east iowa heirloom quilters
TRANSCRIPT
East Iowa Heirloom Quilters Cedar Rapids, IA website http://www.eihqguild.com
Organized October 1980 to promote the art of quilt making & relat-ed projects.
February 2021 - National chocolate lovers month! Volume 43, No. 3
EIHQ guild meetings are held on the fourth Monday of the month (except December) at 9:00 am and 6:30 pm (with a few exceptions) at the
American Legion, 625 31st St., Marion, IA. There is an Annual evening meeting in October. Please contact Membership chair Debbie
Wordehoff ([email protected] or 319-389-5550) or the EIHQ website (http://www.eihqguild.com) for more information.
In person meetings and workshops at the American Legion Hall, 625 31st Street, Marion, IA 52302 have
been CANCELLED for January, February and March due to health concerns.
February Zoom Program: “Letting your Fabric Do the Work: the Art of What If” by Tony Jacobson.
In this issue:
• A word from our fearless leader.
• Patterns, inspirations & challenges - oh my!
• QOV presentation coming soon.
• Are you bored yet? Check out events (virtual and in person) in the area and with the Guild.
• Prizes to win and games to play.
• Scraps - snippets about the Guild.
• Shop from your easy chair! Support your local quilt shops, quilters, guild, and members. Check out their sales!
Currently there are 286 members of EIHQ.
Welcome to new member Diane Harden, and rejoins Alice Taylor and Cynthia
Monroe.
President’s Corner
Hello Quilters!
Winter is well and truly upon us! With all the snow we’re getting, it’s a perfect time to stay
home and work in your sewing room. I started the year spending a whole day cleaning and
organizing my sewing studio. I even catalogued all my UFOs, and was a little surprised when I
found a few I had forgotten about – I’m sure none of you have ever had that happen!
If you did not join the January meeting and have not yet viewed the video recording of Helen
Godden’s program, I strongly encourage you to do so. She was a wonderful speaker and had
lots of really inspiring quilts. Even though I never have and likely never will make an art quilt,
I was blown away by her designs and quilting skills. We can only keep her program on our
website for one month, so be sure to view it before our February meeting.
Don’t forget to check out the details of my President’s challenge this month; it’s a technique
I’ve never tried, so I’m excited to give it a go.
Megan Bracy
Did you know…. Mindful quilting activities have a meditative quality with health benefits. These activities can improve your mental and physical health, sharpen attention, and dissolve stress. Even a 15-minute session has effects similar to a day of vacation. So take a trip to your sewing room for your health!
President’s Challenge
Each month I will choose a technique to practice. You can make any size block, or project using this technique. It does not need to be finished or made into a quilt. There is a page on our website titled “President’s Challenge”, it includes links to resources based on the technique of the month. If this month’s challenge is not new for you, please participate anyway! You could try a harder block than what you’ve done before. Or if you are an expert, please help a friend or newer member! This Month I Learned….Quilt Origami Our February challenge is going to be making some origami quilt blocks. There are so many patterns out there using folded fabric techniques. I have seen everything from simple pinwheel blocks to beautiful flowers, even wonderful Christmas ornaments. I plan to try one of the flower patterns and will share a photo for the show and tell. Good luck! Please send photos of your completed challenge to [email protected] by March 26. We will add photos each month on the show and tell page of our website. Don’t forget: You can still submit photos for the January challenge (mitered corners) until February 15th!
Zoom tips
Are you missing out on our meetings?
Joining a Zoom meeting is easy! When you receive an email invite, an instant messaging invite, a text invite on your mobile phone, or an invite on Facebook, simply click the link to join the meeting. The Zoom link is also available on the EIHQ website under the Meetings tab.
No need to download the Zoom app ahead of time and no need to create a Zoom account. You will be prompted to download and install Zoom when you click the join link. Just follow the instructions that will be presented.
If you do not want to download the Zoom app, you can join the meeting from a landline or mobile phone by dialing the number provided in the invite. You will only be connected to the audio portion—no video.
We hope to see you on one of the guild Zoom meetings soon!
SOS: Sharing Our Skills
Have you all been busy cutting 2.5" squares? Here are some ways to use them!
The first three feature "16 blocks", that is 4 rows of 4, 2.5" squares.
The first pattern has 16 patches, and 9 patches, using sashing with
strips of 2.5" squares.
The second pattern alternates 16 patches with a
solid rectangle, 8.5" by 4.5".
The third 16 patch, from Bonnie Hunter, called Winter Blues, has 16
patches with all dark 2.5" squares. The alternating blocks are une-
ven nine patches, with dark 2.5" squares in the outer corners.
The next group uses strips of 2.5" squares. The first of these, from
Busy Hands Quilts, uses strips of 5, 2.5" squares. These are sewn
with alternating solid strips, 2.5" by 10.5". Half of the blocks will
have 3 "strips " and 2 solids, the other half will have 2 "strips" and 3
solids.
Next, also from Busy Hands, uses strips of varying lengths, and solid
rectangles. Each block has 5 parts, the first being a strip of 5, 2.5"
squares. The next uses 4 of the "colored 2.5" and one solid 2.5"
square. The other 3 rows have one less "colored" 2.5" square, and a
larger solid rectangle, until the last using 1, 2.5" square, and a 2.5"
by 8.5" solid.
The last two patterns feature 9 patch blocks. The first of
these, from Bear Creek Quilting, has double 9 patch blocks,
half using 4 dark, one light larger squares, the other half
using all light colored larger squares.
Finally, a pattern using rows of 9 patches, where the 2.5" squares in
the 9 patches are alternating light and dark squares.
SOS thanks you, for all you do. Hopefully all the chain piecing you have been doing these many
months will soon be made into finished quilts and be given out to the neighbors in our community
who are in need.
Diane Eimen and Suzanne Mullins
QOV: Quilts of Valor
February …….
BURRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!
Isn’t snow beautiful – TO LOOK AT!!! I have several huge icicles hanging from the roof in front of my bay window and I really did sit there yesterday and watch them form!!! A little drop of water would roll down the icicle to the bottom .. and pulsate deciding if it was going to drop off into the cold snow below or not – and decided it’d be better to stay with his friends on the icicle!!! --------- YES, I’m crazy!!! – but it was interesting, education and fun to watch. BUT – I pulled myself away and actually had a miniature QOV Sew Day yesterday!!! Yesterday (Sat. Feb. 6) was QOV® National Sew Day. The National part was really by “zoom” for about 8 hours. Was interesting – several speakers, old QOV staff that I had not seen in years AND …. A few brave souls came to my house, fondled some beautiful new fabric, committed to making a quilt or two and got back home before the snow flurries of the afternoon. A hint of the “Good ‘Ole Days” – sure hope we can start our Monthly Sew Day up again soon. Speaking of soon, March is not far away, and Freedom Stitchers have tentatively set early March to begin our Presentations of QOV’s again! The manner of the Presentations of course will depend on Covid restrictions in place at that time. LOTS of good news and things to look FORWARD to!! I definitely want to THANK Freedom Stitchers and others who have used the “magic box” on my doorstep and blessed us with almost 50 quilts in the last six months or so. The need is still there – if not stronger – to award our Veterans for our freedom!!! It is such a blessing to have you working with us to accomplish this important endeavor!! GOD BLESS!!! Until we really do meet again, please contact me – or ANY Freedom Stitchers of Iowa mem-ber for more information. I’ll see anyone by appointment who would like to learn more and fondle fabric with us. We still want/need quilts to continue to honor our Veterans!
THANK YOU TO YOU ALL!
Thanx, Elayne (319-551-4492) Email: [email protected]
Stay safe, my friends – take care of yourselves first – so you are able to help others and help protect us ol’ folks!!!
If you’re in the mood to make a quilt – think red/white/blue – and think about a VET-ERAN!!! They’d LOVE it!! Who better to make a quilt for than a Veteran?? Please con-tact me for information/specifications!
2021 Programs - Cindy Unruh
Hello Quilters! I’d like to thank everyone who attended our January meeting. We are learning there are definite advantages to having these virtual meetings. First, being they aren’t cancelled because of snow. Second, we can travel anywhere without needing a passport. I hope you enjoyed Helen’s presentation. Congratulations to the door prize winners - Geneva Marsh, Anita Gillett, and Nancy Rawson. We will continue having door prizes each virtual meeting.
Hope to see more of you join us this month. If you’d like more information on how Zoom works, call me and we will see about setting up some mini Zoom classes to help you learn how to join in. Monday February 22nd 6:30pm “Letting your Fabric Do the Work: the Art of What If” by Tony Jacobson from Pieceworks Winterset, Iowa at www.pieceworksquiltshop.com.
Tony will show how a pattern can look so different with your choice of fabric, and how mak-ing a subtle change can create a complete new look. He will be sharing his quilt patterns done in several different ways to encourage us to act on our creative “What If’s.” MARCH - To Be Announced APRIL 26th 6:00pm “FINISHING QUILTS - BORDERS AND BINDINGS” by Gloria Stickney from Sew Fabulous. Gloria will be showing many ideas on how to finish our quilts, giving us some creative options. Many using the Square in Square Ruler. She will have a few door prizes and offering a 24 hour discount after the event. Plus, I will have some prizes, too. MAY 24th 6:30pm “JOURNEY WITH A COMPASS” - Exploring quilts with creative Mariners compass by Chris Lynn Kirsch. Chris has a unique technique on Mariners compass designs using freezer paper. A workshop may be offered— to be announced in March. JUNE- TO BE ANNOUNCED JULY- 26th 6:30 pm “PLAYING WITH COLORS” by Cindy Grisdela Art Quilts Learn how to select colors effectively for your quilts and learn which ones play well together. Reduce your stress in choosing your colors. There will be a virtual work-shop, “Mini Improv Puzzle Block”, on Monday August 2nd at 12:30pm. I will have more information on the workshops following our February zoom presentation and in the March newsletter.
Guild Scraps Inclusion and Diversity Committee Our next Inclusion and Diversity Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 22nd at 1PM via
Zoom. Wondering what this committee is all about? We'd love for you to join the conversation. Please
contact Erin Lauer ([email protected]) if you would like the Zoom link emailed to you. All are
welcome!
Amazon smiles
EIHQ is part of Amazon Smile which means Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of eligible “smile. amazon.com” purchases to the charities selected by customers. All you need to do is copy/paste the following link to your browser and designate EAST IOWA HEIRLOOM QUILTERS as your charity:
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/42-1192347 When you shop, you must go to smile.amazon.com (NOT amazon.com). Thank you for your support!
Contact a board member
If you have suggestions, compliments, constructive criticism, or if you have found something fun/
educational you would like to share with Guild members, please feel free to send these to a board mem-
ber (found on our website http://www.eihqguild.com/board-members.html).
NEED A LITTLE SUNSHINE? Hello, my name is Sondra Lewis and I am the EIHQ Sunshine Gal. If you know of an EIHQ member in need of a lift of sunshine due to illness, accident, hospitaliza-tion, death, stressed, thank you, etc., please email ([email protected]) or call (319.999.0719, voicemail okay) giving me the reason, name, and address of per-son to receive the sunshine. Also, include your name/contact info in case I need more information. I’ll quickly send them a “personalized” card on behalf of EIHQ. I check the above email address at least daily.
Explore our tech sites Have you completed the Presidents Challenge to learn something new this month? Information and links for January and February skills are found under the President’s Challenge tab on our website www.eihqguild.com. Trying to enter a members only area and can’t remember the password? You can find it on the back of your current membership card.
Are you following us on Facebook or Instagram? We are East Iowa Heritage Quilters on Facebook and eihqguild on Instagram. You will get reminders, useful links and other infor-mation on either platform. In addition, you can participate in our community question and learn about your fellow quilters. We’ve been sharing a quilt goal for the year - reading through everyone’s goals is very inspiring. Come join the fun - you might even win a quilty prize!
Dorothy Grimm Deb Sorensen Linda Haas Deb Crane Janet Lockwood Irina Simonova Lee Buhr
Sue Howe Vicki Ohde Judy Greco Becky McCarville Moira Guffey Belinda Starling Quinn Novak
Carol Kitzman Nancy Canady Diane Eimen Dianne Olinger Kevin Carpenter Marcia Morio Kay Sawyer
Happy birthday to you….
Send happy birthday wishes to our members celebrating a February birthday:
You might need these…
From our website’s Buy & Sell page:
Name Phone Number Item(s) For Sale
Kate Ulmer 319-329-8360 Yards and yards of garment fabrics (silks, cottons, knits, pant weight fabrics)
Bonita Lefebure 319-846-2459
FREE used blue jeans for you to pick up if you are interested. Template set for wedding ring quilt - $10. Cabinet. Old wood cabinet for 221 Singer. Oval top gone - $100.
Sylvia Street 605-999-0899
#118 Nature’s Treasure pattern. $3.00 CF224 Take Four placemats pattern $3.00 Ocean Lake Designs #966 A Time For Wine $3.00 Annie’s Keepsakes #188 Christmas Placemats $3.00 Buttermilk Basin Christmas Patchwork Star Quilt pattern $3.00 Country Threads #631 One Falling Down $3.00 Country Threads #511 Do Not Disturb. $3.00 Lunch Box Quilts Merry Christmas pattern $3.00
Cindy Salat 319-361-0488
FREE - 1/4" elastic - I have LOTS for making masks (it arrived just re-cently)
If you need a baby quilt in a hurry - contact me! It's my favorite thing to make and I always have a few in stock and the price is right --- $38.00 !!!
Patricia Potter 319-551-5179
Bernina 820 for sale, $1,100. Always used on a Grace frame for quilting, Ser-viced regularly at Inspired to Sew. Excellent condition.
Looking for something to do?
I-80 Quilter’s One-Stop Shopping Spree
Sunday, February 14, 2021 10-5 Monday, February 15, 2021 10-4 The Gathering Barn I-80 Exit 220, 350 W. Evans St Williamsburg, IA (near Landmark Restaurant) (Crest Mo-tel) Gourmet Lunch available to purchase. Contact Person: Barbara @ 319-668-1977, [email protected]
Iowa Quilt Museum: Visit their website, http://iowaquiltmuseum.org, for more information.
“String Theory: String-pieced Quilts from Past to Present” on exhibit through March 21st.
Can't visit in person? Join them each Tuesday at noon for their live Virtual Iowa Quiltscape sessions,
January 12th - March 9th. Some weeks will focus on the current exhibit, String Theory, while other
weeks will focus on various aspects of the quilting landscape (or Quiltscape) in Iowa. Past sessions can
be viewed on their website. Upcoming sessions:
February 16th – Tara Faughnan, Fern Royce, & Sarah Nishiura, contributors to String Theory
February 23rd – Millie Kehrli, Mary Barton’s Textile Legacy
March 2 – Sujata Shah & Ann Brauer, contributors to String Theory
March 9 – Mary Fons & Jody Sanders, Quilt Publication
ONLINE CLASS with Sarah Nishiura: “Twisted Threads: The Significance of String”
Saturday, February 27th • 10:00am – Noon CST; Cost $10
The Mesquite Quilt Guild (Texas) is hosting a block swap that is open to the public. See their Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/904769639610593/. Make 30 "fun with envelopes" blocks (pattern will
be emailed to you), and mail them back by April 15th. Include $8 or a SASE, to have 30 different blocks
mailed back to you.
The Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts
Each week on Friday at noon, there will be a live Zoom lecture featuring different artists. Delayed feed will
be on Facebook or YouTube.
We all need a retreat….
Unfortunately, the March 19-21, 2021 retreat has been cancelled…..
BUT, we are still planning the next retreat for October 1-3, 2021. If you are interested in being a retreat leader, please contact Mary Vandevender (319-395-9592, [email protected]).
Barn Quilt Tours For a contactless quilt experience, see http://www.barnquiltinfo.com/map-IA.html.
Thank you to our Advertisers! Check out the sales!
Viking Sewing Center has a great selection of previously
owned Viking Embroidery machines on hand right now!
Invite the sun in....
Helios is located on the East side of Mount Vernon's historic downtown in the Old School Shops building: 221 First Street NE.
Helios specializes in bright, modern fabrics and 108" by 120" quilt backs. We also have an extensive selection of 3 yard and 5 yard quilt patterns.
Helios will be closed to foot traffic until further notice. We are open for Internet and phone orders. Curbside pickup is available Mon-Sat from 1pm until 5pm. Call Kevin at 319-594-7987 or Leland at 319-512-3323. Our new website is heliosstitchesnstuff.com.
We look forward to working with you again soon!
2021 Special from Silver Needle Stitching: Receive a FREE embroidered label with each quilt!
Blooming Acres Florist & Gifts
221 2st Street NE 1st floor Old School Shops Building Mt. Vernon, Iowa 52314 Telephone: 319-895-6077 Owner: Becka Owen Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.bloomingacresmv.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Blooming-Acres-103236617882/ Rent our space for crafting or quilting.
