January 2021 Newsletter

To see and print a copy of this Newsletter, click HERE to access Google Drive. If you wish to print the newsletter, use the printer icon once you have accessed Google Drive.

December 2020 Show & Tell

 These are the quilts for the Covid-19 challenge

This is Nancy Barkume's quilt

This quilt is from Martha Dyckes.   She says " I call It Chaotic Corona.."

This quilt is from Kathy Z.   She says "This is my Covid 19 quilt.

I had this done back in May - when the quarantine was gonna be over by June.....😕

Since it was only an 8x10 wool project - I did have to resize it with another wool backing - one that met the requirements.  (but it buttons on, so I can always use it for the next pandemic......).

The story about this quilt, back so early on in May, ——  was that thankfully my friends and family were all healthy.  Sure I was bored, yet getting my quilt projects done.  My concern (not sure WHY, at this point)......was that I needed to get to the hairdresser!  My hair was getting very gray and needed to be fixed.  So this project— called

“ 2020 ~ It’s all about the Gray Hair (Hare)”,  just about said it all.  I really didn’t want to remember the masks, the toilet paper and all the bad things about the pandemic.  So I just put a happier spin on this awful time.  Years from now, when I look at this, hopefully, I’ll forget the bad, and remember - with a smile, the trauma of not being able to get out to the hairdresser."

This is Sharon McAuliffe's quilt.   She says "

• Z is for Zoom. In February, 2020, I did not know what Zoom was. Now we use it keeping MVQU quilt members in touch.

• Flowers. Not being able to get out to the nursery in the spring, I started flowers from seed. Cosmos, Zinnias, Dill, Rudbeckia and Basil. They brought a special joy as they sprouted, grew and bloomed glorious colors.

• Down right was supposed to be something about VOTE as it was a big year for the election. I put fabric swatches up on my view board to get ideas about color. Standing back, I saw “CHAOS”. I thought that is a valid reflection of 2020 on many levels.

• The Heart. This is my husband, family and friends all whom I love, who love me and keep me grounded.

MVQU was finally able to present her President's quilt to Jeanne Farmer.   These are pictures from that presentation.

Mary Mazzuchi and Ginny Mayes have agreed to manage the charity quilts for this year.   They gathered many quilts from members this past week.

This one is from Ruth Roush

The following ones are from Kathy Z

The following ones are from Zoe Ann Brown

The following ones are from Martha Dyckes.

The following ones are from Tina Wujick.

The following ones are from our new member Lynda McGee

The following ones are from Dorie Simmons

The following ones are from Carol Conahan.

December 2020 Newsletter

To see and print a copy of this Newsletter, click HERE to access Google Drive. If you wish to print the newsletter, use the printer icon once you have accessed Google Drive.

November 2020 Newsletter

 To see and print a copy of this Newsletter, click HERE to access Google Drive. If you wish to print the newsletter, use the printer icon once you have accessed Google Drive.

October 2020 Show & Tell

 Cynthia Johnson has 3 pieces to show

"The star quilt was a pattern from Quiltmania magazine; quilted by Sue Bentley." 

"Garden Pathways - quilt pattern featured in Quilt Sampler Magazine, Spring/Summer 2018; quilted by Sue Bentley"

"Pillows for our couch made of Kantha cloth - inspired by Nancy’s demo"

Ginny Mayes is showing her African Queen quilts.

 She says "When I got ready to put the borders on the three African Queen quilts, it turned out I did not have enough of any of the fabrics to use on all three quilts.  So I used three different fabrics and they gave the quilts different looks.  I wish I had put a narrow, bold inner border on all three.  And I also wish I had been a little more careful in how I cut the mitered turquoise fabric so the rosettes did not end up in pieces at the corners.  Oh well, next time!

The original pattern was called African Queens and was by Anne Bautiste.  I tried to buy it but could not find anywhere still selling it.  I saw various imitation patterns diagrammed on Pinterest but they made the dancers kind of short and chubby; I wanted mine to be taller and more graceful, so I drafted my own version of the pattern.

Some of the fabrics, like the turquoise border, came from Mama Bonsu's Textiles shop where she sells fabric to make the dresses and headdresses favored by Ghanaian-Americans.  Some of the fabrics were scraps left over from African fabrics given to me for making masks for the March on Washington.  And some of the fabrics were just from my stash. I think I used seven or eight different shades of brown for the faces and hands.  The original pattern had all of the hands lying against the sides of the dresses, but I remembered when we were in New Zealand, the female Maori dancers explained to us that they equate life with motion and that is why they flutter their hands the whole time they are dancing.  So I made some of the hands lying against the dress and some lifting up. I like to think of the ladies singing and dancing gently.

The version with the turquoise border is a gift.  The other two will go to charity."

Sharon McAuliffe is showing her quilt.

"I made this quilt for our guest room trying to match colors in the curtain. This is the disappearing four patch pattern. My cat Wexford (Wexie) helped with every step including arranging the blocks for color or ... something."

 

Helen Shaver has 5 pieces to share.

Helen says "These are recipe cards sent from a Florida friend.  She has started ‘crumb quilting’!"