Correction to the March 2017 BOM Arrow North

Hi folks. We need to issue a slight correction to the cutting instructions for this month's block of the month, Arrow North.

Woodcut by Jeff Peachey

For the second block, cut each colored rectangle to 3.5" x 5". Updated instructions are available here.

Thank you!

- Elly H. via Cassandra G.

Looking for our charity patterns?

Hey folks, I meant to include this in the meeting review notes...if you're looking for the rape crisis center bag pattern or the happy bag pattern, or even the Raincross Quilt Guild expenses form, they are always available on the Guild Links page* (see the tab above or click this link).

Sorry for the short post so I'll add a bonus. Here is my great grandfather James Peterson Gray (on the right) and four of his five brothers (photo circa 1900). How 'bout dem ears?! Thankfully this blessing seems to skip the female members of the Gray family :D

- Cassandra G.

*Edit: I see I already had some on the Charity page, so I'll make it easy and just put charity patterns on BOTH pages. Hopefully I don't break the internet! - cg

March 2017 Meeting Review

Holy cats! She's on the ball this month with the meeting review! (Ed. note: this is not a precedent)

We had an action packed evening with quilts galore! Our intrepid President Jeri R. led us out by welcoming our five fabulous guests! Sorry I didn't catch all your names, but we welcomed Joan, Linda, Joy, and even Theresa who was visiting all the way from Tennessee!

This coming Saturday March 25th is a sew day to support Threads of Love. We'll be working at Rancho Caballeros, 15181 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92504,  from 9am-5pm with a Salad Potluck Lunch (and any other goodies you feel inclined to bring). Sharon C. has 40 kits of gowns for 1/2lb to newborn size ready to be sewn together. Please bring white thread and contact Sharon if you have any questions.

Next we experienced a fabulous trunk show from our own Betty Dinan - oh my word, so much talent! Be sure to check out the photos and/or photo video of her quilts, as well as our monthly Show and Share!

We had a great showing of blocks for our first BOM of 2017 and Elly H. introduced our next block, Arrow North. She recommended if you're concerned about the ironing direction to just press the seams open.

Vertical row by row example

We also learned about a new challenge issued by yours truly - a row by row round robin! We'll each make a single row of anything and any style you want that's a minimum of 24" wide and then stuff it in the provided and numbered brown paper bag. Your first row is due at the May meeting, at which time everyone will take home someone else's first row. We'll repeat this every two months for a total of four times so that each participant ends up with five rows.

I'll still take sign ups next month but everyone who joins the round robin must commit to making each row and bringing it to the designated meetings (or send it with a friend). If you miss a meeting, you'll have to make the next row for the same quilt! Contact Cassandra if you have questions.

And just a friendly reminder from Elly H. that your 50% Challenge really all the way completed quilts are due at the April meeting (as well as the next round of Susan M.'s 9 Patches).

During our Show and Share, we got to see the beautiful Convergence quilts from the class Elly H. taught in February - so cool!

A great haul of charity quilts and sundries were donated, including 2 or 3 rape center crisis bags, 74 kitty cat beds, 5 VA quilts and 4 or 5 baby quilts. Angie N. made one of those baby quilts and dedicated it fondly to the memory of Alice Jones, whom we lost in January. Angie invited us all to join her and make a baby quilt to honor Alice. (Ed. note: does anyone have a tissue?)

Susan C. reported that we made sixteen QOV quilt tops on our QOV Sew Day - way to go! Susan now needs people to step forward to volunteer to quilt these quilts - batting and backing fabric is provided (binding is not, but if you have some fabric that'd match and you feel inclined to bind the quilt as well, please go ahead). Contact Susan if you can help.

Everyone probably already knows that Busy Bee in Calimesa is going out of business. The discounts are currently 30% off and fabric at $8/yd (although don't quote me on that). She'll be open until the end of April.

Door Prizes:
Quilt Happy Mug - Susan H.
Charm Pack - Susan C.
Chair pin cushion - Rose B.
Moda Scrap Bag - Florence
Easter Bunny sign - Bev B.

Mystery Box: Jeanne H.

- Cassandra G.

Reminder: Guild meeting Tuesday!

Are you ready for some March Madness*?! (*by which I mean our monthly guild meeting)

A winner from 2017 Road to California

Here's your reminder list of things to bring:

• Your homemade name badge
• Your Raincross Quilt Guild pin, which is now worth an EXTRA ticket in the door prize drawing! If you don't have one, you can purchase one for $5 at the door.
• If you are participating in the 2017 BOM, your first two blocks
• If you were born in March, October, or December, you are invited to bring a snack to share (but it's not required!)
• Bottled water or other nonalcoholic drink

See you all Tuesday!

- Cassandra G.

Finding your pot of gold

Happy St. Patrick's Day for those who are Irish or like to pretend to be. Personally my family is all English and German, sooo...more green beer for you!

In trying to find some nifty looking St. Patrick's Day-type quilt from the internet, I realized I did something that might be a handy trick to share - finding what that fabric is.

For example, take a look at this cute block from Pinterest:

Say you fell is love with that shamrock fabric but you have no idea where it came from. Well you're in luck!

Everyone who has a computer, smartphone, or tablet has used Google to find things on the internet - but did you know you can use it to find things based on a picture or image instead just searching with words?

Go to https://images.google.com and then click the camera icon. Now you can search either by pasting in a URL to an image or click Upload an image and then you can upload an image from your computer:

When I uploaded the image of the block above that I copied from Pinterest, here were my results:

Wow! There's my fabric! Now, this probably won't work if you have an entire pieced quilt of lots of fabrics, but if you have a small of the piece, take a bright clear photo of it and try it for yourself! And may you have the luck of the Irish!

- Cassandra G.

February 2017 Meeting Review

As long as I get the last meeting review done before the next meeting, I'm good, right? Right!

We kicked off our February meeting by welcoming our five visitors (we love our visitors) and then jumped right into Show and Share.

This month we also shared our completed (or mostly completed) 2016 Stars Block of the Month quilts. Wow! So cool! Be sure to check out all quilts and sundry items from both the Show and Share and the 2016 BOM quilts in the pictures and picture video.

With the 2016 Stars BOM out of the way, Elly H. introduced us to our 2017 BOM - Negative Space! Each month will actually be two blocks, highlighting the reversal of the negative space. Elly recommended that we use a high contrast, solid background or tone-on-tone and then 5 other colors. She also recommended that to have enough for the entire year (as well as to cover any cutting mistakes) you will want to plan for 2 yards of background and 1/2-1 yard for each color. Can't wait Elly! Instructions for the first block(s) are now available.

Next up was Community Service. We've received the call to help make survival bags for the Riverside Area Rape Crisis Center (RARCC). The bag holds sweats and flip flops (as the clothing the women are wearing is taken as evidence), shampoo, soap, and a teddy bear. RARCC needs help making the bags as Sandy noted they're giving out 30 to 40 bags a month (which just breaks your heart). The Center does not the bag contents - they just need us to make the bags. You'll find the pattern link on our Guild Links page (along with the Happy Bags pattern, isolette pattern, etc).

Samantha N. reported she delivered 27 dogs bed and 101 dalmatians cat beds to the Riverside Community Animal Shelter on Van Buren. Way to go Samantha!

Our next community service Sew Day is coming up on March 25th for Threads of Love at Rancho Cabelleros. Sharon K. has been busily making up kits so we'll be ready to build up the Threads of Love stash of gowns, blankets and bonnets. Be sure to mark your calendars!

Dawn M. shared with us that we should feel free to shop our stashes to make happy bags or if you see something while out shopping, feel free to grab and keep those bags coming! Contact her if you have any questions and remember, the pattern is available on our Guild Links page.

In very sad news, Andie B.'s husband Bob has passed away. Please keep Andie and her family in your thoughts and prayers and give her a big hug next time you see her and send her a card if you're a card sending type person. We love you, Andie! /hug

The spring retreat to Vina De Lestonnac, aka The Nunnery, in Temecula May 19-21 is now full, although Barbara will take names for a waiting list as she may be able to squeeze in a few more. The theme this year is Birds of Feather and I for one can't wait!

We have a few missing food container items - please check as Shirley L. is missing a 9x13 glass cake pan. If you have some masking tape available, it might be a good idea to label your dishes and serving ware so those wayward items won't get lost!

Up next Elly talked about her (then) upcoming class on Ricky Tims' Harmonic Convergence quilt. (Postscript: We had a blast and the class was well attended! Check out the pictures here!)

The next 9 Patch due at the April meeting will be 'Reduce your Stash' blocks - Susan M. sent us email to be sure to it for more information.

Door prizes:
Nemo quilt panel kit - Becky S.
Sturdy project tote - Judy B.
Fats, screwdriver & buttons - Jeri R.
Teapot pin cushion - Debi G.
Fats bundle - (sorry I didn't catch who won this - if you please, please add a comment below)

Mystery box:
Tammy A.

- Cassandra G.