Leola's 100th birthday; more Children's Quilts given

Our member Leola Kriegbaum was honored with a 100th birthday celebration at our November Children's Quilts meeting. The two Chinese mothers and babies who received her quilts were present, also.

In addition to our party, Sherrie Tate and Clara Oakes delivered 35 quilts to Wesley Medical Center and Forrest General Hospital. Pictured below is the Forrest General Neonatal ICU staff graciously accepting the quilts. They asked if we could make a pattern and construct some covers for isolets in the new wing for preemies.

Children receiving quilts

Chaplain Malin lost no time in getting the quilts to the families. Look at these happy little fellers!

Quilts for Mississippi Guard 168th Engineer Brigade

Chaplain (LTC) Don Malin received 40 quilts to be given to children of his unit (168th Engineer Brigade) before the troops are deployed to the Middle East for a year. His unit will arrive at Camp Shelby December 6 for training and will be shipped out soon after Christmas. The quilts were stacked into his car in every available inch so he could give these to the families before they leave home.

Quilters work all year to furnish quilts to comfort children in hospitals, shelters, and in the homes of our troops who are leaving for overseas duty. It is the hope of our guild that our efforts will express our gratitude to these brave men and women who sacrifice for us all.

Viewers' Choice Winner; Who Won the Quilt?

Carolyn Kimble's "A Southern Garden" was the winner of the Viewers' Choice when the votes were counted at the end of the show. It also won the award for Applique Artistry.

Anna Darby from Columbia, MS, was the lucky winner of the raffle quilt "Sunflower Blues." Bobby Thornton sold her the winning ticket.

Awards and Sponsors - Winners

Pine Belt Quilters Fiber Art & Quilt Show Awards and Sponsors
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
October 10-11-12, 2008
See our website www.pinebeltquilters.com for complete list of awards, sponsors, and category winners.

Pinebelt in Bloom Quilt Exhibit

Hattiesburg, Mississippi---The Area Development Partnership in association with the Pine Belt Quilters on September 18 launched the first of five painting, photography, sculpture, and fiber arts exhibitions as part of the civic beautification project Pinebelt in Bloom announced earlier this year. Each of the five exhibitions will utilize the theme of trees, shrubs, and flowers as the subject matter for the artworks. Pinebelt in Bloom is a major civic beautification project for the Greater Hattiesburg Area which encourages individuals, businesses, civic institutions, and other entities to contribute to improving the beauty of the area through the planting of trees, shrubs, and flowers and incorporating outdoor sculpture, clocks, benches and other artistic elements into the landscaping.

The Fiber Arts Exhibition presented by the Pine Belt Quilters organization features the works of local and area artists including Mary Nell Magee, Judy Spiers, Jo-Ann Evans, Gloria Green, Ella Lucas, Doris Dunn, Betty Tudor, Deborah Davis, Barbara Parker, Rhoda Libiez, Dorothy Aultman, and Martha Ginn. All of the works are quilted either by hand or machine.

Martha Ginn, chair of the exhibition and a member of Pine Belt Quilters, stated, “Pine Belt Quilters is honored to display a sampling of our quilts and fiber art as a part of The Area Development Partnership’s Pinebelt in Bloom Project. Flowers and trees are a favorite theme for quilters, and we have on display pieces from 20-inch art for the wall to 94-inch bed quilts that are works of art themselves. Many of us have fond memories of mothers and grandmothers quilting on a large frame that dropped down from the ceiling. Although we still do hand piecing, hand appliqué, and hand quilting, we also take advantage of new technology and tools to push the limits of our craft into the realm of fine art when we create works to decorate our tables and walls.“ Ginn further added, “For years we have made quilts comfort children and have donated to hospitals and children’s shelters in our area, so we are pleased to share some of our best works with Forrest General Hospital employees who work in the new Support Services Building and the general public.”

“The Pine Belt Quilters became members of The Area Development Partnership earlier this year, and it is exciting to be able to utilize the talent and creativity of this dynamic organization as a major asset and contributor to the success of the Pinebelt in Bloom project,” said Jack Kyle, director of cultural development for The Area Development Partnership, “and the public is in for a treat when they see the beautiful creations of these very gifted artists. This is a wonderful event to contribute to the quality of life of our community.”

The exhibition is free and open to the public Monday through Friday beginning September 19 and continuing through October 2nd. Exhibition hours are 9am through 5pm in the Lobby of the new Support Services Building of Forrest General Hospital located at 125 South 28th Avenue.

Two additional Pinebelt in Bloom exhibitions---an exhibition organized by the South Mississippi Art Association and an invitational painting and photography exhibition organized by Jack Kyle and Brent Wallace, president of the Cameraderie Photography Society---are slated for October openings. The fourth Pinebelt in Bloom exhibition is a photography exhibition organized by the Cameraderie Photography Society scheduled for presentation in November. The fifth exhibition will be a sculpture exhibition presented in the Oasis created by William Carey University scheduled for next Spring.

Sponsorship and other assistance are provided by Visit Hattiesburg and Women’s Services of Forrest General Hospital.

For additional information about the Pinebelt in Bloom visit The Area Development Partnership’s website at http://www.theadp.com/ or http://www.pinebeltinbloom.com/ or call 601-296-7500.

Chinese babies welcomed with quilts

Welcome to Katherine and Alicia, little daughters born in July to Chinese families who are in graduate studies at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. The quilt tops were made by our 99-year-old member, Leola Kriegbaum, and completed by Susie Jackson and Martha Ginn. Our Children's Quilt group stays active all year long making quilts for children in hospitals, shelters, or homes of our deploying troops.

May and baby Katherine are shown on the left; An, baby Alicia, and her grandmother are picured on the right.

A very special thank you

Dear Pine Belt Quilters,

Hello, my name is Brenda Campbell I am Michael Garrett's sister I recently came across your website while researching some information on Michael's Ministry. I noticed your quilts for children article and it quickly took me back to one of my first memories that I have of my first day at the Louisiana Baptist Children's home. I was 12 years old when I went to live at the home I remember my house parent showing me my room and my bed, and handing me a quilt. My first night at the home I remember sitting in my bed crying and feeling scared and very lonely. I reached down and picked up my quilt I noticed writing on the quilt it read, "Presented to the children of the LBCH made with love the Ladies of the First Baptist Church". I sat in bed that night carefully looking at each patch I thought of these women and how much work went into making that quilt and how much they must care about the children at the home and a sense of comfort came over me. It was hard for me to part with the quilt when it was time for me to leave but for the next seven years I took very good care of it and I knew it would bring comfort to the next little girl or boy after me.

Although my quilt came from another organization, I wanted to share my memory with you and say thank you for giving your quilts to hurting children.

Sincerely,

Brenda Campbell

Shirley Glaab

For those of us who like to eat…
Shirley Glaab has had two recipes published in the Taste of Home’s Country Woman’s Christmas 2008 hard cover book which features recipes, Christmas décor, seasonal crafts and special features for the holidays. Shirley’s recipes can be found under the sections called Dazzling Appetizers and Gifts of Good Taste. Featured on the cover of the book is a wonderful colorful nutcracker cake. She also has had recipes published in hard cover Taste of Home 2008, Quick Cooking Annual 2008, and America’s Best Church Supper Recipes 2008. Congratulations, Shirley!

Entry Forms for Quilt Show Due by August 20

If you are having trouble filling out your entry forms with the correct category etc., help will be available at the August 20th guild meeting. Please bring the following to the meeting: an entry form for each quilt you want to enter with as much filled in as possible, photo of each of the quilts, check for entry fees and a self addressed stamped envelope.

There will be extra entry forms available and we'll take pictures of your quilt at the meeting if necessary.

Thanks, Quilt Show Committee

Storage Unit for Linda Ladner

Update to the guild from Diann Loper:
A climate controlled storage unit has been donated for the use of Linda at Marquis Ranch Storage located just behind Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association on Highway 98. Any donations may be dropped off there and they will be placed in the unit by the facility manager. This is a secure unit with only Linda, Rick and the facility manager having access. The drop-off information is as follows:

Marquis Ranch Storage
32 Power Lane
Hattiesburg, MS 39402
601-726-8201

Linda is hanging in there. The reality of the fire is taking hold. She is in need of all household items. In lieu of quilting items at the present time, Linda would be grateful for any household items. She does not even own a bottle of aspirin! She remains very touched by the outpouring of love from our guild.

Thanks so much, Diann Loper
Happy Quilts, LLC
A-1 Quilting Machines - Sales & Service
Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama & W. Tennessee

Quilt Show Categories Revised

After careful consideration, the show committee has decided to expand the Team categories. The categories will now read as follows.

Under Team Two Person - Bed Size (71 inches and more) the categories are: team large - applique (TMLGA), team large pieced (TMLGP), team large mixed (TMLGMX) and team large embroidery, stitchery, whole cloth, other (TMLGE).

Under Team Two Person - Small (70 inches and less) the categories are: team small applique (TMSMA), team small pieced (TMSMP), team small mixed (TMSMMX) and team small embroidery, stitchery, whole cloth, other (TMSME).

The other change is in the Wall Quilt Category (70 inches or less). The following category has been added: emroidery, stitchery, whole cloth, other wall quilt (EWQ).

Update on Love Offering to Linda Ladner

Sharon gave the first of all received cash and checks today to Linda while she was in town for a very short trip tying up loose ends on securing a house in Petal and meeting her adjuster. Sharon waited until after her mail delivery today so she could have all possible cards and donations at this point in time. Linda was just so grateful to the guild and kept saying we didn't need to be doing this for her. Linda being overwhelmed is an understatement. Because Linda had several appointments today, she asked if Sharon could take the donations to her daughter's place of employment, which is what she did. Her daughter was was most gracious and grateful. Linda reported Scotty is having a bit better day today than yesterday, so hopefully he is making some progress. Linda plans to go back to Jackson tomorrow.


Thanks to all of you who have been so generous. We'll keep everyone posted on future projects. Please continue to mail donations to Sharon's address, but make checks payable to Linda. If you have guild friends who do not receive or have access to e-mail, please pass this message to them. We don't want any members to fall through the cracks!

Tragedy strikes our member Linda Ladner

Early Thursday morning, July 10, a fire completely destroyed the residence of Linda and Rick Ladner and their adult son, Scotty, in Lake Serene, Hattiesburg. Rick had gone to work; Linda and Scotty were in Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson for Scotty's surgery scheduled that day. The family's dogs were with another family member in Alabama.
Scotty is 36 years old, was born with spinabifida, and is confined to a wheelchair. He is able to move with the aid of electric lifts and other supports, and this surgery was another reconstructive surgery to aid in Scotty's quality of life.
Pine Belt Quilters has started a love offering to help immediately; a shower will be given later when Linda finds a handicap-accessible place for the family to live.
To contribute, make checks to Linda Ladner; mail to PBQ Treasurer, Sharon Harris, 706 Southeast Circle, Hattiesburg, MS 39402.
Linda is a talented and compassionate quilter; she is pictured in the May 24 post below donating an embroidered/quilted wall quilt to Dr. Michael Garrett for a Homes of Hope for Children fundraiser.

Children's Quilts Donated; Area Development Partnership Ribbon Cutting

Our members donated 38 quilts for children at our July luncheon meeting. We encourage all our members who do not come to the monthly Children's Quilt group meetings to make a quilt for PBQ to give. Members selected by viewers' choice Jean Martin's (left) and Susie Jackson's (right) quilts won. Jean and Susie won packets of Mary Nell Magee's hand-dyed fabric. Other show and tell pictures are posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24048744@N05/sets/72157606076247741/.%20. We hosted the Cotton Blossom Quilt Shop from Mobile, Albama, and members enjoyed shopping with them.

The Area Development Partnership officers and ambassadors attended our meeting for an official ribbon cutting to welcome our guild as a member of this organization. The ADP functions as our Chamber of Commerce in promoting economic and cultural development for Hattiesburg and South Mississippi. There are many opportunities to network to publicize our activities and participate in enhancing the quality of life for all.

June Meeting-Drunkard's Path

Sally Henderson demonstrated her favorite method of making a Drunkard's Path quilt at Pine Belt Quilters' June 18 meeting, then followed up her program with a workshop the following week. Sally is pictured holding the purple/lavender block.

Sally is advising Jean Roberts and Ann Carlile as they work on their blocks at the workshop.

Show and Tell pictures from the meeting can be seen at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24048744@N05/sets/72157605696166107/.

Judy Spiers' 2008 AQS and Quilt Odyssey Entries

Judy Spiers had two quilts accepted at the AQS Show in Paducah in April 2008, "Mississippi Backroad Treasures," and her new miniature, "Conundrum." "Conundrum" won Honorable Mention in the miniature category.
"Carnivale" (pictured here), Judy's miniature that won a first place in the AQS Show in 2007, was juried into the Quilt Odyssey 2008 Quilt Show in Hershey, PA, July 24-27. Judy had two winning quilts in the Hershey show in 2007.

Machine Embroidery and Quilting - May 2008

Kelley McKenzie of Kelley's Pins and Needles presented the May program with demonstrations of a variety of machine embroidery techniques. She discussed stabilizers, hoops, threads, and computerized patterns and their role in successful stitching. Also helping with the demonstrations by showing their embroidery projects were Clara Oakes, Wanda Wallace, Sally Henderson, Sarah Farris, Linda Ladner, and Nell Cooley.


Dr. Michael Garrett, executive director of Homes of Hope for Children, attended our meeting and told of the progress in realizing the dream of a children's home. The Children's Quilt Group gave him a quilt to auction at the upcoming July 25 fundraiser. Linda Ladner also donated an embroidered wall hanging for the auction.

Show and Tell pictures from the May meeting can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24048744@N05/sets/72157605298718130/

Rulers, Rulers, Rulers - April meeting

Shirley Wiltshire, program chair, led an informative April meeting with members demonstrating some of their favorite rulers and techniques.
Show and Tell pictures from the April meeting can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/24048744@N05/.



Pictured are (back row: Paula Jones, Jo-Ann Evans, Martha Ginn, Shirley Wiltshire, Dorothy Aultman; front row: Clara Oakes, Linda Ladner)

Clara Oakes showed The Angler by Pam Bono Designs that she uses to make perfect Snowball blocks. Linda Ladner will lead a workshop on Bethany Reynolds' Stack-n-Whack® techniques and she described how Bethany's book explains selecting suitable fabric and how to make the pinwheel block. Jo-Ann Evans demonstrated Cheryl Phillips' attic windows ruler that features a folding technique and NO Y-seam. Martha Ginn's favorite ruler is the ScrapMaster (designed by Judy Hopkins and formerly called the ScrapSaver) by That Patchwork Place. This ruler makes half-square triangles a breeze.

Dorothy Aultman is our string piecing hero. Using her own strips or those donated by other guild members, she makes a set of 25 14" blocks for our Children's Quilts donation projects every month. She uses an old sheet or other fabric for her foundation. Other members of the CQ team will assemble the blocks, layer, machine quilt, and bind it. Paula Jones showed Jodi Barrows' Square in a Square® ruler and demonstrated the various sizes of blocks that could be made with this ruler.

PBQ Show--Motel Block of Rooms--advance notice

Our Oct. 10-11-12 show will include lectures/trunk shows at 7:00 p.m. on Friday night and Saturday night. To help you make arrangements to enjoy more of the event, we have contracted for a block of rooms at a group rate for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

LaQuinta Inns & Suites, 6563 Highway 49, has blocked 50 rooms for us Oct. 9, 10, and 11 at a rate of $74 plus tax, which includes complimentary hot/cold breakfast bar. To book your room you must call the hotel directly and make a reservation under the Pine Belt Quilters block before the cut-off date of September 21. The hotel has recently been remodeled but does not have elevators; if you need downstairs, be sure to request. We suggest you make your reservations right away, because there is a USM home game with Boise State that weekend.

LaQuinta Inns & Suites
6563 Highway 49
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Phone: 601-268-2850

The motel information will be added to the website soon, but this is your advance notice. See more show information on our website (Fiber Art & Quilt Show page): www.pinebeltquilters.com.

Juried Exhibit Opens at William Carey University

A large crowd of art lovers attended the opening of the Pine Belt Quilters Juried Exhibit on March 27 at the Lucile Parker Gallery at William Carey University in Hattiesburg. Chatham Meade, director of the gallery, juried and hosted the event. Seventeen works by eleven quilters showcased the wide variety of styles and techniques of this diverse group. The exhibit will hang through April 28; gallery hours are M-F 1:00-4:00 PM.

Juried Quilt Exhibit

Eleven members of Pine Belt Quilters had works juried into an invitational Juried Quilt Exhibit at the Lucile Parker Gallery at William Carey University. An opening reception will be held March 27, and the exhibit will hang through April 28. Representing the variety of techniques of the members will be works by Doris Dunn, Pat Faulkender, Martha Ginn, Gloria Green, Ellen Hall, Leslie Kiger, Ollie Jean Lane, Ella Lucas, Mary Nell Magee, Barbara Parker, and Betty Tudor. Among the quilts in the exhibit will be a Baltimore Album, traditional pieced, traditional and innovative applique, pictorial landscape, foundation-pieced pineapple, and contemporary fiber art.

Debbie Davis presents program on foundation piecing

Debbie Davis presented an informative program on Foundation Piecing at the Pine Belt Quilters February 20 meeting. She demonstrated several methods for this accurate technique and showed examples. Debbie will teach a paper piecing workshop to members next week.

Fifteen members brought in entry forms for the Juried Quilt Exhibit at the Lucile Parker Gallery at William Carey University in Hattiesburg. Opening Reception will be held March 27 at 5:00 PM. The show will continue until May 1.

A report of the Mississippi Quilt Association Fall Gathering in Natchez was given. Many of our members are making plans to attend the Annual Educational Seminar and Show in Baton Rouge sponsored by Gulf States Quilting Association March 13-16. 2008 Seminar teachers are Jackie Robinson, Sharon Schamber, Harriet Hargrave, Charlotte Angotti, Mary Stori, Mary Sorensen, Mary Ellen Kranz, Judy Spiers, Judy Holley, and Lucy Landry.

Pine Belt Quilters Website updated February 2008

Our 2008 plans are now posted on our updated website. Programs and special events are listed in addition to those all-important forms for the 12th Biennial Fiber Art & Quilt Show on October 10-11-12 at Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg.

We've grown to a three-day event featuring lectures, trunk shows, fashion shows, a thread bar workshop, boutique, vendors, and lots more exciting things. We are pleased to have Flavin Glover as our judge and also trunk show presenter; Linda Schmidt of Dublin, CA, with her award-winning fashions from past IQA shows; Judy Spiers, PBQ's own member and recent winner in Paducah and Houston; and Kathy Ward of Superior Threads with a thread bar workshop.

Make your plans now to enter your quilts in this show. Mark your calendar to attend.

Miss Hattie's Hat Challenge

Pine Belt Quilters 2008 Fiber Art and Quilt Show will be held at Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on October 10-11-12. We had outgrown our former location in Downtown Hattiesburg and needed a larger venue. We are fortunate to be working with The Hattiesburg Convention and Visitors Bureau to make our expanded 12th show the best it can possibly be.

Hattiesburg's logo is a large hat. The Convention and Visitors Bureau has suggested that we have a challenge category at the show called “Miss Hattie’s Hats.”

Here are the Guidelines: Make a finished quilt 24” x 24” square. The quilt must have a 4" sleeve. Use any pattern or design. Find ideas in pattern books, on the Internet (copyright free), or design your own. Use any materials. Embellish if you want to. Your quilt can be two-dimensional or three-dimensional, but it must fit the definition of a quilt (three layers with quilting stitches). Just have fun and use your imagination!

The quilts will be judged in a separate category at the show. The Hattiesburg Visitor’s Center will display some of the quilts after the show; the Visitors Bureau will award a $250 purchase award.

For information on entering the show, see Pine Belt Quilters' website; categories and information will be posted soon on the Fiber Art and Quilt Show page.

Joan Alliston Presents Trunk Show

Pine Belt Quilters' January program was a feast for the eyes—a trunk show by Joan Alliston, accomplished and prolific quilter from Brandon, MS. Joan showed her quilts as well as many she collaborated with her sister and mother to make. Joan inherited many tops, unfinished projects, and a huge fabric stash from her sister and described the many good times her family shared through their mutual love of quilting.

Joan is a retired biology teacher, a daffodil flower show judge, quilt teacher, former president of Mississippi Quilt Association, and quilter extraordinaire! Her cheerful spirit and positive attitude as a cancer survivor and one who has lost a sister to cancer were inspiring to us all.