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.

Nancy Mahoney--MQA Educational Seminar

 Message from Judy Stokes, MQA Immediate Past President:
Calling all PROCRASTINATORS!!!
There are still spots available for the MQA Educational Seminar with Nancy Mahoney. Nancy will teach two classes--Summer Heat and Chocolate Caramel Stars. Fees are $30 for each class and you may take one or both. Locations are Starkville, Jackson, and Hattiesburg (July 19-20). Read more about Nancy's classes on her website, and don't miss the opportunity to study with a nationally known teacher. Registration will be held open a few more days until the classes fill. More information and a registration form is on the MQA website.
Questions?  Contact Judy Stokes: 662-327-5920; 662-574-0593; stokesjudy@yahoo.com.

Nancy Mahoney's Chocolate Caramel Stars

PBQ June Meeting

Our June meeting featured the reveal of the Sampler Quilt Challenge that had been led by Donna Burges, Kim Overstreet, and Rhoda Libiez during 2012. A different block design was featured every month of last year, and members could add any other block of their choice for their quilt. Fifteen stunning quilts were displayed, and members chose these winners:  Frances Good, Ruth Byrd, and Mildred Jenkins for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place; money prizes of $75, $50, and $25 were awarded.

Frances Good (green/black--1st place) with Jean Martin and Donna Burges holding Mildred Jenkins' quilt

Ruth Byrd's (2nd place) held by Pat Faulkender

Mildred Jenkins' quilt (3rd) with Donna Burges, Susan Ellis

 Doris Dunn showed variations of the 3-D bowtie quilt with hidden pockets to introduce the workshop that she will teach the following week. Doris prefers a planned color palette over scrappy. She says “I don’t like scrap quilts--that’s like eating leftovers.”

Doris Dunn showing her scrappy bowtie quilt

 

     The raffle quilt “Blueberry Dance” (fund raiser for Children’s Quilt funds) was on display. Betty Moore embroidered the blocks and assembled them, and Wanda Wallace quilted the quilt. Tickets are $1.00, and the drawing will be held September 18. We often have to purchase solids for borders and rolls of batting to meet the needs of our projects. We donate the quilts at our July and December luncheon meetings.

Reminder: At the July meeting we will have our Parade of Children’s Quilts. In addition to our monthly work days to make quilts, we ask that each of our members make at least one children’s quilt each year. We will vote on our favorite. We also will have representatives of various agencies at the meeting to receive our current supply.

Reminder:  18th Annual MQA Educational Seminar with Nancy Mahoney, July 19th & 20th 2013 at UBC in Hattiesburg. Preregistration is required. Different class on each day; you may take one day or two days. See the MQA website for details and registration information.
     Nancy is an author, fabric designer with a 25 yr. history of quilt making. She has created over 90 quilt patterns for a variety of fabric manufacturers. She has authored 12 books published by Martingale Publishing Co. She has taught many workshops nationwide for guilds, shops and conferences including International Quilt Festival in Houston, A Mountain Quilt Fest in Pigeon Forge TN, and Road to California. Nancy believes quilting should be fun. In her classes, her goal is for students to have a good time, learn something new, and make a quilt they will enjoy for years to come.  

     Our generous members brought in 12 walker totes, 6 catheter bag covers, and 33 pillows today.      The family of former member Jo Steele donated many of her books to our PBQ library, as well as a box of fabric for Children’s Quilts. Correction in last month’s pillow count: instead of the reported 108, we had 170 turned in. Pediatric nurses say these really brighten the faces of frightened, sick children.