“Members’ Corner”

Welcome, BVQ Members! This is your Guild information page. Click on any of the links below for further details.
NOTE: GUILD NEWS items, Hospitality Schedule and Fabric Fun are updated monthly; other newly added or updated items are highlighted in red.
Please contact the Webmaster to report news items or to suggest updates to this page.

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BVQ now meets at BETHLEHEM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH,
located at 4 WESTTOWN RD, THORNTON, PA.
Don’t forget to bring a non-perishable food item for the church’s food pantry!! *******************************************************************************

RECENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS   GUILD NEWS   MEETING INFO   MISCELLANEOUS
January 10: Charity Workshop   Bee News   Fabric Fun   AQS Book Club
January 17: Cut! Sew! Quilt!   BVQ Challenge   Hospitality Schedule   Magazine Subscriptions
February 28: Quilt Show Meeting   Meeting/Membership News   Meeting checklist   Speakers’ Workshops
March 30 - April 1: Annual Retreat   President’s Message   Scrap Bag   BVQ Workshops
April 19: Board Meeting   Sunshine       Jo-Ann Discount Cards
May 19: 25th Anniversary Party   Winners’ Circle       BVQ Tote Bags

Meeting and Membership News and Info

Meeting Highlights/Information:
January Meeting Highlights
December Meeting Highlights
Winners’ Circle ** Hospitality ** Your Help Needed!! ** Meeting Checklist

REMINDERS TO MEMBERS:
PLEASE REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR NAME TAG, AND TO SIGN IN AT THE WELCOME TABLE WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE MEETING (so that we can have an accurate attendance count)!!! Also, please return your library books before the meeting.

January Meeting Highlights

At our January, 2012 meeting, we held a charity workshop. Many hands made light work of cutting squares for charity quilt kits, as well as string-piecing blocks for Quilts of Valor. Members who brought pre-cut squares were entered in a drawing for some cool prizes!

December Meeting Highlights

On December 13, 45 BVQ members enjoyed a covered dish Holiday Dinner at our new location, Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 4 Westtown Road, Thornton, PA.

Dinner was followed by a short business meeting and then a fun game where we passed around fat quarters in the hopes of winning a pile of them.

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Winners’ Circle

(Please note that due to the time needed to count and divide the money, there will be a cut off time of 7:00 P.M. for purchasing 50/50 and Not-So-Blind-Raffle tickets at the Guild meetings.)
December Winners
50/50:   Donna Curtis
Block of the Month:   Lee Hickman
Not So Blind Raffle:   7 gift baskets were won by Barbara Keller, Karen Hammock, Diane Camarote
Donna Elliott, Nancy DeBerardinis, Peg Miller, Betty Dix
Fabric Raffle:   Bettye Altzman

January Winners
50/50:   Barbara Keller
Block of the Month:   Lee Hickman
Not So Blind Raffle:   Bettye Altzman
Fabric Raffle:   Betty Jean Boyd, Deb Kelly, Nancy DeBerardinis, Donna Ricchuiti

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Hospitality

When you are on the list, please bring a snack and a two liter bottle of your favorite drink. If you cannot come, please ask a friend to bring it for you, or trade with someone. And please sign the check-off sheet at the refreshment table so we know you've come. Also, whenever donating food for snacks or pot-luck dinners, please indicate if your dish contains nuts or shellfish (for the benefit of those with food allergies).

JANUARY, 2012
Set-up help: (20 min. early) Clean-up help: (allow 15 minutes at the close of the meeting)
Sue Nann Rikki Newlander
Ellen Nobles-Harris Judy Norman
Joy Peeling Suzanne Quinney
Donna Ricchuiti Ellen Richardson
Dawn Romanczak Nancy Saporosa

FEBRUARY, 2012
Set-up help: (20 min. early) Clean-up help: (allow 15 minutes at the close of the meeting)
Tammy Sarosy Sonia Schaeffer
Betsy Seiffert Jane Shea
Marty Shea Janice Sheehan
Bobbie Spaid Marge Stitz
Pat Svitek Adrianna Takacs

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Your Help Is Needed!

Handcrafted Items Wanted

Have any goodies for the Not-So-Blind Raffle? Please consider donating an item to this raffle!!! It is a BVQ fund raiser, and it makes no sense to buy something when we have so many talented members!! We all love someone else’s hand made things, although hand-made is not mandatory. Items may be given to Heather Smalley. What nifty treasure might you like to win? Be imaginative!

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Meeting checklist:

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2012 Quilt Show: October 20 - 21, 2012

“Making Memories...a fat quarter century of quilts”…honoring our 25th anniversary as a guild!

Committee chairpersons are in place. Mary Alice Peeling has volunteered to be the Chairperson for White Gloving. She will organize the glovers and their time-slots, but unfortunately cannot be there the weekend of the show, so she needs a co-chair to oversee things during the show. Thanks to new member Sue Quinney for stepping up to help out!

The Quilt Show and quilt raffle are our major fund raisers, divided into 2 years. Money raised is for speakers, insurance, etc. Responsibility is to us... 82 members. We would like to use our “Sit and Sew” time (3rd Tuesday of each month - see Cut! Sew! Quilt! on our Activities and Community Service page) to make some boutique items. We are hoping that someone (YOU???) would provide a workshop on an item that might be something we can make for the boutique. If someone wants to follow along, fine. Of course this does not mean that you can’t use our Sit and Sew to work on your own projects!! This is just a fun idea for members to participate in the boutique together.

Kathy is going to lead us in a project on the third Tuesday in February (2/21/12). She will be showing us how to make a quilted wallet. The supply list and directions were provided with the January newsletter. Make one for yourself - make one for BVQ. They are really cute! Do you have a quick project you can share in March, April, May, etc.?? Contact Kathy Silvon or Deb Kelly if you think you have a neat project that you could teach us! This could be fun! Items for the Artisan Boutique may be quilted/fabric/needle/thread related.

The next Quilt Show meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at Brandywine Assisted Living at Longwood, 301 Victoria Gardens Drive, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. All Committee Chairs are asked to attend or send your report to Kathy Silvon.

Quilt Show Meetings are OPEN to all members. Not sure how you can help? Why not join us?

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25th Anniversary Celebration

SAVE THE DATE! Saturday, May 19, 2012, at 1:00 p.m., BVQ will be celebrating our 25th anniversary with a luncheon at Generations Restaurant in Media, PA. It will be a 3 course served luncheon. We will also be doing a quilting murder mystery - “Murder at Pieceful Lake”, and there will be gifts and prizes for everyone, much fun and a time to socialize. We’re asking members to pay $15 towards the cost of the party.

NOTE: There will be NO regular BVQ guild meeting in May - the luncheon will take its place.

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Raffle Quilt News

Thanks to Jody Beitzel and Ellen McLaughlin for volunteering to coordinate the 2012 Raffle Quilt. We can't wait to see what they've come up with! Stay tuned and be ready and willing to lend your assistance.

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BVQ 2012 Retreat

Join BVQ the weekend of March 30, 2012, at our annual retreat to Black Rock Retreat Center in Quarryville, PA. This 2 night stay includes 5 meals and many hours of sewing and camaraderie! Contact Ellen McLaughlin for availability and specifics. LIMITED SPACE LEFT!!

*** Please note: All payments are due to Ellen by the February meeting. ***

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Sunshine

Happy Birthday!!!
Karen Martin   January 4
Maureen Bonnes   January 10
Joy Peeling   January 10
B.J.Titus   January 15
Jane Shea   January 31
Guild members, please call (don’t email) Peg Miller with Sunshine information (births, deaths, congratulations, etc.), so that she can acknowledge our members’ birthdays and life events on the Guild's behalf.

Also please keep in mind that we give “Baskets of Cheer” to BVQ members who are going through a tough time dealing with a serious illness, surgery or the death of a loved one. Bring new or “gently used” item(s) to any Guild meeting and give them to Sue Nann, who will store them, and prepare and deliver baskets as needed. Suggested items are: ...think of what would YOU like if your were the recipient!

Thank you for your assistance!

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Fabric Fun -- Monthly Raffle

NEW: Fat Quarter Raffle will now include 1/2 yard cuts of fabric!!!! One half yard cut will count as 2 fats, therefore allowing you 3 tickets!!! (Be sure to let our Fabric Raffle Lady Diane Camarote know whether you are submitting fats/halfs, or both, so you get the proper number of tickets!) The more fabrics you bring in, the more chances you get to win!
1 fat = 1 ticket
2 fats = 3 tickets
5 fats = 10 tickets
Upcoming themes are: Bring one or more 100% cotton fat quarters (18" x 22") or half-yard cut(s) in that month’s theme to the BVQ meeting and you may go home with a pile of fabrics!

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BVQ Tote Bags Available!

BVQ tote bag   This is your chance to proudly display your Quilt Guild membership. Our sturdy totes are a perfect size for guild meetings, quilt classes, or to fill up with great buys at the quilt show.

The tote is 13" wide x 15" high x 4" deep. It has many pockets: a large front one with our original graphic and guild name, pockets on the ends for water bottle, cell phone, business cards, pens, etc. It comes in 2 color ways: blue/black with white text, and cream/black with burgundy text. All this for only $10.00 each!

Get Yours Now! Bags are available for purchase at monthly Guild meetings - see Anne Marie Kiesling. No limit on how many you may get - makes a great gift for all your friends!

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BVQ Scrap Bag

Scrap Bag News ** What is the Scrap Bag? ** Scrap Bag FAQ ** Scrap Bag Project Ideas

Scrap Bag News

Bobbie Spaid thanks everyone who has donated fabric and scraps to make dog pillows. She has made so many pillows that the SPCA has enough for the time being. Bobbie will not be collecting any more little scraps (for stuffing the dog pillows) and home dec/upholstery fabric (to make the pillows) until sometime in the spring of 2012. Meanwhile, save your teeny scraps, chop up your small batting scraps, gather some heavier fabric and make some dog pillows for your local SPCA or Humane Society! Simply cut the pillow fabric 12" x 24" for a small pillow or 24" x 36" for a larger pillow, fold in half right sides together and sew around the raw edges, leaving an opening to turn right side out, stuff it and stitch the opening closed and you're done! Nothing fancy - a dog will love it no matter what it looks like!

...GOT SCRAPS?? BRING ’EM ON!
 
Scrap BAGS!!   Please limit your Scrap Bag donations to quilting fabric scraps no less than 1" wide. Save your yardage (fat quarters or larger) to donate to Guild auctions or the quilt show bazaar. Donate unwanted non-quilting fabrics to Goodwill or another charity that can use them.

You can help the Scrap Bag Lady by smoothing out and sorting your scraps by color or theme and placing them in zipper plastic bags. Large bags of crumpled, frayed scraps take a while to deal with! And please don't empty your sewing room trash can into a bag to donate! Your Scrap Bag Lady would prefer to spend her time quilting than weeding out thread bits, candy wrappers, etc. Thank you for your help!

What is the Scrap Bag?

Just finished a project? Wait! Don't throw out those leftover scraps and orphan blocks! Bring them to the BVQ meetings and dump them in the Scrap Bag!

Any cotton quilting fabric 3/4" or larger is welcome! Questions? Check out the FAQ or contact Lil Koster Also let us know if you have any suggestions or special requests.

Whenever you get the itch to make something for an upcoming BVQ auction or charity project, you can dig through the Scrap Bag for fabric to use. (The Scrap Bag is available at most BVQ meetings.) So bring us your tired, your poor, SCRAPS!!

Many thanks,
Lil Koster, “The Scrap Bag Lady”

Scrap Bag FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):

Q. What is acceptable for the BVQ Scrap Bag? The newsletter said a piece as small as 3/4" was OK, but is that the width of a strip, or can it be a square/rectangle piece of material?
A. Quilting cottons only, please! 3/4" wide strips longer than a foot or so are great for making clothesline bowls. For non-strip scraps, we'll take anything at least 1" on any side. Also, we'll taks selvages with the writing and color marks that are 1½" wide and at least 4" long - please bag these separately!
Q. Are we collecting batting scraps?
A. Not at this time. Due to the large donations of scraps at the March meeting (thank you, everyone!), your Scrap Bag Lady has quite enough to store and tote! However, if anyone needs batting scraps, just ask and we will find you some.
Q. Are members allowed to use the scraps for projects they are working on personally? Sometimes you need just a bit of something!
A. You may take scraps for your own use, but we hope that you will contribute scraps of your own at some point in time. One of our goals for the Scrap Bag is help to keep precious fabric out of the landfills! It can be our “green” initiative!
Q. Much of the fabric in the Scrap Bag is in individual zipper bags. Can I take fabric out of those bags or do I have to take the whole bag?
A. Feel free to take whatever scraps you'd like. If you need a bag to put them in and there are no bags available, ask Lil Koster, SBQ (“Scrap Bag Queen”), for one.
Q. What can I make with those scraps?
A. Grab some red, white and blue scraps for a Quilt of Valor, or grab a baggie or two and make a 9" x 12" quilt for the Priority: Alzheimer's Quilt project. String-piece (sew and flip) strips to a fat-quarter backing to make placemats to donate to Meals on Wheels. Need more ideas? click here for a .pdf document with lots of suggestions.

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AQS Book Club

American Quilter’s Society sell books and other small items at a reduced price if a person or organization is a member. A 20% discount is given if we order one (1) to five (5) items. If we order six (6) or more items, we will get a 30% discount. You may pay by cash or check. The catalog has a 50% discount selection and the discounts apply to sale items as well. Anne Marie Kiesling will bring the catalog each month, or you can browse online at http://www.americanquilter.com/books_supplies/.

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Quilting Magazine Subscriptions

Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting is a wonderful magazine. See Anne Marie Kiesling for a recent copy if you would like peruse the magazine. The subscription is $20.00 a year for 6 issues. For each individual subscription OR RENEWAL, BVQ will earn $5.00. You may pay by cash or check. Please contact Anne Marie Kiesling for more information or any questions you may have.

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Jo-Ann VIP Discount Cards

Become a Jo-Ann VIP & save 10% on every purchase! Visit www.joann.com/VIP or call (toll-free) 1-877-604-2280 to sign up for a Jo-Ann's VIP card. You will receive your card in a few weeks. You will still need to go to the store and have your card validated by store management prior to first use, by providing proof of organization membership (BVQ membership card) and a state-issued photo ID.

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Board Meeting

The next Board meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 19, 2012, at 7:00 p.m., at Quilter's Corner in Olde Ridge Village on Route 202 (south of Route 1) in Chadds Ford. All Board members and committee chairs, as well as any interested BVQ members, are invited to attend.

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