Blog Moving to a New Location

We have a newly redesigned website which incorporates our blog, so this site will not be continued. All the posts (from 2007-2013) will still be here, but all new posts will be found at www.pinebeltquilters.com.


2014 Raffle Quilt "Confetti Stars" border

Be sure to visit us there!

February Meeting--Underground Railroad

Pine Belt Quilters were treated to a delightful program by members Jean Martin and Minnie Watts at the February meeting. In a tribute to Black History Month, Jean and Minnie were dressed in period costume from the 1800s and described life as a slave and the desire to escape to freedom.


Jean Martin and Minnie Watts

They were assisted by Pastor Tommy Fairley of Collins, who played the harmonica--old favorites like “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” “Down By the Riverside,” “I’ll Fly Away,”  and “Amazing Grace.” You’d have thought you were at an old-fashioned camp meeting as the group clapped in rhythm and sang along to the melodies we all remember from our youth.

Pastor Tommy Fairley

Jean related many stories of the Underground Railroad and how people who facilitated escaping slaves were referred to as conductors, safe houses as stations, and the runaways as passengers. One of the most famous conductors was Harriet Tubman (1823-1913). Many people gave food, clothing, and hiding places for the travelers. It was unlawful to teach slaves to read, and many forms of messages and directions were used. Stories have been passed down through generations of the use of quilts in windows and on fences to indicate a code for sending these messages. It is thought that Jacob’s Ladder pointed the way; Wagon Wheel meant it was time to go; Bear’s Paw that there was food nearby; Sailboat that this was a safe passage to freedom. Although there may have been a fear of water, the slaves often walked in creeks and a river’s edge to avoid leaving tracks and scent for tracking dogs.

Jean had made quilts in many of the patterns from these stories. Pictured below are her Wagon Wheel and Sailboat quilts.

Minnie showed a quilt she had made in the style of the Gee’s Bend quilters. These quilters made colorful, graphic quilts in spite of being isolated without seeing what was being made in other areas.

Minnie's Gee's Bend style quilt

Minnie’s husband and Jean’s husband were both in attendance, beaming with pride! The audience expressed their enjoyment and appreciation--When have you attended a quilt guild meeting and witnessed a standing ovation? There is a wealth of information to be found on the Internet (Google Underground Railroad and Gee’s Bend).

The Boutique group showed us the two-handed pot holders they made at their last meeting. These will be sold at the Boutique during the quilt show (October 3-4-5, 2014).

Barb Peters, Liane McCall, Shirley Walley, Kathy Houseal

Visitor Lhay Triffley, director of Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, described OLLI’s many classes, seminars, and day trips of interest to seniors (over 50).

Kelley Ellis, special events manager at the Hattiesburg Zoo for the Convention Center told us some zoo facts (we have 80 species in our zoo!)to encourage members to participate in the Zoo Challenge category at the show (quilts 24” x 24”) from which one will be selected for a $250 purchase award.
Snippets from Missy Lee: Glad Press 'n Seal can be used to laminate your applique patterns so that they can be written on with a Sharpie pen. It can be cut into strips and wrapped around your thread spools to keep thread from tangling. Keep up with small parts by pressing between two sheets.
Packets containing membership directories and calendar of meetings were passed out. We also received raffle tickets for the Confetti Stars quilt. Each member is responsible for at least 20 tickets; this is our largest fund raiser for the show and many members sell dozens of tickets.
Charitable activities: 127 pillows, 15 walker totes, and 11 catheter bag covers  were brought in.

Members with February birthdays furnished door prizes; the fat quarter drawing was red fabrics; Dianne McLendon passed out the first Round Robin Challenge instructions and fabric; Friendship Block patterns were given. In other words, we had an action-packed meeting, with many more to come! Our new website will be up and available soon.

Save the Date--Quilt Show Information

Our website is under reconstruction, so our 2014 updates are running late. However, all quilt show information and forms will be available at the MQA Gathering on the Coast February 7-8. They will be posted on the new website as soon as possible.

In the meanwhile, here is some advance information to help you make plans for the show.

Dates: Friday-Sunday, October 3-5, 2014
Hours: 10-6 Friday and Saturday; 10-4 Sunday
Location: Lake Terrace Convention Center, Intersection of Highway 49 and I-59 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi

ABBREVIATED INFORMATION PAGE

Eligibility: The quilt must have been completed between 2011 and 2014 and never entered in a Hattiesburg show for judging. The show is open to all residents of Mississippi. Current members of Pine Belt Quilters, members of a Mississippi guild who live out-of-state, and those who become members of PBQ by June 1, 2014, are eligible to enter. Maker may enter no more than 2 items per category with a total of 8 entries.
 

Fees: $8.00 (PBQ members); $10.00 (non-members) per entry

Identifying label: Cloth label stitched to back

Sleeve: A 4-inch double sleeve must be attached to the back of the entry for hanging.

Because of height restrictions, the top of the sleeve must be attached no more than 90" from the bottom of the quilt.

Deadlines: All entry forms MUST BE RECEIVED BY TUESDAY, August 5, 2014. (Allow for mailing time.)

Delivery of quilts:
 

1. Hand-delivered quilts must be delivered on Monday, Sept. 29 between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

2. If delivering quilt(s) to an Off-Site Registration location, delivery must be made on Friday, September 26, 2014, between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. An additional $5 fee for each entry is required for this service). Quilts will be returned on Tuesday, October 7, 2014.  

3. Mailed entries must be received between Sept. 22-26, mailed to

Ellen Hall, 203 Greenwood Place, Hattiesburg, MS 39402.
A photograph is required with each entry form. The quilt does not have to be completed when photo is made; used for identification purposes only.

Admission:

Adults, $5 per day; Children, $3 (12 years and under). Show entrants will receive a name tag and free admission.

Show Chair: Wanda Wallace
Phone: 601-795-4997 e-mail: ohquail@bellsouth.net
Co-chair: Lida McDowell Phone: 601-299-0646 e-mail: lida.mcdowell@gmail.com

Judge: Lorraine Covington, Clemmons, NC

CATEGORIES

Appliqué Large AL 70" or larger Individual

Appliqué Small AS 69" or less Individual

Art – Original design ART Any size Individual

Friendship FR Any size 3 or more

Machine Embroidery/Stitchery/Whole Cloth/Other ME/S/WC/O Any size Individual/Team

Miniatures – Small scale MN Maximum size 24" Individual

Mixed Large ML 70" or larger Individual

Mixed Small MS 69" or less Individual

Pictorial PIC Any size Individual

Pieced Large PL 70" or larger Individual

Pieced Small PS 69" or less Individual

Team Appliqué TA Any size 2 persons

Team Mixed TM Any size 2 persons

Team Pieced Large TPL 90" or larger 2 persons

Team Pieced Medium TPM 70" - 89" 2 persons

Team Pieced Small TPS 69" or less 2 persons

Theme Large (“The Sampler Quilt”)THML 70" or larger Individual/Team

Theme Small (“The Sampler Quilt”) THMS 69" or less Individual/Team

VisitHattie Challenge (“The Zoo”) VHC 24" x 24" Individual

Wearables W Garment Individual

Youth – Ages 10 and under Y/10 Any size Individual/Team

Youth - Ages 11-15 Y/11-15  Any size Individual/Team

NOTES: Two(2) entries per person per category; maximum of 8 entries per person.

Entry Size Limitations: No smaller than 8" on any side
No larger than 115" on any side

January 2014 Meeting

 We started off the new year with a full house of members and visitors. Many suggestions were listed when we were asked to think about a word for the year, such as "hope," "finish," "patience," "gratitude," "excitement."
Our new president, Susie Jackson, gave outgoing president, Betty Allen, a quilt made by the members and assembled by Donna Crager.

 

We were treated to a beautiful trunk show of quilts by our member Anne Hindmarch and her friend, Bridgette Haas, both of Ocean Springs. Anne is originally from Denmark and Bridgette from East Germany; they married and came to the US in the 1960s.

Bridgette Haas with her batik quilt (above); (below) Bridgette's Log Cabin

 

Anne Hindmarch and her animals with footwear quilt

Anne's talent is not new to us--she was our 2012 Best of Show winner with her miniature Dear Jane blocks quilt.

The officers and their committees have a busy year planned--monthly fat quarter drawings and door prizes (furnished by those with birthdays that month), friendship blocks, a new round robin challenge, and our ongoing pro bono projects, and, of course, our October 3-4-5 quilt show. This month we took in 28 pillows, 4 walker totes and 9 catheter bag covers for donations to hospitals.

L to R: Margie Hancock, Anne Esteve, Linda Flanders, Susie Jackson, Paula Jones

Our raffle quilt was finished and on display; the name chosen is CONFETTI STARS, and tickets will be given at the February meeting. Each member is expected to sell at least 20 tickets as part of his/her membership responsibilities.


Confetti Stars

Visitors Bureau Quilts for January 2014

Sally Henderson's quilts are hung at the Hattiesburg Visitors Center for the month of January. They add a touch of warmth to our freezing temperatures.

Thanks to our members Joe and Betty Bingham for hanging the displays for our guild.

December Luncheon and Gifts

Our December luncheon meeting featured great food, beautiful table decorations, and six agencies in attendance to receive the 152 quilts and tableful of gifts we had ready to give. Connie Hitt entertained us with a quilter's version of "My Favorite Things."

Betty Allen and Connie Hitt

Representatives from the Hattiesburg Fire Department were (right to left) Lt. Stephen Mooney, Ben Thompson, Guy Sanford, Eddie Broome, and Mason Pope. Lt. Mooney said their department worked to decrease home fires by education in schools and working with building code enforcement.

 

Annie Jackson and Sonya Felts from South Mississippi Children Services said they assist abused, neglected, and homeless children and youth ages 9-20. In addition to providing living arrangements, they advocate for the youths in schools and court cases.

Riley Herrin (right) and Mandy Baker (left) received quilts for the Shafer Center, describing that they work with victims of sexual assault and families of homicide and suicide. Riley has been in this job for 15 years. Mandy said volunteers were always needed to assist staff with their hotline and with accompanying victims to doctors' appointments.

Becky Sims (right) and Helen Matthews (left) of DAFS again received our heavily laden tables of gifts for mothers and children. DAFS serves 11 counties with two shelters. They have a staff of 19 and also work a 24-hour crisis line. Becky and Helen both expressed the satisfaction of going to work in these service positions. Becky, director, has been on the job 25 years; Helen, the shelter manager, has 22 years experience. They know their work is life-changing and life-saving, and they appreciate PBQ's help in these efforts.

Leigh Anne Leonard, manager of Forrest General NICU and pediatric unit, and Joan Harper, volunteer at Wesley Medical Center, shared stories of the joy and comfort patients and families had received through the donation of our quilts.

Representing the Veterans Home in Collins was Charles Register. He said their residents loved the colorful quilts, and eagerly looked forward to having one for their bed. Our goal is to provide a quilt for each resident.

Members turned in 70 pillows, nine blankets, three walker totes, and four catheter bag covers. These will be taken to area hospitals (Forrest General, Wesley, Columbia General) to be used on the rehab units, emergency rooms, and pediatric units.

Members who had participated in the Mystery Quilt project this year showed their finished quilts. Dianne McLendon announced plans for a 2014 Round Robin Challenge. More information will come later. 2013 was a very busy and productive year, and appreciation was expressed to our outgoing officers. Betty Allen handed the gavel over to Susie Jackson, who will preside in 2014-2015.

December Quilts at Visitors Center

Anne Hindmarch's quilts have been hung at the Hattiesburg Visitors Center for the month of December. These colorful quilts add to the colorful decorations already in place. Be sure to see these quilts at the

 

Hattiesburg Visitors Center Open House

December 11, 11:00-1:00