Lorain County Piecemakers Quilt Guild
Volume 24 Issue 6 – February 8, 2024

President: Chris Yoo
Treasurer: Sue Schillig
Secretary: Open
Vice President: Margaret Miller
Community Service: Maria Lucki
Hospitality: Maryann Doucette & Jean Tobia
Membership: Karen Neuschaffer & Sandy Gallagher
Honor Quilts: Kaye Koler
Sunshine Committee: Val Watring
Challenge Committee: Kelly Grace
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:
Chris Yoo

1. Welcome.  At 7:00 p.m. on this January 11, 2024, Chris welcomed members and a few guests to the first meeting of 2024.

2. Program:  Tonight, we welcomed Sara Hume from KSU to present a program on Ohio’s Historical Quilts.  She presented a wonderful slide show and told many stories about the quilts and the exhibit.

3. President’s Report: Chris began by wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!  Chris continued by letting everyone know that since 2024 will be her final year as guild president, she hopes everyone will participate in her last President’s Challenge, which is to make a new Name Tag, made of fabric or fibers.  It has to be brand new, made in 2024.  It can have either your full name or just your first name.  Wear it to a meeting and during show and tell, please plan on telling the group about your name tag, and what technique you used.  Chris asked that the tag be completed by the August meeting, which will be her last as President.

4. Approval of Minutes:  The minutes from the December meeting were distributed by Kelly Grace.  After a call for corrections or changes, having heard none, the minutes were approved as distributed.

5. 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, Sue Schillig.  Tonight, Sue made the official recommendation to membership that the guild secure another Certificate of Deposit (CD) in the amount of $5,000.  There was a motion that was seconded.  Following a brief discussion and Q&A on the topic, a vote was taken and the motion to secure a CD for $5,000.00 passed.  Sue indicated she would take care of this business before the next meeting.

6. Committee Reports by Committee chairs.  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.

7. Unfinished or On-Going Business:    In preparation for finding a new guild President, Chris wanted to take this time to explain the duties of the office of President, and Chris reminded everyone that the nominating committee is Marcy Delvan, Holly Francis, and Sue Schillig.

Chris reported that the duties of the Guild President include preparing the meeting agenda and preside at all official 7:00 p.m. business meetings, and to call special meetings when necessary, and appoint and remove the chairperson of standing committees.  The president shall also be authorized to sign checks in the absence of the Treasurer.  The president is responsible for opening and closing the meeting location; however, the President can delegate that responsibility to another officer or committee chair as needed, especially when the sitting President has a conflict.

Chris noted that the role of the President AND all members is to act as the “cheerleader” for the guild at public forums and to encourage new membership and promote the guild whenever possible. Chris went on to note that the TERM of the office is two (2) years.  The bylaws indicate that no member shall hold the same office for more than (2) consecutive terms without the vote of the membership.

Chris again asked that someone stand up and volunteer to be President for the next two (2) years.  She noted that she was not going anywhere and would absolutely be your coach and mentor; however, she was stepping down as the President at the end of day on August 8, 2024.  She asked that anyone interested should talk with her, Marcy, Holly, or Sue.  Chris also shared that the guild is in need of a secretary to take some brief notes at each meeting for inclusion into the newsletter.

8. New Business:   Chris read through some proposed changes to the Guild Handbook and Bylaws this evening.  Chris noted this would be the first reading of the changes and that she would email the full document with all changes noted to membership for review and comment prior to the February meeting so that the topic could be further reviewed at that time and more comments and suggestions could be made.  It was her hope that she could have a final copy ready for approval at the March meeting.
9. Announcements:  Chris reported that there was a special quilting exhibit at the Canton Museum of Art called, QUILT NATIONAL 2023 THE BEST OF CONTEMPORARY QUILTS and it is running through March 3, 2024.  You can find out more at CantonArt.org online.

Chris also reminded everyone that in April the guild sew day and meeting will be held on the THIRD Thursday   of the month (April 18, 2024) because the hall is rented for the 2024 Holy Mackerel Fishing Tackle Event on  our typical 2nd Thursday.  We will continue to remind everyone and put out special emails and social media  posts.

10. Show-n-Tell:  Creativity was in full force this evening.  Keep it up!!

11. Adjournment:   The next meeting will be Thursday, February 8th at 7:00 p.m., and our program will be Hidden Stitches – How to put meaning in your quilts.

Sunshine Committee
Val Watring

Meeting minutes:   Update:  Donna Clapper has had surgery.  Sunshine will send her a card soon.

Newsletter: Get ready for spring, Ohio. Buckeye Chuck did not see his shadow on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024, in Marion, Ohio. That means “spring is right around the corner,”

….more sunshine = sooner!

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.

Membership
Karen Neuschaefer.

No report.

Notes from the President
Chris Yoo

In preparation for my message this month, I looked back before I looked forward.  In doing so, I’m going to quote myself, as we now enter the guild’s 44th year . . .

“February 2020:  I will be forever grateful to the ladies who had the foresight to put into place the structure of this guild and the origins of the Bylaws all those 40 years ago. They laid the groundwork which supports us still today.  After 40 years, quilting still brings us all together for a purpose. Learning about quilting, evolving our quilting techniques, and supporting charitable organizations with our quilts, are all important aspects of belonging to the guild.  We are a group of individuals who can relate to each other because of our shared interests. I think you can find a friend anywhere in the country if you either show up at a quilt guild for a couple of meetings or attend a quilt show and sit at a community table. You are never alone when you are with quilters. ”

This brings us back to today, February 2024.  It is my sincere hope that those of you who also cherish this guild as I do, take a moment to consider who will lead us down the path for the next couple of years.  Each and every one of YOU is responsible to ensure the success of this guild.  If you read the bylaws that I emailed recently, you surely stumbled across the section that read, Article IV, Section 6: All members shall contribute to a committee or serve as an officer. 

May our 44th anniversary year be the best ever my quilting friends.  Now, please talk to each other and discover your next President. . . perhaps it is you?

Quilt on!

Your Pres, Chris Yoo

Honor Quilts

Kaye Koler

Our committee is tentatively planning a Honor Quilts presentation the evening of our March meeting, 6 pm. (Thursday, March 14). Confirmation of that will be forthcoming.

Also, a heartfelt thank goes out to the lovely couple I met and chatted with at length, during our quilt show, for their generous (anonymous) donation to the Honor Quilts Committee. Your kindness helps us fulfill our mission in supporting our veterans with an HONOR QUILT! THANK YOU!

SewHappy,
Kaye Koler

STRAY THREADS…

Sue Schillig

No Report

February Birthdays

Sally Gezzer
Julie Bragg – February 1
Cheryl Majewski – February 3
Dee Martin – February 7
Karen Schrader – February 8
Kathy Spencer – February 18
Marilyn Novak – February 24
Boni Grove – February 27
Karen Neuschaefer – February 27
Marilyn Player – February 29

Programs/Workshops

February: DAY Accuquilt demonstration by Marcy and Margaret.   Ever wonder about how to use the Accuquilt?  Marcy will be bringing her Accuquilt GO BIG (electric version) and Margaret will be bring the standard Accuquilt Go.   We will have dies and mats for bibs and burp cloths to cut for Community Service.   Maria PROGRAM will be bringing the flannel.   So   come on over to our table and try it out.

NIGHT Hidden Stitches will be here to explain how they put meaning in their quilts and present a trunk show.   They will be teaching at the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo in Cleveland in April.

***SIGN UP SHEET FOR MARCH WORKSHOP

March AFTERNOON English Paper Piecing  Workshop with Roseanne from Anna’s

NIGHT Better Binding Techniques Tips and Tricks With Roseann from Anna’s

***I will have a signup sheet for the March workshop with Roseanne from Anna’s Sewing Center—English Paper Piecing.   Not at the February meeting—no worries just give me a call, send me an email or text to let me know.    The workshop is free, but you must purchase a kit.  The kits are $7.99 and contain things you need to English Paper Piece.   She will have some scrap material to use, but please feel free to bring your own as well.  While we are not making a specific project—its all about technique—nothing says you cannot make your samples into something.

April ***Don’t forget this month is the THIRD Thursday not the second.

MEETING DATE:  APRIL 18TH

NIGHT STITCHES IN TIME QUILT SHOP

May NIGHT  Sew 4 Service

June DAY JUDY RIGGLE COMMUNITY SERVICE SEW DAY

NIGHT   THE GIVING DOLL

JULY CHRISTMAS IN JULY DAY

6;30 PM POT LUCK/SHOW & TELL—NO MEETING

SEPTEMBER THE REDNECK QUILTER BRIAN MCCOY WORKSHOP ALL DAY AND TRUNK SHOW NIGHT.

Challenges
Kelly Grace

UFO Challenge
Signups are now closed for the 2024 UFO Challenge!! 18 members signed up with a total of 494 UFO’s that need to be completed. I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve already completed 1 item off my list! Please remember that $5 is due to me when you sign up, if you haven’t already given this to me you can see me at the next meeting. This is to help with prizes that are given out at the December meeting – You must complete at least one of your UFO’s to be included for prizes.

Fat Quarter Exchange
Signups for 2024 exchange will start at the February meeting. This exchange is where you buy or shop your stash for a fat quarter for each person on the list, based on what type/color of fabric they are looking for.

Monthly Challenge
January challenge due at February meeting: Turn to page 50 in a book or magazine and use that page as inspiration to make anything you want. Please bring your inspiration with you to the meeting for show and tell.

We will have a new challenge issued at the February meeting.

Secret Santa Exchange
Secret Santa Exchange turned out awesome, I saw a lot of great items that were received!

Block Exchange 
On hold until 2024! Maybe next years Hoffman fabrics will get more people to participate! We will revisit this in March-April when the new fabrics are released.

President’s Challenge
As Chris’s last challenge, she requested that you make a name tag. It must be something new – not something you already made.

Community Service

Maria Lucki

February Bibs and Burp Cloths:
In February Marcy and Margaret will be demonstrating the ACCUQUILT.   Marcy will bring her electric GO BIG and Margaret the hand crank GO.   Maria will be bringing  Flannel to cut into Bibs and Burp Cloths.   So if you have ever had questions about the ACCUQUILT cutter, come over to our table and try it out.   We would also love to have help sewing the bibs and burp cloths.

There are still pillowcase kits available for those interested in making them for community service.

If you would like to make a quilt (twin size) for community service, but need material, see Maria.  If you can sew the top and/or back, community service will supply the batting if needed.

NEW COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUEST:

THE GIVING DOLL organizations has asked if we could help them by making 24”x24” doll quilts and doll delivery bags.   The are a great organization based in Norton, Ohio.   There is a very active volunteer group in Lagrange.   The quilts do not need batting as they are only 24”x24”.   Flannel can be used in place of batting or just use fleece as the backing—These don’t need to be thick.

We have their pattern for the bags and a sample bag to show you.   Every doll (pattern for this is copyrighted and very specific) that is delivered to charities around the globe comes with a quilt and tucked in a handmade bag.   Locally these dolls go to Blessing House and Ronald McDonald House amongst other groups as well.   They do have a website and Facebook page should you want to check them out.   Margaret attended a work session of the Lagrange group.  The dolls are very cute and very well crafted.  There will be copies of the bag pattern at the February meeting and a sample doll quilt.   If you have time, this is a great organization that brings much needed joy and love to many children in at risk (extreme poverty, medical, trauma, loss of family, etc) situations.

Maria

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.

Did you know the guild has an Accuquilt Go? This will be brought to sew days by Chris Yoo if you’d like to use it. There is a list of dies owned by other guild members on the website (https://loraincountypiecemakers.wordpress.com/accuquilt-dies/)

Treasury Report
Sue Schillig

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

Sue Schillig, treasurer