A volunteer needed to assume the role of Liaison with the Canadian Quilters’ Association. This position involves reporting on our Guild activities when appropriate, and is done via on online form on the CQA Website. This is an easy way to promote and support your Guild in an important position. For more info, contact Dorothy Porter.

Terry is a member of our guild who has a lot of experience in the quilting world. Following is her biography. She will be teaching machine quilting techniques, and we will come away from our day having created a sampler.

This from Terry:
Growing up with quilts stretched on a wooden frame and my mom’s friends sitting around hand stitching the quilt layers together, it was a natural progression to become a quilter and let the creative juices flow. A professional draftsperson for over 25 years, the experience allows me to design quilts, and create topstitch patterns by hand or on the computer before free handing them on the longarm.

As the owner of 6 Ave Quilting and Longarm Service I have been able to explore many other aspects of the fabric art industry. I have enjoyed designing as well as making specialty bags, multi organizational purses and wearable art. Designing and creating has always been my passion and I am happiest with a pencil, paper (or computer aided drafting) and needle in hand (or a very large sewing machine). It is not only about holding the quilt layers together but ability to add colour, flow and enhance the quilter’s labor of love in quilting.

Before starting 6 Ave Quilting and Longarm Service 7 years ago, my passion was in creating art quilts that have traveled the world, won ribbons and kept my family, friends and clients in smiles and wrapped in warmth and love.

Teaching this wonderful craft has been a joy. To see the smiles on happy faces when they create and make that last stitch on an item that they will enjoy for many years makes the whole world a little brighter.

DATE: October 17, 2015
TIME: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
LOCATION: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1110 Gladwin Drive, North Vancouver
COST: $30.00 per person

Shrinky, Stretchy is a new course Barb is teaching. This is a class for the Improv challenged as well as the Improv experts (as if there are any!). A well designed palette of colours will help you bring many concepts of design to life as you improvise, stretch, shrink and play with traditional quilt blocks. A small quilt top will come to life by day’s end. Come to class with an open mindedness to explore and discover new design ideas. View more photos

From Barb’s website:
I have been making quilts since I took my first sampler class in 1990. That sampler was small and yellow and very bright and was my first improvisational quilt, because I’m not always good at following instructions. I gave it to my best friend when she had her first child.

It was worn to pieces by her two babies and that makes me feel happy. I’ve wandered through many quilt making styles since then, and taken many different directions. I used to make pointy points and repeat blocks in traditional styles (using not so traditional colours) but now I cut free hand and improvise my designs as I go. I used to love collecting fabrics and working with vibrant prints (and I always considered the quilts I made with these to be collaborations with those anonymous fabric designers), but now I mostly work with solid chunks of colour. I used to pay close attention to colour relationships, working out how the colours reacted together by consulting my colour wheel and studying different traditional “schemes”, but now I pay close attention to my gut reaction to colour and design. I am training my eye to see good relationships in colour, value, line and shape. It’s a hard slog sometimes, but getting the cloth to sing is what keeps me in the studio. It’s just that simple.

DATE: November 14, 2015
TIME: 9:30 am to 4:00 pm
LOCATION: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1110 Gladwin Drive, North Vancouver
COST: $45.00 per person

Reprinted from the Beeline newsletter of the Utah Quilt Guild, Nov. 1991. Also printed in the LGQG Newsletter April/May 1996.

1. It insulates the closet where it is kept.
2. It helps keep the economy going. It is our patriotic duty to support cotton farmers, textile mills and quilt shops.
3. It is less expensive and more fun than psychiatric care.
4. Because it is on sale
5. A sudden increase in the Boll Weevil population might wipe out the cotton crop for the next ten years
6. I’m participating in a contest- the one who dies with the most fabric wins.
7. It keeps without refrigeration, you don’t have to cook it to enjoy it, you never have to feed it, wipe its nose or walk it.
8. I need extra weight in the trunk of my car for traction on snow or icy roads. This is important even in Florida and Southern California – you never know when the weather will change.
9. Because I’m worth it.
10. Like dust, it’s good for protecting previously empty spaces in the house like the ironing board, laundry hamper, the dining room table ….
11. When the big one comes, all the quilt shops may be swallowed into the ground and never seen again.
12. Stress from dealing with the Fabric Control Officer (my husband) made me do it.
13. It’s not immoral, illegal or fattening. It calms the nerves, gratifies the soul and makes me feel good.
14. Buy it now before your husband retires and goes on all your shopping expeditions.
15. A yard a day is all the quilt shops of America/ Canada ask.

WOW! I was so happy and pleased to hear Krista Hennebury reflect on our guild, and highlight how we welcome quilters of all styles—modern, traditional, art, and handwork. That is what our Guild stands for, and I am proud to be its president. Let it be known that we welcome all quilters, and all skill levels. Bring on the show and tell!

The feedback I received from Krista’s presentation was overwhelmingly positive. It was certainly a lively meeting and filled with laughter. The meeting ended with lucky Sue Garries, winning $48.00 for the May 50/50 draw.

With the Executive agreement, I have now placed an order for our new wireless sound system. The new system features 2 wireless microphones, and is capable of accepting music over a Bluetooth connection. Hopefully the new system will arrive before our June meeting.

Check out the write-up in this newsletter on the Amica show spearheaded by Leslie Rutledge and a chance to show quilts you have already made and/or shown for a good cause. And start thinking about entries for our Guild show in June 2016.

Wishing everyone a great summer holiday. Do take time to smell the roses in bloom.

Bena Luxton

Summer has arrived, and this will be our last meeting until September.

We’re not going to lend books at the June meeting, so please remember to return your books (especially overdue books!) because we’re doing our inventory this summer.

Please bring cash or cheques for our book sale!

If you have any suggestions, please send me an email, or complete our library survey at https://goo.gl/dXCIu6.

Have a great summer—we’ll miss you, ladies and gentleman!

Sonia Milanez

Checking out the library

It’s hard to believe that we are already nearing the end of June!! What are your plans for the summer? Are you thinking about sewing a bright summer quilt!!

We currently have 126 members in our guild. We had 77 members in attendance at the last meeting and welcomed 5 guests. Do you know someone who might be interested in quilting and would like to join us? Bring them to a meeting—the first visit is free. After that there is a $5.00 drop-in fee payable at the membership table or a membership is $55.00 a year. Please remember that the prorated rate of $27.50 is for New Members only and comes into effect September through December.

Remember to bring your name tag in order to win a door prize. Congratulations to our May winners: Kathryn Gillis and Boudina Jones. Be sure to be wearing your name tag in order to claim your door prize, should your name be drawn. Nametags are available for $1.00 each if you forget to bring your own.

If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

Have a wonderful summer and I look forward to seeing you all in September.

Happy Stitching,
Joan Herrin

At the last Guild General Meeting, we distributed surveys and have summarized the results of the 57 completed surveys we received.

Topics of Interest:

Other suggested topics:

• 3D quilts eg. using value to create 3D, like tumbling blocks (Library book #1098)
• Baltimore Quilt Appliqué
• Beading
• Civil War Quilts
• Ice Dying (2 people)
• Miniatures
• Name Tags
• Precuts (charm squares, layer cakes)
• Stained Glass Window
• Thread Painting
• Wool Felt Appliqué

Do you prefer workshops on weekends or weekdays?

How many workshops do you think you will attend in the next year?

What price per day are you comfortable with?

Do you prefer local teachers, members from our guild as teachers, or internationally known teachers from further distances?

Do you consider yourself to be a beginner, intermediate or advanced quilter?

Thank you for taking the time to complete and submit a survey. The Workshop Committee is glad to know what you are interested in, so we can offer appropriate classes. Hope you have a lovely summer and are able to find lots of time for quilting!

Jane Andrew, Workshops Coordinator

So inspirational! Pippa Moore dazzled our membership with her inspirational quilting journey at our April meeting and we all appreciated her discounted sales as she retires from the public quilting life. Close looks at her quilts revealed the artistry. And of course the vivid colours, and unique fabrics. We will all miss Pippa’s classes, her talks, and her insights.

Pippa Moore (left) at our April meeting

I met with a consultant from Long & McQuade at the Church to review options to upgrade our microphone system. We have been looking at more powerful systems, so that those at the rear can hear. And of course, we are looking at wireless mikes. We are close to making a decision, and will likely have a new system if not by May, then by June. The new system should improve your Guild experience.

This is the season for quilt shows and art exhibits. Grab a friend, and explore! I was lucky enough to attend the Sunshine Coast Quilt show in Sechelt where the guild displayed many winning quilts from 25 years of prior shows. There were many striking examples of our craft at the Boundary Bay show. We certainly are a vibrant community.

Bena Luxton,
President