental Center
Looking Ahead
- March 15, 2009—QU Spring Quilt-In, 1:00-5:00 pm, Falls Church High School, 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church
- March 24, 2009—Emily Martin Lecture & Trunk Show, 12:30 pm, Hollin Hall Senior Center
- March 25, 2009—Emily Martin Workshop: “Needle-turn Appliqué,” 9:30 am-3:30 pm, Mt. Vernon Governmental Center
Upcoming Area Shows and Exhibit
February Birthdays
February 3 Gigi Corbin
February 4 Marian Schwartz
February 5 Yvette Fallin
February 6 Catherine Marciano
February 11 Joyce Delaney
February 15 Margaret Chandler
February 16 Carolyn Conahan
February 17 Jeannie Schelleng
February 19 Marlene Perry
February 19 Mary Stauss
February 22 Joan Dwyer
March BirthdaysMarch 1 Blanche Carpenter
March 16 Cathy Hanratty
March 29 Gail English
March 29 Carolyn Paden
March 30 Andrea Gribble
MT. VERNON QU
Minutes of the 1/13/09 Business Meeting
The meeting was called to order at 12:40 pm by Lynn Miller.
OLD BUSINESSThe
minutes of the November meeting were presented and approved.
Kathy Edwards presented an “in the black”
treasurer's report.
Lynn thanked Ro Coller and Kay Brill for their organization of the
December luncheon and Barbara Tucker for
auctioneering. The auction brought in over $500. Dotty Eisenhour delivered twelve quilts to
Carpenter's Shelter and they were extremely grateful for them.
Libby Dudley is chair of the by-laws committee and has been inputting our current ones on the computer. She would like a committee to help with the task of reviewing the by-laws. If we change the by-laws in any way, they would have to match the by-laws of the big QU. The goal is to finish this procedure by April.
It was suggested that we send more information about our chapter to the Big QU for their newsletter.
2009 Quilt Show, June 5 -7—Submissions must be made by March 1st for the challenge quilt event - “All the World's a Stage.” Quilts can be 48” x 48” or smaller and may not have been entered in the show previously. The silent auction at the show this year will be a boutique. There will be two tables at the event for items for the boutique. MVQU will be responsible for 6 hours of work at the boutique table. Ro Coller has agreed to head up our boutique and collect items for same. We may also have a workshop where we could work on projects to sell. On January 27th, Bert Garino will give us some ideas for the projects. Cathy Hanratty has set February 24th for the deadline for quilts to be measured and photographed for the show. Reminder – maximum size accepted will by 115” x 115”. She will need help with set up for the show at the Expo Center on June 4th. She will start collecting quilts from the members on May 4th. Garments need to be on hangers and dolls in boxes. Cathy also needs donations of old sheets that can be laid on the floor under the quilts until they are hung. New rule this year: No rolling carts can be brought in the front door of the center. If you are entering a small item for the show, it should be attached to a piece of black fabric. A representative from QU will come to a future meeting with class sign up information. Quilts entered in the show this year may be offered for sale. A copy of the budget for the show is available on the QU website:
http://www.quiltersunlimited.org/.
There was a discussion about submitting an ad for the quilt show program. A vote was taken and 13 members preferred a ¼ page ad and 21 preferred a ½ page ad. So we will submit a ½ page ad which will be due on March 1st. Angie Miller and Bert Garino will design the ad. Our volunteer job for the show will be to help vendors with their demo presentations.
Lynn Miller has made a king size top that she would like to donate to the show. She has fabric for the back and batting and would like someone to do the quilting. After some discussion, it was decided by the group that the quilt could be given as the raffle quilt at the Quilt Show in 2012 when we are responsible for the raffle. The group agreed that the quilt would be hand quilted by our chapter and Barbara Zygiel will choose a design for the quilting.
Big QU has asked each chapter if it would be interested in making quilts for donation to a
Ronald McDonald House. They would like two from each chapter. The quilts would need to be 82” x 96”. Marianne Urban noted that she has two quilts that she would be willing to donate. We could also each make a block for a group quilt. Lynne Fishburn has some patterns for soldier quilts that would work. The group decided that we would take part in this project.
The Spring Quilt-In will be held on Sunday, March 15th from 1:00-5:00 pm at Falls Church High School, hosted by the Reston Chapter. The theme is “Bonnet Parade.” Blocks for the block exchange will be pinwheels or Sunbonnet Sue. More information can be found on the QU website. Kathy Shaw has offered a book and ruler as a door prize.
National Quilt Day, March 21st—Rhonda Adams has suggested that we do something special on that day. Following a discussion, Lynn Miller said she would check with the Governmental Center to see if it is available on that Saturday. If it’s available, we will decide on a project. If the center is unavailable, we may meet somewhere else at an earlier date.
The Mt. Vernon retreat will be held March 16-19th in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania. Please contact Ro Coller at 301-630-3243 for more information. The prices for the retreat are as follows:
Single room, 2 nights $191
Single room, 3 nights $276
Double room, 2 nights $107
Double room, 3 nights $150
NEW BUSINESS
In 2010, Mt. Vernon QU will have a “bye” for a volunteer duty at the Quilt Show.
We discussed whether to separate the
treasurer and membership jobs in the future. When we did not come to a conclusion, it was decided to shelve the idea for now. If there is to be a change, we need to make a decision before officer nominations are completed.
Programs—the workshop for January will be with Bonnie Hunter on January 19th in the Governmental Center from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. Please do not bring any colored drinks. The lecture and trunk show with Bonnie Hunter will be held in Springfield and will begin at 9:30 am on January 20th. The February lecture with Sharon Schamber will be at the senior center on the 24th and other chapters have been invited to join us. On January 27th, Barbara Zygiel will give a lecture and trunk show on “Frilly Frocks.”
Evening bees will begin again on January 14th and will be held at the Governmental Center from 6:00 – 8:30 pm. They will be held on Wednesdays in the weeks when Tuesday bees are not held.
June Luncheon—Beth Smith proposed that we hold our June luncheon at The Mount Vernon Inn rather than at the Senior Center. There would be a three course lunch for $20 a person. The vote was unanimous among the members present to have the luncheon at the Inn. Beth and Rhonda Adams will have block patterns ready in February to be completed by the luncheon.
Hostesses for today were Mary Mazzuchi, Pat Alfredson, and Yvette Fallin.
Door prizes were won by Kay Brill, Ellen Patton, and Ann Marlin.
Ann Oliver, formerly of our chapter, has won the “Best of Show” in Paducah, Kentucky. There was a discussion about having a reunion at the show with folks from the area that know Ann.
Show & Tell—those participating were Barbara Zygiel, Kathy Edwards, Bert Garino, Pat Alfredson, Libby Dudley, Gigi Corbin, Ellen Patton, and Angie Miller.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:05 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Dotty Eisenhour, Secretary
Please submit items to Beverly Dasch, MVQU Newsletter Editor, at mvqu.newmailto:mvqu.news@gmail.com or send them to 5643 Victory Loop, Manassas, VA 20112. You may also call her at 703-590-2756. The deadline for March’s newsletter is March 1st.
Our own Rhonda Adams has another of her quilts featured on the cover of a new book... this time in Quilts: Unfinished Stories with New Endings, by Gyleen X. Fitzgerald!
