September 2008 Issue 9

President's Report

Tropical Storm FAY is showering us tonight and "The Weather Channel's" Jim Cantore is on our own Panama City Beach. If you ever watch "The Weather Channel", you know they only send Jim to the most exciting venues they can find. I'm sure you've also noticed that if the storm isn't good enough......just exaggerate. Well I did not have to exaggerate on the generous hearts of our guild members. You have outdone yourselves with the "BIB RESPONSE". Congratulations!!! It is a true pleasure for me to be part of such a wonderful group of women.

We have a considerable task ahead of us with our upcoming 30th Anniversary Quilt Show. The show pins are on order and the ribbons are under way with the design help of Bob and Shirley Love. The show committee has set forth the quilt categories and Linda Aspinwall has explained all those technical rules. Meanwhile Bobbi Clemens and Carolyn St. Amant are up to their elbows in show ribbon supplies, our quilt is nearly done and now it is time to start thinking ...WHAT SHALL I DO FOR MY ENTRY IN THIS YEAR'S SHOW. I know there will be some stunning entries as there always are from such a talented group. As my neighbor always says "just press on".

Speaking of " just pressing on" everyone needs to be working on donations for the Christmas Shoppe on November 22, 2008----the Saturday before Thanksgiving. We need lots of quilted and craft items and of course the bake goods too. We will be following the same procedures as last year. Baked goods with cafe available and a wonderful array of hand made items from lap quilts to sewing kits and everything in between. We can accomplish this with some help from everyone. So fire up that sewing machine and " just press on"!. Have an enjoyable month and see you in September. By the way bring in some samples of your Christmas Shoppe donations for our September meetings so that everyone can be inspired.

Also we will be having some "eye candy" at our next meeting.....the Opportunity Quilt should be done and our 2008-09 yearbooks will be available. Special thank yours to Joyce Post and her committee for the quilt and to Angela Mueller and her committee for the yearbooks.

Happy sewing,
Jo-Ellen Rogers

P.S
• Sept. class participants....need to send your check to Jo-Ellen if you have not paid.
• One yard of fabric if possible for charity stash replenishment.
• Please make one 9 1/2 “ unfinished churn dash/monkey wrench block to help make Barnabas House quilts.

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Hints from the Hospitality Corner: Daytime Hospitality for the General Meeting provides hot tea and coffee, sugar, creamer, hot and cold cups, paper plates, napkins and plastic silverware. We also have plain plastic tablecloths to cover the table. Hostesses are asked to bring whatever refreshments they choose including any cold drinks. They can also decorate the tables as they desire. The nighttime refreshment hostesses generally bring everything. But can make arrangements with the Hospitality Chairman.

Evening Meeting, August 21, 2008

Well it looks like we are in for some rain from Fay. We took our flag down at home Wednesday night so it wouldn't rip to shreds.

The Evening Group was in a great mood, Regina Johnson and Jo-Ellen Rogers provided a wonderful spread, cheese balls, dip, several types of chips and crackers, pound cake that was still warm from the oven, brownies and of course fresh fruit. We also had fresh flowers for the table. It was great!

We had 38 members in attendance with 2 guests. Angela also reported that the yearbooks are back and ready for distribution at the September meeting. Also at the September meeting the raffle tickets will be available for the opportunity quilt, and hopefully the quilt will be back and ready for viewing. Can't wait to see it quilted.

From the Board Meeting:
If you sew with a group and give your projects to a charity, please get a receipt for Bonnie. This will help with the non-profit status of our organization. The February meeting will be a joint meeting of the day and evening groups date to be determined, this will be to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the guild as well as give a report on the quilt show. The Board members will be serving tea; everyone is requested to bring a cup & saucer. Members are asked to make a churn dash monkey wrench block (9 ½" unfinished), please use a light background. These will be put together for quilts to the Barnabas House. Aking is asking for donations of material in one-yard increments for the guild fabric stash, the stash is getting very low. Please donate material that you would want in something you make. We have been approached to help a Girl Scout troop get their sewing badges. Many ideas were brought up during the evening meeting. I will be talking with the leader Friday (8/22) to finalize the plans. If you are interested please e-mail me at janetramos3@comcast.net. I'll have more particulars once I talk with the leader.

The evening group is looking to have a Saturday workday to make things for the Christmas Bazaar. I'll put a notice out when that date has been established.

Lee Brahier gave a wonderful program on landscape quilts. She reminded me that I have some pictures of barns that I could use to make some quilts. Her information was very useful and informative. The quilts she brought as examples were beyond words, just beautiful! Thanks Lee for a very enjoyable program.

Jo-Ellen told us that Sheila Surber from There's No Place Like Hope would be attending the October meeting to tell us about her shop. She will be talking about the items she has in her shop for women going through cancer treatments, i.e., wigs, and bras for women who have had a mastectomy, etc.

Bibs! My oh my! Jo-Ellen gave Sally loads of bibs and some baby quilts for Head Start. Sally walked out of the meeting with a huge armload. Remember this is a continuing project for the guild. They need bibs and baby quilts all the time. Please keep them coming!

Sit'n'Stitch ... September 4 ... Donna Gibbens
Next Meeting ... September 18 ... Church
Hostesses ... Bonnie Wilcox & Janet Pitts
Program ... Sandy Sturgis "Settings"

That's it for this month, be safe, stay happy, and have fun.
Janet Ramos

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Aking Said!!!
You silent auction quilt people better be working on your quilts. They are due January 2009. Call her ... she will be waiting and wants to thank you .

The Beach Bee (to be named later) will be having their first meeting on September 11 at 1PM. Contact Mary Oliver to get all the particulars. (They are looking for members)

Seaside Stitcher's are OPEN and looking for members. Contact person is Carol Penrod. They meet in St Joe.

The Flamingo Flock Blocks meet twice a year in Fall and Spring. Their Membership is limited to 20 people. Call Patti MC, Bobbie or Sally to find out the particulars on when where and what they are all about.

The Sew N' Sews are also welcoming members. Call Janet Adams for information on meeting time and location.

Baltimore Babes ... Contact Bobbie or show up the 4th Thursday of the month at the Quilt Room, for conversation and hand sewing. Open to all.

The Gadabouts have really been busy this past month; they have made and contributed 37 bibs and 2 baby blankets for head start. They are in the process of making two quilts for Barnabas House. For the Christmas shop they have been making Table Runners among other things and they challenge all the Bees to get busy and make things for the Christmas Shop. They also took a trip to Graceville for lunch and shopping.

If you have information for the Bee Report, please contact me through email (Rosemar038@bellsouth.net) or call me, instead of going through another person, so I can get the information you want in the column. Thank you. Looking for information from all Bee Groups.

Quilty Hugs,
Rosemary Martens

SABQG Christmas Lunch

Saturday Dec. 6, 2008 at 11:30 am COST: $20.00 per person.
Please choose from the following selection:

1. GRILLED CARIBBEAN JERK CHICKEN - Marinated in Caribbean jerk sauces, char grilled, topped with a tropical pineapple salsa, and served with garlic-mashed potatoes and steamed vegetable medley.
2. CILANTRO RUBBED MAHI MAHI - Seasoned with Caribbean spices, flash seared, topped with a garlic and cilantro sauce, served with garlic-mashed potatoes and steamed vegetable medley.
3. SLOW ROASTED PRIME RIB OF BEEF - Served with Au Jus, garlic-mashed potatoes and steamed vegetable medley.
4. BOW TIE PASTA WITH SHRIMP AND TASSO - Cajun spiced smoked ham and jumbo shrimp, fine herbs and mushroom cream, tossed with bowtie pasta.

DESSERT Choice:

1. NEW YORK STYLE CHEESECAKE
2. KEY LIME PIE ON A STICK - Creamy and tart key lime pie with graham cracker crust, dipped in dark chocolate, frozen and served old-fashioned Popsicle style - on a stick!

All meals include Freshly Baked Bread, Coffee, Soda or iced Tea. They also include a BOATYARD HOUSE SALAD - Mixed green, cherry tomatoes, onions & cucumbers.

Challenge ... Don't forget the challenge this year will be a journal size quilt - not larger than a regular sheet of paper - 8 1/2" X 11" with the theme "QUILTERS ROCK". The hardest thing about this quilt is getting and sticking to one idea. Of course, you are welcome to make as many as you like.

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Innovations is also hosting the Christmas Stocking challenge with all the stockings being donated to the Meals on Wheels program for our Senior citizens who have no other family around. You can just make stockings for them to fill.

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Have you ever found fabric in your stash and you don’t know why you bought it?
We all do it. Fall in love with something in the store only to find we cannot use it in anything we are making. Well, we can now find a home for that fabric. Donate one yard of it (or all of it if you choose) to the guild to help replenish our comfort quilt stash. Any Board member can take it or give it to Aking.

Chocolate Cherry cake 1 box of chocolate cake mix 2 eggs 1 can cherry pie filling Mix the 3 ingredients by hand-- not an electric beater Pour into greased 11 x 13 pan & bake 45 min. at 350° 1 can of choc. Frosting after cake cools.

Spring Retreat 2009
Dates: February 27, 2009 thru March 1, 2009
Cost: $154.00 per person
Location: To be announced

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Fall Retreat
Last chance to sign up is at the September meeting!

We have a lot of fun things planned for the Fall Retreat. It is going to be a great time for all. Put it on your calendar and plan to attend.

Date: Friday October 17th thru Sunday October 19th

Where: Blue Springs Baptist Conference Center - Marianna, Florida

Cost: 2 Persons to a room $121.00
1 Person to a room $171.00
1 Private Admin Room $175.00
Saturday Only $33.00 (Includes lunch and dinner)

Swap Hop: Bring your unwanted items to the retreat for our "Swap Hop". Bring anything you would like to swap, or just plain give away. A "Swap Hop" table will be set up in every room and everyone can hop to each room to see what is available to swap for.

Challenge Block: When you sign up for the retreat you will receive a fat eighth piece of challenge fabric. From this fabric you will need to complete a 9" square block, unfinished. You can add as many fabrics to the block as you want as long as a 3" square worth of the challenge fabric is used within the block. Each member at the retreat will vote on his or her favorite and the top three will receive a prize.

Class: Cabin Wonders Taught by Vonnette Sloan of Crafty Cats in Graceville, FL. Kits will be available for $75.00. Kit includes all fabric for the Top and Binding. All fabric for the pattern is completely cut for you. You just sit down at your machine and start sewing. No precutting required. Cost of the class without the kit is $25.00. Sign up for the class will start at the next guild meeting. Payment for the kit or class fee is not required at sign up, but will be required to be paid in full BEFORE the retreat.

Sign up today to reserve your spot at the retreat. Don't forget to indicate whom you would like to share a room with. You can sign up at the meetings or you can mail a check along with the below form to Teresa Stonecypher.

Name: __________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________ Telephone #: _____________________ Amount Paid: ___________________ Roommate: ______________________________________________________

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Fabric and Supply list for both Classes
September 19 and 20
$20.00 for SSQA members - $30.00 for non members
Church meeting hall

Fearless! 32-Point Compass
Actually 64 points!

Class Description: Learn to piece this impressive 18"compass. Only the smallest points are paper pieced, the rest are simple templates. Center circle is hand appliqué. It's not as difficult as it looks, just a lot of repetition. Not recommended for beginners.

Fabrics: For classroom purposed it will streamline the technique if you work with only 2 fabrics, a light and a dark, that basically read as solids. One will be the background and the other the compass points.
Background fabric – 1 yard - Compass fabric – 2/3 yard

Supply List: Sewing machine & extension cord, Basic sewing supplies, Rotary cutter, ruler & mat, Freezer Paper, Fine point pen for tracing pattern, paper scissors & fabric scissors, Iron & pressing surface, small storage container, a plastic shoebox is perfect for keeping track of the 32 points!

Clamshell Logs

Class Description: This elegant clamshell quilt is nothing more than an uneven log Cabin. The trick is the coloration and the set. The paper-pieced 5 ½" finished block is small enough to utilize men's ties to create the shells if desired. Traditional cottons or silks would also be appropriate.

Fabrics: For class bring a dozen or more fabrics in at least fat quarter sizes. Bring different sizes and scales of prints and be sure to include some lights, mediums and darks, the usual scrappy mix. If using men's ties, bring at least a dozen, washed and disassembled as described below.

Tips on Working with ties: Washing: Caution!!! Red dye in silk is unstable! Please wash these ties by hand in cold water. Be observant when looking for red in a silk tie. The color may be a pin dot in the middle of a small symmetrical print that will run all over your, basically, pale yellow tie. Too bad. Lights are hard to come by. All other ties I throw in the regular wash and on the dryer (except wool). And don't wash a whole load of just ties! You'll spend half a day untangling them from the agitator. Disassembly: Expensive ties are hand sewn with a single strand of silk thread. Remove label and save. Pop the knots at each tie end and pull. Discard inner filling material. Many ties appear to be hand sewn with a slipstitch, but if you pull the "right" thread, the entire seam will unravel. I can't tell you how to find these stitches, but I know it when I see it (the thread seems thinner). Just keep picking at stitches to find the one that will unravel. Save Label & discard filling.