NEXT MEETING 

Tuesday, February 23, 7:00 PM via Zoom
SOCIAL AND SHOW-&-TELL PAPER PIECING
The second meeting of the month has been lots of fun with a different themed Show-&-Tell every month. At the February meeting you can show your paper-pieced projects. It can be pieces, a pieced quilt and finished quilts. You can show your English paper piecing, the paper piecing we often do to make our show quilts or any other paper piecing. In order to make the Zoom meeting move smoothly thanks go out to Munna who volunteers to put your photos of the projects you want to show into a Powerpoint presentation. This will make it easier for you to talk and not to have to hold up your quilts. Send you photos to Munna.  Afterwards you can show other quilts as well. ​

FABRIC POSTCARD EXCHANGE

How would you like to brighten someone's day and have yours
brightened in turn? We're going to have a fabric postcard exchange in
February. You can pick a theme (there are so many options in February:
Valentine's Day, mid-winter, Groundhog Day, the Lunar New Year, President's Day, Purim) or just make a pretty card that makes you happy. If you want to participate, let Munna know by February 5. She will send you the name and address of the person to whom you will send a card. If you want to make more than one card, let Munna know and she will do her best to match you up with multiple others.
Ideally, you will mail your fabric postcard(s) by February 15 and will receive your card(s) by the end of the month. If folks enjoy this, we might do it again (and again, and again)....

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FABRIC POSTCARDS

The postcard will have several layers: a stiffener (stabilizer), a thin batting if you want, a decorative side, and a plain side for the address, stamp, and message. The usual size is 4 X 6 inches, but can be as small as 3 ½ X 5 inches. It should be no more than 1/8 inch thick, with nothing dangling or protruding. The stiffener/stabilizer layer can be whatever you have: Peltex 72F has a fusible on both sides: you can iron on the finished decorative and address sides. Timtex is really stiff. Fast2fuse also has a fusible web on both sides. Wonderunder or misty fuse can be used to adhere fabric sides to a cardboard middle. Glue stick to hold things together until you can sew them.

The decorative side: Pick a fun fabric, cut out a 4X6 inch section, layer on thin batting, and quilt. If your machine has an alphabet or decorative stitches, stabilize your fabric and stitch away. Couch lace, ribbons, yarn, rickrack, making sure it is completely flat and secure. No buttons. Secure fusing to the back of fabric, cut out shapes and iron onto the 4 X 6 background, zigzag on.

Foundation piece. Draw lines on 4 X 6 inch paper or fabric. Sew and flip fabric along the lines.

Address side: This can be plain light colored fabric or card stock. Put address and stamp on the right hand side. Write a message on the left hand side. Do this before you fuse the layers and zigzag around it. I mailed one with a postcard stamp with no problem. If yours is thick or heavy or too beautiful to chance, you could use a regular first class stamp or even put it in an envelope.

Zigzag around all four sides. You might need to cut slivers off all four sides first to even up layers. Use an open toe foot or a foot with a bar to guide you along the edge. Try a stitch width of 4.5 or less and a stitch length of 5. Go around twice if needed. Use the same color in top and bobbin.

​Bet you can’t make just one!

FILE FOR T.C.Q.G. LOGO

Here is the file for our logo.  Download it to print and put on gifts we are distributing for the holidays.  It comes in two sizes, and you can print it in color or black and white.

PATTERN FOR SEAT BELT PILLOW

Here is the pattern for the seat belt pillow.  The Cancer Resource Center would love to have us make these for cancer patients, so they can cushion their ports when they wear a seat belt.  The pillow is small and easy, and a great way of using fun scraps.
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UPCOMING MEETINGS

Tuesday, March 9, 7:00 PM via Zoom 
CALL FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND MINI-DEMOS

Once a year the guild offers the opportunity for members to learn more about Guild Committees and to sign up to participate. Information about each Committee will be in the March Newsletter, but you may also read about them on the “Members Only” page on our website.

After Committee selections, the meeting will be dedicated to a few Mini-Demos on how to make labels. For some, making labels is the dreaded final task in finishing a quilt. But it could be straightforward and satisfying if you find the method that suits you. 


March 19 and 20
VIRTUAL SEWING RETREAT
Interested in joining in a free sewing retreat from the comfort of your home? The guild will host another 2 day sewing retreat on Friday, March 19th and Saturday, March 20th via Zoom. You can attend all day, both days, one day, half a day, come and go as you wish, or just visit with the sewing group to see what folks are up to. It's a great way to get motivated if you're feeling stuck or just want the company of other sewers. No registration is required. Generally, the retreat starts around 9:30am and ends with a show and tell around 5:30-6pm. Details will come in the email sent out the week before.


Melissa Fowler's Presentation

Click on this link to see the presentation Melissa did for our group on January 12.  Great quilts, interesting ideas about design, and a nice story about the evolution of her art.