Bloomington Quilters Guild
at a glance: June 2024

Follow the links to get more details about what’s going on and to explore the website.

OUR Next MEETING is ON Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

Time: 6:00 PM Social Hour
6:30 pm Meeting start

PROGRAM: Challenge, Raffle, Elections, Social Fun
SHOW and TELL
Location: BETH SHALOM 3750 E 3rd St, Bloomington, IN 47401

June Meeting

At our June meeting we'll celebrate our Volunteer of the Year and the Raffle Quilt winner. We'll have lots of social time as members vote for their favorite Challenge Sampler Quilt. Bring your favorite dessert or snack for a Snack Bar Pitch-in. Please no meat or shellfish. This includes lard.

• Challenge Quilt

Bring your challenge quilt to the June 2024 meeting! If possible please bring them early, between 5:30 and 6:00 PM so all the paperwork can be completed before the meeting starts. You do NOT need to have a hanging sleeve as the quilts will be displayed flat on a table. Please make sure your quilt is labeled with your name.

For more information and guidelines and to see challenges from previous years see the Challenge Quilt web page.

• Proposed change to BQG Bylaws – Vote on June 4.

At the April 2nd Guild meeting, two changes to the Bylaws were proposed and some discussion ensued. One of these changes will be presented for a vote by the membership at our May 7th meeting. In order to vote, we need a quorum of at least 50 members. So please plan to attend this meeting to vote, and to enjoy the program and fellowship!

The first of these changes, Article II Section 1d currently states, “The nominating committee shall include the Vice President and Program Chair-Elect.” A vote will be taken on this proposal: “Nominations shall be the responsibility of the full board, acting as a committee of the whole. The Vice President will coordinate the process.”

* Elections for the 2024-2025 Board

At the June meeting we will elect new officers. The slate is listed below. We have the positions listed below still to fill. If you are a the time in your life when you can volunteer to help support the guild, please consider filling one of these positions. Are you wanting to get to know more people and make friends, this is your golden opportunity. Board members not only meet each other, but other members as you support and participate in various guild activities.

Program Chair Elect - Recruits and facilitates speakers/programs for 8 monthly meetings, drawing on plentiful resources recommended by Guild members. New ideas and methods are encouraged; the pattern of speakers and workshops can be changed. It’s not necessary to be an expert quilter yourself. Past Program Chairs have enjoyed spending time with speakers from across the country and attending their workshops. Responsibilities could be shared, splitting the responsibilities according to strengths and preferences.  If this position is not filled,  programming for the 2025-2026 year is in jeopardy.  

Outreach & Publicity – This position was invented this year by Monica, to promote the Guild to new audiences and potential members. Continue her initiatives (Arts Fair on the Square, Fourth Street Festival, marketing materials) and come up with your own ideas! Many members are willing to volunteer for shifts, we just need a chairperson!

Upcoming meetings; note several important changes

• July 2, 2024 – normal time and place

• August 2024 – no August meeting to give the Board and Program Chairs a summer break!

• September 3, 2024 – normal time and place

• October 2024 – no October meeting to focus our time on Quilts from the Heartland show.

• November 12, 2024 – meeting the second Tuesday this month because the first Tuesday is Election Day.

• December 3 - normal time and place

July 2, 2024 Program

Program: The History and Mystery of Baltimore Album Quilts

Come to the July meeting to see Jaimie Davis, from Oregon via Zoom. Picture America headed for the civil war and discover how the industrial revolution, the struggle over slavery and the social and moral climate of the time contributed to this beautiful art form.  Through stories, explore how the demise of Baltimore Album quilts leads us into the hearts and minds of the women who made them.  Find out how a pregnancy, a Christmas gift and a quilt class gone horribly wrong help to explain the mystery behind why these quilts disappeared almost overnight. It’s a funny, provocative and insightful look into some of America’s most beautiful treasures.

See Jaimie’s website:  https://www.loopytulips.com
See her YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/@JaimieDavis_LoopyTulipDesigns

Sew Day, Saturday, June 1st, 9:00-4:00, St. Mark's United Methodist Church.

Get a head start on your summer projects at a Sew Day on Saturday, June 1st, 9:00-4:00 at St. Mark’s United Methodist on the Bypass. Bring your projects or create a community quilt from orphan blocks. Learn from others, including an informal demonstration on raw-edge fusible applique by Cathy O'Bryan. Come when you can and stay as long as you like. Bring $5 as our thank you for the church facilities along with your lunch (no nuts or red drinks). Irons, ironing boards and cutting mats provided. Sew Days are a great chance for socializing with quilty friends.

Road Construction by Beth Shalom

Be aware of major construction at the intersection of 3rd Street and Smith Rd that will continue through August.

Congratulations to Susie Goodman!!!!!

“Hidden Harmony”, art quilt by Susie Goodman,  was  selected for SAQA Global Exhibition Camouflage by juror Lorraine Roy. This exhibition will premiere at the 2024 International Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas and will continue to travel globally for the next 3 years. 

Registration for Fall Retreat Opens June 4, 2024.

The BQG fall retreat returns to the Waycross Camp and Conference Center, from Oct 31 - Nov 3, 2024! The timing could not be better as we will all be inspired by the quilt show earlier in October! The pricing remains the same as last year. Online registration begins June 4, 2024 and closes Sep.13, 2024. You must have paid your membership dues to attend the retreat.

As with last year, there is a price savings if you pay by check or in person at the June, July or September meetings. For more information see the Fall Retreat webpage and/or download two related PDF files: the retreat flyer and mail-in registration.

Monroe County Fair

This is a link to a a note Judy Wagner wrote, with information about entering the Monroe County Fair.

Winter 2025 retreats

The 2025 winter retreat will be held at McCormick’s Creek January 30, 31, February 1, and 2. We will use the same format as this past retreat. Pay one price for access to the sewing room for the entire weekend. You are resposible for meals and lodging. Day Sewers are welcome!!!

Community Quilts

Thank you for all of your beautiful contributions to our community.  Know that each delivery is greeted with the warmest welcome. See the Community Quilts page for more detailed information about where our quilts have gone. Since July 2023, the guild has donated 433 quilts!

Quilts from the Heartland

Every three years, the Bloomington Quilters Guild holds a quilt show called Quilts from the Heartland. The next guild show will be October 4 and 5 at the Monroe County Convention Center. We will be setting up for the show on October 3rd.

Quilts from the Heartland showcases quilts made by our talented members. We encourage each guild member to submit at least one quilt. All styles are welcome whether your choice is a traditional, modern, appliqué or art quilt! The only requirement for submission is guild membership. Please do not reenter a quilt shown previously at the Guild show; you may enter quilts shown at other shows such as IHQS. Although the show is not juried or judged, there is an award for best hand quilting and another for viewer’s choice. 

We will augment the show revenue by selling ads in the program. We need volunteers to help sell ads to local businesses. Businesses that advertised in the last program reported customers mentioned seeing ads in the program. We will discuss and have ad forms available at the June meeting.

Please contact co-chairs Karen Levay and Sandy Bonsib to volunteer by sending email to quiltshow@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org.

Treasure Shop 2024 — A part of the Quilts from the Heartland Guild show

Attention Quilters!  We appreciate all the donations we've received for the Treasure Shop, more are still needed.  You can drop off donations at guild meetings, arrange for a pick-up, or drop them off at Ginny Kopper's house.  Remember that we are requesting that all donations be made by September 1.

In the past we have concentrated on quilting fabrics and notions, but this year we will have a small section of fabric and trims appropriate for art and crazy quilts! If you have unfinished projects or orphan blocks these will be added to the orphan block collection.

You can bring your donations to the BQG monthly meetings, arrange to drop them off, or arrange for a pickup if you have a large amount to donate. please email treasure@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org  or call Ginny Kopper or Becky Green (see membership directory for their numbers).

Thank you! Your generosity is appreciated!,

Quilts from the Heartland: THE CHALLenge

Lisa Stantz from the Unraveled Quilt Store has issued the show challenge for this year’s quilt show. Make a wallhanging that reflects your vision of the eclipse using the challenge fabric. You may purchase this fabric from Unraveled for $7 a yard. We sold over 20 yards of fabric at IHQS and so we are looking forward to a good selection of entries!

UNRAVELED
381 N. Fletcher Avenue
Spencer, Ind. 47460

Phone: 812-821-0309

Email: unraveledquilts@gmail.com

Sunshine

Amber Brooks-Wolfe has been doing an outstanding job as the sunshine person. In addition to bringing the birthday fat quarters each month, she also sends cards if she knows about an illness or death. If you know a member of the guild who has been hospitalized, had surgery or is recovering from a major illness or you know a member of the guild who has died, lost a spouse or other close family member, please let Amber know at sunshine@bloomingtonquiltguild.org.

Are you interested in responding to requests?

The Guild regularly receives requests from people who want an old quilt refurbished, or blocks put together, or machine/hand quilting of a keepsake, etc. Sometimes they are prepared to pay for these services, sometimes they are hoping for mostly a favor. If you are interested in considering these tasks to earn some cash or help preserve someone's memories, let Legene know what you'd be willing to do so she can make a referral. Email Legene at president@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org.
REMINDERS:

• Don’t forget your name tag at the next in-person meeting!
• Bring used rotary blades to any in-person meeting for recycling.
———————————————————-—————

MORE INFO

~Contact us for a Membership Directory. A 2023-2024 directory was e-mailed in January. If you would like a printed copy see Legene White at the meeting.
~See our list of Board Members.
~See a list of upcoming quilt shows and shop hops. Let us know of other future events by sending mail to webmanager@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org.