February 2016 Meeting Review

Only in a leap year could we have such a crazy February here at Raincross! Ground hogs predicting Block of the Month quilts are due, extra romantic Valentine's Day, and to top it off, a visit from Miss Tilly!

Tilly, self proclaimed quilting gadget guru, dropped by the guild meeting this month because she heard that Susan C. and Andi B. would be showing off their AccuQuilt machines, for cutting quilting squares and other fancy shapes in record time. Tilly couldn't keep up!

Anne Boss in her Civil War day dress

For those who missed the meeting, Tilly is apparently the long lost twin of our guild president Jeri R., but she mysteriously never happens to be in the same room as Jeri at the same time. Hmmmmm!!

We also had a visit from the lovely Anne Boss, who is in charge of the quilting bee for the upcoming Dickens Festival, happening in Riverside on February 27th and 28th, 10am-5pm. The Dickens Festival is themed each year after one of Dickens' novels and this year it is The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, which is based in America during the Civil War. She invites everyone to participate in the quilting bee, which will be in a 3-sided tent by the historic courthouse. Please free to come for an hour or two and bring some hand quilting to work on and share with the visitors to the Festival. Anne requests we dress in Civil War dress, but a simple white or light colored button down shirt and dark, ankle length skirt with closed toed shoes is perfectly acceptable.

Click on Anne's name to send her email to find out more, let her know you're coming and join us in the fun!

As the groundhogs had predicted, our finished 2015 Block of Month quilts were due and we saw 6 beautiful quilts - but we know more of you (ed. note: *cough!*) are almost done, so be sure to finish those lovely quilts and bring them in April for the 50% Challenge! Here's a link to all the beautiful 2015 patterns "just in case" you missed one or two!

Elly H. announced our first BOM for 2016, which all be star blocks - my, how we'll all twinkle! Elly will get that new pattern up on the blog very soon so that we can be sure to get it ready for our next meeting in March.

Keeping it to women related to Jeri, Mary T. made a rare appearance on the stage to announce that she had delivered baby quilts made by Raincross to her friend, a nurse at the Riverside neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and wanted to relay that she and her colleagues at the NICU could not say THANK YOU enough! The splash of home spun color and love our little quilts deliver bring both the staff and the worried parents courage and comfort and helps them see their angels beyond the tubes and scary devices in the NICU. Let's keep showering those babies with our love!

The next Sew Day will Saturday February 27th at the Janet Goeske Center from 9am-3pm, with a pot-luck lunch. We will be working on neonatal quilts, hoping we can assembly line cutting, ironing, and sewing, and trying to use up more of the fabric scraps we received last year. Those attending (and working their fingers to the bone!) will have a chance to WIN A FREE BAG OF FABRIC!! So come join us and help us go crazy making baby quilts!

Spots are going quickly for the Raincross Spring Retreat May 13-15 at Vina De Lestonnac Retreat Center in Temecula. Space is limited to 20 and Barbara M. started collecting sign ups and money at the February meeting. Give Barbara a call to see if any spots are left. If you miss the Spring Retreat, don't fret! The dates are also locked in for the Raincross Fall Retreat at Roughley Manor, October 27-30. More new later on sign-ups, etc.

Also in May: we will be have a Quilts of Valor Presentation on May 21st at 4pm at the Janet Goeske Center (following spending the day as a Sew Day).

Lisa H. asked for anyone interested in helping sew costumes for the Riverside Children's Theatre. Their costumers are few and overworked, so anyone who can help would be appreciated.

Susan M. showed off some of her stash after she took advice from the quilt room organizer we had visit the guild last year. Susan bought acid free heavy card stock boards designed to store comic books from Amazon and they work great! Another member (ed. note: sorry I missed who called this out) also recommended getting large plastic paper clips to hold the fabric on the boards (ed. note: which I ordered and am now using with my comic book boards - they're great!). Here are links to both!

Comic Book Boards from Amazon.com
Large Plastic Paper Clips from Amazon.com

(Ed. note: Susan stores her fabric wrapped on the boards horizontally and doesn't see the need to pin or clip the fabric onto the boards whereas I store my fabric wrapped on board vertically and they need to be pinned somehow and the plastic paperclips are a perfect non-invasive method of doing that.)

Which brings us to the next important calendar item: On Saturday, March 12th, we will have the Raincross Home Sewing Room Tour! Rooms on the tour include: Carol H., Dorothy M., Susan M., and Cassandra G.. We will be meeting the Sears near the Janet Goeske Center at 8:30am to start the tour. Nibbles will be provided at the various tour stops and yes, "well-behaved" friends of the Guild are welcome to join us!

For next month's meeting on March 15th, we will have a presentation by Featherweight guru Lloyd Askew! Following our meeting, Lloyd will hold a Featherweight cleaning and maintenance workshop on Saturday March 19th 9am-12pm. The price is $30 at the door, but space is limited. Contact Susan M. to inquire for space.

Whew! Almost done...

Door Prizes & Mystery Box
Cutting mat - Cassandra G.
Cutter - Barbara M.
Protip scissors - Dina B.
4 pack of rulers - Catherine R.
Quilt kit w/fats - Angie N. (WELCOME BACK!!)
Mystery Box - Dorothy M.

- Cassandra G.