Hurry! Limited Time GAAQG Member Discounts
Tamerinis Discount Code – Tammy Silvers is our speaker/teacher for May 2025. She has offered a 20% discount code when shopping at her Etsy store. The Tamerinis discount code is TKSNOV24. This code is good from November 5 -30, 2024.
Quiltfolk Coupon Code – GUILD32 can be used on the Quiltfolk website for a 15% discount on your next order, available through December 31, 2024.
LoveSewModern is celebrating all the holidays with 25% off all PDF patterns, from November 26 through December 3. “Apparrotly It’s a Party” (the pattern for Erin Grogan’s workshop, Sunday, September 21) is included at $10.50. Save money now if you plan to take this workshop!
Quilt Day – November 16
The November Quilt Day meeting included three important annual events:
The annual meeting was held to elect the 2025 officers:
President: Jane Clark
1st VP Programs: Maryann Hummer
2nd VP Membership: Sherrie Boughan
Co-treasurers: Amy Glenn, Sherry Snyder
Secretary: Cindy Prusa
Christine Watson, Executive Director for SafeHouse Center, expressed her appreciation for the support GAAQG gives them. This year, we donated 331 quilts made by our members, as well as a monetary donation of $1,200. Christine’s words were very inspiring and moving. Their online quilt sale of our quilts continues for a couple more weeks. Be sure to tell your family and friends about this great cause!
Each year, we have a drawing out of all the volunteers who donated their time during the year. The prize this year is a free workshop. Nearly half of our members (118!) volunteered in some capacity. Thanks to every one of our guild members for showing up and supporting our programs.
Instructor/Lecture
Brandy Maslowski was our speaker. As a former firefighter, Brandy turned to quilting and textile art to de-stress and melt away her troubles. Her goal is to empower quilters to embrace their artistic side and find their inner creative zone. Brandy has a podcast called “Quilter on Fire,” as well as being a NACQJ-Certified Quilt Judge and editor of Quilting Arts Magazine. Brandy’s lecture presented ideas for organizing your studio by activity areas and decorating it to inspire you. She suggested keeping a running list of UFOs and organizing your active projects by putting them in one bin to easily grab and go. Because she is an art quilter, it’s easiest for her to sort her fabric by size, then by color. Even her scraps are in 16 color-coded drawers! Brandy suggested several books that helped her organize her sewing space to fit her creative needs: “Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui” by Karen Kingston, “Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space” by Lois Hallock, and “Love Your Creative Space” by Lilo Bowman. Lilo will be joining us as the speaker in July, so get your studio organizing questions ready.
Calling For Volunteers
Please contact me at president@gaaqg.com for more information regarding these important volunteer opportunities.
2025 Workshops
The workshop lineup for 2025 has been revealed and registration is now open to both members and nonmembers. Both Zoom and in-person offerings are available for 2025. Click here for details, supply lists, and to register for the 2025 lineup: Mel Beach (January), Nancy Roelfsema (March), Tammy Silvers (May), Lilo Bowman (July), Erin Grogan (September) and Amy Friend (November). There are a variety of techniques offered from fundamental skills, surface design, upcycling, machine applique, and improv paper piecing. We will even learn something about organization! Just as a reminder, please review our workshop registration and cancellation policy here and on the Workshops page.
Member Accomplishments
Susan Schwandt and Patrice Smith submitted work to the Lawrence Street Gallery in Ferndale for a fiber show in October. They both had a piece juried into the show. When the show came down, the gallery was advised that someone from the DIA had seen the show and wanted to hang some of their pieces in their gift shop. They both accepted this prestigious invitation, and the pieces will hang from mid-December until spring. Congratulations to them both!
Small Groups
We are always looking for easier ways to connect members with each other in small groups. Now, there are links on the Small Groups page(login required) to “Join Small Group” and “Start Small Group.” The information requested on the forms helps our Small Groups Coordinator, Pat Weber, look for common interests among members. She facilitates getting groups started and the guild will help promote new groups.
Virtual Saturday Sew-in
Our next virtual sew-in will be December 28, 9 a.m. to 12 noon. A Zoom invitation will be sent to all members on December 26. Virtual sew-ins are held every month on the 4th Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
January Quilt Day
As in previous years, January’s 17-19, 2025 quilt weekend will be held entirely via Zoom. Our speaker/teacher is Mel Beach, and her lecture is about including creative play techniques into our projects. Her workshops for us span block printing, stamping, and precision piecing. Click here to register. Whatever kind of quilter we think we are, she is sure to inspire creativity and move our skills and thinking into new directions. The meeting will include a virtual Show Tell. Please send your show and tell pictures with text to showandtell@gaaqg.com by Friday, January 10, for inclusion in the January meeting slides.
I am so thankful for all our guild members. You make our guild successful. You have made my job as guild president a pleasure. I look forward to seeing you in January. Enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday!
Sincerely,
Marge Venema
GAAQG President
State of the Guild Report
I presented the annual “The State of the Guild” report to the guild membership at the September meeting and I’m happy that our membership has remained steady at about 250. Our recent member satisfaction guild survey shows that members are very satisfied, and I want to thank every member for making this a welcoming and fun environment for everyone.
We have two primary guild revenue sources: membership dues and workshop fees. Unfortunately, in 2024, workshop enrollment has been down considerably. The highest cost for the guild budget is our speaker expenses, especially for those who come in person. The second highest cost is the WCC facility fees, which includes the atrium, auditorium and classrooms. Facility fees have increased significantly in the last couple of years due to upgrades to the physical building, including expanded internet and audiovisual capacity. New operating expenses have been added to the guild budget to help with administrative tasks. We expect a shortfall in 2024 to be about $3,000, due to the much lower than expected workshop enrollments. Our first projection for the 2025 budget has a projected shortfall of $5,000. Financial reserves allow us the time to find solutions to these fiscal realities.
The guild remains strong. Here’s what you can continue to do to help:
November Instructor and Workshops
Brandy Maslowski will be our speaker on November 16th. As a former firefighter, Brandy turned to quilting and textile art to de-stress and melt away her troubles. Her goal is to empower quilters to embrace their artistic side and find their inner creative zone. Brandy has a podcast called “Quilter on Fire,” as well as being a NACQJ – Certified Quilt Judge and editor of Quilting Arts Magazine. As of this writing, there are still spaces available in her workshops on Friday and Sunday, November 15 and 17. Sign in and click here to register to get your member discount!
2025 Workshop Schedule
The workshop lineup for 2025 has been revealed! Registration begins today, October 1st for members and will open to all November 1, 2024. We have both Zoom and in-person offerings. Click here for full details, Supply Lists and to register.
Here’s the 2025 lineup:
There are a variety of techniques offered from fundamental skills, surface design, upcycling, machine applique, and improv paper piecing. We will even learn something about organization! Just as a reminder, please review our workshop registration and cancellation policy found on the Workshops page.
Election of 2025 GAAQG Officers
November Quilt Day is also our annual meeting where you vote for the 2025 GAAQG officers. I am so pleased to present a complete slate of officers for 2025:
● President – Jane Clark
● Co-VP Programs – Maryann Hummer/Susan Schwandt
● VP Membership – Sherrie Boughan
● Co-Treasurers – Amy Glen/Sherry Snyder
● Secretary – Cindy Prusa
I’m sure they will all have your support.
Our SafeHouse Center Mission
It’s been a busy year for SafeHouse Quilt collections! At the September Quilt Day meeting, 45 quilts walked across the stage bringing our year-to-date total to 265 quilts. Finish up those quilts and bring them to the November meeting so we can make the goal of 350. I know we can do this!
There were 38 SafeHouse quilts exhibited during the Quilt Show in July and nine of those quilts were sold with the proceeds going to help domestic abuse survivors. Anne Rapundalo, our SafeHouse Center Liaison, chose 50 of this year’s donated quilts for the annual online SafeHouse quilt sale which begins today, October 1, to coincide with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The sale can be accessed both through our website home page and the SafeHousecenter.org/quiltsale/ website page. The quilt prices vary from $200, $300 or $400. The sale will be hosted by SafeHouse Center through the beginning of December. You can help by telling friends, family and coworkers about the sale. As you know, these quilts make wonderful gifts! Shipping costs are covered in the sale price and handled by SafeHouse staff. Look for more communications regarding this online sale. Any unsold quilts still find a home with SafeHouse Center residents. When SafeHouse Center has fundraisers, we are glad they have our members’ beautiful work to help with their efforts.
Small Groups
We are always looking for easier ways to connect members with each other in small groups. Now, there are links on the Small Groups page to “Join Small Group” and “Start Small Group.” The information on the forms helps our Small Groups Coordinator, Pat Weber, look for common interests among members. She facilitates getting them started and the guild will help promote new groups. How do you get to the Small Groups page? Sign in to get to the Members Page. Along the left panel, look for the link to the Small Groups page. Small group membership is an excellent way to make a large guild more welcoming and fun. We have many members who want to meet with others for mini sew-ins or to explore creative topics. The guild’s small groups help us engage with each other between Quilt Day meetings.
Virtual Saturday Sew-in
We have taken a step forward for our monthly virtual Saturday Sew-In. It has been difficult to have any consistency as the day has been set on whenever Lynne Bryant was available. Thanks to Heather Barthell volunteering to co-chair the group, we can now have a regular meeting date. It will be on the 4th Saturday of each month. We hope this makes it easier for members to join us. This is a great way for us to get to know each other, trade tips, and put aside some sewing time each month. Small Groups: this is a good way to meet virtually and share what you are working on! The next Zoom meeting will be on Saturday, October 26, at 9:00 a.m. All members are welcome. You will receive a Zoom invitation the week prior to the date.
This is a busy time for the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild. See you all at the November 16 Quilt Day meeting. As always, it will be exciting.
Sincerely,
Marge Venema
GAAQG President
Saturday, July 20 Quilt Day
Another successful Quilt Day in the books with our speaker, Deb Strain! Considering this is peak vacation time and Art Fair weekend, we had good attendance. She gave an interesting and detailed presentation about being a fabric designer for Moda Fabrics. Adding to the fun was giving away 8 door prizes to audience members. She had merchandise available for sale in the atrium after her presentation.
Other atrium activities were a surface design/stamping demonstration with Linda Lindsey, a sneak peek of a few quilts from the Special Exhibits section of the upcoming quilt show, and the SafeHouse fabric table. As always, thanks for volunteering to store a box of SafeHouse fabrics at home until the next Quilt Day meeting.
Jane Clark reviewed the remaining 2024 speakers/workshops and encouraged workshop registrations. She will present the 2025 program lineup at our September Quilt Day (Saturday, September 21). Member registration will begin early this year on October 1, followed by public registration opening on November 1.
There were also final announcements regarding the quilt show (Saturday, July 27-Sunday, July 28).
Ida Copeland would like to start a new small group for anyone with an unfinished Sue Spargo project. Scroll down to see Ida’s report on the group.
The meeting wrapped up with Show and Tell, and as always, I was so inspired. As I strolled the Art Fairs later in the day, I kept thinking that we have many guild members who are every bit as talented as the Art Fair artists! Want to try a juried show? The Quilt National ’25 show is open to submissions and the deadline is August 30. Even if you don’t enter, it’s interesting to read about it and look through their archived shows. Consider visiting the exhibit, too. It’s held at the Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio.
The year-to-date count for SafeHouse quilts is 177! During Saturday’s meeting, 45 were donated. Good work everyone! As Mary Bacjz says, there are many ways to contribute to the SafeHouse quilt drive if you don’t have the time to make an entire quilt top. Take home a fabric box to sort or just store, sew a few blocks from a SafeHouse kit, finish a WIP, or donate projects you have fallen out of love with. An inch at a time, we can travel miles together.
Remaining 2024 Quilt Weekends
We are excited to announce the speakers and workshops for the remainder of 2024. Upcoming workshops are Beth Helfter (Eva Paige Designs) and Brandy Maslowski (Quilter on Fire). These are open to both members and nonmembers. A gentle reminder to register quickly because these workshops are filling up. Click here on our Workshops page for supply lists and to register.
In September, we have Beth Helfter via Zoom who will be teaching two workshops. Friday’s workshop is “Carpenter’s Apprentice,” and Sunday’s workshop is her “Hurdy Gurdy Throw.” Start with a runner in class and expand into a throw! Beth’s business is called Eva Paige Quilt Designs where you can find inspiration and patterns geared to using up scraps. You’ll see her “fun over fuss philosophy” on display with every page.
For November, we are back in person with Brandy Maslowski. Check out her website “Quilter on Fire” where you can even listen to her podcast by the same name. Friday’s workshop is called “Colorways,” an intro into textile art. Sunday’s class is “Hexies.” This hands-on workshop is great for quilters just starting out as well as accomplished quilters who want to get into some mind-calming, methodical handwork to use up their scraps. Students will be making samples from their kit in the morning and then using their own fabric to start a hexie project in the afternoon.
2024 Quilt Show
From: every GAAQG guild member
To: Liz Rodriguiz, the 2024 Quilt Show Chair,
What an amazing job! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! It was a beautiful show.
From: Liz
To: Quilt Show committee chairs
My deepest appreciation for the dedication shown over the last year by several members of the guild who contributed so much to the show’s success. Each of these people put in long hours of background work to ensure the success of the show.
Lynn Aleman, Heather Barthell, Sherri Boughan, Donna Choma, Mary Beth Donovan, Nancy Finlayson, June Guthrie, Sonja Hagen, Lucinda Herring, Kathy Johnson, Kathy Koch, Katie McGrath, Susan Morrison, Wanda Nash, Anne Rapundalo, Brenda Rigdon, Laura Sheets, Marylin Shuster, Mary Vinovskis, Noreen Walker and Kaye Whittington.
Other Thoughts
From Ida Copeland: The Sue Spargo Support Group is off to a good start with enthusiastic participants. For now, we will meet in the atrium on Quilt Days (look for the Sue Spargo table). The goal is to kick-start projects that have been languishing in the closet but nagging us to get to the finish line. One person who has 10 years’ worth of Sue Spargo (finished!) items on her walls has offered to host a tour at her house. We will pick a date soon for this trip. In the future, we anticipate a road trip to Berlin, Ohio to see Sue Spargo’s domain.
The assignment for September is to pick ONE project to work on and come with needle and thread(s). Bring a lunch if you can stay for a couple of hours. Please stay at least one hour so we can settle down to do some stitching. We are moving from UFO to WIP!
Contact Ida with any questions. idayeararound@yahoo.com
Virtual Sew-Ins. The next online Sew-In will occur on Saturday, August 10, from 9:00a – noon. Lynne Bryant would like to have all virtual sew-ins held on the fourth Saturday of the month. Currently, she hosts them when she can, but she needs a volunteer to assist her with this. If you’re interested, please contact Lynne at pastpresident@gaaqg.com.
Custom sewing work resources. As guild president, I occasionally get requests from people willing to pay for custom sewing/quilting. I would like to be able to supply these people with a list of GAAQG members who are interested in these kinds of opportunities. If you would like to be on the list, please contact me at president@gaaqg.com. In early September, I will prepare the list and forward it whenever I get a request for a sewist. At that point, any arrangements that are completed will be between the potential customer and the potential sewist/quilter.
Your membership and enthusiasm make all that the guild can offer possible. Thanks for your support and keep up the good work!
Be sure to browse our website www.gaaqg.com for details and other topics of interest. Check out our social media presence on Facebook and Instagram, too.
Marge Venema
GAAQG President
Saturday, Mary 18 Quilt Day
What a day! The weather was beautiful, and the meeting was awesome. The atrium buzzed with so much activity starting with the check-in table at the door. Robin Koehler’s challenging lecture was titled “How Hard Can It Be?” NESTLINGS by Robin is where she can be contacted for services like quilt appraisals, hand quilting, and design. The business part of the meeting included a description of the remaining 2024 speakers and workshops and a Quilt Show update.
Then came the Show and Tell. What a treat! Members showed projects they created for themselves, family members, and friends. The photos of quilts included in the Book Club Quilt Challenge were so varied and creative. I can’t wait to see them in person in the Special Exhibits at the Quilt Show in July.
Eighty SafeHouse quilts were turned in, so our total for the year so far is 132. Our members’ generosity and creativity overwhelm me every Quilt Day. If you need a refresher regarding these projects, click here for the GAAQG website link.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for…our annual Fabric Sale. The atrium held 32 tables loaded with so much beautiful fabric. The total proceeds from the sale were $4,448. Way to go Roberta, every helper, and all those shoppers! The guild uses the proceeds from the Fabric Sale to provide batting, labels and storage for our SafeHouse mission. The remaining funds are donated directly to SafeHouse.
July to November Speakers – Member Registration Opens Today, June 1
We are excited to announce the speakers and workshops for the remainder of 2024. Member registration opens today, June 1, 2024, and for nonmembers on July1, 2024. A gentle reminder to register quickly so we know how many students we have. Should we not meet our minimum class sizes, we will need to cancel those workshops.
July’s speaker is Deb Strain who designs for Moda Fabrics. Her lecture is called “Designing Fabric.” We do not have workshops in July. Deb will have 6-8 door prizes for those who come in person so mark your calendars to attend! She will also have other products available for purchase.
In September, Beth Helfter will be teaching two workshops via Zoom. Friday’s is “Carpenter’s Apprentice,” and Sunday’s is her “Hurdy Gurdy Throw.” Start with a runner in class and expand into a throw! For more details, the supply lists and to register, see our Workshops page. Beth’s business is called Eva Paige Quilt Designs where you can find inspiration and patterns geared to using up scraps. You’ll see her “fun over fuss philosophy” on display with every page.
For November, we are back in-person with Brandy Maslowski. On her “Quilter on Fire” website you can even listen to her podcast by the same name. Friday’s workshop called “Colorways,” is an intro into textile art. Sunday’s class is “Hexies,” a hands-on workshop great for quilters just starting out as well as accomplished quilters who want to get into some mind-calming, methodical handwork to use up their scraps. Students will be making samples from their kit in the morning and then using their own fabric to start a hexie project in the afternoon. See our Workshops page for supply lists and to register.
2024 Quilt Show – Saturday/Sunday, July 27-28
Mark your calendar to attend the GAAQG Quilt Show, July 27-28. Not only will it be fun to see the quilts we have made, but it’s also a great opportunity to show your friends and family why you spend so much time dreaming about quilts.
Remember that we are requesting at least two hours of volunteer time for each quilt in the show (including the Special Exhibits), with a maximum of four hours. There are still a lot of opportunities available. Sign into the guild website, go to the quilt show page, scroll down to “Participating in the Show: and click the Volunteer Jobs button to see the signup form and task descriptions. If you want specific tasks or want to respond to Nancy Finlayson’s request for drop-off sites, please send a note to quiltshow@gaaqg.com. We will try to accommodate your request as best we can. If you will be out of town the weekend of the show, we have lots of pre-show tasks available.
Another reminder: Mary Vinovskis and her Gift Shop team are still looking for your donated hand-made items. For more details, click the Gift Shop Donations button (just below the Volunteer button). Please contact Mary to arrange delivery by no later than July 1. Gift Shop proceeds help defray the cost of putting on our Show.
Other Thoughts
I am still looking to fill Officer positions for 2025: a guild president, a co-treasurer, and a secretary. We have so many talented members whose diverse backgrounds we could use on the board. This is my fourth year as a board member and as president, I have a very supportive board who gets things done without a fuss. I can absolutely say that being a board member has been a wonderful experience and has been good for me as a human. Contact me (president@gaaqg.com) if you want to discuss any of these opportunities.
The quilt retreat is coming up June 28-30. Lynne Bryant will be contacting those who have registered with any information you may still need. I wish I could be there this year, but I’ll be thinking of the great time you will have together.
Did the Book Club Challenge quilts pique your interest in joining a small group? It’s the best way to get to really know other GAAQG members. See the Small Groups page on the website and contact the coordinator, Pat Weber at smallgroups@gaaqg.com if you want more information. Your membership and enthusiasm make all that the guild can offer possible. Thanks for your support and keep up the good work.
Be sure to browse our website for details and other topics of interest. Check out our social media presence on Facebook and Instagram, too. See you in July!
Marge Venema
GAAQG President
Saturday, March 16 Quilt Day: The meeting was held in person at WCC and, as always, was an exciting time for all who attended. Many commented that it was their best meeting ever! There was a well-attended demo of quilting tools & techniques as well as the usual Atrium activities. Our speaker, Deborah Boschert, was amazing. She also presented a third workshop on Saturday afternoon plus the traditional Friday and Sunday workshops. All who attended learned so much and had a great time. Our vendor for March was an attempt at something new. The Roaming Stone was available to sharpen our precious sewing scissors, knives and other tools during the meeting. I would love to hear some feedback on that. We also had presentations from Liz Rodriguiz regarding the July quilt show, workshop information from Jane Clark, small group information from Pat Weber, the May fabric sale details from Roberta Myyra, and, of course, show & tell. Our members turned in 63 SafeHouse quilts.
After Saturday’s meeting, an in-person SafeHouse sew-in was held at WCC. The turnout was small but productive. These sew-ins are always a lot of fun and a great way to get to know fellow quilters.
My opening remarks for the meeting were a pitch for the benefits of being quilters and for needed volunteers. By September of this year, we need to have a slate of four new officers for 2025 and 2026. Two members stepped up immediately to fill the open VP Membership and Quilt Day Demo liaison positions, so awesome! I am hoping to hear from more volunteers in the next couple of weeks. Our greatest immediate need is for a Garage Sale Chair (held on July 20 following Quilt Day). There will be plenty of support for this position from willing volunteers and recent documentation, but we need someone to be in charge. If we don’t have a volunteer soon, the board will probably need to cancel this year’s Garage Sale. Please contact me at president@gaaqg.com if you are interested in helping out the guild. Thanks.
Guild Retreat Deadline Looming, Friday, March 29
Your deposit for our GAAQG guild members retreat is due no later than March 30, 2024. To use a credit card and pay by phone, you need to call Creative Passions at 989-845-2159 before 4:00p on Friday, March 29. If you wish to mail your registration form and check, Creative Passions must receive it by March 30. We have had a few people drop out so there is room for more to register. The facility will hold 40 members so it will be a great chance to get to know like-minded quilters. You can find all the information and registration form on the Members Page of our website. Meals are generally shared, but you can bring your own food if you prefer. Breakfast is provided by the facility. This year we are adding games to our retreat activities. For questions, please call Lynne Bryant at 313-885-2174.
SafeHouse Fresh Start Breakfast – Wednesday, April 10
SafeHouse Center is having a breakfast event as a fundraiser on April 10. It would be so awesome if GAAQG was represented by some of its members. SafeHouse is never far from our thoughts. The tickets are $35 each and, if you decide to attend, indicate GAAQG with the information you enter to purchase your ticket. We will let Christine and Rhonda know that we have mentioned this event to our members and are hoping for a nice turnout. They will be sure to seat us together. I’m looking forward to seeing you there to help support our SafeHouse mission.
April Online Sew-in – Saturday, April 13, 9am to noon (Eastern time and Canada)
This is a very relaxing meeting where we get to know each other and trade ideas and helpful hints. Try it once. You aren’t committed to staying online the whole three hours, so just drop in. It is especially helpful for those of us who aren’t in tip top shape to get together right in our homes and share our love for quilting. The Zoom invitation is included here. Lynne Bryant has attempted to schedule this meeting by using the Passcode instead of the waiting room. If you have problems getting in, please call Lynne Bryant at 313-590-0505. Hope to see you there.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84500541868?pwd=mQ0briWPGjhGKTn1y2HVdUoBc7cKFX.1
Meeting ID: 845 0054 1868
Passcode: 589990
May Quilt Weekend – May 17-19
Our upcoming workshops for May are with Robin Koehler who comes to us from Florida and they are open to both members and non-members. The guild membership asked for traditional style quilting and Robin is that and more. She is presenting two workshops. The first on Friday, May 17th is called “Bounce,” a paper pieced quilt. The pattern, handout and papers needed are included with the workshop. Her lecture is “How Hard Can It Be?” and her Sunday, May 19th workshop is called “Flora Fauna ~ Not all Quilts are Flat,” a 3-D take on quilting. Learn a variety of techniques while enjoying the company of friends at these in-person workshops. Robin has a lot to share with us and is a popular instructor. Register now, as many have asked for more traditional style presenters. More information about Robin can be found on her FaceBook page and YouTube Channel.. Click here for supply lists and to register. Join in on all the fun!
Fabric Sale – Saturday, May 18 Quilt Day
Don’t forget!! The annual Guild Fabric Sale follows the May meeting at WCC. If you have spring cleaning to do, please get busy. Roberta Myyra would like to have your donations sorted and into inventory by May 1 (pretty please). Contact her at fundraisingfabricsale@gaaqg.com
We will likely be done around 1PM.
As always, we will sell by volume with the following guidelines:
Quart Size Zip Bag $1 – $5
Gallon Size Zip Bag $6 – $15
Plastic Grocery Bag $16 – $30
Paper/Cloth Grocery Bag $31 – $50
Cash, checks, and credit cards welcome!
2024 Quilt Show – July 27-28
Members are already submitting their quilts for the show! Yay! Members are also signing up for volunteer slots! Yeah! The next big asks from the quilt show organizers are these: 1) someone to arrange for a food truck for the quilt show days. 2) someone to update the yard signs for the show which are in the guild’s storage unit. Please contact Liz Rodriguez at quiltshow@gaaqg.com if you’re interested. Thanks!
September and November Workshops – Registration opens June 1
On June 1 we open member registration for the September and November workshops. In September Beth Helfter, who has a unique way to sew half-square triangles, will teach two Zoom workshops for us and present a lecture. In November we will welcome Brandy Maslowski who lives in British Columbia, Canada. She also has a podcast which is great to listen to. Brandy will teach two in-person workshops and present a lecture. Check out our Workshops website page for more information and to register. These workshops will open to non-members on July 1, so register early to ensure your spot!
GAAQG Small Groups
With such a large guild (250 members), there are several Small Groups where members can gather to meet either by geographic area or quilting interest. Seven groups are accepting new members (see the first page of the spreadsheet on the Small Groups section of the website’s Members Page). If a Small Group interests you, contact that group’s leader for up-to-date info on meeting time, date, and location. Some groups meet in person, while others meet via Zoom. A Handwork Small Group is still in the formation phase if someone is interested in this.
You can find much more information on our website for details and other topics of interest to you as guild members. We also have a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram (links at the top of every website page). Check them out.
There is always so much the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild offers to our members. Your membership and enthusiasm make all this possible. Thanks for your support and keep up the good work. See you in May.
Sincerely,
Marge Venema
GAAQG President
President’s Announcements – January 20 Quilt Day
Saturday, January 20, Quilt Day
Such a cold weekend and a good time to be home and have all the quilt day activities on Zoom! Our speaker was Valerie Goodwin. She was amazing. Her work is not only creative, but she also expresses events and emotions that are close to her heart. Listening to Valerie was a very moving and enlightening experience and her lecture generated many comments, information and questions that have been captured in the Zoom Chat function shared here.
March Quilt Weekends – March 15-17
In March we have Deborah Boschert, in person. She lives in Texas and is happy to visit Ann Arbor again. Deborah is teaching three workshops. Friday’s March 15th workshop is “Personal Symbols–Original Art Quilt Collage.” The lecture during March 16th quilt day is called “Exploring Art Quilt Collage.” Then, following our quilt day meeting, Deborah will teach a half-day workshop “Developing your Creative Voice.” Her final workshop is on Sunday, the 17th, “Graphic Landscape Fabric Collage.” These workshops are for all levels of learners. Register right away on our website Workshops page, through the Members 2024 registration link, as these workshops are now open for public registration.
Opportunity Table – I am pleased to report that we will have an Opportunity Table at our March in-person Quilt Day. Our new volunteer to coordinate the table is Betsey Price. Please contact her at opportunityboard@gaaqg.com if you have anything she should be including on Quilt Day. Information regarding quilt-related events will be accepted.
March Quilt Challenge
The GAAQG Book Club invites all guild members for a book-themed quilt challenge. Requirements: 1) A book or book in the design. 2) Quilted in three layers, either as parts or as a whole piece. 3) Finish in time for the reveal at the March 16 Quilt Day meeting. Register through the link “Sign Me Up” on the Members page (requires login). Your registration will help us to plan for the display of your efforts at the March meeting.
2024 Quilt Show – July 27-28
Our next guild Quilt Show Is July 27-28, 2024, at Washtenaw Community College. “Celebrate the Quilt 2024” is our opportunity to showcase our creativity for the public. For general public informationregarding the 2024 Quilt Show, go to our website Events section. A separate section for members only information is on our Members page (login required) and can be found by scrolling to the bottom of the index on the left side.
The Gift Shop is an important part of the Quilt Show’s success because it helps pay for the Show itself. The Gift Shop needs nicely made handcrafted items that showcase our members’ skills. A few suggestions: bed quilts, wall art, placemats, table runners, totes, purses, pillows, toys, greeting cards, journal covers, etc. Each item will need a donation form attached, available on the website Members Quilt Show page. and at the drop-off sites. The first drop-off day will occur on March Quilt Day. Please try to submit all your items by the May Quilt Day.
Quilt Show volunteering comes in many varieties from long-range planning over months, to the weekend-of-show for a couple of hours. Please email quiltshow@gaaqg.com with your interests. At this point, we have a critical need for someone who would like to call quilt shops and ask for interest in advertising in our show booklet.
If anyone is interested in creating cards describing quilting techniques and terms, please get in touch at the above email address. It would be fun to have explanatory cards near various quilts stating things such as: “An applique quilt is created by [step one, step two]” or “This quilt uses blocks popularized by the Kansas City Star newspaper in the 1930s.” If we could get a bunch of these cards, we could pin them near relevant quilts to help educate our attendees.
February Saturday Online Sew-in – February 10
Our next online Sew-in will be on Saturday, February 10, 2024, 9-noon. This is a very relaxing meeting where we get to know each other and trade ideas and helpful hints. Try it once. You aren’t committed to staying online the whole three hours, so just drop in. Lynne has attempted to schedule this meeting by using the Passcode instead of the waiting room. If you have problems getting in, please call Lynne Bryant, at 313-590-0505. We hope to see you there. An invitation with the Zoom link will be sent to all members on February 8.
Volunteers Needed
We still need a couple of volunteers for quilt day activities. We need someone to coordinate vendors for three in-person meetings a year: March, September, and November. We have our fabric sale and garage sale in May and July.
We also need someone to coordinate demos at those three meetings. This requires identifying members who wish to offer 10–15-minute demos of any quilting technique, repeated before and after the Quilt Day meeting. We have the names of those who have conducted demos in the past. The volunteer coordinates the demos and notifies the webmasters and president of the names and descriptions of the demos.
My last request is to ask you to let me know if you specialize in insurance. Specifically, liability insurance. In 2025, Washtenaw Community College will require the guild to have liability insurance for our activities there. We would like to work with a guild member on this if possible.
Thank you all so much for considering these needs to help our guild prosper.
Guild Retreat – June 28-30, 2024
We currently have 33 people signed up to attend, with a maximum of 40 attendees. I expect to have a better count as members contact Tamara during business hours at the Retreat Center: 989-845-2159. She will let me know who has paid their deposit. We had a great time last year. This year will be even better as we will have a chance to shop at two local quilt stores. We look forward to seeing you there.
For those who plan to arrive on Thursday, we usually meet at a local restaurant for dinner at 6:30p. Then at 8pm local students will arrive to carry in our luggage, food, machines, fabric, etc., to the retreat facility. This gives us time to set up our machines and get an early start on Friday morning. Contact Lynne Bryant at 313-885-2174 if you have any questions.
In Memoriam
As you can see, the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild doesn’t slow down for winter. Be sure to check out our website gaaqg.com and log in to the Members Page for details and other topics of interest to you as guild members. The guild also has a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram (the links are on every page of our website). Check it all out! See you in March.
Sincerely,
Marge Venema
GAAQG President
Our November Quilt Day weekend did not turn out exactly as planned but it was a success. Our speaker/teacher for the weekend, Jane Sassaman, tested positive for COVID and couldn’t make the trip. All three of her workshops were canceled and Sarah Bush, our treasurer, has issued refunds to all participants. Jane Sassaman joined us via Zoom for her lecture “Under the Influence”. She was very charming and interesting though she wasn’t feeling well.
The meeting included the election of officers for 2024. The following officers were elected or reelected: Marge Venema, president; Jane Clark, programs vice president; Martha Williams, membership vice president; Sarah Bush and Amy Glenn, co-treasurers and Maryann Hummer, secretary.
November is our big push for SafeHouse quilt donations. I gave a brief overview of our SafeHouse finances. Anne Rapundalo gave a short history of GAAQG’s history with SafeHouse and introduced our guest speakers, Christine Watson, executive director of SafeHouse, and Rhonda Parker, development director of SafeHouse. Anne also presented a check for $900 to Christine and Rhonda. Their words of thanks were inspirational. 69 quilts were donated Saturday morning. The annual total for 2023 will probably be slightly over our 300 quilt goal.
November is also the month when we draw the name of a volunteerfor a free workshop of their choice. This year’s winner is Carol Palk.
The WCC atrium was buzzing with activity. Wanda Nash was our Quilt Day Vendor, Lynne Bryant presented a demo on glue bindings, and Camie Roper gave information about sustainable quilting. There were at least two free item tables. and some Jane Sassaman merchandise for sale at the program’s table. The SafeHouse fabric tables and membership tables were also busy. The one table we are still missing since our comeback from COVID is the opportunity table. If you think you might like to volunteer for this vacancy, please let me know.
The meeting was in person with the option of attending via Zoom. 110 members attended in person, 2 people attended as Be My Guest recipients, and there were 3 paid attendees. 59 attended via Zoom.
Novi Quilt Expo Booth
Our guild booth at the Novi Sewing Expo (November 9-11) drew the most visitors we’ve had in the past three years. We had a drawing for three beautiful gift baskets and gained almost 200 names of interested non-member quilters to add to our guild mailing list.
January Quilt Weekend
Our January meeting and workshops will all be on Zoom. Our speaker/teacher will be Valerie S. Goodwin, a mixed-media fiber artist and architect whose works of fine art are included in museum and private collections. Most of her work is inspired by a love of aerial views of landscapes and cities.
Valerie also lectures and gives workshops nationally and internationally. Her Friday workshop is “Get in the Zone.” Her Saturday lecture will be “Mapping: a Narrative in Paint & Thread.” On Sunday Valarie’s workshop is “Favorite Places.” Click here for more information and to register. Available spots will be opened to non-members in early December so register now if you want to attend.
SafeHouse Online Quilt Sale
The Online Quilt Sale is still in progress through November and into December for as long as there are quilts to sell. To date, your quilts have generated $5,800 toward SafeHouse Center expenses, but there are still many more quilts available for sale. Be sure to spread the word to friends and family to consider them for holiday gifts. When you order online, the money immediately goes into the SafeHouse account, and they will take care of arranging pickup or shipping. Click here for more information.
Quilt Challenge for Members
The GAAQG Book Club is issuing a quilt challenge to their members plus all GAAQG members.
Click here for details. The quilts will be displayed at the March Quilt Day meeting.
See you all in January on Zoom. Happy Holidays.
Sincerely,
Marge Venema
GAAQG President
September Quilt Day 2023
What a day we had! There was so much going on, it was great. Our speaker, Audrey Esarey, was very talented and inspiring. She showed a lot of her finished works and encouraged us to come and look at them closely. Audrey also taught workshops on Friday and Sunday which included paper piecing and curved seams. I think everyone who attended had a great day.
The meeting was in person with the option of attending via Zoom: 79 members attended in person; 2 people attended as Be My Guest recipients; plus, three non-member paid attendees; 65 attended via Zoom.
Jane Clark revealed the slate of teachers/speakers for 2024. Check out the Workshops website page for all the exciting details. On November 1 members will be able to register for the January, March, and May classes. We are holding off on opening registration for the entire year of classes to allow newer members more opportunities. As usual, we offer registration to our members first and only open non-member registration about 6 weeks before any workshops that haven’t been filled.
The Show & Tell was everything I could have hoped for: 63 quilts were displayed during the SafeHouse Show and Tell, for a total number of quilts donated so far this year of 182. We hope to meet our annual 300-quilt goal in November. There were a lot of members also sharing their non-SafeHouse creations, very inspiring. Casey, our amazing WCC tech support, decided to enhance our Show & Tell experience by projecting the quilts on the screen. I loved it and hope everyone else did too.
Two talented members (Kathy Schmidt and Meena Schaldenbrand) shared information and gave demos in the Morris Lawrence Building Atrium; their presentations were well attended. The Quilting Season was the vendor on Saturday with lots of inspiring merchandise for sale.
November Quilt Weekend – November 17-19
In November we introduce Jane Sassaman who will be teaching three workshops. Friday’s is called “Personalities of a Leaf” and uses decorative stitches beyond the straight stitch. Your machine doesn’t have to be fancy, just needs to have more than a straight stitch. Due to popular demand, a second section of Sunday’s workshop “Abstracting from Nature” will also be presented on Saturday from 1:00-7:00p. Click here to register (login required). The Sunday workshop is full but you can contact the workshopregistrar@gaaqg.com to get on the waitlist in case the Saturday session also sells out. Jane’s lecture on the morning of the 18th is titled “Under the Influence.”
The November meeting will spotlight our connection with SafeHouse Center with a few words from their staff. I’m sure their message of gratitude on behalf of their clients will touch our hearts and reinforce our commitment to this worthy cause.
In November we will also thank everyone who volunteered in any capacity for the guild during the past year. There will be a drawing of the names of all who volunteered and the prize this year will be a free workshop of the winner’s choice.
November Quilt Day Demos
Who knew that Elmer’s glue could be valuable in adding binding to your quilts? Lynne Bryant will be sharing her experience and advice.
Camie Roper will make a presentation regarding sustainability in quilting. We quilters use cotton, thread, dyes, batting, and other consumables from the planet in our craft. Camie has been looking into some ways we can continue to responsibly quilt and enjoy our craft, while being mindful of its real and potential impact on the environment. She has several full-sized quilts and other projects to illustrate how we can incorporate some of these changes and be mindful of Mother Earth. These demos are available in person before and after the meeting.
SafeHouse Online Quilt Sale
Our fourth annual Online Quilt Sale to benefit SafeHouse Centeropened on October 1, the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Check our website for all the beautiful quilts made by our members and pass the information along to your friends and family members. Consider purchasing a quilt to cherish as a perfect gift for a birthday, graduation, holiday or ‘just because,’ while supporting SafeHouse Center. All proceeds go directly to SafeHouse Center through their online store, and they arrange pickup or shipping to all purchasers.
Quilt Challenge
The GAAQG Book Club is inviting everyone in the Guild to join them in a book-themed quilt challenge. The idea is simple. The quilts must have a book theme. Check out the full description on the Members page/Small Groups (login required) Quilts must be finished in time for the March 2024 Quilt Day (March 16) where they will all be displayed. No entry fees and no prizes, just see the creativity of our guild members!
See you all at the November meeting.
Sincerely,
Marge Venema
GAAQG President
Saturday, July 15 Quilt Day
The weather on Saturday was perfect for a Quilt Day. Rainy. Our speaker on Saturday was Dr. Marcia MacDowell. She talked about the Quilt Index, as well as the African Diasporic Quilt History. Some of the quilt slides were very moving, and all were interesting. Did you know that anyone can view the Quilt Index and even digitally enter their own quilts at quiltindex.org?
The meeting was in person with the option of attending via Zoom. 85 members attended in person, 5 people attended as Be My Guest recipients, and 35 attended via Zoom.
33 quilts were displayed during the Safe House Show and Tell. The total number of quilts donated so far this year is 119. We would really like to collect 160 more quilts in 2023 to meet our goals for SafeHouse fundraising and for clients.
After the lecture, announcements and Show and Tell in the Morris Lawrence auditorium, most of us took advantage of the guild’s Garage Sale. Thanks to Bev Darr for taking on this event. Bev is a newer member of the guild but volunteered to take on this project. She tells me her team members really helped her through the process.
September Quilt Weekend
In September we are hosting Audrey Esarey (Cotton & Bourbon) who is teaching two workshops incorporating paper piecing techniques. Friday is “Ultraviolet Radial” which is a multicolored circular design and Sunday is “Mobius Radial” using two colors to create an oblong circle. Audrey looks to be a master of paper piecing and I am sure she has some great tips for us! There is a kit fee for both classes. Click here for more information, the supply lists, and to register.
November Quilt Weekend
In November we introduce Jane Sassaman who will be teaching two workshops. Friday’s is called “Leaf Sampler” and uses decorative stitches beyond the straight stitch. Your machine doesn’t have to be fancy, just needs to have more than a straight stitch. Sunday’s workshop “Abstracting from Nature” is full but there is a waiting list (contact workshopregistrar@gaaqg.com to be added). Jane will also be teaching at AQS in Grand Rapids in September. Our GAAQG member fee is $75.00 while AQS charges $100.00 for members. Register here (requires login) for our workshops now while there is space available.
Quilt Day Demos
Now that we’ve returned to in-person Quilt Days (March through November), we have begun to schedule our popular Demonstrations by talented members before and after the meeting. They will be repeated so you can attend both! In September, one 15-minute demo will feature Water Soluble Stabilizers (WSS). They may not be a common tool in your quilting space, but they can certainly help you add pizzazz to your projects. Kathy Schmidt will show several types of WSS and how she uses them to capture and tame wild threads and fabric bits and even use WSS for quilting designs. Fun, easy and open to your imagination!
Another 15-minute demo will feature Meena Schaldenbrand talking about her extensive experience with cutting machines. Electronic cutting machines and manual die cutters create instant fusible appliques. The demo will compare the positives and negatives of each as well as samples of using them with heat transfer vinyl, etching glass, foiling, rhinestones, pop up cards, embossing paper/fabric/ metal drink cans and stencils. Meena will also have an informational handout for attendees.
Who knew that Elmer’s glue can be valuable in adding binding to your quilts? In November Lynne Bryant will share her experience and advice.
We are still looking for another demo volunteer to fill the second spot for November, and two spots each for next March, September and November Quilt Days. We feature the Fabric Sale in May and Garage Sale in July so there are no demos for those meetings. Do you have a favorite technique or tool that you want to share? Our demos are informal and each one is designed to be only 15 minutes around a table in the Atrium so that members can attend both. There is plenty of time for two demos before and another session to be held after the meeting. If you’ve already presented a demo in the past, no problem! We suspended in-person meetings during COVID and have lots of new members, so repeats are good. Contact quiltdaydemos@gaaqg.com to volunteer.
Website News
Remembering GAAQG’s Jean Coleman: Some of Jean’s patterns can be found on the SafeHouse Center Quilt page (member login required): https://www.gaaqg.com/safehouse-center-quilts/#patterns
Check out the photos from the 2023 Creative Passions retreat. The link can be found on this page: https://www.gaaqg.com/events-info/
Inspired by Martha MacDowell’s talk about the Quilt Index? Here are some helpful links: https://www.gaaqg.com/quilt-index/
Saturday’s lecture has inspired our webmasters to provide more opportunities for the guild to participate in quilt history and preservation. Stay tuned.
GAAQG Quilting Retreat
The June quilt retreat was very successful. Lynne Bryant has secured the Creative Passions facility for 2024, June 28-June 30. This time slot is not a holiday weekend so the quilt store will be open that Saturday. 19 people have signed up so far. The 1st payment of $85 is due March 30. Pictures from this year’s retreat and details for next year are available on the members page of the GAAQG website. Don’t miss this time for quilting, visiting, and getting to know each other.
See you in September.
Sincerely,
Marge Venema
GAAQG President
As always, the meeting was interesting and fun. Our speaker, Irene Roderick, detailed her journey as a human and an artist. Her landing place in that journey became creating and teaching quilting. Her lecture was titled “Dancing with the Wall” and her approach is literally that. She plays music and dances and decides what goes next on her design wall. Very inspiring.
The meeting was in person with the option of attending via Zoom. 79 members attended in person and 73 attended through Zoom.
As Lynne Bryant indicated at the start of the meeting, our guild’s goal is to be able to offer all the activities we have always included with our Quilt Days. The March Quilt Day included an in-person SafeHouse Sew-in, our first in quite a while. Thank you to Arlene Kindel for stepping forward to take on the position for coordinating these events. Twelve to fifteen quilters showed up and lunch together was a big hit. Another in-person sew-in is scheduled following the September 16 Quilt Day. Arlene has recruited a group of volunteers to help provide kits and easy patterns for future sew-ins.
One of the surprises of the day was the revelation of some GAAQG Swag showing off our new logo. Jane Clark had a couple of prototype t-shirts printed. The shirts include the new logo and beneath it is printed “Quilting: A thread that binds us together.” The shirts and hoodies that will be available are 100% cotton, ladies’ and men’s sizes, and are shipped to your door. More information on this opportunity will be forthcoming.
May brings Michelle Jackson, teaching about creating portraits with fabric. Michelle’s Saturday lecture will be “The Emotions of Color and How to Use Them,” available both in-person and via Zoom. Michelle’s workshop (in-person only) “Light the Portrait With Color” requires a 2-day commitment and is currently sold out. If this is a workshop you are interested in, get on the waitlist for last-minute cancellations: workshopregistrar@gaaqg.com.
Don’t forget that we will be going back to the regular Quilt Day May meeting for the Fabric Sale. It is time for some Spring Cleaning! Bust through your stash and contact Roberta at fundraisingfabricsale@gaaqg.com for a pickup or delivery instructions. The more fabric we have, the more fun and profitable the sale. Donations can come from non-members as well as members and proceeds help benefit our SafeHouse mission.
Members can join us monthly for an online SafeHouse sew-in. These sew-Ins are a great time to ask questions, share ideas and make new friends while making quilts for SafeHouse. Our next sew-in will be held on Saturday March 25th, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Invitations are sent to members via email on Thursdays before the event.
It seems like winter will never end but spring cleaning will be upon us in no time. As you clean your sewing space, think about the guild garage sale after the July 15 meeting and set aside anything you no longer have use for. Make money and help SafeHouse at the same time! If you have any questions, feel free to contact Beverly Darr at garagesale@gaaqg.com.
Visit our website Small Groups page (requires login) to see a list of groups that are accepting new members. In a guild as large as ours, these Small Groups add opportunities for members to meet regularly, in person or via Zoom, to share ideas, gain inspiration, participate in challenges, and make new friends. We encourage our members to either join an existing group or create one of your own. If you haven’t already done so, please read our recent blog post on this topic.
Lynne Bryant gave a detailed update Saturday morning about the upcoming GAAQG Quilt Retreat. The dates are Friday June 30th through Sunday July 2nd. The deadline for signing up is Thursday, March 30th. All the details are available on the members page of the GAAQG website (requires login). Don’t miss this time for quilting, visiting, and getting to know each other.
A famous comedian once said, “Take my wife, please!” Well, Guild Historian Nancy Finlayson is asking someone to, “Take my job, please!” After six years it is time for someone else to pick up the pieces and bring a new vision to this position. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who has little time but wants to serve the Guild in some capacity.
Nancy spends less than an hour a month collecting data for the historian files. She also attends the monthly board meetings, but this is not required of the position.
Basic computer skills are required and there are 3 boxes of material. It is a possibility that these files could be kept in the guild storage unit.
Nancy does say it is a low-profile position and in 6 years has had only one request for information! So, please volunteer for this minimalist job. You do get your name listed as a Guild Board member. Contact Nancy at historian@gaaqg.com for a more exciting description!
Currently there are several other positions that you might think about volunteering for.
If you are interested in any of these positions, contact me at president@gaaqg.com or as indicated.
Hope to see you all on May 20.
Sincerely,
Marge Venema
GAAQG President
Who: GAAQG Members
What: Retreat at Creative Passions Retreat Center, Chesaning, MI
Why: Because we all need to gather after COVID!!!
How: Pay $165.00
GAAQG has been working on finding a location that will allow the maximum number of our members to attend a retreat this summer. We have asked you which location you would recommend. Many criteria were considered.
We need a place with ample work areas, cutting boards, design walls, good lighting, and, oddly enough, alcohol allowed. We found a place that many of you have enjoyed in the past. In addition to the above criteria, Creative Passions Retreat Center in Chesaning MI will supply a table for each attendee, comfortable chairs, lamp, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, bath towels and wash cloths, Cable TV with DVD player, free WIFI, a fully supplied kitchen, AND a nearby quilt shop.
A continental breakfast is provided. We will organize lunch and dinner for those who don’t bring their own meals for a nominal cost and volunteer kitchen work.
We have 40 spaces available to us. The first 24 are on the main level. THIS MEANS THAT IF YOU HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES YOU MUST SIGN UP ASAP as we will fill the 24 person and ground floor sleeping rooms first.
We have the use of two work areas in the building. The sleeping arrangements for the 24- person sewing room range from 3 to 6 attendees, not all on the first floor. The second work area will accommodate 16 people and all sleeping rooms are on the second floor. There is no elevator but there are 2 ground floor restrooms in addition to the ensuite bathroom in each room.
We encourage you to see the many photos of the venue on the Creative Passions website.
Now for the important information.
What you need to do.
Additional Benefits (Book Massage and Mani/Pedi 3 weeks before retreat)
Questions? Email Lynne Bryant at retreat@gaaqg.com
Saturday, January 21 Quilt Day
The January Quilt Day meeting was great, 126 people attended via Zoom. Our presenter was Brenda Gael Smith from Australia whose lecture was titled “Driven to Abstraction.” Brenda shared her creative journey, her beautiful studio with its amazing view, as well as what has inspired her. The slides of her work were amazing.
New Guild Logo
Mary Beth Donovan presented the guild’s new logo. It is perfect for our guild, and you will see it on all our communications going forward. It’s something to be proud of!
Website upgrade
New Announcement: the new website is now live! https://www.gaaqg.com/
Mary Beth Donovan has stepped down from the webmaster position after eight years at the helm. She has served since 2015 and over the last nine months, has trained her replacements and managed the new logo and website refresh projects.
Her duties are now split into two volunteer positions: Co-Webmaster – Content (Heather Barthell) and Co-Webmaster – Technology (Noreen Walker). Both can be reached at webmaster@gaaqg.com.
During the first Quilt Day of 2023, Heather Barthell gave an update regarding the process in renovating the GAAQG website. She also presented the changes made and did a live demonstration for the guild. The team has received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Here’s a summary list of the changes:
March Quilt Weekend – March 17-19
March’s presenter will be Irene Roderick whose Saturday lecture and two-day workshop (Friday and Sunday) are both titled “Dancing with the Wall.” Irene is trained as a painter. She has always been interested in pattern and color and how these elements can evoke emotional and political responses. When Irene began, she did not know what was going to happen but created through trial and error, literally dancing between the wall, the cutting mat, the sewing machine, and the iron. Through this act of making, she has learned to embrace the joy of creative intuition, spontaneous expression, and a blind trust in process. Due to a recent cancellation, there is one spot left. Visit our Workshops website page to learn more. To be added to the waitlist, contact workshopregistrar@gaaqg.com.
Small Groups
Visit our website Small Groups page to see a list of groups that are accepting new members. In a guild as large as ours, these Small Groups add opportunities for members to meet regularly, in person or via Zoom, to share ideas, gain inspiration, participate in challenges, and make new friends. We encourage our members to either join an existing group or create one of your own. Look for a blog post regarding GAAQG Small Groups coming out soon.
Be My Guest
On Saturday morning two quilters attended the meeting as “Be My Guest” participants. Members can use a “Be My Guest” form to give a “quilting loving” friend access to our next guild meeting. The form is really easy to find on the Members page (requires login) in the new GAAQG website. It’s a fun and easy way to help grow our guild membership.
GAAQG Quilting Retreat
You will be hearing more about this in the weeks to come. A description is on the Members Page of the new website and updates will be posted there. The dates are Friday June 30th through Sunday July 2nd.
Volunteers Needed
We currently have several opportunities for those who would like to get more involved with the quilt guild. As a totally volunteer organization, we need our members to help us keep the guild and its events going. It’s also a great way to make new friends.
Quilt Day Vendor Liaison
Quilt Day Demo Coordinator
Guild Historian
Quilt Day Tech Booth Helpers
Quilt Show Advertising Chair
Quilt Show Co-Chair
Quilt Show Co-Treasurer
Guild booth at 2023 Novi Sewing Expo Co-Chair
Garage Sale Chair
If you are interested in any of these positions, contact me at president@gaaqg.com.
Fabric Sale-May Quilt Day
Don’t forget that we will be going back to holding the Fabric Sale following our May Quilt Day meeting. It is time for some Spring Cleaning! Bust through your stash and contact Roberta Myyra at fundraisingfabricsale@gaaqg.com for pick up or delivery instructions.
Hope to see you all on March 18.
Sincerely,
Marge Venema
GAAQG President
Dear Members,
In previous years, the guild has conducted Quilt University, a 3-day series of workshops, during July in odd-numbered years. Unfortunately, next year we are unable to offer that so the Board has been looking for alternative activities that we might offer. We are thinking of hosting a guild 3-day retreat.
Several of us have attended retreats at Creative Passions Retreat Center in Chesaning, MI, west of Flint. They have beautiful facilities with tables, lights, plug strips, adjustable chairs, and trash cans for each quilter. There are also ironing and cutting stations to share, as well as a few design walls. All you need to bring is your sewing machine, tools, and the materials for your own project (this is not a workshop). Massages and manicures/pedicures are available and booked individually.
Bedding, towels, and other items you would expect in a hotel are provided. A continental breakfast buffet is included. Most of the rooms have 4 twin beds and a full bathroom. One of the rooms sleeps six. A few bedrooms are on the first floor, but most are upstairs. There is the possibility of a single room upstairs for a $60 extra charge, but there may only be one. In total, we could accommodate around 40 people.
They are temporarily holding June 30-July 2 (Friday noon to Sunday afternoon) for us, but we need to confirm quickly. The basic fee will be $165 but participants can arrive on Thursday evening at 8:00 for an extra $30. All participants would register and pay Creative Passions directly.
There is a local caterer, Riverfront Grill, which will provide meals for groups. Prices are currently about $7-8 per meal but are expected to increase. Those with special dietary needs would need to bring their own food. There is a beautiful kitchen for preparation.
We need to hear from you no later than December 17 so that we can confirm the dates.
I think this would be great fun and a wonderful bonding experience for participants. I look forward to hearing from you.
Lynne Bryant
President
Hello! 2023
Register for 2023 Workshops beginning November 1 – Check out the inspiring list of instructors and workshops we’ve booked for 2023. Our memberss have the first opportunity to register beginning Tuesday, November 1. As always, our January workshops are offered only via Zoom (so you can stay snug and safe at home) but all our other workshops are planned to be in-person at Washtenaw Community College.
From creative ways to use up your scraps in ‘Strip Ease’ to learning new improvisational techniques in ‘Dancing with the Wall,’ you will spend winter months learning how to increase your skills. Have an adorable family member or pet? Create a realistic portrait in fabric (even those with no sewing experience have had success with this class). If you are eager to expand into a modern theme, try ‘Ultraviolet Radial’ or ‘Mobius Radial.’ Want to experiment with machine embroidery using the decorative stitches on your machine or try abstraction? ‘Leaf Sampler’ and ‘Abstracting from Nature’ present perfect opportunities.
Find the Members Only Registration link in three places on the Membership Resources page (you automatically land on this page following successful login): in the teal menu bar at the top of the page, in a special announcement at the top of the text, and in the Quick Links section just below the special announcements. NOTE: Registration will open to non-members within 6 weeks before any workshop that has not filled.
Mary Kerr Workshops & Lecture – November 18 – 20 – Mary Kerr will teach two workshops in November: ‘Twist and Shout’ on Friday and ‘Wonky Star – Improv with a Vintage Twist’ on Sunday. Mary’s lecture during on Nov 19 Quilt Day Meeting is “A Woman’s Voice”.
Special offer for GAAQG memberss attending Mary Kerr’s November classes – FREE quilt blocks and tops!
Sign up for Mary Kerr’s classes and get free quilt blocks courtesy of GAAQG member Cindy Herring who will share her orphan blocks for the Twist & Shout class. She also has a few free quilt tops available for the Wonky Stars — Improv with a Twist class. These pieced fabrics will give you a head start on Mary’s supply list! To take advantage of this generous offer, contact Cindy by leaving a comment in our recent blog post ‘Free Orphan Blocks for Adoption’, emailing Cindy at herring17@charter.net, or dropping a comment in our guild’s Facebook group. Cindy will meet up with members or make deliveries, within reason. Contact her soon so you’ll have time to pick out the background fabric before class.
GAAQG Exhibit Booth at the Original Sewing & Quilting Expo – Nov. 10-12
The GAAQG exhibit booth at the Original Sewing & Quilting Expo will be open from 10 am – 5:30 pm Thursday and Friday, and from 10 am – 5 pm on Saturday. The exhibit booth is such great exposure for our guild and provides a chance to recruit memberss!
Stop by our GAAQG booth #222 to say “hi!” Better yet–volunteer as an ambassador!
Thank you to those who’ve already signed up to volunteer. We still have a few shifts open:
If you serve as: a GAAQG Ambassador, you’ll receive free general admission on the day you volunteer—woot! GAAQG Ambassadors will be asked to bring a few quilts to display in the exhibit booth and take home at the end of their shifts.
To serve as a GAAQG Ambassador, contact Susan Schwandt at publicrelations@gaaqq.com. She’s finalizing the volunteer schedule this week.
Books are priced at one of two tiers: $2 each or 6 books for $10; $5 each or 5 books for $20. For more details, please visit our Library website page
The nearly 600 books in the collection cover all aspects of quilt making: design, patterns, piecing techniques, embellishment, and machine quilting. Notable authors range from traditional to contemporary, such as Eleanor Burns, Kim Diehl, Angela Walters, and Yoko Saito.
Online SafeHouse Quilt Sale Extended into November – Our thanks to those who have generously supported SafeHouse Center by making and donating quilts and/or purchasing one to support their services. The sale opened on October 1 but there are still several quilts remaining so SafeHouse Center is extending the sale into November. To date, 14 of the 43 quilts offered have been sold, raising a total of $4,500. There are many beautiful quilts left so please tell your family and friends about this worthwhile opportunity to support SafeHouse Center and to delight a lucky recipient with a heartwarming gift.
Greetings, https://gaaqg.dev.nsgoupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs!
We’re excited to announce four wonderful new events occurring this month. One public event and three for our members
Today, Oct 1, our annual Online Quilt Sale for SafeHouse opened on our website and will continue through October 31 (it will be extended if needed until all quilts are sold). Please spread the news to all your friends and family. As always, the quilts are sold through the SafeHouse online store (just click on the header for each quilt to go straight to that product in their store) so all proceeds go straight to SafeHouse.
There are public promotions and links on our homepage and Events Calendar. Links and promotional messages are also on our “Membership Resources” and “Quilt for SafeHouse”website pages. Please help us support this worthy cause by sharing information with everyone!
Leaving for her permanent home in Cologne Germany soon, our member Nico Laudenberg wants to give back to our guild community that she has enjoyed during the past few years. She writes:
“I want to thank all of you for being the best guild a quilter could ask for. I was the deer in the spotlight in so many workshops I took with you, but you supported me, nevertheless. So much so, that I started a certification program to become a quilt teacher myself. Now I want to offer my classes to all https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs as a farewell gift.”
Nico is now a certified teacher for Scrappy Appliqué™ and Color Confidence for Quilters™ by Shannon Brinkley. She will offer two different workshops to guild members only for only $10 each (the room rental cost), and each taking place twice:
Happy Pumpkin Scrappy Appliqué Workshop
It’s Pumpkin Time! Learn a new technique and go home with an almost finished new table runner (or wall hanging, quilt block, pillowcase …) In this class students will learn how to use the simple raw-edge appliqué technique by Shannon Brinkley. We will be using free pumpkin templates and have a blast choosing beautiful fabric, that, once collaged together, will create a striking and modern look. In some of these samples, Nico used old denims as the background. This fun, easy to pick up process works well for absolute beginners and advanced quilters alike!
Overcome your Color Angst!
This four hour long, hands-on workshop sheds light on the four elements of color. Dive deeper into hue, value, saturation, and tone. Get to understand the theory and use this knowledge to pull fabric like a pro. We will put the color theory to play, literally play! Explore the classic color palettes, find new combinations, mix and match the unexpected and deal with diva-prints. Great for beginners, but also advanced quilters, to create more interesting, dynamic palettes, troubleshoot the subtle ‘offs‘ in their choices and develop their own signature style.
Please register through socialmedia@gaaqg.com and don’t wait! We have just a very limited number of spots. The $10 workshop fee is payable at the door, either by check to “Bitty Cabana Quilt Shop” or in cash.
Our Zoom gatherings have become so popular, especially with our new members, that we are offering another one this month. Please join us Saturday, October 22, from 9 am-noon for a SafeHouse quilt-making sew-in. These meetings are wonderful in so many ways. It’s a great way to get to know fellow guild members while sewing. In addition, lots of techniques, tips, and advice are shared, making it a learning experience for all. Other benefits: no room rental fee, no hauling of ironing boards, supplies, and sewing machines. Members who live far away can participate. The Zoom link will be sent on Thursday, October 20,
The guild is considering a return to in-person sew-ins for SafeHouse, but until then, please add this date to your calendar. Supplies for SafeHouse quilts will continue to be available at Quilt Day meetings. Let me know (president@gaaqg.com) if you need extra batts for your winter SafeHouse sewing. I will have them for you on Quilt Day, November 19.
Lynne Bryant
GAAQG President
After a very successful September Quilt Day, I have been thinking about what makes the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild continue to flourish. The Atrium was buzzing with activity. There was a small group meeting in one corner, people gathered around the SafeHouse fabric table, memberss talking to friends and greeting new members, and a serious shopping experience at the fabric sale. Our speaker, Sheila Frampton Cooper, showed her improvisational method of constructing her dramatic quilts and her classes were sold out. Arlene Kindel put together a great program for the past two years during some uncertain times and announced our exciting 2023 schedule of workshops. Registration for Members Only begins November 1, so begin thinking about which classes you want to take.
Thanks to Roberta Myyra’s crew, the Guild earned nearly $3,000 in support of our SafeHouse mission at the fabric sale. This money will be spent on batting, storage, and other necessary items that our members use in making our donated quilts.
Speaking of batting, please email me (mailto:president@gaaqg.com) if you want batting in November. Don’t be shy in ordering multiple batts. I will cut them and have them for pickup at the November meeting. Each batt size is 70 x 90 inches (the size needed by our longarm quilters) and available to all members. After our November meeting, our next in-person Quilt Day will be next March so you may want to stock up for winter sewing. Our January meeting and classes will be via Zoom.
Jan Recinos worked her magic in the booth, ensuring that the 52 memberss who viewed the meeting on Zoom were able to join the 97 members and guests in the live audience. Pat Wolff reports that we added 5 new members this month for a total membership of nearly 260, more than a 12% increase over last year. I am mentioning these women by name to emphasize that the Guild is built on the hard work of our volunteers. Our members step up and help where they can. Everyone has a skill we can use. Many of our sister guilds are folding due to a lack of members volunteering to take leadership roles. We continue to add new faces to the Board, keeping our guild fresh and up-to-date with innovative ideas and skills.
Thanks to the fiscal responsibility and creative use of our resources by our past leaders and for the Board volunteers for 2023, I can assure you that we will continue as an active Guild. Our 2023 candidates for officer positions were introduced at our September meeting and we will vote on November 19. We have already signed contracts for the use of the WCC facility through the end of 2024 for our meetings and for the 2024 Quilt Show.
Looking forward: be sure to attend our Book Sale after November Quilt Day. We will have hundreds of books from our Library for sale at prices you can’t afford to miss! Our November lecturer is Mary Kerr and there are still spaces available in both her workshops. If you would like to bring a guest, here is the link for the ‘Be My Guest form.’ You can also find it on the Membership Resources page under ‘Quick Links and Resources.’
Thank you to everyone for making our Guild shine,
Our first in-person Guild meeting since January 2020 was a resounding success! It was awesome! The Morris Lawrence Building Atrium was filled with activity. Members reconnected with old friends, met new members, and dropped off 40 SafeHouse quilts (see the slideshow here). There was something happening in every corner. We took the time between lectures to enjoy lunch, catch up with everyone and see the beautiful new building renovations.
And we continue to lead guilds nationally by successfully providing a hybrid experience through zoom. Thirty of our members who couldn’t be there in person attended via Zoom. Members, we rock!!
Our in-person speaker was inspiring. Meg Cox’s first lecture showed, clearly, that although there are far fewer quilters than there were 20 years ago, our guild has done everything right to sustain and grow our membership. We moved quickly to a virtual format. We continued to provide high quality teachers and adapted to online classes. Meg’s second lecture was even more motivating. She gave examples of how to inject meaning into our lives through tradition and rituals. Quilts were certainly part of her focus, but she gave us many other ideas for simple things that we can do to add meaning to our day-to-day life.
We continue to bring quality teachers to the Guild with different styles and techniques. Our September 17 speaker will be Shelia Frampton-Cooper on “Spontaneous Creation and Inspiration,” Although Friday’s workshop is filled, there is still one spot open in her Sunday workshop ”Applique + Piecing = New Possibilities.” Members can register through the Members Only online store (see the link on the Membership Resources page, where you automatically land after you log in). If you want to join the wait list for either workshop, please contact workshopregistrar@gaaqg.com.
Once again, our amazing members have donated a Volunteer Quilt that will be awarded to one of our members. Please send me the names of members who volunteered and made our Guild such a success. One lucky name will be drawn during the November meeting.
Thank you so much to all of you for making the return to our home at Washtenaw Community College a joyful occasion.
I am looking forward to seeing you at our 17th biennial quilt show “Celebrate the Quilt 2022.” The show is open July 30 & 31, Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The show returns to its regular venue, in person, at the Morris Lawrence Building, Washtenaw Community College, 4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor.
This is one of those months where I really love being the GAAQG President. I have nothing but good news to pass on.
Quilt Day with Dana Jones was an inspiring look at women and their contributions. Her classes were exceptionally well received, even among those of us who are not addicted to paper piecing. I actually intend to finish my Peace Crane quilt!
July Activities
We will be back in the Towsley Auditorium in the Morris Lawrence Building at Washtenaw Community College for our July 16 Quilt Day Meeting and a double header with Meg Cox. She will speak at our regular morning Quilt Day meeting which starts at 9:15am with, “A Quilt Journalist Tells All – A Reporter Inside the Quilt World.” We will take a short lunch break and return to the Auditorium at 1:00 for a second talk, “Making Meaning – How Quilters Celebrate Life.” In addition, we are planning on “Zooming” the meeting for those who are unable to attend in person. Details are still being worked out. It has been over 2 years since we have been able to meet in person. It is hoped to make this a real homecoming celebration. I can’t wait to see everyone in 3D. We will have the usual activities in the Atrium including the SafeHouse tables. There will be no workshops in July as everyone is working hard on our first in-person Quilt Show in four years.
The second big event in July is our 2022 Quilt Show which is held every other year in July. You may remember that COVID forced us to conduct our 2020 Show online which you can still view on our website. Now we are back in person! We will have over 200 quilt submissions, vendors and the usual Quilt Show fun. We are holding our 2022 Show on July 30-31, also in the WCC Morris Lawrence Building. The Quilt Show hours are from 9am to 5pm on Saturday, July 30. The show hours are 11am to 5pm on Sunday.
Board Updates
The best news is that we have made serious progress on our GAAQG 2023 Board. Marge Venema has agreed to serve as President. Marge has done a great job as our Co-Treasurer for the last two years.
Jane Clark has volunteered to lead Programs. Arlene Kindel has done a fantastic job during her tenure in this position. We thank her for her continuing work this year.
Our new Co-Treasurers will be Sarah Bush and Melissa Gregoire. Sarah has done a heroic job of keeping me on topic as our Secretary this year.
Mary Beth Donovan has been our Webmaster for seven years and we thank her for her work dragging us kicking and screaming into our digital presence. Beginning in January, Heather Barthell and Noreen Walker will take over as Co-Webmasters.
We still need someone for Membership. She will be the first person a new member interacts with. Patti Wolff has done an excellent job of welcoming new member and keeping track of us. This job requires more people skills than technical skills. The V-P Membership is the face of the Guild for both new and returning members. The position requires that she have a basic knowledge of Excel and a willingness to learn our online membership software, but the primary requirements are the ability to work with people and a passion for our Guild.
Our monthly Board meetings are on Zoom so there will be no late-night travel required. It takes the efforts of many people to bring you the exceptional programs and activities that we offer. Volunteering is the best way to get to know members and the rewards are amazing. There is a place for everyone.
SafeHouse Sew-In
Our next SafeHouse Sew-In will be on Sunday, June 12, 2022, from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Zoom. The Zoom details will be sent out in an email the weekend prior to the Sew-In. There is no specific pattern this month. SafeHouse currently has about 190 quilts on hand. They would like to have 300 for anticipated future residents. They are currently low on boys’ quilts. SafeHouse is using some of our quilt contributions again this year to raise funds during the jointly sponsored Online Quilt Sale to be held in October during Domestic Violence Month. Last year this sale raised $12,400. Please pin your name on each quilt you donate and note if you would prefer your quilt be given to a resident.
Tara Faughnan
Our March speaker and workshops were with Tara Faughnan. Her lecture was a thought provoking look into the importance of colors and their interactions. It was especially interesting as she uses only solids in her quilts. She is a fabric and quilt designer whose quilts are dramatic and eye catching. You can see her work on her website if you Google, Tara Faughnan.
Looking Forward
We have ideas in the works for another fabric sale, a homecoming celebration in July and more SafeHouse Sew-ins. Let us know if you would like to be a part of the planning. It is a great way to get to know your fellow members.
We have many SafeHouse quilts ready for quilting. They are now being packaged with backs, labels and batting to hand out to members for SafeHouse donations. We are planning to hold a “swarm” (new quilting term I just made up) to gather together and pick up packages. We will meet at a prearranged location and time to pass out kits. Our next SafeHouse Sew-in is on April 24 starting at 10am. Feel free to join us at any time during the day. Zoom information will be sent out closer to the event.
Quilt show submissions.
We are accepting submissions from our members through April 30, 2022 for our July 30-31 Quilt Show.
This is a chance to share our quilts with others. Many quilt guilds have stopped having Quilt Shows and we are proud to be able to showcase our https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs’ work. You can go on the members’ page of the GAAQG website and send a photo and the dimensions for a maximum of 3 quilts. This will give us enough time to determine the best location for your quilt. Don’t forget that we still need items for our Gift shop.
May 20-22 Quilt Day and Classes
Dana E. Jones is an artist, quiltmaker and journalist. She is a former editor of Quilters’ Newsletter magazine and The Studio Art Quilts Journal. She has had articles and quilt or block designs published in these and numerous other quilting magazines. https://www.danajonesquilts.com/about
On Saturday, May 21, Dana will be presenting a lecture via Zoom on “The International Honor Quilt: Women Remembering Women.” When Judy Chicago’s iconic feminist art installation, “The Dinner Party,” was first exhibited in San Francisco in 1979, women who came to see it were deeply moved. They didn’t want to just view it; they wanted to contribute to it. As “The Dinner Party” was exhibited across the United States and beyond during the 1980s, triangles were added until there were more than 500. This slide show and lecture shares stories of some of the triangles, the makers and the women honored with an emphasis on triangles made by women who would later become known quilters and those made to honor quilters. In the end, this is the story of women responding to a moment in history through an international community art project.
Dana Jones will be teaching two workshops for us, both via Zoom: May 20th and May 22nd.
“Demystifying Design for Foundation Paper Piecing” is Dana’s Friday, May 20 workshop. Most of us have tried paper piecing at one time. The accuracy of these blocks is undeniable. The problem is that these are others’ designs. Dana will teach us how to make paper piecing patterns from our own designs. The format is a flowing lecture/exercise/lecture/exercise throughout the full six hours. You will not be sewing in class, but learning how to create foundations for everything from traditional blocks to pictorial quilts. In the second half of the class, you’ll design a small pictorial quilt working from a photo or drawing of your or choice (she recommends no people or pets), you can use one of the pictures supplied by Dana. Since we will be meeting remotely, you will be able to email your photo or drawing to Dana prior to the class and she will answer questions and make suggestions by email or by phone. She also says that she will be available after the class for follow-up questions and advice. A kit is required for this class. (See below for kit information.)
On Sunday, May 22, Dana will continue with paper piecing in her “Peace Cranes Over Hiroshoma” workshop. Experience with foundation piecing (machine paper piecing) is needed for success making this beautiful quilt. A kit is also required for this class. There is also an optional kit of fabric available for this class, at a cost of $55. Contact Dana for details. https://www.danajonesquilts.com/about
Kits for both classes can be purchased through the GAAQG website, at a cost of $15 each. The deadline to purchase the kits is April 28, to allow time for shipping. They will all be shipped to one address, and can be picked up at Arlene Kindel’s house in Ann Arbor around May 9. An email will be sent to participants when they are available. If you are unable to pick up your kit (or arrange with a friend to do it), it can be mailed to you. You can see a list of what is in each kit at the online store.
Miscellaneous
Check out our blog post at the GAAQG home page to see how Mary Bacjz bastes her quilts. It is definitely worth a try. She also has a YouTube posted at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7SmGLPSuyQ
Just a reminder to everyone that we will be “LIVE” at WCC in July for our long awaited Homecoming. There will be two lectures from quilt journalist Meg Cox with a short lunch break between.
Remember to check our social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook to get the latest news from the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild
Those of us at our Quilt Day meeting on Saturday, January 15, shared the good news. The Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild is poised for success in 2022 and beyond. Our membership is growing. We have a healthy fund balance, and we are ready to welcome a host of renowned lecturers and workshops.
Our guest, Ana Buzzalino, was a charismatic speaker and an excellent teacher. Everyone who took her classes was impressed by her knowledge and patience
We continue with this high level of presenters with Tara Faughnan on March 18, 19, 20. She will teach her classes on “Color Interaction” and “Give and Take”.
Note that “Give and Take” is a substitution requested by our members. You can see these class descriptions for all our classes on our website. The “Color Interaction” class is filled (contact workshopregistrar@gaaqg.com to get on the wait list) but there are openings in the “Give and Take” class.
This will be a perfect opportunity to show off your work during Covid and beyond. We are asking for new quilters to show off their first efforts and share their growth. You will be able to submit quilts of your own design as well as workshop pieces. It is always a delight and sometimes a surprise to see our members’ work. You think you know a person and then you see their creative work.
Many of you have offered to donate items for sale at the Quilt Show. We rely on these donations to offset the costs of putting on the Show. We will be setting up a Gift Shop this year.
Thanks to the generous donation of items made by our members at our last in-person 2018 quilt show, the Silent Auction raised $3,000 -which covers a significant part of the fixture and furniture expense of our show. For 2022 we are hopeful of doing even better and are asking members once again for items which help to produce our quilt show.
A few changes are being made this year which you can see on the website. These include the name change to GAAQG Gift Shop; clearer definitions of what kinds of items we need; and how and when items can be donated safely.
Finally, don’t wait until April. Start sewing now! We can’t wait to see the lovely handmade items you will have for us to feature in the 2022 gift shop! members are tremendously talented, and we anticipate that this year’s effort will be an even greater success.
If you have any questions, please contact QuiltShowGiftShop@gaaqg.com
Lynne Bryant
President GAAQG
The Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild is ringing in 2022 with a stellar lineup of teachers and workshops, starting with Ana Buzzalino in January. Ana is known in the art quilting world for her many surface design techniques, although she also teaches traditional and free-motion quilting. She is a frequent contributor to A Needle Pulling Thread and Quilting Arts Magazine and has appeared on Quilting Arts TV.
To read more about this award-winning quilter and her GAAQG workshops, please read this new blog post by VP Programs Arlene Kindel.
Ana’s January workshops are open to GAAQG https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs and nonhttps://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs. She will be teaching two classes, “Monoprinting Without a Press” on Friday, January 14, and “Text on Textiles” on Sunday, January 16, 2022. Both will be presented via Zoom. You can register for Ana’s workshops by logging in and clicking on the Members Only Registration page.
The Saturday January 15 Quilt Day meeting lecture is titled “What is Creativity?” Creativity seems to be an elusive concept to some. We hear all the time “I’m not at all creative” or “I’m not talented.” In her lecture, Ana will share her views – together with some experts – of what creativity is and isn’t, and tips on how to nurture your creativity every day. Because we are all creative, in everything we do every day.
Quilt Day Show and Tell
Liz Rodriguiz puts together slideshows of the quilt photos we share each Quilt Day. Here is a link to the November Show & Tell. This is a favorite part of each meeting, so make sure you send your photos to showandtell@gaaqg.com by January 6, 2022
In-Person Quilt Show Returns July 30-31, 2022
The July 2022 Quilt Show is only eight months from now. Do you know what quilt(s) you are entering?
Our guild https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs are a talented bunch. Even so, don’t let the talents of your fellow guild https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs intimidate you if you are entering for the first time. Our show isn’t juried. In other words, there are no quilt police judging your entry for perfection. You can expect loads of admiration. Compliments abound. This is the opportunity for your quilt to be shown before hundreds of admirers, both non-quilters and fellow quilt makers.
A Quilt Show Derby for first-time entries will start in January to help motivate https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs to finish their quilts for the show. If you would like to check-in with the progress you are making on your “show quilt in progress” contact quiltshow@gaaqg.com
Most committee positions for the Quilt Show are filled, but we’re looking for volunteers for signage, door prizes, and quilting demos. Registrations for your quilts and to sign-up for volunteer hours during the show days will be done online via links on our website next spring.
Updates about the July 2020 show will be announced in January and March Quilt Days.
Reflecting on Our 2021 Accomplishments…
October and November have been a very busy time for GAAQG.
We held a very successful in-person Fabric Sale. Although we were masked and as socially distanced as possible, it was wonderful seeing old and new friends again. The $7,500 in proceeds from this mammoth sale were donated to SafeHouse Center. Many thanks to https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs Roberta Myyra and Nico Laudenberg for spearheading this sale.
Online Quilt Sale Update for SafeHouse Center
Many charities are suffering from lower donations and fewer fund raisers. SafeHouse Center has sold 41 of our donated quilts for a total, so far, of $12,400 (click here to view and purchase quilts). This brings our total donation to SafeHouse this year to nearly $20,000. Thank you to our https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs for their wonderful quilt donations that made this possible. Quilts were selected for this sale to achieve a variety of styles and prices. The sale is great, but we need to continue making quilts for SafeHouse residents to ensure each person has a quilt to keep. Free battings and labels are available to GAAQG https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs for these quilts. Please contact Jane Clark for batting (safehousebatting@gaaqg.com) and me for labels.
We will have another virtual Sunday, SafeHouse Sew-in on January 26, 2022. You can use any pattern, but I will distribute a pattern to any https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpg who wants to join us. It has been really great seeing the quilts from previous Sew-ins completed and on their way to SafeHouse. We will keep an open Zoom connection from 10am to 4pm. It is a great time to meet new people and see old friends. Plus, your fabric stash is there with you and there is no line to use an iron. Email me to get an invitation (president@gaaqg.com).
The Original Sewing Expo
We saw many old friends at the Novi Expo Center last month where our guild had a booth. We were able to introduce visitors to our guild and let former https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs know we are still active. Thanks to Susan Schwandt, Nico Laudenberg, Kaye Whittington and all the https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs who donated their time staffing the booth and sharing their beautiful quilts.
Staying Connected
Our Small Groups and Online Activities are meeting virtually (no masks required), keeping https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs connected. Check out our website for more information (some Online Activities are now completed and new ones will appear in 2022). We hope we will see some of the work as special exhibits in our July Quilt Show.
We also use Facebook and Instagram to interact with our https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs and others.
Renewing Membership – Thank You to Our Loyal Members
Many of our https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgships will expire in the next few months. I want to remind you that if you renew before your https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgship expires, you will get a discounted rate of $45, so long as you include your discount code when you renew (see the Membership Resources page for instructions). Our https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgship is still $55 for new or lapsed https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs, but we want to thank our loyal https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs who have stayed with us during the COVID crisis. Our Guild continues to offer many opportunities for us to grow and learn. Lectures and classes given online keep us connected and interested. You can renew online from the website (in the gray menu at the bottom of every page in the Membership Resources section – click Membership Checkout under Accounts after you login) or click the renew button in the email message you receive from Patti Wolff, our VP of Membership (reminder messages sent automatically 30, 15 and 7 days before your expiration date).
Thank you for such a successful 2021. I’m looking forward to sharing new quilting adventures and connections with you in the year ahead.
Happy Holidays!
Lynne Bryant, President
Good News – State of the Guild and Upcoming Events
State of the Guild
Thanks to our tireless volunteers, there’s a lot happening in the guild, and the news is overwhelmingly positive.
The annual report on the state of the Guild highlighted that we offered a full array of Quilt Days, workshops, and SafeHouse events and that we have many special events and programs planned for the rest of this year and next.
This year’s workshop attendance increased significantly over past years’ numbers, even with the switch to virtual classes. Despite the variety and popularity of our offerings though, our https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgship numbers continue to decline. Generally, our income has held steady while expenses are down significantly due to the absence of rental costs for WCC and travel/lodging for our Quilt Day teacher/lecturers. This leaves us with a surplus that we can use for service enhancements and as backup when we return to in-person speakers.
The Board decided to recognize the loyalty of our current https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs by sharing a portion of the savings with them. We have initiated a Dues Discount Program for 2022 https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgships for our active https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs as of September 18, 2021. Over the next year, these active https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs will pay the discounted rate of $45 for their next year of https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgship when they renew before their expiration date. Our dues rate continues to be $55, and that is the rate that will be paid by new https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs and by former https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs who rejoin after a lapse.
Although you can renew your https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgship beginning 90 days prior to its expiration, you will receive an email 30 days before the expiration date to remind you to renew. As you complete your renewal, you will enter your discount code on the checkout page.
Log in with your password to see the gaaqg.com website “Member Resources” page for a complete description of the program, who qualifies, and how to claim your discount as well as an updated tutorial on “How to Renew Your Membership” which now includes the discount information.
More Good News! – Speakers & Workshops
Cindy Grisdela
Our September 18, 2021 Quilt Day with Cindy Grisdela was everything we hoped it would be. Her workshops and lecture were amazing. Her teaching style is very encouraging and helpful. She is another example of the quality of teacher we have been able to hire during the COVID years.
Ann Loveless – November Guest Speaker/Lecturer
We have been long awaiting our November speaker/lecturer, landscape quilt artist Ann Loveless. Ann is a two-time winner of the Grand Rapids Art Prize grand prize.
She has graciously agreed to host in-person workshops at the Ann Arbor Regent Hotel and Suites at 2455 Carpenter Rd, Ann Arbor MI 48108. Ann requests that all attendees be fully vaccinated due to the difficulty of social distancing in a classroom. There are three openings in the Friday class, Lake Mosaic. Check the website for current availabilities. She has two techniques that she will teach: Lake Mosaics on Friday November 19 and Sunset Collage on Sunday November 21.
2022 Workshops GAAQG https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpg registration opens on Nov. 1, 2021
Our workshops are a very important part of our Guild mission. Our VP of Programs, Arlene Kindel, has lined up a variety of teachers to appeal to our https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs regardless of their style or skills. Listed below are our 2022 Guest Speakers/Teachers. Look for more information in an upcoming email and on our website.
The Good News Continues! – Upcoming Events
We also have a lot going on before the November Quilt Day meeting with Ann Loveless.
SafeHouse Center Quilt Sale – Begins Oct. 1, 2021 for Domestic Violence Awareness
Our SafeHouse Center Quilt Sale opens October 1 on our GAAQG website – 2021 SafeHouse Quilt Sale or look under Events. It will again be online, which means we can shop all day, every day. As with last year’s sale, there is a slideshow with a button number for each quilt. Just click on that button to purchase it from the SafeHouse online store (all sale proceeds go directly to benefit SafeHouse). Thank you to Jennifer Baker who did an excellent job of photographing the quilts and Mary Beth Donovan, who created the slideshow for the sale on our website.
Many of the quilts using the last Sew-In pattern, Magic Star, will be in this Sale. It is amazing how different each quilt turned out. Some are very modern, some are bright and happy, and some are traditional. All 62 quilts in the sale are stunning and will be enjoyed by those who purchase them. Any unsold quilts will be donated to SafeHouse residents.
In last year’s sale 64 quilts donated by our https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs were offered for sale to support SafeHouse Center. These quilts brought nearly $14,000 revenue to the Center, a very big deal for us and SafeHouse. Not only were we able to continue our mission to give every resident a quilt to keep, but the sale of the quilts brought much-needed income to the Center. This was very important in a year that we were unable to have our usual fundraisers.
Please note we did send out separate message on this sale earlier today to both guild https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs and nonhttps://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs who have requested information about our special events. Feel free to forward that email to friends so that they can see the sale and purchase a quilt.
Mega Fabric Sale October 30
Our Greatest Ever Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild Fabric Sale (GEGAAQGFS) will be held on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at the Pittsfield Grange Hall, 3337 Ann Arbor-Saline Road, ¼ Mile South of I-94. See our website Fabric Sale for more details.
Guild https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs will be admitted from 9am to 11am for Early Bird shopping. Everyone else is welcome from 11am to 3pm. Cash, checks or credit will be accepted.
Be sure to tell your friends!! They will thank you. We will be sending a separate email on Oct 15th with the sale details that you can forward to your friends.
SafeHouse Sew-in Sunday, November 7, 10am – 4pm
We have a couple of great suggestions for our next SafeHouse Sew-In on November 7. Our Sew-In will be on Zoom, which means no machines to drag around, no wait for ironing boards, and our stash is right there with us.
I have purchased patterns for an adorable and very easy June Bug quilt which can be made using fat quarters or 10” squares. Please let me or Susan Schwandt know if you are going to work on this one and we will get a pattern to you. The second suggestion is a Scrap Quilt Log Cabin design by Mary Bajcz. This is a great way to use your SMALL scraps.
We will send out an email with more information and photos on the Sew-In in about a week and your Zoom invitation will be sent shortly before the event date.
GAAQG Booth for the Novi Sewing Expo – November 11-13, 2021
Our Guild will have a booth at the Novi Sewing Expo, November 11, 12, 13. It is great to share our Guild and show our work. Thank you to Susan Schwandt, Nico Laudenberg and Kaye Whittington for their hard work getting this together in a very short time frame. If you are at the Expo Center in Novi, stop by and say hello. Also thanks to our https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs who have volunteered to staff the booth. If you are signed up for a time slot to work, please bring examples of your work to decorate the booth during your time at our booth.
Thanks to all of you “Behind the Curtain”
The Guild only works because of our dedicated volunteers. One lucky volunteer will be awarded this stunning quilt made from blocks made by our https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs.
I am collecting names of all the volunteers who have devoted their time and talents to keeping the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild active and moving forward. I have put out a request to all of our key position https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs to send in names. If you know of anyone working behind the scenes who should be included, please send me an email to president@gaaqg.com and they’ll be eligible for the drawing.
2022 GAAQG Board Officers Slate
The slate for next year’s officers is below. We need two additional positions filled. As you can see we still need a co-Treasurer. This is a voting Board position. We also need a new Workshops Registrar. Both positions will share the jobs of either the VP of Programing or Treasurer. We will vote on this slate on the November 20 Quilt Day.
Our Board with the support of many committee chairs continues to find ways to provide a way for our community to gather and share ideas. If you have a suggestion, please send it to us. If you have a passion for the guild, please consider volunteering in one of these positions or others. Contact Lynne Bryant if you would like more information on these jobs.
It looks like a lively and fun fall. I hope you can join us for one or more of the events.
By Lynne Bryant
March 21, 2021
REMINDER TO PLAY
Most people don’t realize it but quilting is serious business. We get caught up in making sure our points match, our corners are straight, quilts are square, quilting stitches are even…Well, you get it. Our March workshops with Margarita Korioth gave us a welcome reprieve from all that stress and allowed us to just PLAY. We cut up paper, traced simple shapes, painted and did simple embroidery. If there was a hole in the background, we just cut another piece of paper and filled it in. We used cut-up magazines, paper napkins, tissue paper, cheese cloth and fusibles to produce a fabric-like art piece. But mostly we played. Margarita was a delightful and enthusiastic teacher who sparked a joyful creativity.
SPEAKING OF WORLD CLASS TEACHERS
Earlier this month, Guild https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs joined The Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild in a Zoom lecture for the Ellen Willson Lecture Series “Threads of Interest.” Ellen was a longtime https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpg of GAAQG and the Fiberarts Guild. Her estate graciously included our https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs in viewing two great artists, Kaffe Fassett and Linda Cortwright, for an interview in early March. This was another great example of what we have been able to provide our https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs without cost using our Zoom platform.
CONTINUING ON THE WORLD CLASS THEME
Our speaker for our May Quilt Day, May 22, will be David Owen Hastings, From the Seattle area. His lecture is titled “Minimal Design, Maximum Impact”. Please note that this is the fourth Saturday of the month, not the third!
David is a quilter, graphic designer, print and textile artist, and a creative coach who has been knitting and sewing since he was a kid. He creates textiles through dyeing, painting, fabric printing and manipulation, and produces richly layered contemporary art, using modern, minimal designs in his quilts.
David will be conducting two workshops for us via Zoom. Friday’s workshop (May 21) is titled “Indi-Go Modern”. Each participant will develop a simple geometric block design based on unfolded origami shapes, then translate the designs to blue and white fabrics, set a theme, create variations, and combine them into the beginning of a fresh and modern mini quilt top.
“Inspired by Architecture” is David’s Sunday (May 23) workshop. David will guide participants through a creative process for designing modern abstract quilts, taking inspiration from architectural photos to develop dynamic and unique quilt designs. This class is nearly sold out, so don’t delay!
Looking forward, we have opened registration to the November workshops with Ann Lovelace for guild https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs only at this time. So if you are interested, register now.
We have also added Cindy Grisdela for our September workshops and lectures. We will be sending out a survey shortly to ask for your assistance in choosing the workshops so look for this in your email.
Details on all our speakers are posted on the Workshops page. Please rehttps://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpg to sign into the guild https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs private pages and access the store from the https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpg pages to get the https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpg price.
SMALL GROUPS AND ONLINE ACTIVITIES
Amy Hammer is hosting a Guild-wide Quilting Zoom-Bee (Sew-In). Participants can sew their own projects, socialize and share ideas in their PJs with their favorite beverages and snacks. The next one will on Saturday, April 3 from 10:00am -2:00pm. GAAQG https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs, please contact Amy for a Zoom-Bee invitation. I dropped in on the group and it was a welcome reminder of the Sew-Ins we were able to attend pre-Covid. I will continue to join as it is a guaranteed time for me to get some quilting done. You can email her for an invitation.
The GAAQG Quilt-Along uses the Aviatrix Medallion pattern by Elizabeth Hartman. This pattern is available at the Ann Arbor Sewing Center and as a pdf. The Quilt-Along is open to everyone–you don’t have to be a GAAQG https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpg, in fact, you’ll meet quilters from other countries! Nico Laudenberg is leading this online activity.
Challenges to Connect is a private Facebook group for GAAQG https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs hosted by Juliana Cerra. Monthly prompts will spark your creative instincts and give you a chance to Show and Tell what you have done—with no deadline pressure! This group is limited to GAAQG https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs and can easily be reached through the Challenges to Connect blog post.
For more online information, please see our on Online Activities Page
For more small group information, please see our Small Group Page
QUILT DAY SHOW AND TELL
Thanks to Liz Rodriguiz and Mary Beth Donovan you can view the Safe House Quilts along with Members Quilts and Class Projects from our website gaaqg.com under the QUILT DAY SHOW AND TELLsection. In some ways this new format is better than the stage show. We can get literally on top of the quilts to see the details much better. And, each quilter can give a brief description. Rehttps://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpg to submit your quilt photos for our May 22, 2021 Quilt Day by May 14 to showandtell@gaaqg.com. Earlier would be even better.
By the Way
I accidentally did something very right. I invited https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs to stay on Zoom for a post meeting visit. It was fantastic. We were able to visit and discuss a wide variety of topics. I felt a sense of community that I have been missing for quite sometime. While some things don’t translate well over Zoom, this did. I will do it again in May. I’m temporarily calling it a Post Meeting Luncheon because I was starving but it may morph into an Afterglow.
Again, thanks to our behind the scenes volunteers who are working hard to help us succeed in our New Normal 2021 environment. We are constantly making improvements to the Guild experience and adapting to our “interesting” times.
Lynne Bryant
President GAAQG
By Lynne Bryant
January 24, 2021
Jan 16 – Quilt Day Announcements
MY NAME IS LYNNE BRYANT AND I AM A QUILTER….
I am happy to report that I made it through my first Quilt Day as your new President. Thank you Susan Schwandt for your patience and help. First, I want to say that no one is more surprised than I am to find myself in this position. We have one of the premier Guilds in the country and it is an honor to represent all of you. Teachers recommend us to other teachers. We are talented and willing to try new things and we are described as “Nice”.
Speaking of World Class Teachers:
Our next teacher is certainly ready to challenge us with new things. Margarita Korioth works in mixed media. If you have ever thought to incorporate paper into your projects, this will be a fun way to give it a try. For the past 20 years, Margarita Korioth has worked with different media, paints and dyes, to discover and create new techniques that incorporate paper and fabric in one piece of art. Her message is to approach quilting art from a different perspective to show the endless possibilities of combining printed material with fabric or on fabric alone. Some examples include magazine clippings, letters, cherished documents or newsprint.
Her creative and innovative artwork has been published in 26 articles, many of which appeared in quilting magazines such as “Quilting Arts”, “Art Quilting Studio”, “Machine Embroidery” and “Simply Moderne”. Her acclaimed work has also been shown at major international quilting shows and has won her several awards. Among these, Margarita was the “2012 Quilt Alliance Grand Prize Winner”, and, more recently, the “Lynn Goodwin Borgman Award for SURFACE DESIGN” at 2019 Quilt National.
You can find her on her website, http://margascrafts.blogspot.
Our own Mary Hogan took us to the other side of the world. Mary’s workshops and lecture were fantastic.
On Friday, she used ever popular strip piecing to produce a vibrant Dresden Plate block. The strips added a new twist to the block giving it a new contemporary look.
Then for something totally different Mary introduced the Siddi quilts made by people of African decent living in India in her lecture. Her Siddi Quilt workshop proved that no scrap is too small to be used in a quilt. She inspired both traditional and art quilters with her hand techniques. Thanks to Mary our first virtual workshop of the year went off without a hitch. For more information on Mary, see her website http://marymhogan.com
There was a lot of good news at the Quilt Day Zoom meeting:
I learned that we do not have to wash our Safe House contributions unless there are pets or a smoker in your house.
We learned about new Small Groups and Virtual Groups that have formed. These activities will allow us to stay Connected to our https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs in our New Normal. We may not be able to meet in person but Zoom has allowed us to see each other and share our work.
If you are interested in learning about other small groups, we have recently updated our listing of Small Groups on the Small Groups page (under Resources) of the website. Several groups are accepting new https://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpgs and there are also tips on how to form a new Small Group.
NOW FOR THE BIG ASK
Like you, I have spent years enjoying the work of the MANY volunteers who have made it possible for me to enjoy the company and share my quilting passion with others.
Each year we acknowledge these volunteer efforts and award a quilt to a lucky volunteer from the past year. This year we are, again, looking for an individual or group who is willing to design and make our Volunteer Quilt to be awarded at our November meeting . Please contact me for more information at president@gaaqg.com. This is a very important tradition and we want to make sure we keep it alive.
Thanks to Liz Rodriguiz and Mary Beth Donovan you can view the Safe House Quilts and the Show & Tell Quilts by going to the link Our Work and selecting Quilt Day Show and Tell from our website. In some ways this new format is better than the stage show. We can get literally on top of the quilts to see the details much better. Rehttps://gaaqg.dev.nsgroupllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/006-1.jpg to submit your quilt photos and quilt information for our March Quilt Day Show and Tell by March 13 to showandtell@gaaqg.com. Details on on the Membership Home page. Earlier would be even better. You can see January’s quilts on our website.
Again, thanks to our behind the scenes volunteers who are working hard to help us succeed in our New Normal 2021 environment. We are constantly making improvements to the Guild experience and adapting to our “interesting” times.
Stay warm and Healthy,
Lynne Bryant
President, GAAQG
www.gaaqg.com
