Big QU Quilt Show in June 2010

Our job this year for the Big QU Quilt Show in June 2010 is to obtain vendors for the show. Carol Kunkel is our chairperson for this job, and she has a committee put together that has already met once this summer. They would love to have another MVQU member join them in the process of deciding on vendors and getting the word out to them. Please let Carol know that you would enjoy helping out by e-mailing her at cakunkel@verizon.net

A Call for Donations

MVQU’s 2009 Annual Fund Raising Event--Coming Soon

Just a reminder, this year our Annual Fund Raising Event will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2009, Hollin Hall Senior Center, Room 112 from 12:30-2:30pm. Your Fund Raising Committee is already hard at work putting in place plans to make this year’s event better than ever providing a perfect opportunity to showcase the talents of our membership, entice fellow quilters to join our fun and fellowship and to make new friends. Mark your calendar and plan now to attend MVQU’s Annual Fund Raising Event consisting of a Live Auction with auctioneer Barbara Tucker, a Fixed Price Table and Bake Sale. We’re looking forward to another successful event. Oh, and be sure to tell all your friends.

A call for donations and services:

Plan now, donations for the Live Auction and Fixed Price tables should be turned in no later than Friday, October 2, 2009 allowing time for your Fund Raising Committee to photograph items for advertising, sort, price and tag as needed. To avoid taking over our auctioneer’s dining room for the summer, please plan to turn in your larger items during the September meetings, however smaller items may be turned in at any time. Details will follow in the months ahead with the specifics for the bake sale. Please keep in mind we are a quilting group, donations should be in the “craft family” (no white elephants please). Here’s what we would love to have:

• Finished quilts, all sizes.
• Finished Wall Hangings, Table Runners, etc.
• Quilt Kits consisting of a finished top, backing and binding.
• Block Kits ready to assemble into a top.
• Knitted items: Gloves, Scarves, Hats, etc. in all sizes, perfect since we will be coming into the winter and holiday season.
• Quilted Tote Bags: Adult and children’s sizes, personal sizes for travel, cell phone carriers, check book sets.
• Donations of Long Arm Quilting Services: Please specify size, amount of donation, time frame, if batting is included, and other helpful information for the auctioneer.
• Donations for Binding Service. Please specify size, time limits, etc. applied by hand or machine, any other information helpful to the auctioneer.
• Label Making Service or Ready Made Label Sets.
• Fabrics: fat quarters, half or whole yards (Please ensure all fabrics are clean, pressed and odor free)
• Notions, Thread, Quilting Gadgets, Rotary Cutters, Rotary Blades, Cutting Mats, Marking Pencils.
• Quilting Books (Recent editions only, 3-5 years old)
• Embroidery, red work, cross stitch, etc.
• Small items that you have made that would make great gifts: wall hangings, table runners, note cards, etc.
• Orphan blocks.

Please contact Barbara Tucker if you have any questions tuckshoppe@verizon.net

What’s New?

Quilting with Gyleen: Freeing the Mind, Body and Spirit Workshop: Open Design Studio, August 8, 2009, 8am to 8pm, Churchville, MD

Do you have a collection of orphan blocks, antique quilt blocks, new’ish friendship blocks, or just a pile of blocks lying about? Looking for the inspiration and opportunity to turn them into a finished top? Gyleen Fitzgerald’s first Open Design Studio workshop could be the answer for you. Join Gyleen and design on the fly while learning color and design principles that will liberate and make quilting fun and stress free.

This workshop is designed to provide you with a quilt design layout that is specific for the set of blocks that you bring. Your block collection can be antique or new however, you will be using today’s fabrics and techniques to get you to a finished top. Complete with food, fun, door prizes, goodie bags and a visit by Barbara Herron with tips on keeping the body loose while sewing so you can sew longer, it’s a day not to be missed.

Visit www.colourfulstitches.com for more information and to register now.

This month's must have.. Dye Grabber

Are you amazed (or terrified) by the color transfer of dyes, especially when pre-washing fabrics for your new quilt? Next time try Dye Grabber, available as a reusable terry cloth or as individual sheets to prevent mixed load dye accidents and to “grab hold and absorb” excess dye and grime in your wash cycle. Once the dye and grunge is on the Dye Grabber, it will not come off! You gotta see it to believe it!

To use:

1. Place Dye Grabber on top of your wash load, add detergent and/or bleach. Run wash cycle. Dye Grabber works with any water temperature setting.
2. Remove Dye Grabber before transferring wash load to dryer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use bleach with my Dye Grabber?
A: Absolutely. Dye Grabber may be used with any detergent or bleach. It is advised not to use liquid fabric softener as this may coat the Dye Grabber and reduce its effectiveness in absorbing loose dye in the wash water.

Q: I prefer to separate my laundry, light colors, dark colors and whites? Can I still use the Dye Grabber?
A: Even when separating your clothes, dyes bleed into your laundry giving your laundry a dull or dingy look. This dinginess is most noticeable with whites making them look grey. The Dye Grabber will absorb this loose dye and grime keeping your wash water cleaner, which means your clothes will be brighter, keeping them looking newer longer.

Q: I am a Quilter. Can I use the Dye Grabber?
A: Absolutely. Dye Grabber is excellent for absorbing loose dye when pre-washing fabric.