Meeting Information

Our Meeting Schedule

All meetings are on the 4th Wednesday of the month (except November or as announced) and begin at 7 pm in the basement of the Kuna United Methodist Church, corner of 4th and Franklin, unless otherwise noted. All meetings have Show and Tell (please bring yours), Info-mercials, and Questions and Answers. Each meeting also has a program theme which is listed. Please bring canned goods high in protein, because we donate them to the Kuna Food Bank as a Thank You for using the church.

Block Exchange - We began a list of those wanting to participate in the next block exchange. Only 7 signed up, so it was decided to extend it for another month. If you would like to participate, email Barb at barbara@larkwoodplace.net.

Treats for Troops - Lots of goodies are always appreciated, and now the 12" pillows too. Will be working on getting those packaged up and sent out.

Volunteers - Got a few more volunteers, but still need more. Need two more for the Philanthropic Committee to help choose who gets the funds from the 2010 Quilt Show. Still need someone for Show Ribbons, Vendors, Publicity, Demonstrations, etc.

Instructor Fund - We have three volunteers - MaryAnn, Sue & Barb. They will begin with the list previously put together, but are looking for your suggestions as well.

Recap of the February meeting and suggestions that have been made recently.
The Theme for 2011 will be Stars & Stripes Over Idaho. And you will have the option of donating your quilt to the new group that is hand delivering quilts to wounded Idaho soldiers at the VA Hospital. There will be more details on this as we get closer. We will have a special exhibit on the stage to announce the theme. You can enter a quilt here, but be aware that it cannot be shown in next year's show. We will allow quilts previously seen in the exhbit as this is just an exhibit to announce the therem.
Special Exhibit - One of our small quilting groups approached me about having a special exhibit of Celtic quilts they have made. Joan Wilkerson brought one to show. It was agreed that these quilts would make a wonderful exhibit in the entry area and that in the future, other small quilt groups could exhibit their group quilts. Great Idea!
Red Bags - It was decided that we will reduce the price to $3.00 each or 2 for $5 between now and the quilt show. We sold $93 worth at the meeting. We will decide closer to the show if we want to give one to each quilt winning a ribbon, use them as door prizes, etc. If you want one or more, we will have them available at the next meeting.
Ribbon Applications are available. Door prizes are starting to come in. And we have 8 vendors already signed up for the show! The committee to pick the recipient of the proceeds will meet on Saturday, March 13th and we will know soon there after who we will be giving our money to. Advertising will be underway - especially in time for the Shop Hop.
The Q-T-5 Quilt Group has volunteered to sponsor our Anniversary Celelbration this Fall.
Idaho Sewing & Vacuum has approached me with a unique idea for the show! I will share it with you as soon ad details are worked out!
Change in the Agenda - It has been suggested that we move Show & Tell to earlier in the program and have a break, then resume with the business portion of the meeting. We will try this at the March meeting.
Name Game - It seems there are two sides to this story! I have heard that people fear they will be embarassed and that it really doesn't do any good. First of all, I would never embarrass anyone deliberately. I choose the people that I know would be willing to play along. And I have heard from several of you that it is helpig you remember names and faces. And that was my goal all along. I will ask the group at the next meeting if this is something we should continue and the majority will rule as always.
Name Tags - I need to clarify that I don't mind if you wear name tags! It's just that I, personally, don't like them! I think it's great to wear them if it is helping us get to know one another. If I were truly opposed to name tags, I wouldn't be taking orders for the wooden ones that Joe makes! Actually, he has made me 2 and I'm supposed to keep one of them in my pocket at all times! I just never want it to become mandatory and have to charge fees if someone forgets!
As always, we have a lot going on! I look forward to seeing all of you at our meeting later this month on Wednesday, March 24th at 7:00pm. (Note: there are 5 Wednesdays this month and we will meet on the 4th Wednesday as usual!)

Note: For History of the Idaho PieceMakerS, see bottom of page

In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions or suggestions for the group!

Julia Ziegler at jziegler@rmci.net

Questions about the Website? You can contact Tammy at btbs00@cableone.net or 939-0034. You can contact Dawn at bd68@cableone.net or 724-7155.

THIRTY SIX OF OUR MEMBERS’ FAVORITE QUILTING TIPS:

Viking has a thread cone adapter to put on the spool holder.
A small collapsible table (Walmart, Costco, about $20) is great to keep by your sewing table to hold blocks and other things you are working on.
If you have had trouble using thread cones and find the thread snarls within your machine, try this: Put the cone behind the machine and bring the thread up over the top.
Binding: roll it up and put it on the thread holder.
Fons & Porter have a great binding tool (acrylic) to help you join ends.
If you have registered a Viking machine sometime in the past, and now want to register a Pfaff machine and have trouble, you will probably find that they are sharing registration and you can use your old password, etc. to access your account.
Binding: put it into a paper bag or bucket and bring it up from there as you sew it on.
There is a terrific ruler set from Omnigrid which includes a 12.5”, 9.5”, 6.5”, and a 4.5” at a good price.
Group your sewing machine feet, screwdrivers, thread, etc. in a special spot so you will always have these available.
Binding: wrap into a figure eight and pull from either center or end.
A portable design wall is invaluable.
Try a finger pin cushion.
Use a bamboo skewer for a stiletto instead of a metal one.
Put binding in a small Kleenex box and pull from there.
The handle with suction cups used on the big rulers helps to keep the ruler stead. You can also hook the suction cups between two long rulers to hold them so that you can square a quilt.
Everyone loves the Purple Thang.
There is a tiny gooseneck led light which goes on your sewing machine. You can direct the light to places hard to see.
Highly recommended: Cotton picking string picker
Cover a tv tray with ironing cloth and sit it by your machine so that you can iron as you go. Very portable.
Your own spit will take your own blood out of fabric.
Tool: The Angler – helps make half square triangles.
Absolutely necessary: walking foot
There are baby grippers (the handles with suction cups) for smaller rulers.
Make a light box: buy a small fluorescent light with cord. Get a large plastic container and turn it over on top of the light. Place a piece of plexiglass in the middle area (cut to fit), and there you have a large light box.
Nylon bobbin Genie: like a nylon washer that goes in the bobbin case. Works well in a long arm and should work well in regular machines. Helps them not to skip.
Wrist pin cushion.
Wool pin cushion will sharpen pins.
A folio book is great for saving and moving blocks and pieces of material around.
When bringing thread over from the back, on a Viking you can cut a small safety pin (keep the loop) hang it on the front, and run thread through it.
If your LED is too bright, spread Vaseline on a baggie and put it on the light to soften the glow.
Try a lead block (Sportsman’s Warehouse) wrapped first with duct tape, then a cushioned plasticized tape, to weight a ruler that you have difficulty keeping still.
A foam board (like those used between doors when shipped) from Home Depot will make a good design wall. Just tape together.
Tool: Lazy Girl Flying Geese X4
Iris tote: put pegboard inside and use dowels in the holes. Then use this to hold thread.
If you get fusible webbing on iron, use dryer sheet to clean iron.
There is a new seam ripper with a little LED light which is great to use.

2010 Meetings

03/24/2010

We are going to leave the map to Nazareth Center on our site, for there will be other meetings and retreats there.

NAZARETH RETREAT CENTER LOCATION

HISTORY OF THE IDAHO PIECEMAKERS
October 2008 - Courtesy of Julia Ziegler

There have been lots of those who have been in and out, moved away, all due to life happenings. I know I did this last year, but as we have so many new people, I think it bears repeating. I would like to introduce to you the “founding members” of the Idaho PieceMakerS. I went back through the lists and these were the names consistently coming up the first few years.

Original PieceMakerS 9-18-2001 –
17 names on the sign in sheet – of those 17, these are still coming on a regular basis - Suzy M, Cindie G, Mary R, Bobbie S, Marlys B

Between Sept. of 2001 – 2002

Jacque R, Shirley B, Connie T, Sue Lynn W, Barb W, and Wanda P

2003 – Added…

Nancy F, Kathy G, Lorinda H, Vicki K, Karen R, Connie O, and Nan K

2004 – Added…

Mary Ann E, Diane H, Kathy K, Linnie J, Bobee McC, Gloria K, Ophelia H, Nancy W, Dixie J, Wanda W, Donna J, Larry & Ruth R, Sandra S, and Anita S

33 Founders are still with us. That’s pretty amazing.

And let’s not forget to mention and give ourselves a pat on the back for the accomplishments of this group –

Our 10^th quilt show is coming up next year in 2009.
Our contributions of over $10,000 in the past three years to the community.
Our monthly food donations to the Kuna Food Bank – 230 lbs in August alone.
Our Treats for the Troops.
And of course we support Project Linus, Quilts of Valor and the Kare for Kids Kits.

While we are mentioning the 10^th annual show, the dates have been confirmed for
August 1^st and 2^nd, 2009 and Larry Gebert will be there on Friday, July 31^st.

Idaho PieceMakerS, PO Box 714, Kuna, ID 83634

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webkats@idahopiecemakers.com