Volume 33, Issue 6: October 2017

Message from Mary Ann:

Hello fall! I love the colors of fall. Between the break in heat and the beautiful colors, the only thing to beat it is the smell of spring! For any of you who made it to Expo those colors were everywhere. It generated a huge rush of red in my checkbook! Lol!

We have a charity sew-in in November for Hope House and MW NICU. PLEASE come join us.

In order to make sure that all of our members have a fair chance to attend workshops, we have started our QBucks program. Through November 29th we are in recruitment drive! For every new member you recruit there will be QBucks with Marlene. Make sure your new quilting buddy uses your name as a reference!

Note that Penni Domikis' Pickle Pie paper piecing workshop is very affordable… just $25 or QBuck equivilants for members, and $35 for non-members!

Each charity chair is administering their own programs so see your favorite charity chairperson! They will each have their own incentives. We support their mission visions and are trying to work together to find the voice of reason. If you have a question please ask the committee chair.

Thanks to everyone who generously donated this month for the raffles and the beautiful pieces of art for the Hearts In Flight challenge!

Thanks to all the AWESOME volunteers for the Expo and especially to Diane, Mercy, and the library for tons of printing and planning! Look at Diane's notes for what a success you all made!

This has been and continues to be a busy month. I'm looking forward to a little less push next month! Happy trails until we meet on October 18th at Lee Hill Community Center.

Mary Ann

Guild Contacts

Board Members

President: Mary Ann Clifford

Vice President: Linda Kaup

Secretary: Nancy Swift

Treasurer: Diane Levy

Web & Newsletter: Lynellen Perry

Hospitality: Elaine Murphy, Stella

Wuchina, and Mercy Sais

Workshops: Karen Ehrhard and

Tracy Day

Programs: Lucy Tremblay

Membership: Marlene Amburg

EXPO: Diane Levy

Committee Members

Charity Quilts: Vicki Warner and

Susan Fulton

Open Sew: Pat Burroughs and

Michele Smith

Email articles, recipes, and tips for

the newsletter to:

vastarquilts@gmail.com

VSQ, PO Box 1405,

Fredericksburg, VA 22402

www.vastarquilters.com

Membership:

For anyone who needs to pay their dues, Marlene A. will have the receipt book and goodies at the meeting for those re-upping! Or send your check to our PO box.

Please wish these lovely ladies a Happy Birthday in October: Oneida S. – 10/2; Helen H. – 10/2; Rita K. – 10/3; Joyce M. – 10/7; Carolyn R. 10/7; Judy H. – 10/10; Barb H. – 10/10; Judy G. 10/15; Charlotte B. 10/24; and Helen F. 10/25.

Marlene will be handing out QBUCKS for all members who bring someone to the meeting and they join! For each person that you recruit, you will receive $10 in QBUCKS. This QBUCK will go towards a class such as the one by Penny Domikus in November who will be doing a class on Pickle Pie paper piecing, and/or the one being taught by Bonnie Hunter in February. The more you get to join the less you will need to pay towards the class of your choice. You have until November 29th to bring in new members. So recruit, recruit, recruit!!!!!

Marlene and Nancy discovered an "old rule" that was part of the VSG Welcome Letter. As an added incentive to wearing your sewn name tag, you will be charged 25 cents for not wearing one! Marlene is going to make up a Jar for this purpose. We figured any funds can be added to the gifts at the Christmas Party!

Meeting News:

October 18, 2017, Guild Meeting 7pm at Lee Hill Community Center.

Speaker: Director of Hope House, one of our charities.

We will take a “Lisa Ellis workshop” group photo. Bring your project(s) from that day!

Come early (12:30pm) to sew, chat, munch on snacks, schmooze, gossip, and more. Junk food welcome. Diane will have cutting mat and cutter, and iron and ironing board for shared use.

October Refreshments

Sweet snacks: Linda W., Mercy S.

Healthy snacks: Bonnie S., Caroline N.

Drinks: Karen B., Gloria J.

Ice: Mary L.

Who would like to receive a greeting card?

Let Michele know if anyone needs a little sunshine in their life! She has been sending out cards on behalf of the guild and would like to hear of birthdays, anniversaries, people who are ill, new grandchildren, etc.

“UFO” Challenge 2017: Just a reminder that all members participating in this challenge should be working on their #4 challenge. Hopefully you know which one that is from your list. If not, just call or email Pat B. It is due completed by our November General Membership Meeting. For any questions, contact Pat B. If you will not be at the meeting and have finished your #4, send Pat a picture of it to get credit for finishing it on time. Those who do not complete their #4 on time (our November meeting), need to pay the $2.00 penalty fee. Keep up the pace and let's get those UFO's done!

EXPO report

Our booth at the Original Sewing and Quilt EXPO was a big WIN!

I'd like to say a big THANK YOU for all who volunteered their time and energy along with those who donated items for the drawing. Your support and participation made my job easy one.

Let's Celebrate these winning Stats: We took in raffle ticket sales of $350, gained 3 new members, 3 Workshop attendees, and 16 serious inquiries about membership.

“Hearts in Flight” Challenge!

We have a beautiful art / quilt exhibit throughout the month of October at the England Run Library! We can promote our fundraiser by actually demonstrating our quilting in the Library’s Maker Lab, a glassed-in room at the entrance of the library.

If you (and your friends!) would be interested in “sitting and stitching”, please email Suzanna at the library

sstewart@crrl.org

and let her know the times you would like to demo. She will keep a master schedule and get back to you if that works, as other activities take place in that room also. (Suzanna is the person who “made our show work” on that end, including hanging all the pieces and name cards!!)

If your item is sold while it is on display at the England Run Library during the month of October, half of the sale price goes to the Guild (to fund our programs) and the other half of the sale price goes to the American Heart Association.

A prize for “Best in Show” will be a gift certificate to Crazy Cousins, picked by votes of attendees.

Mary Ann would also like to have more people show up at the Open Sew event at the England Run Library (October 26) to help promote the guild and the display. Be sure to call Michele S. or Pat B. to see if there is room for you.

A full-page flyer is in this newsletter… would you print it out and put it up on bulletin boards in your church, grocery store, etc?

“Open Sew” Events:

England Run Library: See the Calendar for dates and times! Pat B. will provide an iron, ironing board, and 1 large cutting mat. If you plan to come, contact Michele S. or Pat B. by THE DAY BEFORE the scheduled date. If no one plans to come, she may cancel the date and will send out an email by 10:00 pm the night before the Open Sew date. Come for all or part of the day. Bring a bag lunch and enjoy some stitching time away from the distractions of home life. Hope to see you there. Pat B. 540-775-0546. Michele S. 540-786-6718.

Upcoming Workshop News:

Please let us know any thoughts you have for future workshops that you are interested in and we will explore your ideas.

Pickle Pie paper piecing workshop by Penni Domikis of Cabin Quilters. Salem Church Library, November 29. This is the same day as the November guild meeting, and takes place before the guild meeting.

$25 for VA Star members, $35 for non-members, PAYABLE AT THE WORKSHOP, directly to Penni.

February 20 & 21, 2018: Bonnie Hunter. Karen and Tracy are signing up anyone interested.

Tuesday, February 20th (10am – 5pm) will be “Jamestown Landing” from Bonnie’s book “String Fling.” Each attendee MUST have the book with them that day. Location: Salem Baptist Church.

The workshop for Wednesday the 21st will be “Scrappy Happy Houses.” Meet at the Lee Hill Community Center from 12pm – 5pm.

There are printed instructions and “homework” to prepare for each workshop and these will be given to everyone as they sign up and pay.

Each day is $75, but if you sign up for both classes, VSQ guild members get Bonnie’s book “String Fling” at no charge. If taking both classes, members may make three payments, if they wish, of $50 each.

If anyone has Bonnie Hunter quilts they would be willing to let us display at the workshop or if anyone would like to volunteer to help with decorating or hospitality/food for the workshop, tell Karen/Tracy.

Registration is now open to members of other guilds and to the general public, so don’t miss your chance!

ALSO on Wednesday (2/21) evening, at our regular guild meeting, Bonnie will give a lecture and trunk show “Addicted to Scraps.” She will inspire us on how to organize our scraps and turn them into beautiful quilts.

Spring Retreat – March 15-18, 2018

We have twenty ladies going to Camp Overlook near Harrisonburg in March. If you are paying by the month, remember to pay Judy H. If you have not given her the initial deposit we will give your spot to someone else. You must be paid-in-full before the retreat.

Raffle Quilt

As November 15th draws near we will be drawing a winner for the Raffle Quilt. Please turn in all monies, ticket stubs and unsold tickets to Diane at the October meeting or drop them by her work at Next Day Blinds in Central Park.

Virginia Star Quilters Minutes September 20, 2017

Mary Ann opened the meeting at 7:10 pm. Guests were welcomed and Mary Ann introduced Penny from Cabin in the Woods who will be our speaker, and will be doing a workshop in November. The program continued until 8:10. Snacks and Show & Tell.

Everyone is to please bring their Lisa Ellis quilts to the meeting in October so a group picture can be taken! UFO Challenge: #4 is due at the November meeting. Michelle brought up the Block Exchange which will be done with the Stafford Guild and will be held Sunday, June 3, 2018. For each subject chosen, you will be required to make four (4) 12 1/2” blocks. Each attendee will also be required to donate one Fat Quarter (for goodie bags) and if possible, to make an extra block. Treasurer’s report was given by Diane. We are currently at 62 paid-up members; we need to recruit more members. It was brought up that there is no minimum age; young children are not allowed but what if a teenager wants to join? Mary Ann said this would be discussed by the Board. Susan said she just brought over to Mary Washington NICU 45 quilts, of which 22 were done by Libby's church group. As an FYI, NICU quilts should be approximately 32x42. It is hoped that each guild member will make at least 2 a year. Elaine of Hospitality said a Chairperson is needed for the Holiday Party. Shirley, Linda and Caroline volunteered. Lynellen will talk about the website and Newsletter at the next regular meeting. There was a short discussion about Hearts in Flight. Workshop: Karen and Tracy working on Bonnie Hunter. They are opening it up today for others. Those taking the Jamestown Class must have the book. It's included for members. QBuck Program: Mary Ann explained that it's like Monopoly money. It's to be used as a credit for workshops. Pat bought up a point about Board Meetings. There is no way for the rest of the members to know what is decided at these meetings. Mary Ann agreed that there needs to be a better way to disseminate information. The meeting was adjourned at 9 pm. Respectfully submitted, Nancy O. Swift Secretary

You are invited to a fundraiser for The Virginia Star Quilters

and The American Heart Association

Hearts Taking Flight!

QUILT DISPLAY

and SALE

During the month of October 2017 at England Run Branch

Central Rappahannock Regional Library 806 Lyons Blvd

Fredericksburg, VA 22406

Purchase quilted wall hangings, table runners, purses, bags and more!

For more information www.VaStarQuilters.com

Hearts in Flight URL for online auction to purchase items Short URL:

goo.gl/eeFDsr Full URL:

https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/hearts-in-flight-2920

Calendar

2017

• October All Month: VSQ quilt display at England Run Public Library. Please pass out the flyer, and encourage people to bid at our online auction (goo.gl/eeFDsr)

• October 4: Board meeting • October 5-7: Sewing and Quilt Expo. • October 12 (Thursday): Open Sew at England Run Public Library (9:30am – 4:30pm) • October 18 (Wednesday): Guild Meeting at Lee Hill Community Center (7pm). Work day starts at 12:30pm. • October 26 (Thursday): Open Sew at England Run Public Library (9:30am – 4:30pm)

• November 1: Board meeting • November 9-18: Quilters’ Quest Shop Hop, Virginia and Maryland • November 15: VSQ Quilt Raffle drawing • November 29 (Wednesday): Guild Meeting at Salem Church Public Library Room B from 4pm – 9pm. PICKLE PIE

paper piecing workshop. After the workshop will be our guild meeting: Charity Quilts presentation by Susan Brooks.

• November 30 (Thursday): Open Sew at England Run Public Library (9:30am – 4:30pm)

• December 6: Board meeting • December 14 (Thursday): Open Sew at England Run Public Library (9:30am – 4:30pm) • December 20 (Wednesday): Lee Hill Community Center. Open Sew (all day). Christmas Dinner 6pm. If you will

help decorate and set up, please contact Elaine. • December 27 (Wednesday): Guild Meeting at Salem Church Public Library Room B, from 12 noon to 9pm

2018

• February 20-21: Bonnie Hunter Workshop • March 15-18: Spring Retreat • March 17: National Quilt Day • June 3: Block Exchange

Free Motion Quilting Lectures, Workshops & Ruler Work Events

Sept-Dec 2017 – Virginia Quilt Museum – Heritage Redefined, a Modern Quilt Exhibit Oct 2017 – Mill House Quilts – JUKI Open House & Free Motion Frenzy Nov 2017- Houston International Quilt Festival Nov 2017 – JUKI Longarm Training & Open House For more information about the above events & workshops visit www.livingwaterquilter.com

--Living Water Quilter Patterns--

NEW!! – Patterns are now available on CRAFTSY The 5 patterns available are the Lydia Tote bag, Half Lone Star, Spring Delight runner Art Deco Block, and a Holiday QAYG Holiday runner. Visit my website or go directly to Craftsy with this link http://shrsl.com/jq2v

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Create your own class with private lessons. You decide what you want to learn. Topics include: Free Motion Quilting, Feathers & Rulers on a domestic machine. Private lessons are $40/hour, 2 hour minimum. Semi-private (two-people) lessons are $30/hour per person with a minimum of two hours. Sessions are held in my home.

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Website– www.livingwaterquilter.com Instagram – @livingwaterquilter Facebook Page – www.facebook.com/LivingWaterQuilterLLC/ Facebook Group – Quilting with Rulers & Templates For more information contact Dena Wilkins at dena@livingwaterquilter.com