Lorain County Piecemakers Quilt Guild
Volume 22 Issue 7 – March 10, 2022

President: Chris Yoo
Vice President: Available 🙂
Treasurer: Lori Quinones
Secretary: Chris Yoo/Committees
Community Service: Marcy Delavan
Hospitality: Maryann Doucette & Jean Tobia
Membership: Marilyn Novak & Karen Neuschaffer
Quilts of Valor: Kaye Koler
Sunshine Committee: Val Watring
Challenge Committee: Kelly Grace, Susan Thornton, Helen Smelser
Communication Committee: Kelly Grace 
Bits & Pieces Editor: Kelly Grace
Articles due by Saturday before meeting, Newsletter sent out Sunday before meeting.

Meetings:  2nd Thursday of month
Time:        7:00 PM
Location:  New Russia Township Lodge,
                 46300 Butternut Ridge Rd, Oberlin, 44074
Additional Info: Please remember that there is always a sew day the day of our meeting – starting around 10!

Website: https://loraincountypiecemakers.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/LorainCtyPiecemakers
Guild email: loraincountypiecemakers@gmail.com

Meeting Minutes: On February 10, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. President Chris Yoo officially welcomed members to the first meeting of 2022. 

Program:  Tonight, we were entertained and wowed by Stephanie Feador.  Stephanie is many things, including a longarm quilter, online retail quilt shop owner, Facebook site manager, and Youtube personality.  Oh, and lest we forget, she is also a member of this quilt guild!   Besides sewing and quilting, Stephanie loves spending time with her family and small group of amazingly supportive friends who have all given her the courage to pursue my craft as a business.

Stephanie shared her story with us and presented a fabulous trunk show.  She also brought an impressive amount of shop haul for us to gaze upon and to purchase!  It was fantastic!  Thank you so much Stephanie!!  To learn more about Stephanie, visit her online shop at http://www.stephanies-stitches.com and/or watch her Youtube channel Stephanie’s Stitches. 

President’s Report:   Chris reminded the group that the guild will have a booth at the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in Akron, Ohio from April 7th to April 9th.  Chris indicated she would need volunteers to sit at the booth with her to sell raffle tickets and to talk about guild and distribute information.  Chris was taking sign-ups this evening. 

Chris also shared that the Township has raised the rent on the hall rather significantly, jumping from $125 a month to $200 a month.  Chris shared that the hall coordinator told her that they their expenses has doubled so they have to pass on the extra costs.  The hall coordinator also shared that the guild is still getting a very good rate as the general public pays $400 for 1/2 the hall on Thursdays, noting that we are only paying half of that rate.  Although Chris agrees that we are getting a discounted rate, Chris did not agree that this was a good deal for a non-profit quilt guild who provides community service to Lorain County and honors local veterans.  The hall coordinator was sympathetic but said that they have many other non-profits using the hall and everyone wants rock-bottom prices, and they simply cannot do it anymore. 

Chris noted that the cost of the hall now eats up 100% of our membership dues and that assumes we stay at around 95 members, which is pretty optimistic.  Therefore, the only way to maintain a healthy budget and to continue to stay in this fabulous hall is to have annual fundraisers, in addition to the bi-annual quilt show. Therefore, the ideal of having an annual quilt raffle, which Chris suggested earlier this year, is even more important.  The fundraisers are what pay for our programs and workshops. 

Approval of the Minutes:  The January minutes were distributed electronically by Kelly Grace.  Hearing no changes or corrections, the minutes were approved as distributed.

Treasurer’s Report:  The treasurer’s report and all financial documents of the guild are filed for audit and can be made available for review upon request of the guild treasurer, Lori Quinones. 

Committee Reports: The membership heard reports from all Committees that were present.  The Committee Chairpersons will submit their individual reports to Kelly Grace for inclusion in the newsletter no later than the Saturday before the next meeting.  For up-to-date information from the Committees, please review the individual Committee Reports noted in this newsletter.

Unfinished Business:  Sue Schillig continued taking T-Shirt orders. 
New Business:  None Reported.

Announcements:  A member shared that there will be an Antique Quilt Show at Weymouth Preservation Society Museum, 3314 Myers Road, in Medina, Ohio on Saturday March 26th, 12pm – 4pm.  The show is entitled the Art of Quilts & Coverlets.  The show will display multiple quilts, blankets and coverlets from the society’s collection and private collections. An admission donation of $5.00 is requested, and masks may be required so come prepared.

Upcoming Guild Programs and workshops:

March:  Penny Reeve from Snuggled in Hope Quilts, Inc., will present a program about their organization and their partnership with Flying Horse Farms.  It is sure to be an informative and wonderful evening.  Note that Penny will be bringing a few quilts that need quilted so if there are any volunteers, please step up to help the organization.

April:  Color Girl: All Things Quilts by Sharon McConnell.  Sharon will put on a slideshow presentation, real life trunk show, and yep, she will bring rulers, patterns, and fabric bundles to sell!!  Woo Hoo!!

May:  Kathy Gordon from Kwilty Pleasures will be hosting a Scrappy Quilt Workshop during the Day and an evening trunk show.   The guild is paying the lion’s share of the costs but when you sign up you will be asked to secure your spot for $15.  You will receive a free pattern and there are no other costs.

June: Day is our Annual Judy Riggle Community Sew Day.  Evening Program:  OPEN…

July:  Day is our annual Christmas in July Sew Day.  Evening:  Summer Potluck!

August:  Day is a Quilting Workshop taught by Laura Nolletti.  Laura will be teaching a quilt pattern by Krista Moser (more details to follow). Again, the cost of the workshop is only $15. In the evening Laura will presenting a trunk show of Krista Moser quilts and patterns.  Fun Fun!!

September: OPEN

October:  On Hold for Ginger Mangie presenting a Day Workshop and Evening program.

November:  Dee Hart of Dee’s Quilted Treasures is going to teach a quilting workshop during the day (pattern and details to follow).  In the evening Dee will present a trunk show of Deb Tucker quilts and all the various tools used to create her quilts.  Dee will also have patterns and tools available for purchase. 

December:  Sew Day.  Evening:  year-end potluck and celebration!  

Show & Tell:   This president and minute taker was so busy being amazed at the quilts and variety of projects shown tonight she failed to make a note of anything.  Not a bad problem to have!  We rock!!

Next meeting:  March 10th @ 7:00 p.m.  We will have Penny Reeve from Snuggled in Hope Quilts, Inc.  Penny will present a program about their organization and their partnership with Flying Horse Farms.  It is sure to be an informative and wonderful evening. Note that Penny will be bringing a few quilts that need quilted so if there are any volunteers, please step up to help the organization.

In-Person Meetings and Sew Day Etiquette: Wear your name tag.  Please remember to avoid chit-chat while someone is speaking to the group, both during presentations and during Show-n-Tell. Please set your cell phone to silent mode. Thank You Sew Much!

Minutes completed by Guild President, Christina Yoo.

In-Person Meetings and Sew Day Etiquette: Wear your name tag.  Please remember to avoid chit-chat while someone is speaking to the group, both during presentations and during Show-n-Tell. Please set your cell phone to silent mode. Thank You Sew Much!

Sunshine Committee
Val Watring

Committee Report:   Meeting minutes:  Thank you for signing cards at the Welcome Table.  We learned Sandy Lambert was able to head home from Elyria Memorial Hospital. 

Newsletter Update: February 11, Val mailed cards to Bobbie Bruck, Dee Martin and Saundra Lambert. 

Fondly, Val Watring

By-Laws Section 8:  The Sunshine Committee shall notify members in case of illness or bereavement.  Cards will be sent; unless it is determined a blue basket is needed.

Blue Baskets:  When members lose a spouse or child, we support them by giving them fat quarters of fabric in their favorite colors.  The Sunshine Committee will supply the bag and card to be signed by the membership.

March Birthdays
Susan Thornton – March 3
Donna Garrett – March 5
Laura Williams – March 9
Pat Brush – March 20
Casandra Brown – March 23
Susan Schillig – March 25

Programs/Workshops
March: 
During the Day – Sew Day
Evening Program – Penny Reeve from Snuggled in Hope Quilts, Inc

April:
During the Day – Sew Day
Evening Program – Color Girl: All Things Quilts by Sharon McConnell

May:
During the Day – Sew Day & Kathy Gordon from Kwilty Pleasures Scrappy Quilt Workshop (info to come)
Evening Program – Kathy Gordon Truck Show

June:
During the Day – Sew Day & Annual Judy Riggle Community Sew Day
Evening Program – Pending

July:
During the Day – Sew Day & Christmas in July Sew Day
Evening Program – Summer potluck

August:
During the Day – Sew Day & quilting workshop by Laura Nolletti (info to come)
Evening Program – Laura Noletti trunk show

September:
During the Day – Sew Day 
Evening Program – Pending

October:
During the Day – Sew Day & pending Ginger Mangie workshop
Evening Program – Pending Ginger Mangie 

November:
During the Day – Sew Day & Dee Hart Quilting Workshop
Evening Program – Dee Hart trunk show

December:
During the Day – Sew Day
Evening Program – Year-end potluck and celebration

Challenges

Kelly Grace

UFO Challenge

The 2022 UFO Challenge is on! We already have 25 (out of 395) finished items! I’ve even finished a few items! If you cannot come to a meeting to show off your finish, please send me an email or post it in our Facebook group and let me know it’s a UFO so I can mark it down as complete. Good luck this year! Please remember if you haven’t turned in your $5 – goes toward prizes at the end of the year, I need this soon.

Fat Quarter Exchange

Sign ups will continue until April 1 for the 2022 exchange. That way I can send out a list for anyone that is looking for fabrics while at the Sewing Expo! Think about what color/theme you’d like to sign up for. We currently have 7 members signed up, the more people that participate, the wider selection of fabrics you’ll receive!

Monthly Challenge

If you are interested in the monthly challenge please bring a fat quarter and give it to me at the meeting – you will get a different one back for the challenge! You will be making something (any size!) using the fat quarter and black and/or white fabric. This will be due at the April meeting.

Block Exchange 2022

Is anyone interested in doing a block exchange? We currently have 8 members interested. Signups will close at the March meeting. I will be looking for a focus fabric for us to use for this challenge.

Double Nine-Patch Challenge
I’ve made a little Double Nine Patch, which metamorphosized into a Triple Nine Patch, which I’ll show & tell at the potluck. You all probably know what a double nine patch is, but I thought I’d show you an example in case you’d like to accept the Double Nine Patch Challenge.

Your pal,
Susan

President’s Challenge
CHALLENGE yourself creatively.  When you finally do it, TELL US ABOUT IT.  Was if fabulous; was it scary; was it comical; was it the worst thing you have every done; did you suddenly realize you wish you had done it 10 years ago?  How did it go? 

Do you have an idea for a challenge? Please drop a note in the suggestion box or send an email to the guild email (address above). 

Community Service

Marcy Delavan

No Report

LORAIN COUNTY SAFE HARBOR/GENESIS HOUSE: Provides temporary safe shelter, food, and support services to victims of domestic violence and their children.  Serves roughly 25,000 annually.

BLESSING HOUSE:  Founded in 2005 to house children, birth to age 12, when their parents are addressing their own crises.

Notes from the President

Chris Yoo

Happy March everyone!  I am looking forward to longer, warmer days, although I realize it is still winter.  A girl can dream, right?    Lately I’m finding it hard to focus on one project at a time and I’m jumping from this to that and back again to this.  I think my lack of concentration may be due to watching too much horrific news about the war in Ukraine.  It is so unsettling.  So, over the weekend I decided to unplug from the news and just create.  With the machine buzzing and humming as I create, I am reminded of a Richard Rogers song, In My Own Little Corner.  “In my own little corner, In my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to be.”  I like to change the lyrics to say, I can CREATE whatever I want to create. 

We are makers, creators of beautiful things.  I think I’m going to create a sunflower because it is the national flower of Ukraine.  May you spend your days creating and finding peace in the little things. 
I hope to see you all on March 10th!

Your Prez, Chris Yoo

Quilts of Valor
Kaye Koler

No Report

Your Quilts of Valor committee

Membership

Hello everyone,

We currently have 90 members.  Please welcome our newest member, Linda Moor.  Linda’s information will be in the updated spreadsheet.  If you have not received your membership card yet, please see Karen or Marilyn.

Karen and Marilyn

STRAY THREADS…
Sue Schillig

No Report

Treasury Report

Lori Quinones

Treasurers Report and Financial Statements of the guild are on file for audit and will be made available for review upon request.