Maple Leaf Quilters Online

January 2004

Goshen, Indiana

Sylva Keenan , Editor

Happy New Year

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. I spent 3 weeks during the holidays fighting a bronchial infection that really wiped me out. My last doctor visit was on the 29th and hopefully I am getting the upper hand on it. I managed to do some sewing this year, finishing up teddy bears for the extension service and working on a quilt. I have not received word about new items from anyone. If you are like me, you have received many quilting related items in the mail. Olfa has a new cutter out (see below) and the newest JoAnn Fabric flyer for Jan. 11 – 31 has this cutter listed for $14.99. Looks like a bargain.

OLFA 25th Anniv. Rotary Cutter - # RTY-2/GS $16.99 OLFA 25th Anniversary Rotary Cutter - # RTY-2/GS. In celebration of 25 years of quiltmaking with rotary cutters, OLFA has developed this limited edition "silver" 45mm rotary cutter. Packaged in a gift box, this 45mm cutter can be used not only for use in quiltmaking projects, but also sold ... as the perfect gift for any quilter. To further enhance this milestone, OLFA has included a FREE LAPEL PIN, exclusive to the purchase.
The Winter 2004 Connecting Threads has 23 pages of cutting related items. Check it out.

Just a friendly reminder for those planning to attend the 2004 Gathering, the deadline for your reservation is the January meeting. Reservations are $15 including lunch, cookbooks are $7.25 and pins are $5.00 in advance. You need to bring your payment and provide a self addressed stamped envelope in order to receive your badge and whatever you order directly. Beulah will collect everyone’s reservations, envelope and meal preferences at the January meeting since the reservations deadline is February 13th. The Gathering will be hosted by the Sisters of the Cloth Quilting Guild in Ft. Wayne. The program is entitled "Color Your World with Quilts."

OTHER QUILTING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

February 14-May 9, 2004. Quilting Genius. Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, MI will be exhibiting more than 30 rare quilts including some never before displayed. The exhibit will feature eleven 19th century materpiece designs by Susan McCord.
At a Preview Luncheon on February 13, 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM guests will have the opportunity to hear a special presentation by Curator Nancy Bryk, as well as a sneak-peek at the more than 200 rare quilts in the Henry Ford collection. For luncheon reservations, call 313-982-6001. On the web at http://www.TheHenryFord.org

February, 2004. SEW WHAT WORKS – QUILT RETREAT
I am one of the publishers of Sew What Works, a quarterly quilters' review. Our non-profit organization is sponsoring a quilt retreat in February 2004 and we would like to provide your guild members with information and the opportunity to register. You can see more details about the retreat and our publication on the website listed below. If you feel your guild members would be interested, please let me know how many registration brochures you would like us to send you, and where we should send them. The brochures should be available in early September. Thanks, Susan Churchill Madson, Features Editor
http://www.sewwhatworks.com

March 6 & 7, 2004. Salt Creek Quilters Guild, Hinsdale, IL Celebrate the Pride of the Prairie. Over 200 quilts by members of the Salt Creek Quilters Guild will be on display at the Community House. The Hinsdale site is the new location for the biannual event entitled for 2004 "Pride of the Prairie." Hours are 9 AM to 5 PM at the Hinsdale Community House, 415 West Eighth Street, Hinsdale, IL. Contact: Wanda Wagner (708) 599-2987 or www.wwags50@aol.com

March 20, 2004. Gathering - Color Your World with Quilts. Guest speaker: Carolyn L. Mazloomi is a fiber artist, author, historian, and lecturer. Hosted by Sisters of the Cloth Quilting Guild in Ft. Wayne, IN.
http://groups.msn.com/SistersoftheCloth/thegatheringofquilters.msnw

June 3-4-5, 2004. THREE RIVERS QUILT FESTIVAL, Ft. Wayne, IN. http://www.appleseedquiltersguild.com

August 13-14, 2004. Quilts for Change, Cincinnati, OH. Quilts for Change 2004 is a national juried quilt show featuring internationally recognized quilt instructors, artists, and judges Carolyn Mazloomi and Susan Shie, with keynote speaker Faith Ringgold, author, painter, and quilter. http://www.quiltsforchange.org
Delores & Lynn, Show Co-Chairs
For questions or comments about Quilts for Change 2004, contact lynnharden@earthlink.net.

TONE-ON-TONE FAT QUARTER SWAP, 2003-2004

The following has been suggested for the coming year in place of the birthday fat quarter swap.

July	Reds
August	Yellows
September	Browns
October	Oranges
November	Blacks or grays
December	Whites or beiges or creams
January	Blues
February	Pinks
March	Greens
April	Purples
May	---
June	---

Guidelines:

Tone-on-tones are shades of ONE color only.

You may contribute up to six FQs but no more than three of one fabric. You do not need to participate each month.

Fabrics must be 100% high quality cotton. Please purchase your fabrics at higher quality quilt or fabric shops -- no JoAnn or Wal-Mart fabrics, please!

Please attach a label to each FQ with your name and either “Washed” or “Unwashed.”

Turn your FQs in to Edith at the beginning of each guild meeting and she will swap them and give you your new FQs by the end of the evening. If you won’t be at a meeting and wish to be a part of that month’s swap, let her know and arrangements will be made.

We do not have a planned program for January, so come with ideas and things to share.
Reminder: Carol mentioned that there are three missing blocks from the appliqué blocks for the relief quilt. She wanted to know if anyone has blocks that are not completed. We need them as soon as possible.

The following is a suggestion Carol has for a challenge in 2004. Let's plan to discuss this possible challenge at the January 2004 meeting.

CHALLENGE: Food Inspired Kitchen Quilts

Your challenge: Create a “Kitchen Quilt” based on a favorite food recipe. Select an old family recipe or a new favorite. Think about the ingredients used in the recipe, the techniques used in preparation, the colors, the aroma, the reaction/pleasure of people enjoying your dish. Can you put these elements together and translate the recipe into fabric and from these elements design a quilted piece to use in your kitchen? Here are a few suggestions for types of “Kitchen Quilts.”

Table runner or place mats

A potholder or an oven mitt

A valance and/or curtains for your kitchen window

The “Kitchen Quilt” should reflect the recipe in one or more of the following ways:

In the fabric colors and prints used

in the piecing and/or appliqué designs used

by using traditional quilt block designs that have names that relate to the recipe.

Here are just a few traditional quilt blocks that have food names:

Possible Schedule:
January -- Sign up for challenge
April -- Provide written recipe and accurate pattern for your Kitchen Quilt
May -- Have finished quilt available for photography
June -- Pattern package of all submitted recipes and patterns available for purchase.

Recommended Quilting Web Site:

This is a neat web site if you like Celtic designs. You can buy a font to install on your computer that lets you create Celtic designs! I bought it and have had fun playing with the posibilities. http://www.clanbadge.com/knots.htm#styles

Carol

WEB LINKS TO CHECK OUT! Favorite Quilt Fabric Links from past issues: