Lone Star Heritage Quilt Guild

 

 

January 2004

 

 

A Note From Our President…

 

Dear Fellow Quilt Lovers,

     I hope and trust that you've had a fantastic holiday season.  Even through the "hurriedness" of the past couple of weeks, I hope you've taken a few minutes to savor your family and friends and the importance of the holiday.  Also---here's to a great new year for all of us!!

     Thanks so much for the honor you give me by electing me as your president for 2004.  It will be a huge task following in Billie Ruth's footsteps!!  I have the same love and enthusiasm BR does for the guild--but my hours are much more limited than hers--so I'll need all the help I can get from each of you.

     First on our agenda is our work/planning day at Lequida's on the 17th.  The past and present officers will be meeting together to "pass on" information/suggestions and notebooks.  I would encourage each of you to attend to see what area you might work in to accomplish everything we have to do this year. 

     The events scheduled for this next year that we MUST have volunteers for are:

          April--garage/bake sale

          May--Heritage Park

          July--Sesquicentennial Celebration

          Sept--Quilt Show

          Oct--Heritage Park

Please consider which of these events you can help with.  On our workday on the 17th, we will go over these in detail--so come and be with us and see where you fit in!

     Thanks go out to each of you who presented such lovely tables for our Christmas party.  From the white winter wonderland to traditional red and green to Feliz Navidad--everything was beautiful!!  Also, a huge thanks to everyone who brought their children's quilts.  I believe we gave 25+ to the Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center.  What a wonderful Christmas gift for them.

     Our program for the month will be Trish Stewart from Twisted Threads in Emory.  She will be presenting a program "Coloring Your Quilts" which will be a slide/lecture/trunk show about the current fad of actually coloring quilts with crayons.  I'm really looking forward to her presentation.  She has been a joy to talk to on the phone.

    

     I'm so looking forward to our first meeting of the year.  Please try your best to be there and also try to be with us at Lequida's on the 17th.  We need each and every one of you to have a successful year--and remember--it's your guild!!

 

Jan Bartley

 

Membership Secretary…Sharon Callahan

 

Wow, I can't believe another year has come and gone, and what a productive year it was.  We accomplished all of our previous years’ projects, plus a few new ones.  I hope that each of you had as much fun and enjoyed the events as much as I did.

Now that I have you reminiscing I need you to change gears and start thinking about the new year.  The first thing on the agenda is paying our dues.  Dues for 2004 will remain $18.00 for Adults and $9.00 for Junior Members.  I really need everyone’s dues by February 1st so that your names and addresses will be included in the 2004 Directory.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Cristina and Hannah Perry our two new Junior Members.  Cristina and Hannah  are Patsy Crist’s grandaughters.

Don't forget the Jan. 17th workday at Lequida Jennings’ home.  We need you; please come.

 

Treasurer’s Report….Gwen Karney

 

Beginning Cash (9-1-03)                                                            $6,824.79

 

        Receipts:

                Auction Quilts                        $2,235.00

                Donation Tickets                      1,530.00

                Boutique                                      870.80

                Program                                        30.00

                Hospitality Suite                            27.30

                Pins                                               12.00

                Dues                                               9.00                        $4714.10

                                                            ----------------     ;                

        Disbursements:

                Special Events                        1,020.33

                Programs                                   834.00

                Storage Cabinet                         338.00

                Historian                                     204.15

                Donation Quilt Expense             150.00

                Library                                          89.53

                Charitable Contribution                44.00

                Supplies                                       26.80

                Christmas Party                           11.62                        $2718.32

                                                            ----------------     ;               ----------------

Ending Cash (12-31-03)                                                                $8820.46

                                                                                                ===========

 Recording Secretary…Louise Stripling

 

The minutes for the November and December meetings will be provided at our January meeting.

. 

Librarian…Billie Ruth Standbridge

I’m so excited about passing on information about the additions to our library.  I’ll have books and magazines displayed each month for you to look over.  Each month I’ll report on excerpts from a featured book and pass on tips from a Pro.  The following information is from the Fine Hand Quilting by Diana Leone and Cindy Walker.  “….the art of appliqué and patchwork comes to us from ancient Egypt and the Early Chinese.  Quilt making was originally classed among the fine arts, one of luxuries enjoyed only by the nobility.  But, in the pioneer days of early America, quilt making became a necessity, unrestricted to class, making quilts an important part of every woman’s home planning….”

If you want to improve your hand quilting skills, I think you’ll find numerous ideas from Fine Hand Quilting very helpful.  There are also helpful demonstration pictures.

Tips from the Pros:  Diane Leone places batting (out of the bag) in the dryer for a few minutes, which allows it to relax and fluff.  Also, a hair dryer on warm,  not hot, held over the flat batting will quickly remove wrinkles.

Take advantage of YOUR library!  These books are for your use.  Our check out system is simple.  A sheet is posted on the library cabinet.  Just sign your name, date and the name of items taken.  ENJOY!

Reporter/Publicist…Deanna Hasten

If any of you were fortunate enough to hear Tourism Director Frank Smith’s recent interview on Channel 18, you know that our Guild was mentioned frequently and most favorably!!!  We are very grateful to Frank for all his support.  Through him, we applied for a grant from the Hotel and Occupancy Tax Board and were approved for $2,000 to be used for quilt show advertising…..our Guild’s name is getting out there!  We have a copy of the Channel 18 interview if you would like to see it; maybe at the January meeting.

Advertisements, such as a flyer, quilt show hand-outs, and business cards will be going out this month, as well as letters to publications for our quilt show listing in September.  If you are willing to take some to any quilt shops or quilt shows you visit, please let me know.  YOU are really our best advertisement!

NEXT EVENT:  The annual GARAGE SALE will be April 24^th…so please mark your calendar.  It will be well advertised with lots of shoppers, and items to buy are needed from EVERY MEMBER, even if you cannot be there to work.  **Elaine Sprague has offered to store your goodies even now as you are cleaning your closets after Christmas.**  (Please have your items already marked.)  Elaine’s address is 704 Camp Street in Sulphur Springs.  Her phone number is 903/885-1337.  The goal for our garage sale is AT LEAST $1,000!  This is a fun and very important one-day event.  Don’t forget the BAKE SALE part of this event…..it has been very successful and your participation is needed.

Design Committee Report…Pat Pillard

 

The Design Committee, consisting of Cecilia Anderson, Pat Sparks, Ann Bilington, Pat Powell, and Joy Rutledge had their first meeting on January 7, 2004. Each member had several quilts for us all to consider. We have decided to present 3 to the guild at the January meeting. We will ask you to select the one that appeals to you. We are hoping to have everyone that has an interest in the donation quilt to participate.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Pat Pillard

Design Chairperson

Hostess Chairman…Patsy Crist

 

Hostesses for our January meeting will be Cecilia Anderson, Jan Bartley, Wanda Beaty, and Shirley Burney.   

 

Please remember to bring your recipes to share in the next newsletter!   We really have enjoyed the wonderful dishes.   I am also requesting the December desert recipes for our February newsletter.  (Editor’s note:  Please, please….whoever made that delicious cranberry salad with the oatmeal topping, please share!  It was fantastic!)  

 

If you are planning on coming to the work day, January 17, please bring a sack lunch.  Bottled water and cold drinks will be provided, and Lequida will be serving a delicious dessert.

 

 Since there were no recipes submitted, I will share a couple of mine that our family enjoys.

 

Creamy Corn Chowder  Patsy Crist

 

1 can mexi-corn

1 can niblet corn

1 can creamy corn

3 potatoes - diced

1 chopped onion (med.)

2 cups of chicken broth

1  family size can of cream of mushroom

1 11oz can cream of celery soup

1 cup diced Velveeta cheese

2 cups of milk

3 cups of water

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon canola oil

 

Cook chopped onion in oil on low heat until onion becomes clear, add chicken broth, water and diced potatoes.  Increase to medium heat to bring to a boil.  Then cover w/lid and simmer for 15 minutes.  Add all ingredients (except milk).  Stir to blend all ingredients together smoothly.  Then add milk gradually.  (By adding the milk at the last you will not curdle the soup.)  Add garnishes to top of soup - if desired.

 

Garnishes:    5 crispy cooked slices of bacon - crumbled

                    parsley

 

  

POTATO CHIP COOKIES  Patsy Crist

 

1 pkg. white almond bark

2 cups of crushed RUFFLE potatoes chips

1 cup salted peanuts

 

Melt almond bark in med. to large glass bowl in micro- wave oven --careful not to burn. In my oven it is mmelted in 2 min.  This will vary w/ovens.  Add crushed chips and peanuts and stir with large spoon.  Spoon out on parchment or wax paper.  Allow them to harden about 30 minutes, then put in air tight container.  Enjoy - easy, tasty, and sweet.

 

Quilters’ Bulletin Board

 

A Reminder:  Now is the time to bring a new supply of stamped, self-addressed envelopes for the new year or current email address!  Please give these to Rose Hillsamer.

 

Beginning Quilt Class - Billie Ruth Standbridge

 

Before each quilt meeting, we will have a beginners’ quilt class.  This class is for ALL beginners, young and old alike!    This month, we will be working with 4 patch and 9 patch squares.  We'll also learn how to sash, rag and applique a heart.  Be sure and bring your needle, thread and scissors.  Try to get to the West Side Plaza restaurant to see all of the rag quilts on display.  You're all doing so well and learning so fast.  Hannah Perry had her pillow in the Plaza window with the Christmas display.  I think all of you can have a pillow ready for display in the window for February!

 

THANK YOU….THANK YOU….THANK YOU….

 

     Ladies, I can't thank you enough or convey my total surprise when I looked in that bag and saw a quilt that had been sold at our Fall Festival auction!!!.   Jan's big smile, when presenting it to me, certainly made me think she knew what she was doing.  Then I looked at Deanna's big smile, knowing full well that she and Carroll had bought it at the auction.  So how was this coming back to me?  I don't know who's ingenious idea this was, but thank you so much for such an extremely thoughtful thing to do.  Most of all I can't imagine that it was kept an absolute secret, especially knowing the women in our evening circle.  I have a new respect for them, considering that we usually do more talking than sewing.

     It was very rewarding and a great learning experience to serve as your president for the past two years.   You can't work with all you wonderful ladies and not enjoy it.  You contributed so much and accomplished levels that I think very few 5 year old guilds even aspire to.  I know we'll all benefit from Jan's leadership and I'm really looking forward to our New Year.  See you at our upcoming, all important Planning Day........Billie Ruth

 

January Birthdays                                                                                                February Birthdays

Misty Thurman  1/07                                                      Ann Gregg                     2/04

Sandra Pundt                 1/08                                                      Linda Bailey                   2/08

Nancy Schrimsher          1/15                                                      Debi Morris                    2/14

Elaine Sprague   1/20                                                      Zita Warmke                  2/26

Peggie Wilkinson            1/25                                                      Carolyn Tosh                 2/28

Gwen Karney                 1/26                                                      Amanda Wilcox  2/28

Louise Stripling  1/27                                                      Jan Bartley                     2/29

Cecilia Anderson            1/31

 

Window Display in West Side Plaza:    Next month (February), we will be displaying our quilts from our workshop with Sally Ashbacker.  If you don’t have yours finished, but have quilts with hearts on them, please bring these to be displayed.   We will be using anything where the primary color is red (though not Christmas)…throws, wall hangings, pillows…these are equally welcomed!  Please bring these to our January meeting or to my house before February 1.

 

Have you seen???  Someone borrowed Billie Ruth’s Santa pillow at the November meeting.  Could you please bring it to the next Guild meeting, or contact her to let you know that you have it.  Thanks!

 

Directions to Lequida’s house for the work day:

 

Coming down I30, take exit 127 on to service road and turn right at mile marker 129.  My house is the second on left. ( My road is the next road past the Echo Lodge.)

If you are coming from the Texarkana direction, take exit 131 and cross at the second overpass, turn right and then left on the second road on the left.  My house is the second on the left.  (Editor's note:  If you need a map, I have attached one to the newsletter.)