GUILD GLIMMERS

By Jeri Taylor

            Jeannette DiNicolis Meyer touched the hearts of many during her lecture at the January meeting.  Her artistic vision, her spirituality, her feminism, her compassion, and her talent all radiated from her like a beacon.  She is a passionate artist who urges us all to find our own passionate voice, to listen to our instincts and to respect our own unique vision of the world.  Her quilts were inspirational as well, with their eclectic combinations of layered fabric, embroidery, quilting, and embellishment.

            Those who took her workshop, “Layered Imagery,” report that she’s an outstanding teacher with a terrific sense of humor.  They were introduced to a number of techniques and exercises that will help them to heighten the complexity of their  quilt designs

            In all, another outstanding contribution by our hard-working Program Committee! (And by the way, they hint that they have some surprises up their sleeves for 2005!)

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

            As this is my last message as your president, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many women who helped make 2004 a banner year for our guild.  Leadership is not a lonely job.  I had the help and support of my fellow officers and many wonderful committee heads.

            I have had the joy of watching our guild grow in members and activities.  This last year has seen the installation of our new blackout shades in the auditorium, which makes viewing slide presentations so much better. We continue to enjoy the Gualala Arts Center as a wonderful setting for our meetings and workshops.

            We hosted outstanding speakers including Barbara Shapiro, Susan Friedland, Melody Johnson, Velda Newman, and Jeanette DeNicolis Meyer.  From our own guild we enjoyed the expertise of Mary Austin, Anna Hines, Annie Beckett, Barbara Dunsmoore, Marilyn Limbaugh, Bonnie Toy, and Gail Sims.

             We enjoyed a summer picnic, a holiday luncheon, and planned our first ever guild retreat.  Our members and comfort workshops provided many, many quilts to the needy in our community.  The Library added thirty-five new books and our talented members offered new quilters in the area a beginning quilting class.

            It’s been a pleasure and an honor to serve as your president.  I have enjoyed watching the guild develop and appreciate the kindness and support this guild bestows on its members.  I am so glad that I “Carpe’d the Diem!”

                                    Donna Blum

FEBRUARY

February 18

9:30—3:30

Gualala Arts

“WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW…”

...is LOVE, SWEET LOVE — or, in Quiltspeak, Comfort Quilts!  Our February meeting will be devoted to making a new batch of colorful, heartwarming quilts.  Our coffers need filling, so please help us extend the Valentine spirit to those who need it most.  If you’re a new member, it’s a good time to find out about “the best thing we do” — quilts to comfort victims of accidents, illness, or abuse.  Bring your machine or partner with someone else to design and build a fast-and-easy project.  Children’s quilts are the top priority right now, so think small and join us for this no-stress labor of love.

            Fabrics, batting, yearn for tying — all are provided.  Just bring a lunch and your own sewing supplies— and lots of heart!    

            After a lunch break, we’ll have our regular business meeting at 1:00, so those of you who can’t participate in the workshop can nonetheless attend the meeting.

            Let’s make this a record-breaking day with a big attendance and a phenomenal output!  Think of all the joy we can produce together!

READ THIS NOW!

            We have added many new members recently, but we want to keep all the others also!  If you haven’t sent in your dues for 2005, now is the time.  All the festivities of the holidays are over, and it’s important to retain membership in this great organization.  Please send a check for $35 made out to “PPQG” to Pam Wilson, P.O. Box 53, The Sea Ranch, 95497 — today!

            New member:  Marion Fairbank, 823-2034, 6255 Vine Hill Rd., Sebastapol 95471, October 15, bobfairbanks@aol.com

            More info for Marilyn Alderson:  785-9161, September 24, brushlake1854@aol.com

            Change of address for Janet Windsor: P.O. Box 571, Gualala 95445, March 12.

CALENDAR

February 18:  COMFORT QUILTS

March 18: Lecture — JOE CUNNINGHAM, quilter, musician, and quilt historian.  He’s collaborated with Gwen Marston on several books and produced over 150 quilts.

April 11-14:RUTH MCDOWELL workshop, “Designing from Nature.”  Almost full — get on the waiting list!

May 20: MEMBER WORKSHOP — our talented peers will demonstrate interesting quilting tips and techniques.  We also plan to offer a quilt studio tour for our members in May.

June 18:  JUDITH JONES, “Fantastic Bags.”

July 13-14: JANE SASSAMAN workshop, “Shape Shifting.”

THE LIBRARY CORNER

By Ann Graf

            Welcome to the New Year.  A new item you will find on the PPQG shelf is a small green binder containing a list of all the books owned by the Guild. This fine resource stays current with the addition of books donated by members and friends, and by the purchase of new books using both money budgeted by the Guild and money earned at silent auctions. When you borrow a book, be sure to sign it out in the white GAC book so that we know where everything is. We welcome your participation, by purchase or donation, and your suggestions for good material.

            This month we have five new titles.  The first is a beautiful “coffee table” book, AMERICA’S GLORIOUS QUILTS, Duke and Harding, which pays tribute to quiltmakers and their art form by reproducing the best American quilts from all historical periods.

            KAFFE FASSETT’S CARAVAN OF QUILTS, BOOK 6, Kaffe Fassett and others.  This latest of Rowan’s Patchwork and Quilting books is styled by Kaffe and demonstrates again his eye for vibrant colors and his knack for combining them.  Pull fabrics out of your stash and make them work!

            ART GLASS QUILTS, Julie Hirota.  Learn Julie’s innovative Subtractive Technique adding colorful fabric patches as you “subtract” from the outline of your design ( you have to see it!).  The results are striking.

            SIMPLE THREAD PAINTING, Nancy Prince.  This small volume has some good ideas for landscape or pictures quilts with techniques for great thread enhancement.

            TRUE STYLE  - PIECED JACKETS WITH DISTINCTIVE APPLIQUE, Peggy True.  Though not a new book, these jacket patterns look interesting.  It should be a good resource.

THE QUILTER REVEALED:

PORTRAITS AND SELF-PORTRAITS

            This is the challenge that asks the question "Who am I?"

            This is your opportunity to create a quilt that answers the question for yourself. The most direct interpretation is to make a self-portrait quilt, serious or humorous. For instance, do you wear your silver hair with pride? Are you known for your big, hot, gold glasses, outrageous shoes or earrings? Do you make your own stunning or funky clothes? Do you change your hair color often? Do you travel a lot? Think about what you and your friends have come to recognize as your personal trademark, and make this into a quilt.

            Another approach would be to make a quilt of the things or moods you like. Are you well known as a nature person, an animal lover, a sports nut, a gardener? Put these in a quilt that’s either abstract or representational. Do you like the calm colors of a Monet, the broken planes of the abstract artists, or the vibrant brush strokes of Van Gogh?Make a quilt using those themes or colors or techniques.

            Still thinking? Is log cabin your favorite quilt block, is purple your favorite color, do all your quilts have curved lines or liberated houses in them? Do you like to read books? Let your imagination take over and create a visual representation of your core essence.

            The point is to search deeply within yourself in order to investigate just how you see your true nature, and turn that insight into a super-personal quilt. This is atheme with lots of possibilities.

            Any technique is acceptable. Quilted clothing is acceptable. You can piece, fuse, appliqué, paint on fabric, or draw with thread. Minimum size for quilts is a 96" perimeter (or 24"x 24"). Quilts are due June 9th. Opening reception is June 11th. This is an unjuried show open to all members of PPQG. Enter only quilts made for this show.  Beginners are encouraged to enter and special consideration will be given to first-timers.

            Let’s have some fun!  At the opening we will have a voluntary activity for all viewers to guess which quilt was made by which quilter.  Name tags will be covered for the first hour of the opening.  DO NOT SHOW OR DISCUSS YOUR WORK WITH OTHER QUILTERS!  Let’s see if we can figure out who we are!

                                    Jeri and Anita

HAPPY   BIRTHDAY

Sharon Albert                           9

Polly Dakin                               9

Jolley Thomas                          12

Dee Goodrich                           18

Judy Bianchi                            19

Mary E. Long                           22