Bloomington Quilters Guild
at a glance: NovembeR 2023

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

OUR Next MEETING is ON Tuesday, November 7.

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

Speaker: Ireland Inspired: Interlacing Visual & Textile Arts - Leanne Mcgiveron
SHOW and TELL
Location: BETH SHALOM and on zoom

“Ireland Inspired: Interlacing Visual & Textile Arts” - Speaker: Leanne Mcgiveron

Our November speaker is Leanne McGiveron of Sumac Studios. Her presentation is titled Ireland Inspired: Interlacing Visual & Textile Arts. “Ireland Inspired” is a multi-year project that intertwines two parallel artistic mediums into a single exhibit. The first medium, textile arts, brings to life a series of Celtic knots from Ireland’s Book of Kells. The second medium, visual arts, showcases the love for travel photography. The true magic of this project unfolds as the rich colors of Ireland, captured through photography, are infused into the textile art through the technique of appliqué. This interlacing of artistic expressions creates a unique narrative, embodying the essence of Ireland’s cultural heritage and its captivating landscapes. Some more information about Leanne and her art can be found at her website Sumac Studios.

Workshop - “An Introduction to Celtic Knotwork”

On SATURDAY, November 11th, Leanne will hold a half day workshop titled “An Introduction to Celtic Knotwork.” This class is the perfect opportunity to get started with Celtic knots and bias cording. With your own fabric, we will explore using a stencil (provided), learning how to create bias cording with the help of bias bars, glue basting the knot to the background and mastering the ‘overs & under’ of Celtic knots. You will be able to finish your knot at home via hand or machine appliqué. Workshop registration information

SEW DAY, Saturday, November 18, 9:00-4:00 at St. Mark's United Methodist on the Bypass

Come to our next Sew Day to finish your holiday projects! Saturday, November 18, 9:00-4:00 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. Jane Pitt will give a brief, optional tutorial on her fail-safe method of binding by machine. We’re looking for volunteers for future tutorials on subjects such as Threads and Batting Choice, Quilt as You Go, Paper Piecing, Flange Binding. These are intended as simple, brief tutorials—not a presentation and without advance preparation required for the tutor.

Zoom to be discontinued

Zoom Access to Guild meeting will discontinue after the November meeting due to poor sound; visual quality and few attendees. Our apologies to those who have depended on Zoom, but we hope to see you in person when possible! Big thanks to Kathy Kessler who has faithfully set up the equipment and done her best to capture our meetings and speakers.

December 5, 2023 Meeting “A Friendly, Festive Gathering"

Bring yourself to an evening of fun with your quilting friends.  Enjoy a variety of activities together and be reminded of how quilters can bring light and experience light during the holidays!  We thought it would be fun to sample cookies in December. If you wish, bring a plateful of cookies for sampling. Please also bring either a listing of ingredients or the recipe so those with dietary restrictions can see what is in the cookies. Also please remember to not use any animal products in your treats, e.g. lard so that we can maintain Beth Shalom’s desire to keep a Kosher environment.

HELP WANTED

Graphic Design skills needed! We’re developing a promotional brochure to encourage new membership and communicate the ways BQG benefits its members and the community. We’re aiming for high quality without high cost! Please volunteer your design skills and/or printing know-how and possible discounts. Contact Monica Jensen, Outreach Chair, at outreach@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org or Legene White, President, at pres@bloomingtonquiltersguild.com.

Treasure Shop 2024

Hello Quilters!  It is time to start sorting through your stash and weeding out fabrics and notions that you no longer want or need!  The Treasure Shop is an important fundraiser that helps support our BQG programs.  You may drop off donations by bringing them to the monthly meetings, or if you prefer you may drop them off at: 1327 S Valley Forge Rd, Bloomington.  Please contact Ginny Kopper before you drop off items. Please use the email  treasure@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org or a BQG directory for her contact informaton.

We do request that fabrics donated should be appropriate for quilting. You do not need to mark the sizes on your fabric donations. If you have questions about the suitability of any items you may contact either of the Treasure Shop Co-Chairs at treasure@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org.

SEW DAY, Saturday, November 18, 9:00-4:00 at St. Mark's United Methodist on the Bypass

Come to our next Sew Day to finish your holiday projects! Saturday, November 18, 9:00-4:00 at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. Jane Pitt will give a brief, optional tutorial on her fail-safe method of binding by machine. We’re looking for volunteers for future tutorials on subjects such as Threads and Batting Choice, Quilt as You Go, Paper Piecing, Flange Binding. These are intended as simple, brief tutorials—not a presentation and without advance preparation required for the tutor.

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.

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

Winter Retreat - Amber Brooks-Wolfe and Elaine LucaS, Chairs

The BQG Winter Retreat is a great way to start the new year. What could be better than a long weekend filled with quilting, friends, fun and relaxation? The dates are February 8-11 at McCormicks Creek State Park’s Canyon Inn in the Oak Room. The cost is 30.00 per person for the entire retreat. Doesn’t matter if you sew 1 day or 4 the fee is the same.  This covers the cost of the sewing room and ice water. Everyone is a day quilter. However, the Canyon Inn has a block of rooms at a reduced rate for members to reserve on their own. Meals are on your own also. NOTE: The retreat is full and so registration is now closed. More information for room reservations is available.

RAFFLE QUILT - SANDY BONSIB, Chair

The 2023-2024 Raffle Quilt was unveiled at the September meeting. “Alaska” is a stunning quilt created in all batik blue and cream fabrics by Sew Much More Quilting Bee members Vickie Fry, Marla Kay Holzknecht, Shannon Kane, Elaine Lucas, and Tina Stewart. Alaska measures 71 1/2” x 71 1/2” and is a pattern by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts.

Sandy distributed tickets at the October meeting and will have more of the new and improved raffle tickets to distribute at the November meeting. It should be easy to sell tickets for this beautiful quilt. Please return any cash and unused tickets in a timely fashion.

Membership

It is time for dues! Please either bring your check to the meeting or pay online! Anyone who has not paid dues by the November meeting, will be removed from the email distribution and the Facebook page. For more information.

October 2023 Retreat Summary

A great time was had by all at the October 2023 retreat held at the Waycross Conference Center and Camp. See some “tada” moments at the retreat photo gallery.

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 printed 2023-2024 directory will be available at the December 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.