Christmas Party Pictures

See them here

Quilt of Valor Presentations

See the pictures here!

President's Message - November 2016

Ladies,

So much has happened since last we spoke:

• The Remember Me Fall Arts Jubilee was a big success.
• The Selfish Round Robin had wonderful participation and stunning winners.
• Paula Toups provided pillows and pillowcases for those members affected by flood. (We thank you.)

The Houston Market/Quilt Show was just spectacular. 

• Judy Momenzadah won a Ribbon (Honorable Mention) in the digital imagery for Pirates' Alley and had a second entry, St. Gabriel.  Congratulations on Judy on her win.
• Connie Ewbank had her booth open with patterns to sell.
• The UPS trucks will be arriving soon with new fabric orders to see and quilt.
• Local quilter, Lynne Reamy had an entry in the Lion King exhibit.
• The 20 foot alligator quilt (saltwater crocodile according to its maker, Susan Carlson of Maine.) was the talk of the show.  She spent several years creating this marvel of piecing and applique techniques.  You can see a time-lapse video of its evolution on You-Tube.
• Now, Let's see your glorious finds from Houston.  Did you see any interesting classes for the future??
• There was an example of BRODERIE PERSE quilting on display in the exhibit that dated back to 1850.  The chintz fabrics (called polished cotton when I was a child) were as beautiful and brilliant as the day it was quilted.  It was expertly preserved and continues to be a stunning textile 166 years later. 

We are in luck, Candy Bergeron will demonstrate these techniques for our program this month.

On a sad note, quilter and embroiderer, Janet Stevens, died suddenly last week. Our condolences to her family and friends. She was a member of River City and Remember Me guilds.

There will be Quilts of Valor presentations at the November meeting.  Bring tissues.

Our Christmas Party plans are made.  Bring 5 inch squares, wear fancy sweaters, and eat Pot Luck Dinner (just bring whatever you like, no sign-up list this time) and it is just 2 weeks until Thanksgiving. Time flies when you are having fun.

SEW, dear ones, be inspired, as I am by your creativity and drive,
……LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH, AND MOST OF ALL, QUILT.       
Daisy



☆  the Bring list--

• bring Show & Tell. your regular Show/Tell and your Houston finds
• bring items and monies for the Birthday Table Extravaganza.
• bring  for Fat Quarter Drawing -  "Neutrals - Creme, Sand, Gray, Off-White, White and Black"  (up to 4 Fat Quarters)
• bring & wear your Fiber Name Tag:  You could win $20 !!

President's Message - October 2016

Ladies,

I hope you all enjoyed our September Social.  It was well-attended by those who could break away from the rebuilding process.  It was a pleasant time of warmth and friendship.  We heard stories that brought a few tears.  We shared the burdens on our souls with friends.  We reacted as all Southerners do in times of crisis and trepidation; we ate !!  Thank you for all the good food and kind hearts.

So, after the storm, this is that time where we get on with our lives.  Yet, it is still a difficult time for many. We have to carry on with our future planning and also get our lives "back on track."  It seems to be a struggle to focus on both things at once. The empathy we feel for our family, friends, and neighbors cannot be eased until all those who were flooded are then back in their homes, sleeping in their own beds, and returning to their normal lives.  We are not there, yet.

Every day has its hurdles.  Every day has its small victories.  Let us Rejoice with every step that puts you closer to where we want to be.

On Thursday evening we will exhibit your good works from The Selfish Round Robin Challenge. Show your stuff !  I am sure you have produced some imaginative borders for your quilts. Voting/prizes.

Thank you to all the members who sewed pillowcases for flood victims.  Paula Toups prepared a huge bin of kits and distributed them at the social.  Folks to all the kits, finished them. and returned them to Paula for distribution.  Paula, Loretta Weber, Pam Grisby, and several other quilters have donated 100's of pillowcases to those in need.  We thank you for your selfless generosity.

Remember......  The River City guild has a sales table at the Remember Me Fall Arts Jubilee on Saturday, October 8th, here at St. Paul's.  Please plan to attend the sale.  Please bring donated items for the guild table.  If you can please work a few hours at the table.  Raffle quilt tickets, Beth's Bags, and many more items of interest. Bring a friend.

AND, Houston Market/Quilt Show is nearly here!! Market begins at the end of month and the show's preview night is Wednesday, November 2nd.  The Quilt Show ends on Sunday, Nov. 6th. That being said, A Reminder - the guild's November meeting date is moved to Thursday, November 10th.  That is the second Thursday of the month.

SEW, dear ones, be inspired, as I am by your creativity and drive,

LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH, AND MOST OF ALL, QUILT.

Daisy

THE BRING LIST-

• bring your "Selfish Round Robin Challenge"- voting - prizes for viewer's choice
• bring Show & Tell. your regular Show/Tell and the extra special
• bring items and monies for the Birthday Table Extravaganza.
• bring  FQ's for Fat Quarter Drawing -  "Batiks - any color"  (up to 4 Fat Quarters) 
• bring & wear your Fiber Name Tag:  You could win $20 !!
• bring any finished pillowcases donated for Paula Toups or contact her at 802 7283 
• Last chance - to bring donated items for River City Table at the Fall Arts Festival 

Our Quilty Friends Need Your Assistance

Our quilty friends need help washing her fabric stash and maybe their clothes as well.  A washing effort is being coordinated by Cheryl Armstrong, Margie Bumm and Sherry Herringshaw.  If you can help, please contact one of them.  

We know for sure that the following people got water in their homes.  If you can wash, you may want to call these friends or just go by and pick up stuff to wash.  They may be too busy to ask for help at this point.

Candy	Bergeron
Nina	Delaune
Connie	Ewbank
Mary	Felder
Karol	Guidry
Becky	Guillot
France's	Jones
Sarah	LeBlanc
Valerie	Kazlaukas
Debbi	Kelly
Margaret	Muse
Glen	Parks
Louise	Porter
Renee	Vidrine
Jackie	Wood

a portable design wall (featured at the GSQA POE class)

Materials needed:  

If you are looking for a spacious working surface for cutting fabrics and other craft and home decorating projects, the Open Folded Superboard is a smart choice. It has a sturdy Kraft board construction with a neat laminated finish. For added convenience, this superboard features markings in both directions and lines for cutting nine widths of bias strips and patterns for scallops and circles.

• Brand: Prym Dritz
• Dimensions: 40 x 72 inches

2 sturdy curtain rods, adjustable to height of design wall (72 inches)

Pat Speth's Portable Design Wall 1 dressmaker’s cardboard cutting board (the kind that folds up for storage) 2 curtain rods that extend to at least 72" (the white metal ones that telescope into each other so that there is a curve on each end)  a piece of white flannel 44" x 80" or a flannel backed vinyl tablecloth—very likely you will have to buy extra flannel and sew it together to make it this large, as it is not usually wide enough on its own.  10 -12 large binder clips 2" size (from the office supply store) ** Double stick carpet tape **Strapping tape, package tape, duct tape---some kind of broad tape to smooth out the edges that extend past the carpet tape. (Pat Speth is the author of the ‘Nickel Quilt’ series of books and gave this to her class during the teaching of her Paducah Nine Patch in Bloomington, IN, March 2, 2012.) ( Do not get the cheapest curtain rods (such as those from Wal-Mart) as the least little bend will go into a full-blown bend catastrophe! 

photo credit  http://www.quiltinglinda.com/tag/portable-design-wall/

August 2016 program: highlights of the summer 2016 POE (GSQA educational program), part two

The one-seam, three-dimensional Flying Geese block would be an interesting addition to a child's quilt and would add some complexity to a simple border.  Missouri Star Quilt Company's 8-minute YouTube video shows how to make the block in a manner similar to what was shared in class https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15Cblb8J6i0.  

Another three-dimensional project shared at the POE was a fabric origami butterfly.  Cindy Baucum created many of these as pins awarded to GSQA raffle quilt block finalists.  After making 60 of these pins, she was a pro at making one the size of a penny (actually, smaller!)

I forgot to mention chocolate--a basket full from which to choose all day!  We finished the class with a recipe that POE coordinator Paula Mathews shared, for Millionaire Pie from Spend with Pennies http://www.spendwithpennies.com/millionaire-pie-5-minutes-to-prep.  

The purpose of POE is for GSQA members to attend, and then to return to their guild to share class content with all guild members.  It's one way that GSQA meets its mission statement to share the love the quilting through commuity service and education.  So come join us soon, to see what we're all about.  River City is hosting the January 2017 GSQA meeting, right here in Baton Rouge.  

Renee Hoeprich 

August 2016 program: Highlights of the summer POE (GSQA educational program)

This Pursuit of Excellence class shared techniques to enhance what we may already do.  This teaching format is beneficial to beginners and advanced quilters alike, as you can jump in where you need to, to increase accuracy in block making or just start with a method that will save you time.  There are many quilt blocks that use a 60-degree triangle as a unit.  

Part of the POE class time was used to demonstrate cutting up this triangle unit to make a quicker pineapple block unit.  This YouTube video incorporates these techniques https://www.pinterest.com/pin/362750944968758151/.  

There are rulers (TriRecs is one brand) https://www.pinterest.com/pin/362750944968758116/ which makes cutting these units easy. 
A formula for paper template is also available 
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/362750944968751119/

Many traditional blocks can be made with this technique; 54-40 or Fight and Storm at Sea are two examples.  There are also contemporary/modern blocks which I put on my list of might-become-quilts (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/362750944968758153/, https://www.pinterest.com/pin/362750944968758120/, and a Christmas tree https://www.pinterest.com/pin/362750944968758102/.  

In the POE class, the 60-degree triangle was used as one unit of a quilt incorporating a quarter-square triangle, a pineapple unit made from a triangle block, and an easy strip-piecing technique to make a chain block unit.  
The block could be done all in Christmas prints from your stash.  
This block also lends itself to becoming part of an interesting scrappy quilt with a conscious use of values.  

Check out the companion entry here on other things learned in class.  

Renee Hoeprich

President's Message - May 2016

Ladies,

for March:

            I would like to take this time to express my great joy and deep appreciation for the guild membership and the South Louisiana Quilt Community.  Your generosity of spirit was expressed in your donation of time, talent, fabric, and energy that created these lovely Quilts of Valor, these quilts of comfort and tribute made for our local veterans.  Your efforts far outstripped my humble expectations.  The quilts were beautiful.  The ceremony that Roxanne Brown conducted at the guild meeting was so touching.  It was a heartfelt moment of a lifetime that we all could share.

            I am also proud of my community, St. Gabriel.  Its people take tremendous pride in our veterans and host a day of celebration and remembrance on Veterans Day.  The mayor and the VFW, Post 312, were important contributors to the Feb. 6th, Quilts of Valor Sew Day.  However, the most important component in this equation was All of You.  Your participation made all of this possible. 

            As a local leader for the Quilts of Valor Foundation may I say that I find your volunteerism to be so extraordinary.  You give freely of yourselves to pay tribute to these worthy men and women who have served our country so well. I cannot thank you enough.

            The Veterans Ceremony for QOV was a fine tribute to the veterans at the March meeting.  It was so very touching.  It provides inspiration to sew and quilt for others.

for April/May:

            My thanks to Elena for leading the (outdoor) meeting and my thanks to the membership for making the best of the situation.  I made it back from Slidell in time to attend the al fresco gathering in the church courtyard.  Thanks to our presenters, Sandy Mellinger, BeBe Tulley, and Debbie Hulett for their beautiful springtime quilts and items. The door keys are now up-to-date.

            The GSQA Show was just exquisite, a splendid display of talent and creativity.  Many of you talented quilters exhibited your works.  Please bring your show quilts to this meeting and share your judge's comments with us.  Tell us what you thought and tell us what you won.

SEW, dear ones, be inspired,……LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH, AND MOST OF ALL, QUILT.         

Daisy

THE BRING LIST

- bring all that Show & Tell.  Tell us about the Paducah Quilt Show - what did you find?

- bring monies and sign up for Labor Day Retreat.  see Cynthia; minimum 20 with deposits by the July meeting or it might have to be cancelled.

- bring items and monies for the Birthday Table Extravaganza.

- bring  FQ's for Fat Quarter Drawing -  "Dots"  (up to 4 Fat Quarters)

- bring & wear your Fiber Name Tag:  You could win $20 !!

- Reminder - the GSQA regular meeting is Sat., 4/30, at Mes Amis Shop in New Orleans @ 10 a.m.

- a Special bring - St. Paul's Ladies Auxiliary - has requested donations of Scraps, Batting, Stuffing, and Beanie Babies.  The ladies are making "Flat Stanleys" for foreign mission trips. The beanie babies are small gifts to give to impoverished children who visit the mission.  See Daisy.

Archives Project, Post Three

The quiltmakers.....

  

Information from the archives about the Bonne Fete quilt: 

As Baton Rouge approached its 300th birthday, a collaborative group of local quilters joined forces to create a very special quilt to commemorate the event.  With 18 months' advance notice, the group knew they had plenty of time to complete their task, but how? 

Local quilter Judy Holley began by contacting area guilds and assessing interest.  From the six participating guilds, a research and design committee was assembled and the task of covering 300 years of local history began.  The fall of 1997 found committee members Thelma Berg, Sherry Herringshaw, Judy Holley, Candy McLaurin and Melanie West meeting twice a month at a local library poring over old books, photographs and newspaper articles to assemble the knowledge they would need to create a design. 

Three hundred years of local history proved to be a daunting task!  It soon became obvious that only a few select places would actually be memorialized on the quilt, and from a sewing standpoint, it would be easier to limit the use of people on the quilt.  Ultimately, nineteen block themes and twelve vignettes were selected for the quilt. 

Once research was completed Melanie West spearheaded the effort of translating these ideas into a scaled draft of the basic overall layout of the design.  Next, actual-sized patterns were needed for all of the designs.  Melanie and Judy divided up the designs and started drawing.  Sherry Herringshaw assisted with the vignettes; Thelma Berg drew the Hayden sculpture; and local Native American artist Chery O drew the Indian with the peace pipe.  Judy's daughter Lauren Holley also helped. 

On February 1, 1998 the Research and Design Committee met at a local library and presented the design to a packed room of quilters who would actually choose and sew the individual blocks and vignettes, and the stitching began.  For the next few months, the quilters met once a month to share progress on their work and to compare tips and techniques on translating local landmarks, past and present, into fabric works of art.  On May 31, 1998, the completed blocks were turned in at a local library, and Melanie West undertook to set them all together and add the oak tree with some help from Thelma Berg. 

By late summer the quilt was ready for quilting, and quilting bees in the homes of Thelma Berg and Melanie West became a daily ritual.  In just over two months the entire quilt, 72 by 114 inches, had been hand quilted and over 60 people spent hundreds of hours to quilt the Baton Rouge Quilt.  This does not include the time spent making the blocks and assembling the top. 

Melanie West, Suzanne Elliott, Margie Bumm, and Thelma Berg in Thelma Berg's studio

In March 1999, the quilt was displayed at the Baton Rouge Hilton during the 16th annual GSQA Seminar, the same weekend the city started its Bonne Fete celebrations.  On March 7, 1999 the quilt was donated to the city in an official dedication ceremony at the Old State Capitol. 

The NQA appraiser noted the very good workmanship in the patchwork, applique, and embellishments with moderately heavy overall quilting and set its insurance value at $8,000.

Please send comments and corrections to me at reneehoeprich@yahoo.com or 760 815 5305. 

  

A Quilter's Tale, the History of the River City Quilt Guild

by Suzi Montague based on information provided by Pat Hodgins, et al

 

Once upon a time there was only one quilt guild in town, the Patchwork Pelicans, a close group of about 12.  There were other quilters in Baton Rouge who longed for the kinship of quilting.  So began their odyssey with a few members from the Embroiderers Guild of America.  The group gained focus with Julie Mohr in 1984.  What began as a cluster of helping hands, to help Julie in creating and completing a quilt show for the NQA-GSQA, became the charter membership of the guild. 

 

Julie Mohr is an NQA-certified quilting instructor with skills in hand piecing, hand quilting, and applique.  She is a Midwesterner with Mennonite roots and a long family history of quilting. 

 

Names you may recognize from the "good old days" are Ann Crossley, Gail McClain, Pam Rosebrook, Thelma Berg, Ella Wilkinson (Gail Bass' mom), Louise Bradford, Marilyn Kelley, Barbara Hoffman, Pat Hodgin, Marsha Dardenne, Lynne Frutiger, and Norma McGee, to name just a few. 

 

1985 -- La Fete de Piquage - National Quilting Association.  The debut at the Great Hall of the Bellemont Hotel presented a judged show, fashion show, luncheon, and merchants' mall.  Kit Carpenter won Best of Show with a quilt which later went on to win at the AQS show in Paducah, KY.  Veronic Fitzgerald also entered a quilt which later won Best of Show at Quilt National held in Ohio in 1987. 

 

Guild name:  Suggested by David Kelley, husband of Marilyn. 

 

Original guild logo:  In 1985, Lynne Frutiger and Norma McGee created a Baton Rouge skyline logo which was appliqued on docent aprons used at the show. 

 

Present guild logo and pin:  Deanna Carney made this design in 1988.  She now resides in Norway.  Her use of color (blue, fuschia, and green) and their placement was to depict azaleas by a body of water. 

 

Guild banner:  Created by Eileen Parent. 

 

Initially, members met in one another's homes.  As the guild grew in number, the Goodwood Library became the permanent meeting place.

 

1985 -- There was a succession of presidents:  Marsha Dardenne, Pat Hodgin, then Thelma Berg completed the year. 

 

1986, 1987 -- Thelma Berg as president. 

 

1987 -- Bon Marche quilt show.  The guild was incorporated and by laws written.  Thirty members had the choice of day or night meetings. 

 

1988 -- Carol Burger was president. 

 

1989 -- Ellery Fleming was president.  Special events included the first Christmas Challenge and the Magnolia Mound Quilt Show. 

 

1990 -- Melanie West was president.  This year brought Parker House and quilts for its children.  Melanie taught classes to provide inspiration. 

 

1991 -- Eileen Parent was president.  Membership soared from 12 to 40.  The Progressive was begun along with lotto blocks and secret pal.  Community service took several to present a demonstration of quilting at Vermillionville Acadian Settlement in Lafayette. 

 

1992 -- Del Horan was president.  Membership rose from 40 to 70.  Raffle quilt, a blue Triple Irish Chain, was created to benefit the Marilyn Kelley Van Fund.  Participation began in the Very Special Arts Fair. 

 

1993 -- Barbara Hoffman was president.  Small sewing circles were created to bring members closer together.  Christmas in July community service drive provided household goods for Parker House.  Scrappy Challenge had 42 participants with a much anticipated presentation in October. 

 

Community service:  Generosity is a strong trait within the guild.  Projects include quilting exhibitions at Fest-For All, Magnolia Mound, Vermillionville (in Lafayette), the Very Special Arts Fair, local schools and nursing homes.  Parker House has always been a rewarding experience.  Many guild members have taught classes and workshop to the benefit of all.  Members have made and continue to make quilts which have been juried in national and international shows and have appeared in books and magazines. 

 

Please send comments and corrections to me at reneehoeprich@yahoo.com or 760 815 5305. 

 

 

Archives Project, Post in Progress...Officers Past and President

This is the format I'll use for posting:  YEAR, PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARTY, TREASURER

1984, Marsha Dardenne

1985/1986, Marsha Dardenne, Patricia Hodgin, Ann Crossley, Gail McClain, Thelma Berg (Education Chairman, an elected position), Karen Pierz (Publicity Chairman and Historian, an elected position)

1986, Pat Hodgin

1986/1987, Thelma Berg

1988, Carol Burger, Deanna Carney,  Ann Stanton, Brenda Hutchinson

1989, Ellery Fleming, Gail McClain, Melanie West, Pam Gardner

1990, Melanie West

1991, Eileen Parent

1992, Del Horan

1993, Barbara Hoffman, Diana Maloney, Suzi Montague, Shirley Barnes

1994, Diana Maloney, Melanie West, Sherry Reeves, Margie Bumm

1996, Suzi Montague, Susan Waller (secretary)

1997, Lilly Willis

1998, Pam Rosebrook, Robbie McHardy (vice president)

1999, Nanzy Stewart

2000, Nanzy Stewart

2001, Melinda

2002, Melinda

2003, Mary Boneno

2004, Chris Wrobel, Georgia Narrow (secretary)

2005, Chris Wrobel, Karen Perron (secretary)

2006, Michael Young, Nina Deleune, Kathryn Merritt, Beverly Yearby

2007, Margie Bumm

2008, Margie Bumm

2009, Mary Woltman

2010, Mary Woltman

2011, JoPaula Lantier

2012, Cynthia McGee

2013, Barbara Lankford, Noreen Mazzaroppi, Elena Acosta (treasurer)

2014, Renee Hoeprich, Joni DeVilbiss, Louise Porter, Elena Acosta

2015, Renee Hoeprich, Judy Momenzadeh, Francie Jones, Bebe Tulley

2016, Daisy Comeaux, Elena Acosta, Francie Jones, Bebe Tulley


...a work in progress...........


Please send comments and corrections to me at reneehoeprich@yahoo.com or 760 815 5305.