After weeks of anticipation 25 eager quilters arrived promptly before 9:00 AM Monday at the Lodge at Beechwood, quickly setting up their sewing stations preparing for a full day of quilting.  Everyone was super excited to learn new techniques from Frankfort Michigan native Ann Loveless, two time award winning ArtPrize quilter.

Ann skillfully demonstrated her cutting techniques making ‘confetti’ for what she calls her “impressionistic art quilts”.  Batik fabrics are cut and layered under a layer of polyester tulle which is then free motion machine quilted.  The confetti colors act like a painters color palette, inspired by trillium woodland photos taken by Ann’s husband Steve Loveless.

Later in the day the entire guild including 3 new members and more than 40 guests gathered at Beechwood Church for Ann’s presentation and trunk show.

Guests who paid $5 tonight were reminded they may join the guild for $10 for membership which runs thru September.

Program Chair Kathy Mueller gave information on upcoming programs, including the Red and White Challenge, plans for a hands-on wool project at our November sew-in meeting and no December meeting.

Pat Navis announced preliminary plans for a bus trip October 22 to Shipshewana, and a charity quilt project for Holland police department, which people will have an opportunity to work on next month at our sew-in. More details will follow on these in the upcoming weeks.

At the end of the program members shared their “show and tell” quilts, including those who attended Ann’s workshop showing their wooded landscape projects completed so far.

Barb Schippa

BRQG Secretary