Berrien Towne and Country Quilt Guild

 
 

Anyone with an itch to stitch will find useful information here.

Come visit our guild.  We are located in Berrien County, the extreme southwest corner of Michigan, approximately 16 miles from the Indiana border and 1.5 hours from Chicago.  We meet on the second Thursday of each month (EXCEPT AUGUST 2010 - see Events calendar)from February through November at 6:30pm for social time with the regular meeting beginning at 7pm.  Non-members coming to see the special guest speakers in May 2009 and September 2009 will be asked to pay a $5 entry fee.  See the Maps link for directions.


Better yet, JOIN our guild!  A love of quilting is our one “requirement.”  Download our membership form here! Membership 2010.pdf



Articles for both the website and the newsletter are due by the 20th of each month. 

For newsletter placement, contact Andrea at: btcqnewsletter@yahoo.com

For website placement, contact Ginger at stepgingerly@comcast.net

 

Welcome

“Show and Tell” Quilts from 2009

Current Guild News and Reminders Mark your Calendars!! The 2010 Berrien Towne and Country Quilt Show is set for June 26 and 27! If you live within driving distance of Southwest Michigan, this is an artistic event you do not want to miss. More information is on our “2010 Quilt Show” page! To Print and fill out the “show and Tell” UFO sheet in advance, click Here: Show_n_Tell.pdf Reminders and announcements MARCH PROGRAM - MINIATURE QUILTS    Kathy Phipps has been very kind to offer us a wonderful insight into the world of miniature quilts.  She has been a member of our guild for the past 17 years and she has overseen the silent auction of the miniature quilts for several years.  This month Kathy will present an exciting trunk show with tips and techniques that we can all benefit from.  Please join us as we welcome Kathy and we get to see all (or most of) her beautiful miniatures.          The meeting is March 11th.  Social time/shopping time is at 6:30 pm., with the meeting starting at 7:00pm.  Don't miss this visually exciting truck show!!!     QUILT CHALLENGE - This years quilt challenge is very exciting.  We will be using 2 1/2" x 45" strips.  It doesn't matter if you use a purchased "jelly roll" or a "Bali Pop" or if you dig into your stash.  We look forward to seeing what beautiful quilts all of you can create using 2 1/2"  strips.     For the month of March, the A thru M group will bring in 3 - 2 1/2" X 45" strips (all in the same fabric) in the color YELLOW.     The N thru Z group will bring in 3 -  2 1/2" x 45" strips (all in the same fabric) in the color BLUE.   We tried to be considerate of every ones budget.  It only takes a 1/4 yard of fabric (about the same price of a fat quarter) to join in the fun.  Cut the 1/4 yard into 3 -  2 1/2" x 45" strips and you're all set.  OR better yet, use fabric from your stash, that way there's room for more!!     Don't forget  -  your book gets a stamp every month you bring in your strips and the 3 monthly winners, get a free patterns.                                             Program Chairpersons                                           Kathy and Barb     A “Behind the Scenes” Tour of the Quilt Collections at the Great Lakes Quilt Center at MSU, Lansing is being organized! The March 26 bus trip will depart from the Glenlord Road and Red Arrow Highway Walgreens. This store is in Stevensville along the I-94 business loop; be aware that there is another Walgreens store in Stevensville. Please park in the rear of the store near the pharmacy drive thru. The bus will board at 7:00 a.m. The store will not be open for a restroom break at 7:00 a.m. SPRING RETREAT - at the Amish Country Inn in Shipshewana May 7th - 9th Cost: $140.00 /2 per room $120.00 /3 per room Full amount due by April meeting / $70 deposit to hold your spot This retreat includes your hotel room, a large sewing room (1 table per person!), Saturday & Sunday breakfast, Friday and Saturday Dinner, and more! We realize that this is being held on Mother's Day weekend. You may choose to leave early on Sunday to be with your families or you may choose to enjoy this Mother's Day present to you! It's up to you! Sign up at any quilt guild meeting through April. If there are any questions, call Peri or Elaine Volunteers are Needed... for additional quilting on the raffle quilt for the 2010 show. The quilt show will be here before we know it. Please start registering quilts at our next meeting. Kay will have a table set up to take registrations or you can mail them to Julie. We need you to register your quilt as soon as possible. There was a registration form in your newsletter and here: REGISTRATION FORM.pdf. Please remember you need to fill out the form and attach a picture of your quilt with the form. We are still looking for who will be able to bring previous Best of Show quilts to be displayed. If you can please let Peri or I know so we can prepare for showing them. We will need a count by no later than the end of April. We are still looking for a few chairpersons for the show. We need someone for the Admissions Table, Sit and Sew, and Signage. Please let us know if you can help in these areas. We will be asking all of the Quilt Show workers to wear aprons when they are working at the show. You can wear one of your favorites that you already own or we will be having a work day sometime in April with patterns available to make one. The aprons will make it easy for our visitors to identify who is available to help them with their questions. Silent Auction at the June Quilt Show If you are a new member, this is a wonderful way to become involved with the quilt guild and quilt show. Quilters, your generosity and creativity will benefit the ladies who graciously donate and quilt tops for the Quilts of Valor program. The mission of the QOV Foundation is to cover all those servicemembers and veterans touched by war with Wartime Quilts called Quilts of Valor. Quilts should be no larger than 20” x 20”. And this year we have decided to accept table runners. The length should be no longer than 44-45”. Be sure to sign your work on the back. We would like to display as many items as possible later in the libraries to start generating interest in the Silent Auction, as well as the Quilt Show. Auction pieces will be taken up to Friday night. Any questions? Contact Kathy COMMUNITY QUILTS Too much time required? Think again! Here are two “Quilt As You Go” patterns for lap quilts that take 5 hours from start to completely finished quilt. One day’s quilting CAN make a difference! “Scrappy Strip Quilt” QAYG strips.pdf “Single Log Cabin” QAYG logcabin.pdf 2010_Quilt_Show.html2010_Quilt_Show.htmlWelcome_files/Show_n_Tell.pdfWelcome_files/REGISTRATION%20FORM.pdfWelcome_files/QAYG%20strips.pdfWelcome_files/QAYG%20logcabin.pdfWelcome_files/Challenge%201.docshapeimage_2_link_0shapeimage_2_link_1shapeimage_2_link_2shapeimage_2_link_3shapeimage_2_link_4shapeimage_2_link_5

Other Quilty News of Note


March 27 - 28

The String-A-Long Quilt Guild of Valparaiso, In will present their 13th Biennial Quilt Show “Quilts in Bloom” on Saturday, March 27, (9am-5 pm) and Sunday March 28 ,(10 am -4pm) 2010 at The Porter County Expo Center : 215 E Division Rd ,Valparaiso IN 46383 (One mile South of Highway 30 on Highway 49).  

Admission is $5, under 12 free


April 19-21

A quilt retreat is available in Mackinaw City for April 19-21, 2010. Sign up by March 30.  Cost $145.  For more information, please go to www.mackinawquiltersretreat.com 


May 22 - 23

LAP Quilt Show

Sat. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sun. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

The Summit 9410 Davis Hwy. Dimondale, MI.

admission $6.00

There will be approx. 200 quilts, 50 vendors, doors prizes, live demos, and a silent auction.  For further info see the LAP website at www.lansingareapatchers.com.


October 1-3

Quilts On The Grand 2010

West Michigan Quilter's Guild

DeltaPlex

2500 Turner Ave NW

Grand Rapids, MI

Friday, Oct. 1st from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 2nd from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 3rd from 12 noon until 5 p.m

For more information, visit our web site at http://www.wmqg.org