Bloomington Quilters Guild
at a glance: March 2024

Follow the links to get more details about what’s going on and to explore the website.

OUR Next MEETING is ON Tuesday, February 27, 2024.

Time: 6:00 PM Social Hour
6:30 pm Meeting start

PROGRAM: Gyleen Fitzgerald - Path to Modern
SHOW and TELL
Location: BETH SHALOM

February 27, 2024 Program (Reminder: THERE WILL NOT BE A MEETING IN March)

“Path To Modern” by Gyleen Fitzgerald     

Come on February 27th for our “March meeting” held a week early to so we can host a teacher from IHQS.  Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Gyleen Fitzgerald’s positivity and creative spirit.  From traditional through contemporary to modern, she will explore designs with rectangles and squares that are the building components for modern quilts.  See the quilts from her book,  Bricks, Cobblestones, and Pebbles.

There will be NO guild meeting in March.

On Tuesday April 2, 2024, Lori Dickman will present a talk titled “Scrap Overload: 4 Methods to USE Your Scraps”. There will be a half-day workshop on Wed April 3. More information on the workshop registration will be sent soon.

March 23 Sew Day

Join your quilty friends for a Sew Day on Saturday, March 23, 9:00-4:00 at St. Mark’s United Methodist. Bring your projects and learn from others, including a tutorial by one of our members. Or create a community quilt from orphan blocks. Come when you can and stay as long as you like.

Board Members for next year, 2024-25

Many of our current Board Members are staying on for another year. Yippee! Officers needed are: Programs Elect Co-Chairs (to plan for 2025-26), Secretary, and Outreach. Be thinking how you might step up to fill these roles and join our energetic BQG Board.

RAFFLE QUILT TICKET Sales at the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show (IHQS)

Please consider signing up to sell tickets for the Guild Raffle Quilt at the IHQS show that runs February 29-March 2, 2024. There are only 2 slots left. If you are able to sell tickets from 3-5 on Thursday Feb 29, please use the Sign-Up Genius form here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0848A8AC22A5F58-47251635-raffle to volunteer. Please be aware that this is a guild volunteer opportunity and and so does NOT entitle you to a free ticket to the show.

IHQS is a great opportunity for you to turn in your sold tickets!

The Community Quilts Project is Featured At WONDERlab as part of the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show

Most of you are very aware of the Indiana Heritage Quilt Show happening right here in Bloomington at the Monroe County Convention Center on February 29-March 2. However, did you know that there are several associated exhibits in several locations in Bloomington? This year the exhibit at Wonderlab features the Bloomington Quilters Guild Community Quilts project! Here is the paragraph Sandy Warren composed for the advertising:

“Quilts, like plants and recipes, are meant to be generously shared.  And that's what Community Quilts is all about.  Bloomington Quilters Guild members donate their time and fabrics to make quilts that are then given to charitable organizations in the Bloomington area.   In turn, each organization distributes these creations to those who are in need of cozy comfort.   From babies to the elderly, quilts find their way to homes built by Habitat for Humanity, as well as those in need of hospice care.  Currently we serve over a dozen facilities in the area.  To learn more about what we do and about the Guild itself, visit bloomingtonquiltersguild.org  New members are always welcome.”

Winter Retreat Can’t Be Beat!

About 40 quilters enjoyed friendships, laughter, and of course sewing at the winter retreat at McCormick’s Creek State Park. The spring-like weather made hiking and outings to Unraveled and Spencer’s restaurants particularly appealing. Much thanks to Amber Brooks-Wolfe and Elaine Lucas for chairing the retreat.

The Winter 2005 Retreat will be held once again at McCormick's Creek. Some members would like to return to Spring Mill when it reopens but the park can't give us any information about pricing, policies, or availability so we can't afford to wait. Meanwhile, McC's is very accommodating to our Guild. Amber & Elaine will chair it again and are locking in the date.

Quilts from the Heartland — We HAVE DATES!

Every three years, the Bloomington Quilters Guild holds a quilt show called Quilts from the Heartland. The next guild show will be October 4 and 5 at the Monroe County Convention Center. We will be setting up for the show on October 3rd.

Quilts from the Heartland is an opportunity to showcase quilts made by our talented members. We would love to have each guild member submit at least one quilt. All quilt styles are welcome whether your choice is a traditional, modern, appliqué or art quilt! The only requirement for submitting your quilt is guild membership. The show is not juried or judged! There is an award for best hand quilting and another for viewer’s choice. So either finish up or start your entry today!

The opportunity to fill in the forms for quilt entries will open in June and run through Friday, September 6, 2024. You will bring your quilt to the convention center on October 3, 2024. More details will be available in the coming months.

Many many thanks to these volunteers for filling these vital positions for the show.

Show Co-chairs - Sandy Bonsib and Karen Levay
Publicity - Monica Jensen and Diana Love
Vendors - Laurie Eynon
Display Design - Wanda Black
Volunteer Coordination - Ann Birch
Entries - Amber Brooks- Wolfe and Tara Babcock
Treasure Shop - Ginny Kopper and Becky Green
Basket Raffle - Susie Goodman

We would like to add to the show revenue by selling ads in the program. We need volunteers to help sell ads to local businesses. The businesses that advertised in the last program reported that several customers said they saw the ads in the program.

Please contact co-chairs Karen Levay and Sandy Bonsib to volunteer by sending email to quiltshow@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org.

Quilts from the Heartland: THE CHALLenge

Lisa Stantz from the Unraveled Quilt Store has issued the show challenge for this year’s quilt show. Make a wallhanging that reflects your vision of the eclipse using the challenge fabric. You may purchase this fabric from Unraveled for $7 a yard.

UNRAVELED
381 N. Fletcher Avenue
Spencer, Ind. 47460

Phone: 812-821-0309

Email: unraveledquilts@gmail.com

Treasure Shop 2024 — A part of the Quilts from the Heartland Guild show

These cold winter days (when you are staying warm inside) are a good opportunity to sort through your stash. Clear out those fabrics that you no longer want or will never use!  You do not need to measure but we do request that you remove straight pins from the donated fabrics. Treasure Shop donations will be taken again at our February 27th meeting.  If you have a lot to donate or need a pickup, please contact Ginny Kopper or Becky Green with email treasure@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org or use the recently emailed directory for their personal contact information.

GUILD Challenge Quilt

Each year, members are invited to participate in a BQG Quilt Challenge. Every year a new theme is presented for the challenge. Karen Levay issued this year’s quilt challenge at the October 2023 meeting: Sampler. Guild members will vote at the June 2024 meeting

For more information and guidelines and to see challenges from previous years see the Challenge Quilt web page.

REMINDERS:

• Don’t forget your name tag at the next in-person meeting!
• Bring used rotary blades to any in-person meeting for recycling.
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MORE INFO

~Contact us for a Membership Directory. A 2023-2024 directory was e-mailed in January. If you would like a printed copy see Legene White at the meeting.
~See our list of Board Members.
~See a list of upcoming quilt shows and shop hops. Let us know of other future events by sending mail to webmanager@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org.