Bingham Pillow Factory

Emily Bingham, Betty Jo Pharr, Grace Bingham

We have an ongoing pillow making project for the hospitals. Members Betty and Joe Bingham had a busy week recently and with the help of their granddaughters turned in 70 pillows. The Binghams have renamed their studio "The Pillow Factory." What a wonderful way for young girls to spend the summer--learning to sew and making children happy.

Crazy Curves in June

Gloria Green presented our June 15th program on quilts with curves. She showed examples of this type of quilt, such as Drunkard's Path and Robbing Peter to Pay Paul, but particularly ones made using Elisa Wilson's books, Crazy Curves and Crazy Curves Continues. These quilts can be made quickly from charm packs, layer cake packs, fat quarters, or selections from the quilters' stash. Acrylic templates are included with the book and make cutting easy. Gloria will teach a workshop on this method next week.

Mary Nell Magee had recently taught a Quilt Camp for six young quilters at Kelley's Pins and Needles shop, and these quilt tops were proudly shown at the meeting. Each girl brought her sewing machine and had an adult accompany her to the classes.

At our July luncheon meeting we should have many children's quilts brought in for a viewers' choice vote. We encourage all our members to make at least one quilt per year. We will place these quilts with hospitals and shelters for children.

Betty Tudor presents trunk show

Betty describes a quilt made by Nancy Pearson's patterns

Betty Tudor with two of her applique masterpiece quilts

Betty's original hexagon design of her home

Our May meeting featured the quilts of our member Betty Tudor. Betty began her quilting career with piecing and took classes and finished all the class projects she began. When she discovered applique in about 1990, she knew she had found her passion. She showed 44 pieces and told where and when she made the pieces and if they were the outcome of a class.

Betty loves hand quilting and did most of the full-size quilts on a round wooden hoop while sitting up in her bed watching TV. She has added machine quilting to her skills, but still favors hand quilting, particularly for her exquisite applique work. Her quilts have often been prize winners at PBQ shows. She has also been in the IQA show in Houston and AQS in Paducah.

Joe Bingham gets quilting fever

When Betty Bingham's husband, Joe, retired, he became interested in what his wife was involved in--quilting. Our children's quilt group leaders prepared several packets for members to take home and complete. Joe and Betty took 23 quilt tops home, and Joe layered and quilted them on Betty's domestic sewing machine. Betty helped with binding and they returned the 23 completed quilts to our children's quilt inventory. Joe is a PBQ member now and enjoys all the educational features of our meetings. Betty manages our library and keeps our books rotating. Thanks, Betty and Joe!

Quilts for Japan

Sorting and selecting quilts to send. Pictured are (left to right) Shirley Wiltshire, Wanda Wallace, David Wallace, Vivian Plummer, and Lida McDowell

Wanda and David Wallace

When the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, quilters wanted to help and comfort those affected. Pine Belt Quilters make children's quilts all year long, and we had some quilts ready and available, so we boxed up 25 quilts and sent them to Mission of Love, an organization partnering with equilter.com. Mission of Love has been involved in getting supplies where needed and had arrangements for an Air Force plane to transport the quilts.

Hoffman Challenge

Donna Crager showed the 2011 Hoffman Challenge Fabrics to our guild meeting in March. She encouraged members to create a quilt for this event and enter the contest. We have many talented quilters, and after seeing one of the Hoffman traveling exhibits at our October 2010 show, Donna knew that many of our members should be taking part in this challenge.

Pine Belt Quilters Hosts MQA 2011 Spring Gathering

Pine Belt Quilters hosted the February 2011 Spring Gathering of the Mississippi Quilt Association at Lake Terrace Convention Center in Hattiesburg. Afternoon demonstrations and activities set up for attendees to enjoy included:

"Easy Curves" by Barbara Peters and Minnie Parker

"Mile-A-Minute Quilts" by Vivian Plummer and Martha Ginn

"Nickel Quilts" by Mary Nell Magee, Elaine Magee, and Elvia Edwards

"Straight to the Point" by Donna Burges

"Shiva Paintstiks" by Gloria Green

The room was filled with examples of "Nickel Quilts." Table decorations were examples to carry out PBQ's 2012 show theme: "Life on Our Planet" (anything living, breathing, growing)

A lively auction of donated quilt tops was conducted by David Wallace, with proceeds of $450 going to PBQ's ongoing Children's Quilt projects.

The answer to "How Many Ways Can You Applique?" was provided by PBQ members Rhoda Libiez, Ella Lucas, Ellen Hall, Sally Henderson, and Betty Tudor.

Favorite Gadgets were shown by Kelley McKenzie, Jo-Ann Evans, Julie Radavich, and Wanda Wallace

Saturday's program featured Carol Vickers (MQA member from Decatur) with a discussion on care of textiles and quilts, along with appraisal information furnished by quilters who showed their quilts that Kathy Kansier had appraised during the October 2010 show.

Martha Ginn completed the program with a presentation of "Make Time For Your Creativity."

New officers for the year were voted in, and incoming president Billie Thompson introduced her committees and spoke of her plans for MQA during her tenure.

The event concluded with an always inspiring Show and Tell. Stitch-N-Frame provided shopping opportunities for the quilters.