Uhuru Quilters Guild home page

Next Meeting: 02/17/07

  Agenda:

  10:00 a.m.
  Fons & Porter Study Group

  11:30 a.m.
  Business Meeting

  12:30 p.m.
  Refreshments

  1:00 p.m.
  Show n Tell/Collection of Quilts for Library of Congress Trunk Show

Note:  Please turn cell phones to vibrate during the Guild meeting.

UFO's: "quilt seeds" for the future

A New Look

Coordinator's Corner

Uhuru started 2007 in fine fashion! Our January meeting was well attended, including several "old" members who visited or rejoined. We welcome their renewed enthusiasm and energy. A big hug and thank-you to those members who remain steadfast through the years. A warm welcome to the visitors and new friends; we hope you'll join us again!

The December survey helped us to refocus the group in ways to nurture our creative spirit:

• Several exhibits have been planned to showcase our work.
• The roadtrip to the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival is a "Go".
• The community service committee has several ideas for projects.
• Charm squares has been revitalized, as well as the Block of the Month.  

A new activity this year is the Fons & Porter study group, using their book Quilter's Complete Guide. The study group is open to all levels, and we will begin working through the lessons in February. Our goals are to complete as many blocks as we can for the sampler quilt featured in the book, and to improve our skills as quilters in the process. Although the lessons can be completed by hand or by machine, you'll need to bring your basic sewing kit. Volunteers are needed to teach or guide the group. Contact me if you wish to volunteer or need a copy of the curriculum. 

If you haven't done so, be sure to make your "Quilter's Resolution." Write your resolution on a 3x5 index card or piece of paper and seal it in an envelope. Write your name on the envelope and bring it to the next meeting. Let's make 2007 a creative and productive year!

Sewfully,
Carol

Trunk Show at the Library of Congress

On Tuesday, February 20, 2007, Uhuru has been invited to present a trunk show at the Library of Congress from 12N to 1:00PM. The theme for Black History Month and for this presentation is "From Slavery to Freedom." This year happens to be the 60th anniversary of the publication of the text of that name by John Hope Franklin.

Representing us will be Brenda McKelvin, Donnette Cooper, and Lynora Williams. If you are not able to participate, but have a quilt to display, bring it to the February meeting. The quilt must have a permanently attached label with the name and address of the owner. There should also be a written or typed statement about the quilt so that it can be accurately described.

The Charm Exchange Cornelia Carter-Sykes, Chair

The theme for the February Charm Square Exchange is "Chocolate." The following 5 (five) people signed up: Carolyn Campbell-Flowe, Cornelia Carter-Sykes, Sandra Ealy, Charlene Marshall, and Brenda McKelvin.

To see the complete 2007 Charm Square schedule, as well as a description of each month's selection, visit the Charm Squares page.

Cut 6-1/2” (six-and-one-half-inch) squares of 100% pre-washed cotton (please make sure that the size and quality of your squares are what you yourself would like to receive). Please remember to cut off the selvedges before you cut your squares. Place squares in a baggie with your name on it, and put it in the "Charm Squares" basket.

If you have any questions, please e-mail or telephone Cornelia. If you have signed up and then are unable to come to the meeting, please mail squares or have them delivered to the meeting. If the number of exchanges is small enough, charm squares will be sorted and distributed before the end of the meeting.

Birthday/Hospitality The Hospitality Quintuplets: "CC" Campbell-Flowe, Dawn Felix, Jocelyn Herbert, Pat Johnson, Deb Sanger

The Hospitality Committee would like to continue Renea's tradition of light refreshments, i.e., beverage, fruit, cookies. Any member is invited to bring items to share. When the refreshment period begins, please put away all quilts and materials. This will prevent any damage to your valuable items. Upon completion of the refreshment period, please dispose of unfinished food and drinks before we open Show N Tell or continue a workshop. 

When you bring food, please assist me in the cleanup after refreshments have been served. We want to ensure that the room is back to its original order before leaving the Center. Thanks! 

A very Happy Birthday to Carolyn Burgess (11th); Sara Vogt-Knox (15th); and Felicia Few (23rd)

Sew Help Me. . .
Tips to boost your creativity

Safe Storage Ideas

• Use plastic pencil boxes to store rotary cutters, even the 60 mm size. Check places like Target, Walmart, Sears, K-Mart, grocery stores -- and the Dollar store!
• If you use a little mini iron and have problems with it slipping off the wee stand, just stick it business-end-down in a non-plastic coffee mug. Your mini iron will easily stay inside the mug without tipping over.
• Use an empty pill bottle to hold different-sized sewing machine needles. Label the lids with each needle type and size. Glue a piece of felt to each lid to hold a slightly used needle until you need it again.

A Heartfelt "Thank You!"
	Friendships are like a circle, timeless & true. Friendships are special moments shared by me & you. Friendships are the threads that tie our souls together. Friendships are the gifts that make us friends forever.  I love the Hats you made for me! Thank you for you kindness, Jennifer Morris

Just Sew You Know. . .

From now through February 15th, G Street Fabrics is offering a training special - take any one-session class and get one of equal or lesser value during the same period FREE!

This is a great opportunity to brush up on your basic quilting skills! Bernina users, take note: They're using the new Bernina BSR attachment in several of their training labs. For further information and to register for classes call 301-231-8998 ext. 240.

http://www.gstreetfabrics.com

2007 Block of the Month - "Twelve Days Of Christmas" Renea Bailey, Chair

View the lyrics of "The Twelve Days Of Christmas" by clicking on the title.

Web sites and books on Applique:
http://www.quilt.com/HowTo/AppliqueHowToPage.html
http://quilting.about.com/od/appliqutechniques/Learn_How_to_Applique.htm
http://www.roserushbrooke.com/how-to-applique-1.html
http://www.quilterscache.com/StartQuiltingPages/startquiltingfour.html
“The Easy Art of Applique: Techniques for Hand, Machine, and Fusible Applique” by Mimi Dietrich & Rox Eppler
“Hand Applique with Alex Anderson”
“The New Applique Sampler: Learn to Applique the Piece O’Cake Way” by Becky Goldsmith, Linda Jenkins

Copies of the January and February blocks will be available at the February meeting.
January - He gave me the victory. Finished size is 10-1/2.	February - Two shoutin' shoes. Finished size is 9-1/2.

Fons & Porter Study Group by Carol Williams

This year our workshops will mainly focus on completing the blocks for the sampler featured in Quilters Complete Guide by Marianne Fons and Liz Porter. We will be following the skills-based curriculum which was distributed at the January meeting.

• Quilters Complete Guide by Fons & Porter (any edition)
• 10" square of background fabric
• scraps of fabric for hearts (use those charm squares!)
• Basic Sewing Kit [hand sewing needles, pins, thread(s) to match, scissors and/or thread snips, seam ripper, rotary cutter and small mat, ruler, pins, glue stick, pencil, tweezers, thimble]

Hand Applique:

• Template material (template plastic or vinyl, freezer paper, OR manila folder)

• Fat quarter (FQ) lightweight fusible interfacing OR lightweight wonder under
• Sewing machine in good condition with feet (open toe, quarter inch, etc.)
• power strip and/or extension cord