Black and White Plus One Challenge

Members are invited to participate in a "Black and White Plus One" quilt challenge. This challenge is using fabrics that are black with white, white with black, white or black plus one color (not one fabric, one color). The size is to be no larger than 30” square and this challenge is due by and will hang in the quilt show.


So far the “plus one” colors being used by members are red, lime green, lemon yellow and aqua. Of course you could use one of those also. Contact Nancy Danby and Betty Boreman if you have any questions.

Mystery Quilt Begins in January

Guild members are invited to participate in a mystery quilt project. Without seeing a picture of the completed quilt top, members are given instructions each month to work on some part of the quilt. The quilt remains a mystery until all the directions are completed and the quilt top assembled. This quilt will be made in five installments, one per month beginning in January.

Mystery 2010
Finished size is 66 x 78 without outer border or 78 x 90 with the border.

Fabric requirements:
4 yards background, either very light or very dark
12 different fabrics 1/4 yard by the full width of the fabric
2 1/4 yards for outer border if you are using one
1 yard binding
Backing: 5 1/2 yards with suggested border or 4 yards without border

Cutting instructions:

Step 1 cutting from your background fabric

1. Seven strips 8 3/8 inches by WOF (width of fabric). Sub-cut this into thirty four 8 3/8 inch squares. The cut these in half diagonally to yield sixty-eight triangles.

2. Two strips 8 inches by WOF. Sub-cut these into four 8 inch squares and eight 2 by 8 inch rectangles.

3. Four strips 6 1/2 inches by WOF. From these cut twenty-three 6 1/2 inch squares.

4. Five strips 3 /2 inches by WOF. Sub-cut these into twenty-four 3 1/2 by 6 1/2 inch rectangles and four 3 1/2 inch squares.

The next set of directions will be distributed at the February meeting.

Block Swap Scheduled for June

Guild members are invited to participate in a block exchange. Bring your completed blocks to the June meeting for the exchange. Specific directions for the exchange are given below.

Block – Swap
Square in a square in a square blocks made with fall colors and cream will be traded in June. A block swap will allow you to create a project that uses many different fabrics for a unique look. To participate in this block swap, please carefully read the following instructions.

Using the directions given below, make as many blocks as you would like to trade. If you want to have four blocks to make a table runner, make four. If you would like a large quilt, make two dozen or so blocks. You will take home the same number of blocks as you bring. This pattern choice may be used as is, cut into triangles or squares and made into the design of your choice.

Our color palette will be fall colors with cream. Please use fabric for the fall colors that are medium or dark in value. Use only fabric that will appear as a solid from a distance. This means no large scale prints or batiks with a large range of colors. Fall colors include browns, oranges, gold, deep greens and reds, etc. For the cream, do not use white and be sure you do not reach into your tan or gold stash. Cream means cream! Fabric must be 100% cotton and quilt shop quality. You may use all the same fabric or a variety as long as you stay in the guidelines. If you have a large scale print or other fabric you would like to use but it does not suit our guidelines, maybe you can use it in your quilt as lattice and cornerstones or as a border fabric. Please do not introduce other colors into the trading blocks (example- do not use a brown fabric that has blue flowers)If you find you are not willing or able to stay within the guidelines, please wait to participate in a block swap that suits your taste.

Block instructions-
Blocks should be cream, fall color, cream OR fall color, cream, fall color. Please make the same number of blocks in each combination (example - two and two or six and six). Use exact ¼” seams, press towards dark.

For one block –
Center color- cream (second block fall color)
Cut a 4 ½” square for the center
First border- fall color (second block cream)
Cut 2 – 4 ½” by 2 ½” pieces, sew onto opposite sides of the square
Cut 2 – 8 ½” by 2 ½” pieces, sew onto block to make it square
Last border- cream (second block fall color)
Cut 2 - 8 ½” by 2 ½” pieces, sew onto opposite sides of block
Cut 2 - 12 ½” by 2 ½” pieces, sew onto block to make it square

For four blocks (tip – always cut longer pieces first)
1st color – cut 1 strip 4 ½” inches by 20”, cut into 4 - 4 ½” squares
2nd color- cut 3 strips, 2 ½” by width of fabric, cut into 8 – 8 ½” by 2 ½” strips and
8 - 4 ½” by 2 ½” strips
3rd color – cut 5 strips 2 ½” by width of fabric, cut into 8 strips 12 ½” by 2 ½” and
8 strips 8 ½” by 2 ½”

Sew together as directed, pressing all seams to dark. Block will be 12 ½” square.

2010 Tree City Quilt Guild Officers

These are the officers for the Tree City Quilt Guild for 2010.

Laura Nolletti, President


Mable Stocker, Vice President


Jane Richardson, Secretary


Bonnie Krueger, Treasurer

Jolene Rehm, Member-at-Large


Danette Ferriman, Member-at-Large


Jeri Fickes, Past President


Barb Byler, Newsletter

"Stash Attack" Focus for 2010

President Laura Nolletti announced that the guild focus for this year will be "Stash Attack." She encouraged all members to examine their piles of fabric and to use it up this year. As part of the monthly program, members will be rewarded for making projects from their stashes. To be eligible for prizes the project must consist of over half stash fabrics and must be completed and shown at a regular monthly meeting. Completed projects will be awarded one to three tickets depending on size. One ticket will be drawn each month and that member may choose a prize from the prize basket. UFO's cannot be included in this activity; only new projects, begun after Jan. 11, made with mostly stash fabrics are included.

January 2010 Newsletter

Meeting: January 11, 2010 7:00 PM
Parkview Church of Christ
1912 Burbank Road

JANUARY MEETING: Managing Our Stash
Please come a few minutes early to the January meeting. Refreshments will be served as you arrive and the meeting will begin promptly at 7:00.

In case of bad weather, please check your email to see if we will be canceling the meeting.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Remember the Top Three Organizing Rules for 2009?
1. The 15 Minute Rule.
Set a timer for 15 minutes and pick up everything you can and put it away until the timer goes off. Do this everyday. You will be amazed at the clutter-clearing power you have in 15 minutes!

2. Three Priorities Rule.
From your daily to-do list, pick the top three things that need to be done and number them 1, 2, 3, accordingly. Start with number 1 and complete it before moving on to number 2. When number 2 is complete, then you can move on to number 3, etc..

3. One in Two Out Rule.
If you have lots of clutter, for everything you bring into your space, take two things out!
If you are already organized and want to stay that way, for everything you bring into your space, take one out!

These rules bear taking a look at each year! It is also time to take your machine apart and blow those dust bunnies out of the bobbin case! Get yourself a can of air and go over your machine after the month of December’s non-stop gift making! Wind an entire box of bobbins so you are ready to begin new projects. Get your scissors sharpened and CHANGE your needle!!

TRIPS
Friday, March 26: Original Sewing & Quilt Expo – Cleveland IX Center
Friday, April 9: Amish Country Quilt Show – Dalton/Buckeye Event Center
Friday, June 18: NQA Quilt Show – Columbus Hall C, Greater Columbus Convention Center

WORKSHOPS
“Sally’s Jacket” Instructor: Jane Richardson. Cost of Pattern $10. This is a 2-day project
1st class; Friday, February 26; Making the fabric
2nd class; Friday, March 19; Finishing the jacket

RECIPES
CROCK-POT POTATO-CORN CHOWDER
1 – 16oz bag frozen hash browns, thawed
1 chopped onion
8 slices bacon, fried crisp and crumbled (I prefer to omit this)
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 can shoe-peg corn, undrained
1 can cream-style corn
1 can roasted garlic flavor chicken broth
1 ½ cups milk (skim is fine)
Place all in crock-pot. Stir. Cook 6-8 hours on low. Serve with sour cream and shredded cheese.

POPPY SEED CHICKEN
4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
8oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced
3T butter
2T Worcestershire sauce
2-3 T poppy seeds
8oz. container sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
½ cup cracker or potato chip crumbs
Preheat over to 350*. Sauté onions and mushrooms in butter and Worcestershire sauce. Combine this with chicken, sour cream, soup and half the poppy seeds. Pour into greased casserole. Sprinkle w/ cracker crumbs and remaining poppy seeds. Bake 30 min. Serve w/ rice or noodles.

MEMBER PROFILE: If you have a member profile to turn in, please get it to me so we can get to know all of our members!

BETTY HOFSTETTER’S SNAP HAPPY PURSE
Were there any of you that wanted that adorable pattern that Betty made and gave Danette at the Christmas party?! You can order it online from Fat Quarter Factory. www.fatquarterfactory.com. They are located in Perrysburg Ohio and were very prompt in mailing the patterns to me. They have two sizes of Snap Happy purses at a very reasonable price.

TIP OF THE MONTH
When a “bird’s nest” of thread appears either on top of or underneath your fabric, the likely culprit is your upper thread tension. If loops appear on the underside of the fabric, the upper thread tension may be too loose. If knots appear on top of the fabric, the upper tension may be too tight.

QUILT SHOPS, SHOWS, SERVICES, AND ITEMS FOR SALE
• Quilting by the Mill, Sarah Bistline, 10368 Old Mill RD, Spencer, Ohio 44275, 330-667-2257 or 330-606-6609, www.quiltingbythemill.com. You need to have your backing 4" longer and wider than your quilt top. Batting available.

Tree City Quilters Guild Officers 2010
President: Laura Noletti
Vice President: Mabel Stocker
Secretary: Jane Richardson
Treasurer: Bonnie Krueger
Members at Large: Jolene Rehm and Danette Ferriman
Newsletter: Barbara Byler: Baquilter33@aol.com