Workshop Coordinator 
Jane Andrew

As one of four daughters to an amazing home seamstress, I learned to sew quite early on. I first started on an old treadle machine which belonged to my grandmother, then moved on to Mum’s Singer Featherweight. Although my grandmother sewed and hand quilted many quilts with “the church ladies,” my mother was more interested in garment sewing, and encouraged us in that vein. My sisters have all quilted for years, but I didn’t come to it until maybe three or four years ago. Now that I’m (mostly) retired and have more time, I just love to create quilts! The colors, designs, fabrics . . . wow! I have so much fun locked away in my sewing room!

Member At Large
Becky West

In my teens and twenty’s I did a lot of dressmaking for myself, along with children’s clothes, for my two nieces. Also it seems I have always been doing some needlework since school days and have completed a lot of needlepoint and cross stitch. About 20 years ago, after admiring her quilting work, a friend finally convinced me to try quilting and of course, I have been hooked ever since. I mostly like to work on traditional scraptype quilts, the more fabrics the better. However, I enjoy all aspects of this art form and always marvel at the many different styles and forms of quilting, which keeps evolving. I have been a member of the Lion’s Gate Quilt Guild for 15 years plus and look forward to working as a Member at Large.

Secretary
Paulette Morton

Since the guilds inception in 1994 there have been numerous past and current members who have volunteered to take on an executive position. Often I think with some trepidation but I am sure most have ended their terms feeling fulfilled and inspired by the experience as have I.

The day my grandmothers treadle sewing machine arrived was the day I started sewing. Since then I have tackled everything from costumes, bridal gowns, drapes and upholstery but quilting is still new to me. I have learnt so much from the myriad talents and abilities of the members of this guild that so often has me in awe. I am looking forward to another term on the LGQG as your secretary.

Membership Coordinator
Joan Herrin

I began quilting in earnest when I retired in 2003. At that time I enrolled in a beginner’s quilting class with Jackie Thaysen at the Cloth Shop. That was quickly followed by enrolling in a class with Dolores Bell at Thread Bear. At the conclusion of those classes Dolores convinced me to join the quilt guild. And from there it has been many hours of ‘happy stitching’ with very little ‘bitching’. Quilters are great people and always good company!

A few years later the guild was looking for a workshop coordinator to look after a number of workshops that were already booked and planned. I thought ‘I can help with that’ and signed on. Little did I know that the executive at the time was not going to let me off the hook so easily. I continued with workshops for four years and it was an amazing way to get to know the members of the guild and feel like I was a part of something.

However, I still haven’t learned my lesson so I have been your Membership Coordinator for the past year while completing the previous coordinator’s two year term and I would be happy (crazy?) to continue in this role over the next two years. With the help of Laurel Hickey, our newsletter editor, we have used Excel to put the membership file into a spreadsheet and that has made life very easy indeed.

Shattered Angles is Susan’s most popular workshop. We will learn the technique which one of her books is based on. There will be lots of room for your own creativity in designing and finishing your quilt. Please visit her website if you would like more information about Susan and her endeavours. We will have samples of her work available at our next meeting for you to have a look at, as well as a list of required materials. There is no need to purchase the pattern or book.

DATE: May 23, 2015
TIME: 10:00 am to 4:30 pm
PLACE: St. Catherine’s Church, 1058 Ridgewood Dr., North Vancouver
COST: $65.00

Thank you to all who completed and handed in your membership renewal forms at the January Guild meeting. It sure does help me get a head start!!

For those who still need to renew, try out the membership form online. It is a pdf format that you can type your information right into and them print it off, sign it, and bring it along with your cheque to the February meeting. Be sure to come a little early so you can avoid the long line up to sign in and return your form.

Your membership cards will be available to be picked up at the March meeting and the new membership list will be emailed out with the March newsletter. If you have any concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at membership@ lionsgatequiltersguild.com

Remember to wear your name tag in order to win a door prize. Congratulations to our January winners: Kathryn Gillis and Ellie Stockner. If you forget your name tag I will have sticky tags for a donation of $1.00.

Happy Quilting!
Joan Herrin

Happy New Year Everyone!! We are now in the year 2015. It almost feels like science fiction.

I came across a couple of sayings to do with New Year’s Resolutions. One of them is to think SMART. S = specific, M = measurable, A= achievable, R= realistic, and T= timely. Now that sounds a little too academic for a quilt guild so let’s go with these other two sayings. This year, 2015, let us “Apply the 6 P’s”. They can mean: Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance, or, on a more positive note, Proper Preparation Promotes Pretty Precious Projects. And we will have some most wonderful, precious, Lions Gate Quilters’ projects on display at the West Vancouver Memorial Library during January, February and until March 9th. Please make sure you take some time to have a look at this most beautiful exhibit of our members’ talents.

I am very pleased that to date we have four members who have seriously thought about the upcoming vacancies on the Executive and have volunteered to fill them. They are: Jane Andrew, who has been working with Anne Pelton on the Workshops Committee and she is offering to be our Workshops Coordinator; Becky West has volunteered to be a Memberat-Large; Paulette Morton, our current Secretary and Joan Herrin, our Membership gal have both volunteered to continue on in their positions for another term. Thank you so much ladies. We have just one position left to fill on the Executive and that is the position of President. If you feel that you would like to get more involved with guild activities here is your chance. At our AGM in February we will confirm these four people as being on our next Executive or we shall have an election if other members feel a strong pull to be more active in our guild. We have a great bunch of ladies on the Executive and it is a most rewarding experience.

In case you missed getting to our November social and “as good as new” Sale you really missed something special and very timely. I went home with a little change left in my wallet and several Christmas gifts. We had 19 tables set up shared by 16 or 17 vendors. It was a great evening. Thank you for all who participated in the buying and the selling of items and we even managed to squeeze in a FREE table. That FREE table will be back in operation at our January meeting so if you have been house cleaning and sorting and reorganizing your sewing room and need a good home for some of your stuff please bring it along on January 27th. And if you have any leftover holiday baking you can bring that along as well.

We will have a little shopping at our January meeting. Maureen Wood is coming and she will have patterns for sale. Don’t forget about the Layer Cake Workshop on Saturday January 24th. It is going to be such fun and you don’t have to work with a layer cake, you can do any kind of sewing you want. It is the company that is most important. I hope to see lots of you there.

So, remember your name tag, mug, and your cheque book for workshops registration, a little change for the 50/50 draw and above all any Show and Tell you have. Please seriously think of offering up your time and energy by volunteering to be our next President. WE MUST HAVE A PRESIDENT !!!!

Happy Quilting
Betty

Only one more meeting until election time so please, start thinking about this great opportunity to get more involved with your guild, meet more people and to learn about the inner workings of this organization!

The election of Directors is held at the AGM in February of every year, but only for half of the Board each time. The coveted, two year positions which will be available in 2015 are as follows:

President
Manages the guild – Prepares agendas for, and chairs General and Directors’ meetings – Receives communications from members & the public – Prepares a report for each newsletter issue

Secretary
Keeps minutes of all meetings – Prepares correspondence & notices as requested by the Directors

Workshop Coordinator
Arranges workshop instructors, venues and schedules – Announces workshops – Collects & reconciles fees and submits to Treasurer

Membership Coordinator
Collects dues – Provides information to new members – Maintains membership list

Member-At-Large (one of two)
Presents quilts at Show & Tell – Sells 50/50 tickets – Sends cards to members to comfort, console or celebrate

If you would like to run for one of these positions, or you’d like to nominate someone, please contact either Joan Elliott or Norine McCaffrey.

We are very pleased to have Eileen Wright, from Parksville, returning to present her two-day Bargello workshop. Eileen will be offering a choice of 4 patterns from her books. These choices are: Island Sunset, Aurora Borealis and Cosmic Twist from her first book “Twist-and-Turn Bargello Quilts”, and Glacier Bay from her second book “More Twist-and-Turn Bargello Quilts”. Cosmic Twist is a little bigger quilt but is a little easier to make.

You will need to wash and pre-cut your fabric before the workshop (batiks are wonderful in these quilts).

You will also need to purchase one of Eileen’s books “Twist-and-Turn Bargello Quilts” or “More Twist-andTurn Bargello Quilts”, whichever contains the pattern you choose to make (both are available in our library). Stephanie at Stitch & Bobbin will bring in books if you pre-order.

Everyone take note: Eileen is happy to do a book signing over the lunch hour for anyone who has either of her books, even if you are not taking her class!

DATE: Friday, April 24 & Saturday, April 25, 2015
TIME: 9:30 am to 4:00 pm each day
PLACE: St. Agnes Church, 530 East 12th, North Vancouver
COST: $110.00 for 2 days

Mola appliqué is neither simple appliqué nor reverse appliqué, but rather a technique that is unique to the Kuna Indians of Panama, and is an artistic representation of the their lives and their environment. Mola designs are characterized by a central motif surrounded by ribbons or channels of high contrast, saturated, solid colour. Traditional Mola appliqué is entirely hand made using invisible needle-turn appliqué. In the workshop we will make a small panel as an introduction to the Mola appliqué technique, that could be incorporated into a small bag or small project afterwards.

DATE: March 28, 2015
TIME: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
PLACE: St. Catherine’s Church, 1058 Ridgewood Dr., North Vancouver
COST: $65 (includes kit cost of $15 and provides all fabric needed for the workshop)

Happy New Year!

This is a time for quilting and friends. It is also time to renew your membership for 2015. A renewal form can be found on our website. Just go to the “Members” menu and select “Join or Renew.” This is a PDF which will allow you to type in your information, print it, sign it and then drop it off at the membership table with cash or a cheque for $55.00 made out to Lions Gate Quilters Guild or LGQG. This form cannot be saved.

Be sure to come in a few minutes early so you can sign in and drop off your completed form at either the January or February guild meeting. In addition you may mail in your renewal form with your cheque to our guild mailbox. The address is printed on the membership renewal form.

I will also have blank renewal forms available at the January and February meeting if you do not have access to a printer.

We currently have 134 registered members and we had 87 members in attendance along with 9 guests at our November guild meeting. Congratulations to our door prize winners: Leslie Forbes and Sherry Jonn.

Be sure to sign in and be wearing your nametag in order to claim your door prize, should your name be drawn. Nametags are available, if you forgot to bring yours, and are $1.00 each at the membership table.

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

Happy Quilting!
Joan Herrin

FRIENDSHIP…….just that one word has such meaning to me!

Some would say that Ms Judy Greenwood stalked me when I moved to Maple Ridge 6 years ago. I on the other hand I would submit that she enthusiastically pursued a friendship.

An invitation to Tea at her home in Pitt Meadows: I was enthralled by her painted and stitched art … in truth I was astounded … gob smacked might be closer to the truth. She happily donned her painting shirt, pulled out her inks and proceeded to work on a whimsical fairy piece on her design wall giving me a demonstration when I asked, “How do you do that?” Of course, I could learn, did I use Superior thread and were not Highlight Colours Great? Her enthusiasm had me trapped into believing! So began a wonderful learning period and the start of a friendship.

I reciprocated and invited Judy to my newly created studio … I will never forget her reaction standing at the entrance, nor her delight in exploring how she could create a similar space. Lawrence returned with her the following day. Tape-measure in hand and carrying one of Judy’s special painted rocks as a gift … a thank you for helping her to create a new space. Little did Lawrence suspect that this visit would result in building a new home with the perfect studio for Judy! We know she generously shared her studio with friends.

Since everyday was Saturday for Judy and she knew the area, we became great shopping buddies … the joke became, “Transfer some funds, I’m going shopping with Leslie!” And what fun we had! I think our biggest shopping spree was our Houston visit where we shared Judy’s big moment. “Lucy” was awarded a ribbon!!! How proud we were that Judy was realizing her dream of winning a ribbon in Houston in the Art Category. Annemarie and I were like proud parents and Judy just glowed and bubbled with happiness.

Judy’s friendships knew no bounds, they were a reflection of her many interests. Whether it was “The Quilt Batts”, “Knotty Needlers”, Quilt Guilds or our small Art Group, her enthusiasm was never contained. She loved exploring new techniques, constantly learning, volunteering to help and generously sharing her time and knowledge.

There is a saying, “There is a destiny that makes us brothers, None goes his way alone, All that we give to the lives of others, Comes back into our own.” If anything, I regret that Judy will never be able to explore her love of teaching which was blossoming … that goal was interrupted by cancer. She loved teaching and I think she never knew how good she was at inspiring people…she totally underestimated her gifts and the love and kindness she so easily gave to others.

Our last Tea Party in the hospital was a heart breaking good bye. I will forever associate Judy with English Breakfast Tea and Egg Salad Sandwiches with the crusts cut off. I will never forget her last words to me, “I am so glad you are my friend!”

So. I smile through tears, Judy knew what it was to be a friend and that was the gift she gave us all.

When we gather to celebrate Judy we must remember to have a group hug … her specialty … no occasion was exempt. Annemarie will remember the look of horror on the faces of an American Couple (think American Gothic Painting) when Judy suggested, in an elevator, “Let’s Have a Group Hug!!!!!”

That was “Our Jude” and if love is a profound gathering of kindness then we were well loved by Judy … for we all were recipients of that kindness.

Judy often called me “Her Little Friend … or The Hummingbird”.

I am blessed with a heart overflowing with gratitude and love for her gift of Friendship.

Rest in Peace. Love and Hugs, Leslie