Welcome to the Magic Needle Quilting blog. Hopefully, you'll find lots of news and useful information here. If you have news, suggestions, or links you would like to see posted here, contact me. You can bookmark this link to get back here easily.
At the last Magic Needle board meeting, it was agreed that a blog would be a great way to share the news and happenings for the Magic Needle Quilt Guild. On July 1st, I set up this blog and transferred all of this year's newsletters and links here so they will have a permanent home for those wanting to access them again. You can find them on the right side of the page.
On the left side, you'll find links to some favorite blogs and sites with tutorials, freebies, etc. If you have a favorite place you would like to share, just send me the link.
A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT
Just a note to say how excited I am to be the President for the new year. I look forward to all the new projects we will tackle.
Since I will not be there June and July (vacations) I wanted to tell you how much I will miss you. Lys will be filling in for me and I know she will do a great job.
Speaking of surprises, check out the attachment. Hope you will enjoy it.
Thank you for letting me serve such a great group of ladies!
Angie
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It’s Magic!
Once a month, a group of ladies meet and perform magic! It’s amazing how we can turn simple cloth into such
beautiful projects. An indication of our talent was winning the ALS Quilters Dream Challenge. Now that was magic! So this year I have another challenge for you to perform your magic. Make a new nametag with the theme “Magic”.
Deadline: September
Angela, President
MINUTES
The board made a decision to no longer have minutes emailed to members. Minutes will be recorded by the secretary and read to the membership at guild meetings. A hard copy will continue to be placed in a notebook and may be viewed on request. A summary of what took place at each meeting will be included in the newsletter right here.
SUMMARY FROM JUNE MEETING
- New officers and board members have been announced. (You can find the list in the June newsletter)
- The jacket workshop taught by Edna at Piecemakers was good, but more time needs to be scheduled for construction and zipper application.
- The Shop Hop date has been changed to the 3rd Saturday in February.
- A letter was read from Jane D. letting us know she will not be rejoining at this time. She requested that we find a new storage area for our quilt show standards before the end of summer. We will certainly miss Jane and hope that she will rejoin us at a later time.
- FOLLOW UP: This request has been presented to Piecemakers also and Lynn B. has graciously volunteered to store them at her home. We will need someone to help clean out the area and move the standards.
- Education moment: Ginny demonstrated creating a quilt label by printing it into a document first, then laying your freezer paper backed fabric label over the document for accurate placement. The top edges of the paper are then taped so they will pass through the printer as one piece.
- There was an amazing display of Show & Tell. Members have certainly been busy! I don't have pictures from June, but beginning with the July meeting I hope to have pictures of all the Show & Tell to post on the blog.
- Edna showed her woven rails and tic tac mo quilts. Awesome!
- Janet was very creative with a sling for her injured shoulder made from screening. How cool is that!! Pun intended!
- We got to see Emma's gorgeous double wedding ring quilt. Edna did the quilting on her long arm and brought it to return to Emma. Even she hadn't seen it since the quilting was done! Emma brought her g. grandbaby for show and tell. Breathtaking! ......Baby and quilt!!
- Ginny showed off her creative skills with American Jane doll shorts and top ensembles and another Dresden table topper.
- Joanne showed a small size quilt in blue and brown.
- Carolyn showed off pictures of her new grandbaby.
- Alice brought a wonderful bag made from charm squares.
- Christine showed her bucket style tool caddy and her jacket from Edna's workshop. Can't wait to see that gorgeous jacket finished!
- Judy showed off her "skinny" birdhouse wall hangings. A great way to keep quilting when you run out of wall space! These cuties would fit almost anywhere!
- Mary Lou brought TWO bucket tool caddies she made, the patriotic table runner she finished from the AccuQuilt Go program we did in April, and a Dresden table topper in black and red.
Edna announced that she has purchased the Quilting Nook website. It will be changed to Marie's Sewing Nook.
After our June meeting we were treated to a wonderful "Cajun" cooked meal of Jambalaya, Gumbo, toasted garlic bread, and cake with fruit topping for dessert. This was prepared by our own Jo H. and was totally delicious!! A huge thanks goes out to Jo from all of us. AWESOME!!
UPCOMING PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
July 14th we will have a salad luncheon following our meeting. Members can bring their favorite salads to share. This is impromptu and was not discussed at the last meeting, but should be good. We quilters love to eat and will make any excuse necessary to do it with friends! Remember to identify any ingredients that may cause allergic reactions such as nuts, mushrooms, shellfish, chick peas, etc.
July 16th, "Christmas in July," 9am at Heath Springs Baptist Church. This will be a shared workday with Piecemakers. Bring your project. Lunch is being prepared by the White House for those who signed up. Cost is $5.
August 11th will be our ice cream social. More information later.
September 8th is the day our nametag challenge is due. Our program will be demos by different members.
October 13th we will continue with demos by members.
October 21-23 QSC Pieceable Retreat
November 10th we will have a trunk show presented by Rachelle Apol. Rachelle has presented workshops and trunk shows in several areas across the country.
November 17th, Rachelle will return to us for a workshop, "Quilts From Photos." The workshop will be held in our room at the senior center. Rachelle has sent me the supply list and photos to be used for the class. Here are some samples of her work.
December 8th will be our Christmas Party. More details later.
INTERESTING LINKS
ALS QUILT PROJECT
Several of us have been meeting at the senior center to cut fabrics for ALS quilts. We even have a few tops made and ready to be quilted. Everyone is encouraged to come to the center on Thursdays to work on your own projects or on ALS quilts.
QUILT HOLES
This came to me in an email. I don't know who the author is, but I wanted to share this with you all.
"The Quilt Holes"
As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.
Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.
My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me and nodded for me to rise.
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.
And now, I had to face the truth.. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.
I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.
An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.
Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, 'Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.
Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.'
May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!
I hope to see you all at next week's meeting!
Alice also made the pumpkin wall hanging
