President's Message

“I’d Like to Teach the World to Quilt in Perfect Harmony”

Those are the words I wrote on my “ Quilting In Perfect Harmony” quilt that was juried into this year’s Houston International Quilt Festival. Now that over 60,000 people have an opportunity to view the quilt at the show, I've been thinking a lot about the phrase I wrote across the world portion of the quilt. I wrote “teach”, not just simply I’d like to see/watch/hope for perfect harmony. “Teach” is an active participant word, I know; I used to be a Kindergarten teacher. But teach the world? What was I thinking? Maybe I can just include the quilter’s world here since I wrote quilting in perfect harmony. Still, a big task.

We quilter’s run the gamut of how we like to work with our fabric. Even in MVQU we have hand piecers, machine piecers, hand quilters, machine quilters, long-arm quilters, folks who like traditional patterns, art quilters – you get the picture. So how do we quilt in perfect harmony? The same way we can live our lives in harmony, by appreciating the other person’s journey. In quilting we can enjoy each other’s colorways and workmanship, their talent and creativity; we can be supportive and kind. It all starts with each and every one of us; it’s never really about the other guy. Hey, I think that was my first lesson in “Quilting in Perfect Harmony”.

This autumn will prove to be very exciting and educational for us at MVQU. Tuesday, October 27th our lecture will be with Debby Kratovil, a Virginian quilter. Be sure to sign up for her workshop, “One Day Lonestar” the following day on October 28th.

The Big QU Fall Lecture will be with world renowned quilter, Mary Mashuta, and it will take place on October 29th at NOVA in Annandale. Let’s carpool, as no one will want to miss this one! Be sure to check out her workshops and sign up for these wonderful classes the following days. We are sooo lucky to be able to take a class with her right here in our part of the world.

Make sure you’ve marked your calendar on November 10th for our HUGE Annual Fundraiser – please bring your friends and neighbors along too, it’s an event no one will want to miss. We will have a preview of the auction talents of Barbara Tucker at our business meeting on October 13th as she auctions off a surprise you’ll definitely want to bid on. (Remember to bring your checkbook!)

More information on all of these programs is listed below – don’t lose your spot for any of the workshops, sign up now!

Smiles, Bert

Program Notes

“The Naked Quilter” Lecture with Debby Kratovil
October 27, 2009—12:30pm

What goes on inside the head of a published quilt author? You ask, “How did she take that simple block and get where she did in that fabulous and fun quilt?” And, more importantly, how in the world did she get published in the first place? With more than 15 years as a published author, Debby also designs patterns and quilt samples for major fabric companies. Her quilts have appeared on more than 2 dozen quilt magazine covers over the years and she isn’t finished yet! In her lecture and trunk show she will “get naked” with all her secrets for making quilts that continue to grace the pages of magazines and books. If your Walter Mitty dream is to see your own creations get a chance to appear in print, come hear Debby’s lively lecture and learn the inside scoop on how to take the next step.

MVQU Programs 2009-2010

October

• October 27, 2009 – Debby Kratovil Lecture “The Naked Quilter”, 12:30pm
• October 28, 2009 -- Debby Kratovil Workshop “One Day Lonestar”, 10 AM to 4 PM at Artistic Artifacts, 4750 Eisenhower Ave, Alexandria VA
• October 29, 2009 – Big QU Fall Lecture with Mary Mashuta, “Color. Too Much Is Not Enough”, 7:30pm, Ernst Community Cultural Center, Northern Virginia Community College, 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003
• October 30, 2009 -- Mary Mashuta Workshop “Pizza Slice”, 9:30-4:00, The Artful Quilter, 9570-L Burke Road, Burke, VA 22015 www.quiltersunlimited.org for registration
• October 31, 2009 – Mary Mashuta Workshop “Foolproof Machine Quilting with the Walking Foot, the Fun Stuff” 9:30-4:00, The Artful Quilter, 9570-L Burke Road, Burke, VA 22015 www.quilterunlimited.org for registration

November

• November 10, 2009 – MVQU Annual Fundraiser

December

• December 8, 2009 – Holiday Luncheon

January

• January 26, 2009 – Barbara Zygiel Trunk Show

February

• February 23, 2009 – Too Quirky Quilters Lecture “We Love a Quilt Show”

March

• March 23, 2009 – Karen Kay Buckley lecture “To Border or Not to Border”
• March 24, 2009 – Karen Kay Buckley Workshop – “Drafting Appliqué and Free Feeling Fun Drafting Frenzy”

April

• April 13, 2009 – Margaret Miller Lecture – “Smashing Settings for Sampler Blocks…”
• April 14, 2009 – Margaret Miller Workshop TBD

May

• May 25, 2009 -- Didi Salvatierra lecture TBD
• May 26, 2009 – Didi Salvatierra Workshop TBD

June

• June Luncheon - TBD

“Come Fly with Me”

Mount Vernon Chapter Challenge 2009-2010
Challenge Quilts are meant to try us, stretch us, and encourage us to take risks. For some, it is likely this challenge will be something you’ve not tried before, for others it may yet be another opportunity to let your imagination soar to new heights…here in lays the challenge, to create something different than the obvious while staying within the challenge guidelines. IMAGINATION is your creative ally! Rise to the challenge and “Come Fly with Me”. The guidelines for this years challenge are as follows:

1. Individual interpretation of the theme is encouraged! Fly: to move through the air using wings, to be carried through the air, to float or to flutter in the air, to soar, aviate, glide…angels, bugs, butterflies, planes, etc.
2. Quilt may be original or traditional in design. Commercial patterns may be used with credit given to the designer.
3. Quilt may be hand or machine pieced, appliquéd or fused—try something new!
4. Quilt should be no larger than 36” x 36”, but can be any size in between.
5. You may use as many fabrics as you like, print or solid, painted or recycled and they don’t all have to be 100% cotton.
6. Embellishment is encouraged, although not necessary.
7. Quilt should be quilted and bound or faced.
8. Quilt is considered complete when sleeve and label are attached.
9. Deadline is February 9, 2009. Challenge quilts will be revealed during Show and Tell following our business meeting. Please do not share your challenge quilt with the membership until then.
10. Taking a chance is what leads a quilter to create AWE! Have fun!

If you have any questions, please contact Bert Garino quilterbert@gmail.com or Rhonda Adams princessnltv@hotmail.com

MVQU Annual Fundraiser

The weather is cooling down and the trees are putting on their wonderful Autumn coats, preparing themselves and us for the upcoming winter season. For us that means, sewing, cooking, sewing, cooking, Oh yes and if time permits cleaning. Just a reminder our Annual Fund Raising Event is getting closer –

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 - 12:30 pm to 3:00 PM

- just in time for early Holiday shopping.


Stop by and see the beautiful...

• hand made quilts, all shapes and sizes
• wall hangings, table runners
• blankets for the little ones to snuggle under
• some really CUTE childrens scarves, you will just have to have
• gift baskets, fabrics, books and patterns
• and lots more to choose from

Have fun with our Chinese auction, who knows what you might win for $1.00
Who can resist the BAKE sale?
Live auction at 1:30

ARE YOU READY?????

If you have anything ready for the fund raiser, please make sure to get it to Barbara Tucker, ASAP. Friday October 9, 2009 is the absolute deadline. Your Fundraising Committee has set aside a date for sorting and pricing items; therefore, having them to the fund raising committee in a timely manner would be greatly appreciated.

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 November 10, 2009. To greatly assist your committee, please put a “suggested price” on these items prior to drop off.

Contact Barbara Tucker (tuckshoppe@verizon.net) with any questions.

October Calendar

• October 6, 2009 - Bee, 12:30 pm, Room 216, Hollin Hall Senior Center
• October 13, 2009 - Business Meeting, 12:30 pm, Room 112, Hollin Hall Senior Center
• October 27, 2009 – Debby Kratovil Lecture “The Naked Quilter”
• October 28, 2009 - Debby Kratovil Workshop “One Day Lonestar”
• October 29, 2009 – Big QU Fall Lecture Mary Mashuta, “Color. Too Much Is Not Enough”. 7:30pm
• October 30 & 31, 2009 – Big QU Workshops with Mary Mashuta

Looking Ahead

• November 3, 2009 —Bee, 12:30 pm, Room 216, Hollin Hall Senior Center
• November 10, 2009 – MVQU Annual Fundraiser
• November 17, 2009 —Bee, 12:30 pm, Room 216, Hollin Hall Senior Center
• November 24, 2009 —Business Meeting, 12:30 pm, Room 112, Hollin Hall Senior Center

Upcoming Shows and Exhibits

• Through the end of October 2009—Quilt Exhibit in Fairfax The Fairfax City Museum and Visitor Center is featuring an exhibit of quilts from the 1930's entitled, "Stitching Through the Hard Times". The small exhibit includes 8 quilts and related materials from the Depression Era. The current exhibit, up through October, includes items owned by QU members Nippy Crerar, Carole Duesi, Hazel Carter, Bunnie Jordan, and Georgina Fries of Bellwether Dry Goods. Another grouping of quilts will be hung in October. If anyone would like to share their 30's quilt for that exhibit, contact Bunnie Jordan at bunjorda@aol.com
• October 12, 2009 - Annette's Peeled-Back Patchwork Workshop Arlington QU is one of the groups sponsoring Annette Ornelas of North Carolina for Annette's Peeled-Back Patchwork Workshop, October 12, 2009 (noon-6pm) at Goodwin House Baileys [3440 So. Jefferson St., Bailey Crossroads, VA 22041]. They will be making Annette's Victorian Table Runner, a fun and easy table topper with a Victorian flair. It features a special sculpted binding, and dimensional curved piecing techniques make all curves easy and fun. For a taste of her work, visit Annette's website at www.southwindquilts.com . A pattern is required, and Annette will have it for sale. The registration fee is $40. Please send a check (payable to Arlington QU) to Carolyn Harris, 2907 Cameron Mills Rd., Alexandria, VA 22302. Be sure to include your name, address, phone, and e-mail. A supply list and cutting instructions will be sent to you. If you want further information or have questions contact Carolyn Harris 703-683-4943 or at cdharris@gmail.com
• November 7 thru November 10 2009 – Fredericksburg Quilt Festival - The Fredericksburg Quilt Festival will be held at Tabernacle United Methodist Church, 7310 Old Plank Rd., Fredericksburg, VA 22407. Admission is $3.00. Activities include Quilt Show, Quilt Sale, and Classes.
• November 11 (Veterans’ Day) thru November 15, 2009- QUILTERS QUEST 2009, Mark your calendars and plan to visit twelve of the best shops in Maryland and Northern Virginia for fabulous fun and prizes, including a scavenger hunt, and a new Mariner's Compass Quilt designed by Jinny Beyer plus a chance to win a dream sewing room set-up as the grand prize. Every shop on the journey will have their own special “goodies” and prize drawings for opportunities to win even more prizes. Pick a buddy or a whole car-full of friends and enjoy the fun of this popular event. Go to the Quilters Quest website for more details. Collect free patterns at each shop to make a special Mariner’s Compass quilt designed for this event by Jinny Beyer. www.quiltersquest.org
• March 24 - 27, 2010—AQS 1st Annual Quilt Show & Contest in Lancaster, PA. Information available at www.americanquilter.com.

Charity Quilt Information

Quilts of Valor Guidelines

1. Ideal size – 54” x 67”
2. Minimum size 50” x 60”
3. Maximum size 72” x 87”
4. Quilts must be machine quilted.

Carpenter’s Shelter Guidelines

The shelter accepts any size quilt but I recommend you follow the same size guidelines set for Quilts of Valor unless you are making a baby quilt. Machine quilting is best as it holds up to heavy use and frequent laundering.

Other Charities

Let us know about the quilts you make for other charities by sending an email to Lynne Fishburn at lsfishburn@hotmail.com We want to report all the good works of our guild to the Senior Center.

Remember: We are making quilts for people in need. We are not making a family heirloom. We are making quilts that will be heavily used.

Congratulations to Kris Bishop

Atta' girl Kris!! MVQU member, Kris Bishop just received notice that her digital photo "Cherry Blossom" was accepted into Houston International Quilt Show's first digital photo display (on what inspires your quilt ideas) called "The Eye of the Quilter", 2009. Kris took the photo from across the Tidal Basin of the cherry blossoms and the Washington Monument. Kris also had two quilts hanging at the "Sewing & Quilt Expo" at Dulles Expo Center.
http://krisbishop.blogspot.com/

Mt Vernon QU Business Meeting

September 8, 2009

The meeting was called to order by President Bert Garino at 12:30 PM. Big QU wants to know Mt Vernon’s secret for getting new members. Since May we have had eight new members signed up:

• Nancy Barkume has been quilting for 10 years and just got introduced to art quilts. She likes bright colors, aboriginal designs and Kaffe Fassett.
• Barbara Jones is a former member from 10-12 years ago.
• Kathy Murray has quilted for 25 years. Her husband just retired after 26 years in the Air Force. She has a longarm.
• Joan Peake is a 30 year local resident and quilter. She recently retired and likes appliqué.
• Catherine Snyder began quilting as a child in Pennsylvania. She is a traditional quilt who enjoys a challenge and likes appliqué.
• Rebecca George just retired and is learning appliqué.
• Susan Bratvold-Boyd and Julie Taylor were not present.

Visitors included Susan McDonnell who just moved here from Nebraska and Laurie Kepley who has only been here for 6 days. Laurie began quilting as a child and has a longarm.

Bert unveiled the new banner that was worked on this summer by present and past board members and other MV QU members. There is a label on the back that indicates who made what block, quilted and/or pieced it.

The first order of business was the approval of the May minutes. There were no corrections so they are approved.

Reports:

Treasurer: Dotty Eisenhour presented the new budget. A motion was made by Mary Mazzuchi and seconded by Libby Dudley that the budget be approved. Kathy Edwards asked why the amount of money budgeted for the Senior Center was increased. The increase is due to Fairfax County’s requirement that we pay for rent of the room. Kathy also wanted to know if the cost of the presidents’ quilts was included in the admin portion of the budget. It was. The approval of the new budget was unanimous.

Vice President: Ellen Patton presented the calendar of programs for the 2009/2010 year.
September is Judi Gunter talking about First Ladies and quilts. October is the Debby Kratovil’s lecture, “The Naked Quilter” and her workshop, “One Day Lone Star”. November is our auction. December is the holiday luncheon. January will be a trunk show and talk by Barbara Zygiel. Too Quirky Quilters will entertain us in February. In March Karen Kay Buckley will talk about “To Border or Not to Border” and then present a workshop on drafting. Margaret Miller will be here in April and Didi Salvatierra will be here in May. June will be our spring luncheon.

Quilt Show Rep: Carol Kunkel and her committee (Gigi Corbin, Lynn Eccleston and Cathy Hanratty) have been busy preparing the contracts to be mailed to the vendors. Lisa Langlais is the new quilt show chair.

Hospitality: Joan Bingman has a sign up sheet for volunteers. Gigi Corbin, Kay Brill and Jim Melton provided refreshments today.

Sunshine: Barbara Tucker had nothing to report. Pat Alfredson brought a card in for members to sign for Ann Oliver.

December Luncheon: Gigi Corbin and Barbara Zygiel are planning a potluck luncheon on December 8th at the Senior Center. There will be a voluntary gift exchange with gifts limited to $10.

June Luncheon: Mary Mazzuchi and Pat Alfredson had nothing to report at this time.

Senior Center Rep: Mary Stauss asks everyone to sign in when they enter the building. The Senior Center receives funding from the county based on the usage. We will also give the office a copy of our sign in sheet. If you use the facility for other activities other than quilt guild, you must pay the $48 fee.

Community Service: Lynne Fishburn presented the two beneficiaries of our “charity quilts”, Quilts of Valor and the Carpenter’s Shelter. Candy Bell donated 600 yards of fabric to us when she moved and Lynne, Lynn Eccleston, Ellen Patton and Bert Garino made kits from the fabric. We will meet the fifth Tuesday in September, March and June from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM to work on the projects.

Fundraising: Barbara Tucker said the workshops this summer were a great success and her dining room is full of items for the auction. She needs the rest of the finished items by the end of September. Ro Coller said there will be a bake sale in conjunction with the auction and she will have a sign up sheet closer to the event.

Bus Trip: Gail Franchi reported that the bus for the Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza on September 17th will leave from the Senior Center at 6:30 AM and return around 8-8:30 PM. There will be a very light breakfast served. There will be one stop on the way to the show, lunch is on your own, the bus will leave at 4 PM and a stop will be made on the way back so you can purchase something for dinner. You may also bring your own food and leave it on the bus in a
Newsletter: Please have items to Agnes Purcell by the first of the month.

Other committees chose not to report at this time.

Unfinished Business

A motion was made by Libby Dudley and seconded by Kathy Shaw to pass the newly revised By-laws. A couple of changes were discussed. If there are co-presidents they each get a vote on the board. The item that allows committee chairs to spend $50 over the budget without prior approval was discussed. Twenty one members voted to approve the new by-laws and 14 opposed. The by-laws were approved.

New Business

• Evening Bees: Anyone interested in forming an evening bee may do so with other interested parties.
• Aby Dolinger is featured in the current Quilters Newsletter Magazine. In Machine Quilting Unlimited there is a picture of a quilt made by Rhonda on the cover of Renae Merrill’s book.
• Lynn Miller’s president quilt is hanging in the Senior Center office.
• The Big QU lecture on October 29th and workshops on October 30th and 31st will be by Mary Mashuta.

Door prizes were won by Kathy Z., Nancy Barkume and Linda Townsend.

Show and Tell: Many people were very busy this summer to include: Beth Smith, Rhonda Adams, Angie Miller, Gigi Corbin, Libby Dudley, Pat Alfredson, Mary Mazzuchi, Carol Kunkel, Kathy Edwards, Barbara Zygiel, Barbara Dove, Blanche Carpenter and Bert Garino.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:55 PM

Respectfully submitted,
Cathy Hanratty, Secretary

October - November Birthdays

October Birthdays

October 6 - Angela Miller
October 16 - Lynne Fishburn
October 16 - Marjorie Barondes
October 24 - Kris Bishop

November Birthdays

November 1 - Hedy Vann
November 7 - Kathleen Shaw
November 9 - Anne Berard
November 14 - Lynn Eccleston
November 15 - Barbara Zygiel
November 20 - Dotty Eisenhour
November 23 - Ann Steck
November 26 - Beverly Krysa