Monday, October 24, 2016

Business/Announcements:

Pat Navis – Welcome

New Board members replacing:

–          Barb Schippa/Secretary nominates Sally Zenas to replace her for a 2 year term

–          Vicky Gray/Treasurer nominates Becky Baumgartner/Stevens to replace her for a 2 year term

–          Janet Haines/Webmaster – renew mid-term

–          All three were approved by unanimous vote

–          Volunteer photographers – nothing fancy, anyone with a smart phone –Ann Prins and Kathy Rycenga will work together to cover our events.

By-law proposals:

–          Article III – membership

–          Article IV – officers

–          Both were reviewed, proposed, 2^nd, and approved by unanimous vote

Refreshment – please sign up if your birthday falls in November/December

Holland Police Department Victim’s Advocates Group Charity Project needs:

–          Various age group (youth to older adult) quilt tops, minimum 40”x60” to larger

–          Cash donation to purchase batting

–          Anyone willing to machine quilt (long arm or regular machine) or bind

SAVE THE DATE/IQF Chicago bus trip Saturday, April 8, 2017 – Oh My!!!!

Kathy Meuller/Programs  

Monday, November 28, 2016 – “Working with Wool” hands on wool project.

–          6:00-9:00 PM at the Beechwood Lodge

–          Sign up tonight for the kit you want

–          Bring basic sewing supplies, chenille needles and size 8 or 12 pearl cotton, or wool thread in colors to coordinate with your kit selection

Monday, December 26, 2016 – Merry Christmas! No meeting….

Monday, January 23, 2017 – Sew In/UFO? from last year, get them done!

Monday, February 27, 2017 – Iris Folding program

Monday, March 27, 2017 – Frieda Anderson program/workshop (workshop fee $50+kit tbd$)

DEBBIE GRIFKA/ESCH HOUSE QUILTS – Big Red Quilters Guild is pleased to welcome DEBBIE GRIFKA from Ann Arbor, Michigan (www.eschhousequilts.com) as our speaker.  A lifelong sewist and maker, Debbie began quilting in 2002, finding inspiration in works of Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr, Gwen Marsten, and Jacquie Gering and others in the modern quilt world. Debbie immediately found her way to her local Modern Quilt Guild, where she served as President.  Debbie describes her style as graphic, modern minimalism, making quilts with clean lines and bold shapes as her focus…whether the colors are deep and intense or low contrast neutrals, whether pieced or applique. Debbie’s work has been displayed at QuiltCon, Paducah/AQS, and House Quilt Festival and featured in various books and magazines. Her first book LINES BY DESIGN QUILTS was published in 2016. Having found her voice in the modern quilt movement, she shares her love of quilting thru lectures and workshops, and is an avid member of the fast growing modern quilt movement online thru many sources such as Instagram and Facebook.  We were treated to an overview of her quilting journey on line and samples of her work follows:

Raffle drawings went to:

Barb Bredemeier – Special thread from Smith-Owens

Peggy Claire – Fat Quarters from Debbie Grifka

Barb Schippa – Pattern from Debbie Grifka

Esther Tilton – tool

Pat thanked everyone and dismissed us about 9:00 PM, followed by tear down and clean up

Barb Schippa

Big Red Quilters Guild Secretary (signing off……)

Monday, August 22, 2016

Announcements:

Barb Bredemeier – Welcome

Row Round Robin – tonight is the last night to sign up

Refreshment changes – bring a treat if it’s your birthday month

Barb Schippa/Saturday October 22 Shipshewana bus trip

Sign up before September 1 when the price goes up!

Vicky Gray /Treasurers summary

Barb Bredemeier/Volunteer Positions (open)

Vice President/2 year term (Barb is transitioning to treasurer)

Secretary/2 year term

Programs Asst./2 year term

Historian/photographer/2 year term

Sally Leep/Membership – 73 members, 39 present, 1 new member, 5 guests

Renewal reminders – September is renewal time, $30 dues are now due

All emails will include BRQG in the subject line to safely ID that its guild information

Kathy Meuller/Programs  

Monday, September 26 – all day charity quilt Sew In, Noon to 9:00 pm. See Andrea Aumick for details.

Monday, October 24 – workshop and evening program by modern quilter Debbie Grifka, $35 workshop fee + book cost.

Monday, November 28 – guild meeting in place of sew in (replaces December program which falls on Christmas day) “Working with Wool” hands on wool project. Each table will have a wool teacher. Members are asked to bring basic sewing supplies.

Monday, December 25 – Merry Christmas! No meeting…..

Mary Voss introduced close friend and speaker Ken Kutzel. Ken, previously an educator from the Detroit area and now a resident of the Saugatuck/Douglas area, has been collecting a wide range of antique quilts for the past 40 years, some in pristine condition and a few that needed gentle attention to bring them back to their original glory. Our members enjoyed Ken’s humor, enthusiasm, and kindred quilt spirit, graciously sharing more than 80 quilts ranging from early 20^th century to mid-century, with an emphasis on art deco designs. He is drawn to oranges and greens, but mainly looks for well-balanced designs and unique quilts.  We broke for refreshments after his presentation, and then enjoyed more Show & Tell antique quilts from our members. No doubt everyone slept well thinking about all the lovely quilts they’d enjoyed.  Here is Ken’s vast collection……….

Barb Schippa

Big Red Quilters Guild Secretary

Opening:

President Pat Navis opened the meeting at 7:05 PM. She welcomed and recognized 8 guests and 1 new member, and read the Guild’s mission from the bi-laws, article II:

The Guild has been organized for the purposes of promoting an interest in and an appreciation of all quilting styles including traditional, modern and art quilt-making; sponsoring workshops, lectures, displays, projects and occasions for friends to meet for fellowship; and engaging in charitable efforts as voted on by the membership.

Pat apologized that the Charitable/Comfort Quilts project for the Police Dept. did not go to the members for a vote.  If you are interesting in making quilt tops they would like them no less than 40×60, preferring larger sizes to accommodate older teens, like a large lap or small twin range.  We will need machine quilters as well. The police will hand these out in high stress situations such as a house fire, or when domestic issues occur like someone being removed from the home.  Andrea Aumick, our committee chair, will announce the next cutting/piecing/binding time soon.

Announcements:

Pat announced the following:

A summer potluck picnic will be held in conjunction with our next sew in, Monday, July 25, 6:00-9:00 at the lodge. You are asked to sign up for a main dish or dessert, bring your own table service and beverage…..and of course, some sewing for later.  See Sally Leep, Membership chair for questions.

Officer election is coming up soon.  Barb Schippa and Vicky Gray 2 year board terms are ending in September, so we will need to find replacements for both. Barb Bredemeier is willing to take over finance for Vicky. We will need to fill the secretary position. If you have skills you’d like to share with the guild please let us know. We will begin vetting soon!

Barb Bredemeier, Vice President is organizing The Round Robin “row by row” challenge. Sign up is now underway. Examples were shown.  Barb noted they should be wall size quilts. Snow birds are encouraged to participate too.  See the website or Barb for more information.

Barb Schippa, Secretary, is organizing the Shipshewana Extravaganza bus trip, Saturday, October 22, 2016. The bus will leave Sam’s Club parking lot 8:00 AM sharp, return 7:00 PM. There will be plenty of time for fabric shopping at The Cotton Corner, Yoder’s, Lolly’s and Little bit of Lolly’s plus an Amish Threshers dinner on an Amish farm. We will enjoy a quilt trunk show by Amish quilt historian and author Rebecca Haarer. Registration forms can be found on the website, opening to the public July 1.

Before September 1 – Members $75/Nonmembers $85

After September 1 – Members $80/Nonmembers $90

*no refunds after July 1, you may resell or give your ticket away

Kathy Meuller, program chairperson, announced Ken Kutzle, antique quilt collector from Saugatuck will be our August speaker. October we will host Debbie Grifka, bold graphic quilt designer, author, and teacher. A workshop is planned as well. She can be found at www.eschhousequilts.com. For more information of these, see Kathy.

Great news! Janet Haines, our webmaster provided a demo of our new website going live this week https://bigredquiltersguild.org/ Janet showed how to sign up as a follower so you’ll get automatic updates when something is added to the website. Take some time to familiarize yourself with all the information on the site, including bylaws, all events and challenges, bee listing, all forms, schedules, and our blog.  The old blog will be deactivated after this months posting.

Red and White Challenge Finale! – Barb Schippa and Barb Bredemeier

Barb Schippa opened, noting how excited everyone has been, anxious to see all the incredible work everyone has done. Several asked why we chose red and white as our first challenge. It began with the internationally acclaimed exhibit called “Infinite Variety” held in March 2011 at the Park Avenue Amory in NYC. The exhibit was a single private collection of 650 red and white quilts, spanning 300 years, collected/owned by one person, Joanna S. Rose. It was displayed in a first ever dramatic circular overhead way.  Shortly after AQS/Paducah featured a collection of red and whites, then IQF Houston followed with red and white quilts to honor their ‘Ruby Jubilee’.  And finally, we thought it would be a fun way to commemorate the newly created BRQG begun in 2014, with Big Red as our icon, celebrating our 2^nd year.

Barb Bredemeier introduced NACQJ certified guest judge, Sue Cortese. Sue selected 4 winning quilts, and wish she could have had more ribbons. She thanked everyone for participating, and how important it is to enter shows whether this was your 100th or first quilt; otherwise there would be no show. Sue explained all factors considered when selecting a winning quilt, all within three minutes.  She will answer our questions after we vote. We were asked to vote for numbered quilts only, and then enjoy some refreshments while we certify the ballot count.

Pat Navis then announced Raffle drawing/winners, asking winners to help display the winners during show and tell.  Thanks to Sue Cortese for providing a raffle gift, a jelly roll of her hand dyed fabrics and selected threads available thru her website www.selcfabrics.com

Barb Bredemeier and Sue Cortese announced the winning quilts, each were brought up to the stage:

Large traditional – Sally Leep

Small traditional – Linda Chambers

Large modern – Kathy Ryzenga

Small modern – Barb Schippa

Viewer’s Choice – Barb Schippa

Quilters picked up the remaining quilts, including the vintage quilts for show and tell, and shared their inspiration story.

Pat thanked everyone and dismissed about 8:35 PM, asking for volunteers to tear down and clean up.

Barb Schippa

Secretary