Uhuru Quilters Guild home page

Next Meeting:
November 17, 2007

  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

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

Questions/comments about the newsletter? Contact Linda Mckenzie

Coordinator's Corner

November 2007

Yesterday, a letter arrived from Terri Sheetz, ambassador coordinator for the Original Sewing & Quilting Expo. “I would like to thank each of them [Uhuru ambassadors] for their participation. Without their help, our Expo would not have been the success that it was. Uhuru ambassadors clocked a total of 64 “woman” hours. Several members expressed an interest in participating in this event next year. Anyone else?

Uhuru would not survive without volunteerism. This past year's activities--the bus trip, finding a new location, the exhibits and trunk shows, Fons and Porter study group, charm squares, door prizes, refreshments, challenge, block of the month, membership, community service, to name a few--depended on the goodwill of volunteers. Our wonderful website and newsletter would not be without the dedication of a volunteer and her willingness to make time for it in her schedule.

This November the guild is to elect an assistant coordinator and a secretary. Members who volunteered to lead the various committees are to indicate if they wish to continue if they have not already done so. Uhuru’s success as a guild depends on the efforts and talents of many. Consider stepping forward.

Brief notes:

• Raffle Tickets: There are approximately 500 tickets left. If you need raffle tickets, please email or call. Ticket sales help defray the cost of meeting space ($100 per month). We have not had to raise dues since 1995. The raffle for “Uhuru Beauty” takes place December 15.
• Exhibits: We are planning a virtual quilt show! Location: Gallery of the National Quilting Association. Visit the current exhibit at www.nqaquilts.org.
• Planning Session 2008: Tentatively scheduled for Sunday, January 6, 2008 from 2:00 – 5:00PM.
• Black History Month: Uhuru will be celebrating Black History Month at the Largo-Kettering Library with a trunk show and public exhibit. More details to follow.

Sewfully,
Carol

Piece, quilt, and be thankful ...

The Charm Exchange Cornelia Carter-Sykes, Chair

The November charm squares fabric will be Green. These 15 people have signed up: Cynthia York, Deb Sanger, Nadine Mills, Jackie Stafford, Lisa Lewis, Mia Baker, Myra Sumpter, Pat King, Jayne Hirst, Yvonne Nickens, Sandra Benjamin, Mercine Bouery, Sandra Ealy, Cornelia Carter-Sykes, and Shirley Hodge.

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.

Fons & Porter Study Group by Carol Williams

This year our workshops will be formatted as study groups. One group will mainly focus on learning the skills featured in Quilters Complete Guide by Marianne Fons and Liz Porter in order to improve our piecing and appliqué techniques. We will be following the skills-based curriculum. Feel free to join in at any time.

At the November meeting Carol Williams will demonstrate how to work with curved piecing and will lead the session in order to complete the Royal Cross block. In the Guide (revised edition) the pages for the Royal Cross block are 149 - 150. The pattern is on pages 168 - 169.

You will need

• Quarter yard each of three different fabrics
• Template material (template plastic, freezer paper, etc.
• Awl
• Straight pins
• Basic Sewing Kit [hand sewing needles, pins, thread(s) to match and/or neutral, scissors and/or thread snips, seam ripper, rotary cutter and small mat, ruler, pins, glue stick, pencil, tweezers, thimble]

There is probably some neat, handy gadget that I have forgotten. What is listed here is enough to get us started. Bring your questions and helpful hints. They are for the good of all. Volunteer teachers and guides are needed for upcoming sessions. Each one teach one.

Note: We did discover a supply of the pattern book, Americana Sampler (which is no longer in print) through a bookseller on Amazon.com. When last I checked, the price was less than $10.00 for both the book and shipping.

Quilters' Etiquette by Carol Williams

Recently a member of the guild shared with me her experiences at a meeting at which others took her equipment, invaded her space, and then left the area without helping to clean up the mess they had created. Another guild member shared with me that she has had to remind both members and visitors alike that our purpose is to encourage each other and to refrain from negative comments during Show & Tell. Without norms or ground rules, a group cannot function effectively as a group. Several members have offered the following in the interest of morale and camaraderie:

1. Assume that the cutting mat, rotary cutter, iron, etc. are personal property. Ask before you use.

2. Many quilters have specific scissors or rotary cutters for cutting paper and specific ones for cutting fabric. If you need to borrow, explain your purpose.

3. Table space and outlets are at a minimum. Add a power strip and/or extension cord to your basic sewing kit. Be respectful and share.

4. Ask before touching another quilter’s work. If you have been eating or have a plate of food, clean your hands before using someone else's equipment.

5. During Show & Tell, be mindful of those seated behind you. They too would like to see. A camera does not give you license to block another’s view.

6. To avoid damage to the Center's property, when pressing without an ironing board, make sure the surface is protected by a heat-resistant pad.

7. If you wish to talk during the workshop or business meeting, keep your conversation low so the speaker can be heard or step outside the meeting room.

8. Offer critiques of another quilter’s work only if asked. Show & Tell is to encourage each other’s efforts along the creative path.

9. If you are volunteering to work on the raffle quilt, be prepared to have your work evaluated. Some of the exhibits we will produce may be juried. Only a few quilts may be selected for display. Criteria for selection may include techniques used (machine work, hand quilting, beading, etc.); execution (quilt hangs straight, quilting stitches are even, etc.) or theme/style (traditional, contemporary, sisterhood, etc.)

10. Guild membership in no way authorizes you to act as an agent or representative of Uhuru unless you are an elected officer.

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

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

A Very Happy Birthday to CC Flowe (4th); Charlene Dean (10th); Shirley Hodge (10th); Gloria Cuthbertson (11th); Pat King (14th); Thelma Tyler (17th); Mia Baker (18th); Brenda McKelvin (20th); and Emilie Angelety (29th)

Sew Help Me. . .
Tips to boost your creativity

I found a "virtual library of useful URLS arranged by Dewey Decimal Classification" on the web (http://www.geocities.com/researchguide/). If you're looking for quiltmaking resources - books as well as links - go to http://www.geocities.com/researchguide/700-779.html#746.46

Quilt Label Tips

• To make sure your label can't be removed from the quilt, sew it to the back, then quilt right through the label.
• Look for free clip art on the web that matches the theme of your quilt; print it out on treated fabric and make your unique label.

Community Service Quilts Felicia Few and Patricia King

Reminder: Community Service Quilts are due at the November meeting. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU WASH YOUR FABRICS. If you are turning in quilts that you have already made, you should run them through the washer and dryer. Some of these quilts will be given to infants. Type of quilt = children's/infant; Size = crib size, usually 37x44; Due date = November 17th meeting.

Our Community Service Quilts will be going to St. Ann’s Infant and Maternity Home; please see their web site at http://www.stanns.org.

Uhuru Challenge Project, 2007 Jennifer S Morris, Chair

Reminder: I challenge you to let go and get Crazy Quilt-making.
Please notify me of your participation via email no later than Saturday, December 1, 2007. Remember, anything goes!

Challenge Show-n-tell Exhibit will be at the Uhuru Christmas Party, Dec. 22, 2007

1st, 2nd, & 3rd Place Viewer’s Choice Prizes will be awarded!

Just Sew You Know...

Review - Fons & Porter Binding Tool

I think attaching the binding and joining the two tails smoothly is one of the most tedious parts of quiltmaking (the other one is basting!). I never could get it right the first time, so I thought I'd give the Fons & Porter binding tool a try. It's really easy to use, and comes with very clear directions. As usual, you leave approximately 8" free at the beginning, and stop sewing approximately 10" from the end. Using the tool, you align it with the beginning "tail" and follow the directions from there. I won't go through the step-by-step process but believe me, it's a snap. You can order it online, or get it at JoAnn's.

Show Your Quilts Online

Members of the About.com quilting forum and others can display their quilts online in a permanent gallery. For more information and to get the form, visit http://quilting.about.com/library/bl/bl_quilting_photos.htm