Activities and Community Service


Here are some of the activities and community service projects that Brandywine Valley Quilt Guild members participate in.
Click any of these links for details...

GUILD ACTIVITIES   COMMUNITY SERVICE   SPECIAL EVENTS   Patterns and Instructions
2008 Raffle Quilt   Service Projects   National Quilting Day   Three-Seam Pillowcase
2009 BVQ Challenge   Scholarships   2009 New Member Tea - pix!!   Fleece Hat, Scarf
2008 Quilt Show   Earn Rebates for BVQ!   2009 Retreat   Stockings for Soldiers
BVQ Bees   Ronald McDonald House   Archives of Previous Events    
             

2008 Raffle Quilt

  2008 Raffle Quilt   Named to tie in with our quilt show theme, our 2008 Raffle Quilt, “On the Road to Thailand” is a lovely batik quilt, generously sized at slightly over 100" square. The quilt was machine pieced and assembled by 29 BVQ members and longarm-quilted by husband and wife team and BVQ members Eric Fischer and Moria Wikstrom-Fischer.

The winning ticket was drawn on Sunday afternoon of BVQ's 2008 quilt show. The winner, Tracy, of Downingtown, PA, also received a matching 20" x 20" pillow and two pillow cases. Second prize was a Red Dawn Quilt kit, which was donated by Laurie Shifrin, the author of “Batik Beauties: 18 Stunning Quilts”, the book containing the pattern for the raffle quilt. Out of all the tickets in the tub, Tracy was the winner of the kit, too!

BVQ thanks M & M Quick Print, Inc., for printing our raffle tickets. Visit them for copying and printing services at 154 Saxer Avenue, Springfield, PA, or call (610) 544-8660.

Visit the BVQ ARCHIVES to view raffle quilts from previous years.

Back to top


2009 BVQ Challenge

At our February meeting, Chairperson Barbara Gross announced the BVQ 2009 Challenge.

Using our choice of fabrics, we are being challenged to make a quilted piece exploring the theme of “Root, Roots, Routes”. Some broad ideas are: Root (as in tree or root through stash or family item), Roots (as in family history or country of origin), or Routes (as in favorite roads or ways of getting somewhere). The object is to have fun and try to work a little outside our comfort level!

Entries are to measure 96" to 120" in perimeter (24" to 30" on a side), can be square, rectangular, round, or any other shape, with the title visible on the front of the piece. Don't forget to add a 2" sleeve on the back so your piece will be ready to hang at BVQ's 2010 quilt show!

Completed entries will be displayed at the August Guild meeting, when we will vote for our favorites.

Visit the BVQ ARCHIVES to view the Challenge entries from 2008 and previous years.

Back to top


Charity and Community Service

BVQ's Charity Projects ** Bee Charity Projects ** Individuals' Contributions

Charity and Community service is an important part of BVQ for both our members and bees. We greatly appreciate our members' giving of their time, material and talents to meet the needs of others. Here, we present news and pictures of current and recent Guild charity projects, projects undertaken by some of our Bees, and by individual BVQ members...


Charity Projects

The organizations we're supporting in 2009 will include, but are not limited to:    Quilts for Kids
Many BVQ members were busy in 2008-09 making the following items to be donated to the charities we support: We look forward to another year of bringing comfort and smiles to those in need!

Betty Dix, Rikki Newlander, Jen Johnson & Katy Hoess

Back to Community Service links

3-Seam Pillowcase Instructions

If you would like to make pillowcases for the ConKerr Cancer pillowcase project, Rikki has provided instructions for a fun and easy method, using only three seams! This method features hidden seam allowances and goes together in a snap, using 3/4 yard of fabric for the pillowcase body and less than 1/3 yard of border fabric. You can add an optional strip of fabric between the border and pillowcase body - using less than a skinny 1/8 yard of fabric.

Make one or more pillowcase in bright, cheerful fabrics. Wash and dry each one, place it in a gallon Ziploc bag and bring it to any BVQ meeting. A sick child will surely appreciate such a wonderful gift!

Back to Community Service links


Busy Bees!

“Back in the day”, small groups of neighborhood quilters would gather on a regular basis to work together on a project, such as a wedding quilt for a bride-to-be, and to share concerns and provide friendship and support. These groups were referred to as “quilting bees”, and this concept continues in contemporary times.

A number of these groups, made up of BVQ members and some of their friends and family members, are enjoying this camaraderie while working together on their own community service projects.

We have a new daytime bee in north Wilmington! This group will be meeting on the 4th Thursday of the month at 1:00 p.m., with the next meeting (February 26) at the home of Barbara Gross. Bring handwork, embroidery, knitting, sewing on a binding or just come. We welcome anyone - you do not need to live in Wilmington. Any questions, contact Betty Jean Boyd.

See below for recent projects by the Brandywine Snippers and the BrandyWine Bee.

BVQ Bees, please send your news of your Bee to your Webmaster so that your projects can be featured here!

Brandywine Snippers

The idea of making charity quilts came to Heidel Gerhard last year when she heard about a family of a single mother and her four children, ages 8 - 18. She presented the project to her Bee members, the “Brandywine Snippers”, who enthusiastically agreed to participate. BVQ provided some of the material, with additional fabric donated by the Bee members. The quilts were designed with motifs matched to the ages of the children.

The quilt tops were completed by the Bee members and the machine quilting was done by Rikki Newlander, Moria Wikstrom-Fisher and Ann Tumolo. After adding the binding and the Guild's label to each quilt, the Bee presented the quilts to the family. All four children loved their new bed covers!

Snippers' Quilts - 1 Snippers' - 2 Snippers' - 3

BrandyWine Bee

Based in north Wilmington, the BrandyWine Bee's 2007-2008 community service project was a quilt for a new VA nursing home which is being built near Milford, Delaware. This project was suggested by Louise Ludecke, primarily because her husband uses the services of the VA hospitals.

The Bee members chose as a centerpiece an appliqué of the hospital by Irene Butcher who also created a “Rosie the Riveter” and an airplane. Barbara Gross, the newest Bee member, made blocks from 9/11 graphic prints, Judy Filipkowski had patches from the 5 armed forces which she stitched onto log cabin blocks, and Louise had some great stars that she adapted. Additional blocks provided by Betty Jean Boyd, Ann Tolman and Lil Koster necessitated multiple quilts!

  VA Quilts - 1 VA Quilts - 2

Back to Community Service links


Individual BVQ Members' Contributions

Lee Hickman and 2008 Retreat Ladies ** Barbara Keller

Quilts Donated to G.O. B.E.Y.O.N.D. Silent Auction

On the evening of November 13, , there was a Silent Auction fundraiser at Catherine Rooney's, 1616 Delaware Avenue in Wilmington, to benefit Go B.E.Y.O.N.D., Inc., of New Castle County, Delaware. Included in the auction were three quilts generously donated by Lee Hickman on behalf of BVQ. Lee made two of the quilts, and the third was made by attendees of BVQ's 2008 Retreat (Peg Miller, Lillian Kreider, Jane Shea, Joan Jasper, Diane DeWalt, Lee Hickman, Barbara Daly, Jeanne Concitis, Mary Ann Lewis, Betty Jean Boyd, Vicki McPeters, Barbara Gross, Barbara DeVault, Tammy Sarosy, Carol Gillespie, Bridget Wilson, Ellen McLaughlin, Anne Denney) and quilted by Lee. We received acknowledgment letters from G.O. B.E.Y.O.N.D. thanking us for our generous support.

  Memories of Asheville by Lee Hickman   Kris' Favorite by Lee Hickman   BVQ Retreat 2008 Mystery Quilt  

Go B.E.Y.O.N.D., Inc. is dedicated to supporting at risk youth coping with transition in New Castle County, Delaware. They provide emergency supplies and basic needs to children affected by foster care, homelessness, substance abuse, mental health, teen pregnancy, and domestic violence. In partnership with the community, they strive to ease the impact of these circumstances and advocate for the well being and safety of children by ensuring that their immediate needs are met. Find out more about G.O. B.E.Y.O.N.D., including other items to be auctioned, at their website, www.gobeyondinc.org.

Back to Community Service links

SOAR Quilt

As they say, “timing is everything”, and we know this to be true! At Hayes Sewing in Wilmington, Delaware, in February, BVQ member Ellen Nobles-Harris was chatting with two other customers...that conversation resulted in a flurry of emails to find a volunteer to assemble a quilt for a fund-raising event to be held in late April. BVQ member Barbara Keller offered to take on this project, and in early March, she received two embellished hand print panels and all materials needed to complete the quilt.

  SOAR Quilt   On April 26, 2008, this 46" x 43" quilt was one of the items featured in a silent auction held at a fundraiser for SOAR (Survivors of Abuse and Recovery). The winner bid was $300.00! The winner decided that the quilt should be hanging in the offices of SOAR, located on Foulk Road in Wilmington, Delaware, and has generously donated it back to them for that purpose.

The quilt was the brainstorm of a volunteer committee and complemented the Western theme of the evening event. The horses shown in the panels are actually composed of handprints of some of the children in the program.

Find out more about SOAR at their website, www.soarinc.com.

Back to Community Service links
Back to top


BVQ Awards Scholarships to Garnet Valley Students

BVQ's 2008 scholarship recipients were Garnet Valley High School graduating seniors Samantha Kling and Alessandra DeNofio. Each of these young ladies received $500.00 from BVQ. They are both planning to pursue further education and careers in fashion design. We wish them the best of luck and much success!

Back to top


eScrip: Earn Rebates for BVQ!

eScrip is an online resource for fundraising where participating business partners contribute a percentage of your grocery loyalty cards, credit card, and debit/ATM card purchases to the school, group or organization of your choice. Read all about the program at http://www.escrip.com/program/about.jsp.

Click to shop online and earn cash back for BVQ!   New from eScrip is their Online Mall, with over 800 online stores that offer products and services from computers and software to men's and women's apparel, jewelry, electronics, home and garden supplies, dining, travel discounts and so much more! Amazon and eBay are just two of the most popular merchants in the Online Mall. Click the eScrip logo to the left to start shopping and let your purchases earn money for BVQ. You do not need to be signed up on eScrip, there is no need to have a credit or debit card registered and you can even shop anonymously, if you wish.

3 easy ways to earn cash back for BVQ with eScrip   Do you shop at Safeway/Genuardi's? If your card is registered with eScrip, BVQ will receive a contribution for up to 3 percent of your total purchases there. If you haven’t signed-up to support the Guild with your Safeway/Genuardi’s purchases, now would be a great time to do it! Ask your family and friends to register too. Visit the eScrip website to sign up - BVQ's group number is 150239819 - or just tell Ellen McLaughlin and she’ll take care of it for you.

If you're already registered, visit the eScrip site to make sure your registration is current. If it is not, click on the Renew Now to renew your registration - it just takes a few seconds! You can also add cards, change your password, etc.

To find out which other merchants in our area participate in the eScrip program, go to http://www.escrip.com/merchants/search/index.jsp, click Mid-Atlantic in the Select Region drop-down list, select a category, and click Go.

eScrip offers other programs that will benefit the Guild. Check them out at www.escrip.com. Click links to participating merchants from the eScrip website to shop online and earn even more rebates for BVQ.

Escrip also offers money for recycled cell phones and printer toner and ink cartridges. So please bring your empty printer cartridges and any old cell phones you have around the house to the next meeting and help BVQ and the environment!

Back to top


Ronald McDonald House Flip Tab Program

A flip tab seems like such a little thing…but they add up! Save your soda, beer and food can flip tabs and bring them to any BVQ meeting. Ellen McLaughlin collects them and periodically donates them to the Ronald McDonald House.

FAQ...
Q: What does Ronald McDonald House do with the flip tabs?
A: The Ronald McDonald House gains from the flip tabs by recycling them. They are paid by a recycler for the aluminum and the money generated is used to offset the difference between what they charge a family (about $10.00 a night) to stay at the house and what it costs to operate ($54 per night).

Q: Why just the tab?
A: Tab collection is a clean way to collect aluminum. Collecting cans can cause sanitation and storage problems. It seems like a tab is a small thing -- but to date they have collected over 55 tons of tabs generating over $38,000. Our BVQ collection is up to 36 pounds!

Q: Does BVQ get “credit” for donating tabs?
A: Yes, Ellen collects tabs from almost everyone she knows and started the program as a charity program at work. When tabs are taken to the Ronald McDonald House she tells them how many tabs came from each source. They are always very happy to see the tabs arrive. Ronald McDonald House is always listed as one of the charities the Guild supports.
TIP: To remove a flip tab from a can, lift the tab up and then rock it up and down about 3 or 4 times and it will come right off!

The Guild is doing a great job of collecting tabs and spreading the word. Many members have collection receptacles at their offices. Summer is a big time for cookouts and also a good time to grab those tabs from all of the cans of soda and beer! Don’t forget about the tabs on other canned food too!

The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House, a 44-room facility, is a home-away-from-home for over 2,100 families a year from all over the world. The families pay $15 a night to stay here, whereas the actual cost to operate a room each night is over $50. No family is ever turned away due to an inability to pay. Although they receive 20 percent of their operating expenses from the Ronald McDonald Children's Charities of the Philadelphia region, they must find ways to raise the remaining 80 percent. Collecting tabs is one way. Since November 1996, they have collected over 79 tons!!

Back to top


New Member Tea

Our annual New Member Tea was held this year on Saturday afternoon May 16, 2009, at the Special Teas Tea Room, in the Olde Ridge Village Shoppes in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.

Four members who joined the Guild since last year's tea were our guests. Twelve other BVQ members attended. Everyone enjoyed the tea and tea sandwiches, and the opportunity to get to know each other a little better.
BVQ New Member Tea 2009 BVQ New Member Tea 2009 - new member Debbie Shisler, 2nd from left BVQ New Member Tea 2009 - new member Katy Hoess, 3rd from left BVQ New Member Tea 2009 - new members Judy Neff, 2nd from left, and Michele Zirolli, far right

After the Tea, the staff at Quilter’s Corner welcomed the group and presented a short demonstration. Each of the new members received a gift from the shop.

Thanks to Carol Gillespie for organizing this event and to the staff of Quilter's Corner for their support of BVQ.

Back to top


BVQ 2009 Retreat

  2009 Retreat   Twenty-one ladies enjoyed a weekend of sewing and camaraderie at BVQ's 5th annual retreat. In addition to working on our own projects, Jody helped us make “JoDitty Bags” and Lil Koster demonstrated clothesline bowls. Stay tuned for more pictures!

We are already looking forward to next year's retreat - the dates are April 16 - 18, 2010.

Back to top


National Quilting Day

2009 *** 2010

National Quilting Day 2009

National Quilting Day 2009 at Borders - Ellen   National Quilting Day is observed each year on the third Saturday in March. BVQ celebrated the day with a special event at Borders in the Brinton Lake Shopping Center in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania on March 21, 2009.

We were given an area to display some quilts and to set up sewing machines. Borders provided some quilting books for us to include in the display. We demonstrated various aspects of quilting and had hands-on activities for the children.

It was a lot of fun for participating members Betty Jean Boyd, Barbara Gross, Lil Koster, Ellen McLaughlin and Jane and Marty Shea, as well as visitors to our table. Thanks to Ellen and Betty Jean for organizing this event! Thanks also to the folks at the Brinton Lake Borders for giving us the opportunity to share our love of quilts and quilting with the general public.

National Quilting Day 2009 at Borders National Quilting Day 2009 at Borders - Betty Jean and Jane National Quilting Day 2009 at Borders - quilters in training!

National Quilting Day 2010

Save the date! Celebrate National Quilting Day 2010 with a workshop with BJ Titus. Sponsored by BVQ, it will be held on March 20, 2010, at the Goodwill Fire Company, West Chester, Pennsylvania. Details will be available this fall.

Back to top


Brandywine Valley Quilters' Home Page