Great work, everyone!

Visitors to the fifth biennial Stitches in Time quilt show were in for a real treat this time!!! The show featured a near record number of entries!
Prize winners included Jean Butzer for Best in Show, with her Grandma's Album, new member Linda Prouty for her "Radiant Star" quilt and Kathi Everett's "Little Black Dress". In all 29 prizes were awarded by our panel of judges to 21 different quilters!! But everyone who attended was a winner, since it was such a feast for the eyes!
In addition to the prizes awarded by the judges the viewer's choice awards were announced at the November Guild meeting.


First place went to Mary Ellen Casey for her "Peaceful Prairie" Quilt (pictured at left)



Second place went to Sharon Larson
for her original "Autumn Under Blue Skies"
(at right)








Full list of winners:

Best of Show: Grandma's Album by Jean Butzer
Large Quilt Piecing: Radiant Star by Linda Prouty
Large Quilt Hand Applique: Dahlia's by Barb Brady
Large Quilt Machine Applique: Hannah's Garden by Dodie Morrison
Large Quilt Hand Quilting: Autumn Baskets by Martha Lorshbaugh
Large Quilt Machine Quilting: French Braid Stained Glass by Elaine Ross
Large Quilt Mixed Techniques: Among the Leaves, by Ann Gouinlock






Small Quilt Piecing: Center of Attention by Connie Grimsley
Small Quilt Hand Applique: Floral Applique by Ann Guouinlock
Small Quilt Machine Applique: Wear Warm Clothes by Barbara Brady
Small Quilt Hand Quilting The Magnolia by Cheryl Doody
Small Quilt Hand Quilting, 2nd: Spiraling out of Control by Ann Renica
Small Quilt Machine Quilting: Craig and Martha catching Turtles by Martha Lorshbaugh
Small Quilt Mixed Techniques: Basket of Bloomers by Jean Butzer

Best Miniature: Peppermint Twist in Miniature, by Jean Butzer
Best Miniature, 2nd: Vintage bouquet by Ann Gouinlock
Quilted Fashion: Textured Vest by Elaine Ross
Home Decor: Naptime by Mary Ellen Ames
Most Creative: Little Black Dress by Kathi Everett
Best use of Color: Door Number 1? by Mary Ellen Ames
Special Award for Other Techniques: Textured Star by Pat Gardner
Special Award for Visual Impact: 1930's fractured Diamond by Donna Tomski
Special Award for Group Quilt: Tulip Friendzy by Ann Gouinlock
Judge's Choice, Judy Farnham: Beyond Black by Ann Michaud
Judge's Choice, Evelyn Pengelly: My Friendship Round Robin by Cheryl Doody
Judge's Choice, Natalie Masker: September Wedding by Becky Nichols
President's Award: Puppy Tracks in the snow by Gladys Van Buskirk
Chairman's Award: Delicate Dreams by Tracy Jachimowicz

See more pictures!!!

The committee reported that, although the show drew a slightly smaller crowd than anticipated, the show was a success. Thanks go to all who helped in any way- and most members of the Guild did! Whether it is by chairing a committee, helping to hang the quilts, sitting a table at the show, or making lots of quilts to show, the show couldn't happen without you!!!
The committee also recommends starting a new raffle quilt right away, if anyone is interested in chairing this project.

In December, the meeting will be held on the 13th, to make it easier for everyone to participate and still be ready for Holiday plans. If you plan to attend, please bring a dish to pass and check your newsletter for a list of items needed to make our special group project- thanks to Connie Grimsley for all her time on this project!

Where does the time go???

How did October come and go so quickly?? Wasn't it just July?

The Guild - and the writer, obviously- had a very busy summer ,which led into preparations for the quilt show, which brings us to now. Time to catch up!!!

In July, the Guild had their annual picnic, featuring lots of goodies made by Guild members. Eating meetings are always well attended! This one was also noteworthy because we had our second annual Chinese auction. This year's auction was bigger than the first one. It was hard to decide where to put your tickets, as there were SO many fabulous items available.

Some of the most sought after prizes were items donated by family members of a long time member, Vera Sanzo. To our great sorrow, we lost her over the summer. All who knew and loved Vera were thrilled to have something of hers to remember her by. Some were items she made, which will be precious keepsakes; and some were fabrics she never got to use, which will find a new life in very special projects.

In August, the Guild had a wonderfull trunk show from Caren Betlinski, who does fabulous thread painting. Some may be familiar with her work, Swamp Angel, which was shown in Paducah in 2007. We liked Caren's work so well, we have invited her to come back in 2009 to teach us a bit of her techniques. The class will feature flowers similar to the sunflowers in this quilt.

Details on the class will be coming soon.

If you missed Caren's show at the Guild meeting, she will be doing a trunk show during the Quilts=Art=Quilts show at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center.

In other news, Dodie Morrison, long time coordinator of the Community Service projects for the Guild, decided to step down. Fortunately, Melanie and Mary Ann Watson, stepped right up to take over for her- never knowing what they were getting into!! Dodie has happily been filling her car with goodies for them to play with, including the finished projects that members have been turning in.

If you haven't met Melanie and MaryAnn, take the time to welcome them to their new position, sign out a kit for some blocks, or a quilt you can finish- or just enjoy chatting with them. They are really sweet, special girls!

At the quilt show on October 17 and 18, we were happy to welcome back some of our distant members and "old" friends!!!

Deb and Shirley were long time members and good friends so we are always happy when they can come visit us!!! Shirley had even sent some of her quilts a head to be entered into the show. Hopefully they actually got to enjoy the show in between all the hugs and stops to catch up with everyone!

More about the show next time....

June was fun!!

Members in the Museum Guild had a variety of activities to keep them busy in June!

On June 14, over 30 of us took a bus trip to the Quilters Consortium of NY State's biennial Quilter's Holiday show, titled "Quilt around the Clock". With the price of gas, all were happy to leave the driving to someone else to be able to attend this event. The quilt show itself featured a wide variety of Quilts from Guilds around the state. See a slideshow of prize winners here!

In addition to the show, we attended a luncheon with well known quilt teacher and author Kaye England. Kaye's speech not only inspired us as quilters, it was also very uplifting, as she truly believes each one of us has the power to rule our own world!

Later in the day, we were treated to a slideshow from Ami simms, featuring the "Worst Quilt in the World" contest. Visit Ami's website to see some of them for yourself! But be warned, as Ami warned us- some of them may turn your stomach.

At one point during the afternoon about 15 of us sat around a table for four in the cafe and shared a show and tell of what we bought from all the vendors, stories about our husbands and just good fun! As much as we love the Guild meetings, sometimes you just don't have time to get silly with your quilting friends like this.

At the regular Guild meeting the following week, we had a visit with Louise Tiemann, who teaches at Sew Many Quilts in Johnson City, NY. She shared a lovely collection of quilts from the small group of art quilters in her Guild, then treated a few members to a class featuring her embellished sea creatures. See more about Louise at her blog.

Our show and tell featured the usual wonderful collection of quilts created by our members.

Ann Renica showed off her completed Scrap Therapy project from a previous class.

Olena treated us to her usual fun stories of where she rescued the fabrics she used in her latest creation- the doll featured here.

Classes, new and old

The members who took the "Scrap Therapy" class in April and May have all been hard at work, ironing and cutting scraps now that they have learned a system!

Many thanks to Joan Ford for coming to visit, and to Janet Lutz of Calico Gals quilt shop in Fayetteville, NY, for coming along and feeding our need to shop!

Two of the completed tops were presented at the May 10 Guild meeting during "Show and Tell"

On the left is Lorraine West's quilt. Martha Lorshbaugh's, on the right, looks different, even though all used the same "Scrap Chops" pattern because of color placement. Martha also decided to use as many of her scraps as possible, so her quilt came out a bit bigger.

In June, the Guild is happy to welcome Louise Thiemann, who will present a lecture and a 3-d applique workshop. You can see Louise's sea creatures in her blog. There is still room in the class. If interested, please contact Martha.

More goodies from the May "Show and Tell" for you to OOOh and Ahhh are presented below. (I apologize to the makers for not including the names, but I lost the list. :-)

Get your tickets now!

Tickets are now being sold for this beautiful King Sized (approximately 108" x 116") quilt to be raffled at the Museum Quilt Guild's October quilt show, "Stitches in Time 2008".

Bonnie Fowler, Raffle Quilt committee chair, and a dedicated group of volunteers have spent many pleasant hours choosing colors, buying fabrics, preparing kits and completing the top for this quilt, made almost entirely of batiks!

Many of the Guild's members will now take a turn at hand quilting this lovely quilt.

Raffle tickets were distributed at the April meeting. If any members did not yet receive their tickets to sell, please contact Connie Grimsley.

Tickets are $1 each. Interested in buying a ticket?? Drop us an email, and we'll find a way to get one to you!

Fabric Postcards are fun!

An enthusiastic group of members stayed after the March 15 meeting for a class on fabric postcards. They soon learned how easy and fun it is to create these small works of art.A fabric postcard is a small quilt created on a stiff inner layer that allows it to travel through the postal system.

Teacher Martha Lorshbaugh was happy to share not only her own collection of postcards, but those of fellow member Kathi Everett, to inspire the class. Many of these cards came from internet swaps. The creativity represented on these cards inspired the some of the class participants to play, rather than follow the pattern provided.

Donna's Easter card for her Grands

Ann learned the benefits of taking her time
on the blanket stitching!

Mary Ellen decided to be very artistic- even adding some sequins!

More of the class postcards can be seen here! And hopefully many more will soon follow.

Coming Attractions

So far, 2008 has been good to us, and the Museum Quilt Guild is expecting the rest of the year to only get better!

Several workshops are already on the schedule, with several more in the planning stages. The after meeting "sit and sew" may never have another opportunity to gather!


In March, one of our members, Martha Lorshbaugh, will be teaching members to make fabric postcards! Several members have been showing off postcards they have made and or received in online swaps, which has generated enthusiasm for this class. (See some of Martha's postcards !)



In April, we are pleased to host Joan Ford, with her "Scrap Therapy" lecture. A class will follow, where members can learn how to cut, sort and organize scraps for future projects.



In June, members of the Museum Quilt Guild will be taking a road trip!! A bus has been reserved to transport interested members to "Quilter's Holiday 2008" hosted by the Quilters Consortium of New York State. The trip, on June 14, will cost members $125.00 and includes admission to the show, a lunch with speaker Kaye England, and dinner with speaker Ami Simms. Two locations have been arranged to meet the bus- at the Valu Plaza in Batavia and the Park and Ride in LeRoy. Contact Elaine Ross at elainejr@rochester.rr.com for more information, or to sign up and arrange payment. Reservations must be made before March 31, 2008.



Other upcoming workshops include a wool felt project and a fun dimensional applique class! Check back later for details!

Black and White and.....

The Museum Quilt Guild members turned in quilts to be entered into the annual challenge show on January 19. Among the entries is a "Little Black Dress", a city scape and a tv test pattern! See the entire show here.

The Challenge theme is chosen by the Guild's 2nd VP each spring. The anticipation of each announcement is met with enthusiasm most years. This year the announcement was followed by questions, and more questions: Does grey count as a third color? What about cream? What if I use different shades of my third color??? And yet, despite all the questions, this challenge may be the most popular the Guild has ever had! A total of 33 quilts were entered by 29 members! There are those who participate every year, but this year there were several newcomers to the challenge, including one former member who was inspired to create a challenge quilt and rejoin the Guild!

The Museum Quilt Guild's membership is made up of every level of quilter, from beginner to expert. Many are strictly traditional quilters, while others use the annual challenge to try out a new technique and stretch themselves a bit.

Awards are givien to the entrants based on the workmanship and overall appearance of the piece as well as specific awards for the hand or machine quilting, use of color, creativity, use of theme and design. Visitors to the show are also invited to vote for their favorite, so that a viewer's choice award can be given.

The Museum Quilt Guild hosts a biennial quilt show in October. Much more of the work created by the same artists will be on display there. Please check back for details later in the year!