Brookhaven Piecemaker Quilters Present Trunk Show to PBQ

(front) Jan Luter, Betty Zehnder, Juanita Ashley, Jacque Coons, Theresa Wege
(back) Polly Thomasson, Ethel Talley, Loretta Hodge, Sue Thornton, Elizabeth Harris

We were treated to an inspiring trunk show by the Brookhaven Piecemaker Quilters at our October 16 meeting. Ten quilters came and shared their stories of making their beautiful quilts. The bargello quilt hanging was made by Juanita Ashley. Several of the quilts had won ribbons in various shows, and sisters Betty and Juanita admitted to being very competitive with each other.

Sue Thornton, Polly Thomasson, Ethel Talley, Betty Zehnder, Juanita Ashley

We voted to elect the nominating committee's slate of officers for 2014-2015. Appreciation was expressed to the committee for their work.

President - Susie Jackson
Vice President - Paula Jones
Secretary/Membership - Anne Esteve
Secretary/Newsletter - Linda Flanders
Treasurer - Margie Hancock

Special thanks to Linda Flanders and Margie Hancock for contining to serve for second two-year terms! Wanda Wallace will chair the 2014 show. The VisitHattie Challenge theme is THE HATTIESBURG ZOO. All other entry information will be posted on our website soon. (An announcement will appear on this blog when that information is available.)

Dues ($20) are being accepted for the upcoming year; it is important to pay early or on time to be listed in the published membership list in January.
Reports were given on workshops and other guild activities, and several people took home kits (top, backing, batting) to complete before our December quilts giveaway.

We received 123 pillows, 17 walker totes, 17 catheter bag covers, and 9 small blankets at the October meeting. Betty Allen read a touching thank-you note from a nurse/mother about how these gifts calm and comfort children, making us even more aware of why we do these activities!

Blueberry Dance Quilt Winner

The proud winner of "Blueberry Dance" was 10-year-old Brennin Carlisle of Poplarville. He purchased his ticket at the Blueberry Jubilee in June. He is very excited to be the winner.
The quilt was embroidered and assembled by Betty Moore and quilted by Wanda Wallace.

Brennin Carlisle

 

Wanda Wallace and Betty Moore



September

Our September meeting featured a program by Betty Moore, “Quilting with Your Embroidery Machine.” She described block embroidery, adding quilting by the block, and joining with French seams, which produces a finished quilt when the blocks are made. She sometimes uses two and three threads through one needle to add thickness and color. Betty will conduct a hands-on workshop next week on her techniques.

 

 She said these quilting techniques work well on pieced quilts as well as embroidered ones.

The nominating committee presented the following slate of officers for the 2014-2015 term; election will take place in October. Appreciation is expressed to the nominating committee (Anne Esteve, Donna Burges, Margie Hancock) for selecting these people, as well as to the nominees for their willingness to take on these important functions for the good of our guild. We especially appreciate Linda Flanders and Margie Hancock for continuing their commitments for a second term. Nominees are:

Susie Jackson- President

Paula Jones - Vice President

Linda Flanders - Secretary/Newsletter

Anne Esteve - Secretary/Membership

Margie Hancock - Treasurer

We took in a whopping 210 pillows, 2 blankets, 15 walker totes, and 12 catheter bag covers.  Thanks especially to Beth McDaniel and Doris Dunn for their 85 and 36 pillows! We had several children's quilts turned in and several kits taken home to complete or quilt. We stay busy all year on our pro bono efforts--not just at Christmas!

Congratulations to our PBQ members who won awards at the Jackson Area Quilt Celebration last month: Susie Jackson - Best Machine Quilting, and Ollie Jean Lane - Lorene Paris Hand Applique; 3rd to Joe Bingham; and Honorable Mentions to Ollie Jean Lane, Martha Ginn, Doris Dunn, and Sylvia Blissett. Susie Jackson's granddaughter, Abigail Fagan, won 1st place in Youth.

Drawing was held for the Blueberry Dance raffle quilt, which raised money for quilt batting and borders for Children’s Quilt activities. The quilt was embroidered and assembled by Betty Moore and quilted by Wanda Wallace. The winner was Brennin Carlisle, a 10-year-old from Poplarville. (Picture later)

August meeting

This meeting report is a month old--sorry. Our August meeting was a giant sit and sew, with a variety of activities going on, from hand stitching bindings, learning to turn tubes, learning to make ruched flowers, sewing walker totes, knitting, and, of course, lots of visiting and talking.
Our busy quilters did not neglect our charitable activities, though. There were 34 children's quilts brought in; 63 pillows, 15 walker totes, and 23 catheter bag covers.

PBQ Members in 2013 Hoffman Challenge

Two of our Pine Belt Quilters members have quilts accepted to travel in the Hoffman Challenge. Jo-Ann Evans' quilt "Kokeshi Dolls" is approximately 28'" x 35". It will be traveling with Group D.

 

Kokeshi Dolls by Jo-Ann Evans
28" x 35"

Joe Bingham has two quilts which will be in the traveling exhibits: "Sanctuary" and “Corner of Judge’s Background Window.” Both of these quilts are 20" x 24".


Sanctuary by Joe Bingham
20" x 24"



Corner of Judge's Background Window by Joe Bingham
20" x 24"

 

MQA Educational Seminar with Nancy Mahoney

We hosted the third session of the MQA Educational Seminar with Nancy Mahoney at UBC in Hattiesburg. We had 15 participants on Friday and 18 on Saturday.

Nancy Mahoney with her quilts Summer Heat and Chocolate Caramel Stars

Nancy has written 14 books and is an author/editor for Martingale. She will be teaching on a 10-day cruise to Alaska on the Grand Princess in August. (See Nancy's website for details.)


Day 1 Class

 

Day 2 Class

 

 

Each student had her own table to work on, and we were spread out all over Kelley Fellowship Hall. It is like moving to pack up the machines, mats, rotary cutters, fabric, and all the other sewing equipment needed to take one of these classes. But we are lucky that MQA hosts these annual educational seminars with nationally known teachers.

Parade of Children's Quilts

Pine Belt Quilters had a large turnout for our annual July luncheon and Parade of Children's Quilts. We had 34 new quilts brought in for the Parade, and members voted for their favorite by ballot. Makers completely encircled the room to give everyone a good look at the quilts.

The tables were decorated with red, white and blue streamers and flags, and we had a full table of delicious summer foods. In addition to the quilts brought in, members turned in 63 pillows, 15 walker totes, and 23 catheter bag covers. These will be donated to Forrest General Hospital and Marion County General Hospital. We have received thank-you letters describing how happy these gifts make the patients who receive them.

 

 



Winners  3rd - Otha Mae Edwards, 2nd - Dianne McLendon, 1st - Kathy Houseal



Representatives from five agencies were present to receive quilts. We gave each agency approximately 17 quilts, for a total of 85 quilts. Teressa Ellzey and Riley Herrin represented the Shafer Center for Crisis Intervention; Annie Jackson for South Mississippi Children's Center; Joan Harper, from the "Chain Gang" volunteers at Wesley Medical Center; and Leigh Ann Leonard from Forrest General Hospital.

Teressa Ellzey and Riley Herrin , Annie Jackson, Joan Harper, Leigh Ann Leonard



Geraldine Simmons and Betty Herring (pictured above) head up the walker totes and catheter bag covers. They write up instructions for the making of these and deliver them to hospitals. Betty and Joe Bingham look after the pillows and deliver them after each meeting.