Ha-ha-happy New Year from RQG!

My New Year's resolution is to help all my friends gain ten pounds so I look skinnier.

---

I love when they drop the ball in Times Square. It's a nice reminder of what I did all year.

---

Q: What do New Year's Parades have in common with Santa Claus?
A: No one is awake to see either of them.

---

God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
The good fortune to run into the ones that I do,
And the eyesight to tell the difference!

Happy New Year from your friends at Raincross Quilt Guild!

- Cassandra G.

Merry Quiltmas!

Wishing you the very warmest of holiday wishes and stitches!

Christmas Toile pattern by Quilt Fusion

- Cassandra G.

December 2018 Meeting Review

Santa's Elvettes Tami A. & Jeri R.

We had our annual Christmas guild meeting and potluck on Friday December 14th at the Janet Goeske Center and while attendance seemed slow at first, we soon filled the hall with our jolly selves and a good time was had by all!

As a reminder, we held our December meeting not on our usual night as the Goeske Center is closed in the evenings the week before Christmas. Head Elf Jeri R. and the rest of the board would like to know if the Friday before our usual Tuesday meeting works for everyone as we'll work on booking the same night for next year - please let us know in the comments below!

We saw many beautiful quilts during our normal Show and Share segment as well as entries for the Panel Challenge and for Evie's Hoffman Mini Challenge. Check out all the photos here.

On Saturday December 1st, a group of Raincrossers handed out Happy Bags to many grateful children. Jeri relayed a story that one dad came up and told us "these bags mean so much to us!" They have four children and the kids use them all year long - to go the beach, for Halloween, everything. On behalf of Jeri, Dawn M. our Happy Bag Maven and all the grateful children and their parents, great job everyone and thank you! Dawn is already thinking about next year and does have a specific list of items we need to keep our eyes looking out for, so we'll get that list from her soon and post it here. We do know that she does not need crayons yet for next year.

Susan C. announced that next year's Quilts of Valor National Sew Day is coming on Saturday February 2nd and will be held at Susan's office at the Riverside Community College District, Office of Economic Development at 23555 Meyer Drive, Riverside, starting at 9am with a salad potluck lunch. Please remember to register with Quilts of Valor if you plan on attending and sewing so that they can get a count and you can get a chance at winning a door prize!

We still need help getting Comfort Quilts quilted - Cassandra has quilt tops ready to be quilted and more quilt kits ready to be stitched up. Thank you so much to those who have given quilts and adult bibs! Cassandra will have some adult bibs available at the guild meeting if you are looking one. And a special shout out to Jan and her gals for donating three quilts this month - thank you!

Elly H. showed us our November and December blocks of the month, Kissing Cranes (her name for the block) and It's Polite To Point (ed. note: my name for the block since she didn't name it). Both are available on our BOM page. Elly said that after these two blocks, there will be one more block of the month in January and that we should bring back our completed 2018 block of month quilts to the March 2019 meeting.

Speaking of Elly, she would like to pass the mantle of BOM and of Challenges if some folks are interested - you don't have to do both and it'd be great actually to find two people. Reach out to Elly and Jeri if you are interested!

We are also looking for a new Nancy to take over Nancy's Notions! Our current Nancy, Nancy R., fancies a break, so we're hoping someone will step up, get a name change, and be our new Nancy of Nancy's Notions! Please let Jeri know.

After a great year, we're looking forward to 2019 and will take annual dues at the January meeting. And please remember to sign into the Goeske Center on the touch screen located in the hallway - if you don't have a badge yet, you can easily sign up for one at the main information desk.

Finally, the guild gave everyone a holiday gift, beautiful Raincross Quilt Guild mugs! They were made by our vice president, Tami A., and her new mug printing machine! She is available to print mugs for anyone (giving a quilt as a gift? give a mug with a picture of the quilt ON the mug too!). Contact her for more details. Also if you weren't able to attend the guild meeting this month, you can get your gift from Tami at the January meeting.

Happy (belated) Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!

Door Prizes

• 2 yd tan fabric - Shirley L.
• 2 charm packs - Barbara K.
• book on new hexagons - Fern F.
• 2 yd teal fabric - Bets
• vintage sewing pattern book - Julie M.

Mystery Box - Florence!

- Cassandra G.

Reminder: Guild meeting is tomorrow!

Wholecloth Snowflake quilt by Sampaquita Quilts

Christmas, and work, and a nasty head cold have claimed me so far this month, so please forgive my lack of a November meeting review, what's coming up in December, and any other jolly posts I might have posted. You can imagine how much sewing I've gotten done as well - my sewing machine has dust on it!

Anyway, enough of my woes, this the meeting you've been waiting for - our annual Christmas potluck and it's tomorrow night, Friday December 14th, usual time and place!

Here's your reminder list of things to bring:

• Your Hoffman Challenge project from the Hoffman Tour fabrics
• Your homemade name badge
• Your block of the month
• Your Raincross Quilt Guild pin, which is worth an EXTRA ticket in the door prize drawing! If you don't have one, you can purchase one for $5 at the door.
• Everyone is invited to bring a snack to share (but it's not required!).
• Bottled water or other non-alcoholic drink

See you all tomorrow! Ho ho ho!

- Cassandra G.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Don't let the turkeys get you down.

Your editor and a lovely tom turkey during a mission trip to Haiti from many moons ago.

- Cassandra G.

Reminder: Guild meeting is Today!! (if you get this on Tuesday)

Hi ladies! I kept thinking I already posted this aaaand...I hadn't! So hear you go, sorry it's a little late.

It's our annual Grab Game this meeting, so bring your finished casserole carriers in unmarked bags. And I know it's a busy time, but remember, this is a short week that ends in shopping and pie.

Here's your reminder list of things to bring:

• Your homemade and awesome casserole carrier in unmarked bag for the Grab Game
• Your homemade name badge
• Your block of the month
• Your Raincross Quilt Guild pin, which is 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 were born in January, June, or September, you're invited to bring a snack to share (but it's not required!).
• Bottled water or other non-alcoholic drink

See you all today (if you get this on Tuesday)!

- Cassandra G.

Coming up this month November 2018 at Raincross

Here's your monthly round up of upcoming events this month at Raincross Quilt Guild, specifically what to expect at our next guild meeting and other unique events.

Just a reminder of other regularly scheduled events include Sew Night (the first Wednesday of the month at the First United Methodist Church in Riverside) and Friendship Quilters (the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Goeske Center). If you are interested in those events, please check out the guild Calendar and/or post in the comments below and we'll help you learn more about them.

Turkey by Mister Domestic, free pattern by Peggy Aare

Coming up at this month's Raincross Quilt Guild meeting...

It's time for our annual Grab Game! This year we're making casserole carriers, so whip up something awesome you'd really like to keep for yourself (or do what I did and just make two!) and bring it an unmarked bag. If you're looking for a free pattern, most of the links in this post are still available.

And yes, our guild meeting this month is the Tuesday of Thanksgiving week.

Other unique RQG activities coming up this month...

...has already happened! We had a fantastic time November 1-4th at the Campbell House in Twentynine Palms for our annual fall retreat. More news should be available soon for upcoming retreats, so keep saving your dollars!

- Cassandra G.

Have a Bootiful Night!

Q: Why didn’t the skeleton cross the road?
A: He didn’t have any guts.

Q: Which ghost is the best dancer?
A: The Boogie Man

Q: Why do mummies have no friends?
A: Because they’re too wrapped up in themselves!

Q: Why are vampires so easy to fool?
A: Because they’re suckers.

Q: Why do demons and ghouls hang out together?
A: Because demons are a ghouls best friend!

---

Two monsters went to a Halloween party. Suddenly one said to the other, “A lady just rolled her eyes at me. What should I do?” He replied, “Be a gentleman and roll them back to her.”

- Cassandra G.

Sandy Corbin's Grab Bag Workshop this Saturday

There are still spots available for the Sandy Corbin workshop this Saturday, so come join us! Sandy Corbin will be leading a workshop on Sandy's Grab Bag With 3-D Flowers. The cost is $35 (+$11 for the pattern due to Sandy on the day for the pattern). Contact Andie B. to inquire if there are any spots available.

Please note that Sandy has some pre-workshop tasks for you, so contact Andie B. or Cassandra G. to learn about those so that you are ready.

The workshop is this Saturday October 20th from 9am-4pm at the Riverside Community College District, Office of Economic Development at 23555 Meyer Drive, Riverside (which is at the March Air Reserve Base). It is located on the corner of Riverside Drive and Meyer Drive, across from the church. There is easy parking in front of the building. We'll have a salad potluck lunch, so please bring salad fixings, sides, breakfast munchies, all day munchies - you get the idea!

Please feel free to contact Andie B. if you have questions. See you Saturday!

- Cassandra G.

October 2018 Meeting Review

What a BONEnanza of quilts we had this past Tuesday night from the amazing Sandy Corbin! We jumped immediately into her talk and trunk show and she had some amazing tidbits to share. Her approach to fabric buying (always buy more than you need), scrap quilting (her ABC's), and her noting that crafting fights depression and dementia was truly inspiring. Sandy said her motto is "Fun and done!" and that works for us!

Sandy's ABC's of scrap quilting are her ways to continue to use her existing stash to make quilts:
A - Add a few new pieces as this can revitalize your existing stash and help you pull fabrics you've been struggling to find a place (or figure out why you bought it in the first place!)
B - Background. Add a new background fabric to help reinvigorate your stash and modernize your fabrics.
C - Color. Pick a single or two colors and focus on them.

So, get working on your PHD (project hardly done), have fun and get done! Check out all the photos of Sandy's beautiful quilts and our own Show and Share segment.

There's a link to Sandy's Fruit Pie recipe on the Recipes page and a link to Sandy's handy dandy "what you can get from a fat quarter" on the Guild Links page.

Jeri reminded us that next month our guild meeting is the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and we'll be having an annual grab game. This year it's Casserole Carriers -- check out the blog post if you're still looking for a pattern.

Jeri also reminded us that our December meeting is NOT the usual night, but instead will be Friday December 14th. We will have our bi-annual potluck and share the Panel Challenges and Evie's Mini Hoffman Challenges.

Elly presented our next BOM - The Disappearing Pinwheel Pinwheel.

Door Prizes

• Mug rug kit and snippers - Pam W.
• Ruler holder - Jean H.
• Notion holder and pincushion - Paula W.
• Fats - Elly H.
• 1.5 yds blue fabric - Sandy S.

Mystery Box - Dorothy M.

- Cassandra G.

Big Quilt Fabric Sale this weekend

In case you haven't heard about it yet, there is going to be a big quilt fabric sale this weekend in Ontario, presented by SoCal Speciality Events and Keepsake Quilting at the Ontario Gateway Hotel Thursday and Friday 12pm to 8pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm. All fabric will be less than $4 a yard!

Because we all know we simply do NOT have enough fabric! Have fun!

- Cassandra G.

Reminder: Guild meeting tomorrow!

Are you ready for a SCREAMingly good time with your best GHOUL friends? I sure am! Be sure to FLY by your favorite HAUNT tomorrow night as I'm sure we'll SCARE up some amazing quilts that you'll HOWL for!

Here's your reminder list of things to bring:

• Your homemade name badge
• Your block of the month
• Your Raincross Quilt Guild pin, which is 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 were born in February, May, or October, you're invited to bring a snack to share (but it's not required!).
• Bottled water or other non-alcoholic drink

See you all Tomorrow!

- Cassandra G.

SCCQG Exhibit at Road 2019 - Call for Quilts

From Southern California Council of Quilt Guilds...

Road to California has asked SCCQG to curate an exhibit for the 2019 show.  Since it's already August and we need to provide quilt information to Road by mid November, we've decided to "keep it simple"!

Much like they do for the Northern California Quilt Council exhibit at PIQF, we're looking for "New Quilts from Southern California". Given that we have limited hanging space we're looking for wall quilts, no bed size quilts please. We would like quilts that are new and have not been widely shown – your latest work! No Kit Quilts will be accepted

The official Call for Quilts and Entry Form will be available on the website early next week.  In the meantime, we ask that you reach out to your guild members to let them know about the exhibit and ask them to think about entering a quilt in the exhibit.

Stephania Bommarito will be the curator and we will solicit a team from the member guilds to jury the quilts that are entered.

We have prolific and talented quilters in our Southern California guilds.  Let's show the Road visitors just what we do!

Send questions to quiltwizard1024@gmail.com

-  Call for Quilts for SCCQG's 2019 Exhibit at Road - New Quilts of Southern California
-  New Quilts of Southern California Entry form 

November 1, 2018
Entry form, pictures, self-addressed stamped envelope and entry fee must be received or postmarked no later than November 1, 2018. Photographs will not be returned for any entries.

December 1, 2018
Notification letters will be mailed by this date. Accepted entries will receive instructions for quilt shipment.

January 14, 2019
Accepted quilts must be received by New Quilts of Southern California for exhibition. Quilts may not arrive before January 14 no later than January 18.

January 23-27, 2019
New Quilts Exhibit at Road to California, Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, CA

January 29, 2019
Quilts will be shipped/returned to participants

- Cassandra G.

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat...

Thanksgiving and Christmas are just around the corner and while all of us are feverishly stitching away to finish gifts for Christmas, now it also the time to start thinking about those amazing holiday meals we'll be preparing or contributing to. Ed. note: *cough*December-guild-meeting-potluck-*cough*

On top of that, we haven't added a new permanent recipe to our recipe collection here on the RQG website in almost TWO YEARS!

So, now is the time for you to share your secret awesome recipe so that we can add it to our own arsenal of awesome tasties for the upcoming holiday season - break open that cookbook or list of to-die-for recipe website links and tell us what's awesome!

- Cassandra G.

Free Casserole Carrier Patterns from the Web

Ed. note: Please note that the Panel Challenge was incorrectly stated as being due at the October meeting; it is actually due at the December guild meeting (set for Friday, December 14th).

For those who are still looking (or haven't looked yet), I've scoured the web for free casserole carrier patterns that we can use to make casserole carriers for the RQG Grab Game at our November meeting. Feel free to use one of those, find one on your own, or just be creative and whip up something out of your own imagination! Ed. note: I haven't tried any of these, so proceed at your own risk!

“Cozy Toter” Casserole Dish Carrier by Dixie Doodles
Ed. note 10/27: It looks like this webpage is now down. Sorry!

Casserole Carrier by Jenny Garland

Casserole Carrier by 2 Hooligans

Casserole Carrier by Love of Sewing

Dish Insulator by Debbie Colgrove

Casserole Carrier by Beth Huntington

Casserole or Pie Carrier by The Craft Gemini

Can't wait to see what everyone makes!

- Cassandra G.

Coming up this month October 2018 at Raincross

Here's your monthly round up of upcoming events this month at Raincross Quilt Guild, specifically what to expect at our next guild meeting and other unique events.

Just a reminder of other regularly scheduled events include Sew Night (the first Wednesday of the month at the First United Methodist Church in Riverside) and Friendship Quilters (the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Goeske Center). If you are interested in those events, please check out the guild Calendar and/or post in the comments below and we'll help you learn more about them.

If you know of other events, please post them in the comments below or contact Cassandra G. so we can get them posted for everyone and thank you!

Coming up at this month's Raincross Quilt Guild meeting...

We'll be joined by the lovely Sandy Corbin. She'll be presenting a trunk show and it's sure to be a TREAT! No tricks here!

We'll also be showing our Panel Challenges, so be sure to get them finished and bring them to the meeting so you can show them off!

Ed. note: Challenges are due at the DECEMBER meeting; forgive me for quoting that incorrectly!

Other unique RQG activities coming up this month...

Sandy Corbin will be leading a workshop on Sandy's Grab Bag With 3-D Flowers. The cost is $35 (+$11 for the pattern due to Sandy on the day for the pattern). Contact Andie B. to inquire if there are any spots available.

- Cassandra G.

September 2018 Meeting Review

Samantha N. passes the dog bed torch to Janet E.

(Ed. note: sorry for the delay. Life gets you sometimes.)

We had another great meeting a little over two weeks ago and were blessed to have 5 guests in attendance. With a busy meeting planned, we dived right in.

Gloria H. shared with us stories about the children at ChildHelp and how much they love their quilts, such as when it's movie night and everybody snuggles in with their quilt. She said that the current need is for larger lap size quilts. Contact her for more information.

Cassandra G. said that our Comfort Quilt sew day was a great success and showed a donation of crotched Afghans and an adult bib that will be donated. She is working on kits to hopefully have available at the next guild meeting for people to take and piece tops as well as to quilt finished tops.

Samantha N. announced she will be moving soon to Phoenix and introduced Janet E. as our new Dog and Kitty Bed ambassador. Janet will collect our chopped salad (remember, cottons only and be sure to pick out any threads or stringy bits) and coordinate with our local Girl Scout troop, who have volunteered to make the beds. Thank you Samantha for all your hard work with the dog beds, Friendship Quilters, Quilt of Valor, and all your other charity work!

Elly H. reminded us that our panel challenges are due at the October December meeting, so it's time to get those final stitches in! She also revealed our next block of the month, Another Pinwheel. Can't wait, Elly!

Speaking of challenges, the November Grab Game is coming up and this year it's Casserole Carriers! Everyone is invited to make a beautiful casserole carrier you wish you could keep yourself and bring it to the November meeting. We'll post some links to free casserole carrier patterns soon so watch for that.

Evie also confirmed that we should have our Evie's Hoffman Challenges ready to bring to the December meeting.

And speaking of the December meeting, as a reminder, it is scheduled for Friday December 14th at the Goeske Center. Please be sure to mark your calendars and set reminders in your phone!

At our next guild meeting, we will welcome Sandy Corbin. Sandy will be sharing with us her trunk show and then hold a workshop on her 'Sandy's Grab Bag With 3-D Flowers'. Contact Andie B. about the workshop.

Our next guild retreat to Campbell House in Twentynine Palms is still a go and still has room. Barbara M. reminded us the the remainder of the $398 fee is due at the next guild meeting. Barbara will still be on vacation during our meeting, so please give your payment to Andie B.

Carrie A. informed us that the Inland Empire Quilt Guild is planning a trip to Quilt in a Day on October 16th. The cost is $25. Please contact Carrie for more information.

Saturday September 29th is (was) the Raincross Quilt Guild Sewing Room Home tour. (And by all accounts as yours truly was unable to attend, it was amazing! If you have pictures to share, please email or text them to Cassandra G. and I will post them on the blog.)

In the spirit of the (then) upcoming Sewing Room Home Tour, the Raincross Quilt Guild Board and Committee Chairpersons gave part 1 of a trunk show! We saw quilts and other items from Elly H., Jeri R., Nancy R., Cassandra G., Tami A., Samantha N., Jeanne H., and Barbara M.! Check out all the pictures or watch the video!

Door Prizes

• Hamilton MO gift bag - Lisa H.
• Thread catcher - Linda C.
• Brush cleaner fray check - Jan M.
• 1 yd fabric - Susan C.
• Rotary cutter - Ann M.

Mystery Box - Joyce S.

- Cassandra G.

Reminder: Guild meeting tomorrow, including special sale!

We recently received a very generous donation of over 100 quilt kits from Riverside person who wishes to remain anonymous. Her desire is that we use her kits in our charitable projects, which is so wonderful. Thank you Ms N! We have already started distributing her kits and fabric for Survivor Bags, ChildHelp, Quilts of Valor, and Comfort Quilts.

In the collection, there are several quilt kits which are either quite small or don't really work with any of our charitable projects, so the Board has decided that we would take these kits and sell them via Nancy's Notions at a price well below original retail but still a decent price, ranging from $15-$55. The proceeds of these sales will go directly into our charitable projects to help buy batting, backing fabric, etc. So, if you're in the mood to shop, you may want to bring some extra cash or your checkbook to pick up one of these great deals!

Not the actual kits - I'm an idiot and didn't take a picture this morning before I left for work.

Here's your reminder list of things to bring:

• Your homemade name badge
• Your Raincross Quilt Guild pin, which is 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 were born in April, July, or November, you're invited to bring a snack to share (but it's not required!).
• Bottled water or other non-alcoholic drink

See you all Tomorrow!

- Cassandra G.

Labor Day: Working Hard to Make You Laugh

In honor of Labor Day, here's a first person report of someone who was not quite as successful as he had hoped to be in the job market:

As a young woman...

• My first job was in an orange juice factory, but I couldn't concentrate on the same old boring rind, so I got canned.
• Then I worked in the woods as a lumberjack, but I just couldn't hack it, so they gave me the axe.
• After that, I tried working in a donut shop, but I soon got tired of the hole business.
• I manufactured calendars, but my days were numbered.
• I tried to be a tailor, but I just wasn't suited for it. Mainly because it was a sew-sew job, de-pleating and de-pressing.
• I took a job as an upholsterer, but I never recovered.

In my prime...

• Next I tried working in a car muffler factory, but that was exhausting.
• I wanted to be a barber, but I just couldn't cut it.
• Then I was a pilot, but tended to wing it, and I didn't have the right altitude.
• I studied to become a doctor, but I didn't have enough patients for the job.
• I became a Velcro salesman, but I couldn't stick with it.
• I tried my hand at a professional career in tennis, but it wasn't my racket. I was too high strung.
• I became a baker, but it wasn't a cakewalk, and I couldn't make enough dough. 
• I was a masseur for a while, but I rubbed people the wrong way.
• I managed to get a good job working for a pool maintenance company, but the work was just too draining.

Later in life...

• Then I became a personal trainer in a gym, but they said I wasn't fit for the job.
• I thought about being a historian, but I couldn't see a future in it.
• Next I was an electrician, but I found the work shocking and revolting, so they discharged me.
• I tried being a teacher, but I soon lost my principal, my faculties, and my class.
• I turned to farming, but I wasn't outstanding in my field.
• I took a job as an elevator operator. The job had its ups and downs, and I got the shaft.
• I sold origami, but the business folded.

Finally...

• I took a job at UPS, but I couldn't express myself.
• I tried being a fireman, but I suffered burnout.
• I became a banker, but I lacked interest and maturity, and finally withdrew from the job.
• I was a professional fisherman, but I couldn't live on my net income.
• I next worked in a shoe factory, but I just didn't fit in. They thought I was a loafer, and I got the boot.
• I worked at Starbucks, but I had to quit because it was always the same old grind.

So I've retired, and I find I'm a perfect fit for this job!

- Cassandra G.

Coming up this month September 2018 at Raincross

Here's your monthly round up of upcoming events this month at Raincross Quilt Guild, specifically what to expect at our next guild meeting and other unique events.

Just a reminder of other regularly scheduled events include Sew Night (the first Wednesday of the month at the First United Methodist Church in Riverside) and Friendship Quilters (the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Goeske Center). If you are interested in those events, please check out the guild Calendar and/or post in the comments below and we'll help you learn more about them.

New Leaves quilt by Ruth Powers

Coming up at this month's Raincross Quilt Guild meeting...

A trunk show by your Raincross Quilt Guild Board and Committee members! This month we'll be diving into the quilt rooms of some of our members during the home tour and we thought we'd kick it off by diving into some of our members quilts!

Other unique RQG activities coming up this month...

Saturday September 29th will be our Quilt Room Home Tour! This is your opportunity to see how someone else sets up their sewing area. Join us for the moving party! More details to follow soon.

- Cassandra G.

August 2018 Meeting Review

We had another rollicking good time at the Janet Goeske Center this past Tuesday. It was our pleasure to welcome Chaplain Caroline Flanders. She has recently joined the staff of Riverside Community Hospital and came to us to talk about her work with those in hospice at RCH. She asked us to help her create "Comfort Quilts", lap-sized quilts for those in hospice and shared with us several moving stories about how quilts and blankets made with love offer so much comfort for those in their final weeks, days, or even hours. She also noted that the quilts then provide a beautiful linking object for the family members to take home.

Chaplain Caroline didn't specify a specific size, so we're aiming for about 42" x 55", give or take. Cassandra G. has stepped forward to be the chairperson for this charity, so please contact if have any questions.

We did have a great Sew Day this past Saturday and have several beautiful quilts in process - woohoo! Check out the pictures in an upcoming blog post.

Show and Share was fabulous as usual. In case you didn't catch it, you can purchase fabric designed by one of RQG's newest member Simone on fabric.com - it's called On Your Mark. Check out all the photos from Show and Share and the video.

But! The big to do was our annual demo night! Many thanks to our demoers Elly H., Jeri R., Susan C., Tami A., and Barbara M.! In case you missed it or you just want to relive it again or you want to check out my fantastic videotaping skill (Ed. note: *cough*), here it is!

After demos and a quick break, we caught up with the rest of our charities:

• Sharon C. was not able to attend, but Jeri R. reminded us that if you've got out a Threads of Love kit, please stitch it up and bring it back to the next meeting, or just bring it back unstitched so that we can get it to someone else. Now that our chapter of Threads of Love is supporting two hospitals, we are in high demand.
• Barbara M. brought in several baby quilts for our Neonatal charity, courtesy of another quilting group she's in called Horsing Around Quilters. Someone else who's name I did not jot down (forgive me) also contributed several. Well done ladies!
• Samantha N. got together with the Girl Scout troop to help them learn how to make dog beds and the girls are very excited to be involved. And thank you to Janet to for stepping forward to take over as liaison between RQG and the Girl Scouts! Kudos!
• Happy Bags got another donation of some beautiful bags and Happy Bag Maven Dawn M. informed us she's still looking for flashlights and colored pencils.

Jeri R. informed us of our upcoming October speaker Sandy Corbin and her big bag with appliqué flowers workshop. The workshop will be on October 20th and will cost $35 (+$11 for the pattern due to Sandy on the day for the pattern). Please contact Andie B. to sign up and receive information you'll need to prep for the workshop.

Evie issued a mini Hoffman Challenge with some leftover fabric from the recent Hoffman tour in July. She encourages you to make something with the fabrics and bring it back to the next guild meeting (or the one after... no pressure!).

Elly H. reminded us that our Panel Challenge is due at the October meeting: take a panel from your stash and make something with it - make anything!

Elly also introduced us to our next Block of the Month, the Disappearing Pinwheel Churndash Unhinged (Ed. note: we know who's unhinged). Instructions for the August block are available now. And many apologies for linking to the wrong block for July! The correct block instructions for July are now available.

Door Prizes

• 1.5 yards black fabric - Susan C.
• Xmas panel - Anna H.
• Electric seam ripper - Anne M.
• Mug rug kit - Eva N.
• Charm pack - Dawn M.
• Flowering plant - Betty

Mystery Box was mysteriously missing...o.O

- Cassandra G.

Comfort Quilts Sew Day this Saturday

Come join us to help make Comfort Quilts to support the hospice ministry at Riverside Community Hospital. Chaplain Caroline Flanders visited with us on Tuesday and shared a few stories about how much a quilt can bring such comfort for those in hospice and their families. Raincross Quilt Guild is honored to help Chaplain Caroline and RCH with lap quilts (50" x 50" - 65" x 65").

We will be getting together this Saturday August 25th from 9am-4pm at the Riverside Community College District, Office of Economic Development at 23555 Meyer Drive, Riverside (which is at the March Air Reserve Base). It is located on the corner of Riverside Drive and Meyer Drive, across from the church. There is easy parking in front of the building. We'll have a salad potluck lunch, so please bring salad fixings, sides, breakfast munchies, all day munchies - you get the idea!

We have a number of kits ready to be made, so please feel free to bring your machine and notions, or feel free to come to cut and/or iron or if you have your own quilt you'd like to make as a Comfort Quilt, that's great too!

Please feel free to contact Cassandra G. if you have questions. See you Saturday!

- Cassandra G.

Reminder: Guild meeting Tuesday

Time to send those kiddies and grand babies back to school, grab your quilt go bag, and join us at the Goeske for another exciting guild meeting! This month is Demo Night, a time to get to know a few new techniques. Fun!

There are still a few spots open for the fall retreat to Campbell House, so please check in with Barbara. Also you are encourage to pay another portion of the cost each month so that the entire remainder isn't due all at once - use those beautiful jars to save up!

The Big & Juicy Quilt for Janome by TamaraKate

Here's your reminder list of things to bring:

• Your homemade name badge
• Your Raincross Quilt Guild pin, which is 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 were born in March, August, or December, you're invited to bring a snack to share (but it's not required!).
• Bottled water or other non-alcoholic drink

See you all Tuesday!

- Cassandra G.

Photos from 2018 Hoffman tour

On a hot and steamy Monday July 30th, we toured the Hoffman California factory in Mission Viejo. Wow! You think you've got a killer stash - you should see what they've got! Many thanks again to Evie for organizing. Click here to see the pictures.

And check out the machines they use to transfer the new fabric from rolls to bolts!

- Cassandra G.

It's funny to go back to school

Q: What's the worst thing you're likely to find in the school cafeteria?
A: The food

Q: How do you get straight A's?
A: By using a ruler

Q: Why didn't the sun go to college?
A: Because it already had a million degrees

Q: What makes a Cyclops such an effective teacher?
A: He has only one pupil

Q: What’s the difference between a teacher and a train?
A: A teacher says, “Spit out that gum!” and a train says, “Chew! Chew!”

---

Teacher: Class, we will have only half a day of school this morning.
Class: Hooray!
Teacher: We will have the other half this afternoon.
Class: ...

- Cassandra G.

Coming up this month August 2018 at Raincross

Here's your monthly round up of upcoming events this month at Raincross Quilt Guild, specifically what to expect at our next guild meeting and any unique events beyond the usual scheduled events. And don't worry - I'll still post a reminder blog a few days before the meeting with your list of things to bring. :)

Just a reminder of other regularly scheduled events include Sew Night (the first Wednesday of the month at the First United Methodist Church in Riverside) and Friendship Quilters (the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the Goeske Center). If you are interested in those events, please check out the guild Calendar and/or post in the comments below and we'll help you learn more about them.

Coming up at this month's Raincross Quilt Guild meeting...

For this month's guild meeting we will have Demo night! This has become a new tradition of a round robin style of learning new techniques and equipment. Feel free to check our demos from last year!

We'll also hear from Chaplain Caroline Flanders who is the new staff chaplain at Riverside Community Hospital. Chaplain Caroline has reached out to us to help her make quilts for her patients in hospice at the hospital, so we'll hear from her and learn about this new opportunity for our quilts to give love and comfort to those in need.

Other unique RQG activities coming up this month...

Following the visit from Chaplain Flanders, we'll have a sew day Saturday August 25th at Rancho Cabelleros. We'll have kits ready to be sewn up, so please prepare to bring your lovely selves, sewing machine and notions, and a fixings for a salad potluck.

- Cassandra G.

July 2018 Meeting Review

(Ed. note: Sorry this one got away from me. Better late than never!)

Utah consumes the most JELL-O in the US and even made it the official state snack!

We must have been nice because Santa surely visited us at our Christmas in July guild meeting! Thanks for everyone bring their holiday best quilts (check out the photos and video) and treats and congratulations to everyone who won a Christmas gift during our better-late-than-never Christmas gift raffle.

• Portable iron - Vickie B.
• Wool scraps - Barbara M.
• Square wheels kit - Florence
• Storm at sea batiks - Jeanie
• Rotating cutting mat - Jan C.
• Folding cutting mat - Joyce
• Mini appliqué iron - Jamie
• Bracelet & earrings - Susan C.
• Ruler set - Monica J.
• Ruler holder - Samantha N.
• Watercolor kit - Arlene
• Connecting Threads kit - Mary M.
• Cardinals panel - Andie B.

And a big welcome to our guests Caroline, Donna, Becky, Claire, Maggie, Eva, Liz and our newest members, Simone and Monica!

We are happy to now be partnering with the Inland Empire Quilt Guild to help create Happy Bags, Isolette Covers and Baby Quilts. Thank you IEQG! Click here to learn more about helping out with our various charity projects. Speaking of which, we collected 6 baby quilts, 100 Happy Bags, 24 Survivor Bags, and 3 ChildHelp quilts. Well done! Happy Bag Maven Dawn M. reminded us that back to school specials are on everywhere, so keep your eyes peeled for 25 cent crayons, good prices on colored pencils and the like, and don't forget to grab free flashlights when shopping at Harbor Freight.

Sharon C. also reminded that our chapter of Threads of Love is now supporting two hospitals, Riverside Community and Parkview Community, so if you have any kits out, please either sew them up and bring them back or just bring them up unsewed (it's okay!) so that someone else can get it sewed.

With Samantha N. planning a move away from the Riverside area (ed. note: /cry), a local Girl Scout troop has stepped forward to help sew up the dog beds - yay! BUT we need someone to manage the charity, collecting the chopped salad and kitty beds and coordinate with the Troop for pick up. It would be GREATLY appreciated if someone could step forward - if you haven't helped the guild in the past and you love furry four legged friends, now is your opportunity!

The Quilts of Valor train is still chugging along and Susan C. announced that she has kits and quilts to be quilted. Please see her if you're able to help.

Hoffman Tour was Monday July 30th, organized again this year by Evie - thank you! Pics to come in a separate post.

Elly H. showed our latest BOM, the disappearing Missouri Star (ed. note: and the kitchen sink). It's not too late to catch up on your blocks this year, which are all available here.

Elly also announced our next challenge: the Panel Challenge! Take a panel and make something interesting with it, a quilt or some other project. We will bring them to share at our October meeting.

Don't forget about the Steal Game coming up in November - this year's theme is Casserole Carriers! If you're not sure how to make one, visit Pinterest or Google "free casserole carrier pattern" for some great ideas.

Mark your calendars! The December guild meeting has changed dates - it will be Friday December 14th. This is because the Janet Goeske Center goes on vacation the week before Christmas so our usual night is not available.

Our next guild retreat is coming up November 1st-4th at Campbell House in Twentynine Palms. The cost is $398 and includes 3 nights and 4 glorious days of quilting, learning, laughing, and loving together and lots of tasty food! There are a few spots still available so contact Barbara M. for more information.

Door Prizes

• magnetic scissors holder & fats - Christine S.
• 1.5 yds green fabric - Tami A.
• fats & earrings - Paula W.
• clippers & fats - Andie B.
• bw fats - Shirley L.

Mystery Basket - Gail A.

- Cassandra G.

A little levity for the Dog Days of Summer

Read more about origins of the Dogs Days of Summer

Q: When do you go at red and stop at green?
A: When you’re eating a watermelon.

Q: Where do sharks go on summer vacation?
A: Finland.

Q: What did the pig say at the beach on a hot summer’s day?
A: I’m bacon!

Q: Why do bananas use sunscreen?
A: Because they peel.

Q: How do men exercise at the beach?
A: By sucking in their stomach every time they see a bikini.

Remember to wear sunscreen, stay hydrated, and please check on any elderly neighbors to make sure they are staying cool! Click here to find a cooling center near you.

- Cassandra G.

2018 Hoffman Tour

Evie has all our information ready to go for our 2018 Hoffman Tour Monday July 30th. Check out the information. There are two spots open. Contact Evie.

Update 7/18/18 8:00pm: All available spots have been taken and a waiting list is forming. You can still add your name to the waiting list. If you cannot go, please contact Evie as soon as possible so someone else can go in your place.

- Cassandra G.

Reminder: Guild meeting Tomorrow!

Let's hear those sleigh bells jing-a-ling, ring-ting-a-ting too...com'on it's sunny and humid for a sleigh ride together with yoooou!

Get ready to deck the halls with fans and ice cubes to welcome Christmas in July. This is our annual summer potluck, so everyone is invited to bring a treat for the potluck and a Christmas quilt or project they'd like to share!

Here's your reminder list of things to bring:

• Your homemade name badge
• Your Raincross Quilt Guild pin, which is 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 were born loving Christmas, you are invited to bring a snack to share (but it's not required!).
• Any Christmas themed quilt or project to share during Show and Share
• Bottled water or other non-alcoholic drink

See you all Tomorrow!

- Cassandra G.

Vintage Quilts from Florida

I was cleaning up my computer, as you do, and I came across a few photos from my vacation to Florida last year. My father took me to the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art and Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach. If you're ever in Daytona, I can't recommend the Brown Museum enough! It is home to the largest collection of Florida art in the world with a collection of over 2,600 Florida themed oil and watercolor paintings. Amazing!

However, the photos I wanted to share with you today came from the Museum of Arts and Sciences - a beautiful collection of vintage quilts. Click on each photo to zoom in and enjoy the love and artistry that went into making them.

- Cassandra G.

Happy Independence Day!

Please be careful out there!

Q: Which famous person do you get when you make a wreath out of $100 bills?
A: Aretha Franklin

Q: Why does the Statue of Liberty stand in New York Harbor?
A: Because she can’t sit down.

Q: How come there's no Knock Knock joke about America?
A: Because freedom rings.

Q: What's the difference between a duck and George Washington?
A: One has a bill on his face, and the other has his face on a bill.

Q: What did one flag say to the other flag?
A: Nothing. It just waved.

- Cassandra G.

Coming up this month July 2018 at Raincross

Here's your monthly round up of upcoming events this month at Raincross Quilt Guild, specifically what to expect at our next guild meeting and any unique events beyond the usual scheduled events*. And don't worry - I'll still post a reminder blog a few days before the meeting with your list of things to bring. :)

*Usual scheduled events include Sew Night, Friendship Quilters, Featherweight Club, and the RQG Board meeting. If you are interested in those events, please check out the guild Calendar and/or post in the comments below and we'll help you learn more about them.

Coming up at this month's Raincross Quilt Guild meeting...

It's Christmas in July! Deck the halls with sun and sunscreen! Fa la la la la la la la la! Tis the season to be hot and tan! Fa la la la la la la la la! (Ed. note: I know it doesn't rhyme - you try rhyming - it's hard!)

Time to share your latest Christmas creations that we didn't get to show last December (for those new or those that can't remember, we weren't able to get the Goeske on our usual night and found out too late to reschedule for another night and/or venue). Show us your snowmen! Show us your Santas! Show us your candy canes!

Also, this is our annual summer potluck - everyone is invited to bring a snack to share - bonus points for Christmas pudding and roast turkeys!

Other unique RQG activities coming up this month...

Our annual Hoffman Tour is Monday, July 30th. Thanks again to Evie for organizing this event - we'll meet in the Sear's parking lot at 7:45am. Contact Evie to sign up and for more information.

Non-Raincross activities that might interest you...

Piecemaker's Country Store in Costa Mesa is once again hosting their annual Independence Day 40% the entire store sale.

- Cassandra G.

June 2018 Meeting Review

We had a great time last Tuesday at our monthly quilt guild meeting and we need to extend a hearty thanks to Tami A. for stepping for our absent president (rumor has it Tilly coerced her into a quilt shop run in Missouri, but I can't confirm that). And a shout out to our three guests - thank you for joining us and we hope to see you again soon!

Sharon C. with Threads of Love was also not able to attend, but Cassandra reminded us that we need to bring in any kits we have, finished or not, as we are now supporting two hospitals. Contact Sharon if you have any questions.

Susan C. shared a lovely card we received from a Quilts of Valor recipient, which was an excellent reminder of why we pour our hearts, skills, and time into our charity projects. Susan also shared with us that a local Girl Scout will be helping take over the Dog Beds after her daughter Samantha N.'s imminent move out of the area. This is a great reminder to please cut your own chopped salad and to be please be careful of what items you throw in - only quilting cottons. Thank you!

Dawn M. had her knee surgery recently and is home resting, so Cassandra accepted for her by proxy the abundant wonderful Happy Bags made, many by the fabulous ladies of the Chino sewing group, who also made a whole mess of Happy Bag kits. Wow! Fantastic! Thank you as well to the folks who stepped to take those kits to make more. Also a special thanks to the person who donated the mini flashlight - as a reminder, we can get those little flashlights with a coupon when shopping at Harbor Freight, so be sure to pick one up on your next trip.

The Chino sewing group also made a collection of beautiful survivor bags - you ladies have been busy! Well done!!

Our next quilting retreat is back to the beautiful Campbell House in Twentynine Palms November 1st-4th. The cost is $398. As of last Tuesday, we still have 5 spots open, so contact Barbara today and get your deposit in!

Our annual Hoffman Tour is coming up on Monday July 30th - thank you Evie for organizing! Please be sure to let Evie know you're interested in going and if you are interested in carpooling; we will meet up in the Sears parking lot at 7:45am.

Be sure to check out the pictures from our sewing bee if you didn't get a chance to see what everyone was working on...or better yet, check out the picture video (there's one for every meeting!):

Door Prizes

• fireworks yard sign - Sharon Gr.
• home of brave wall sign - Janice B.
• pin cushion - Mary m.
• purple fats - Jamie Fat Quarter Winner J.
• quilting pins & clips - Judy B.

Mystery Box - Linda Cu.

- Cassandra G.