6/16/17

Photos from 2017 Raincross Spring Retreat


Sorry these are a bit late, but we had another fantastic retreat to the beautiful Vinya de Lesstonnac retreat center, aka The Nunnery, in Temecula. We stuffed ourselves silly with the ridiculously tasty food served and we stitched and stitched and stitched!

A big shout out and thank you to our retreat organizers, Jeri R., Andie B., Barbara M. (and Susan M. in absentia), and the awesome make-and-takes they prepared for us. So much fun!

Check out the pictures!

Stayed tuned for information on our next retreat!
- Cassandra G.

6/6/17

Coming up this month at Raincross

As a new feature on the blog, we're going to highlight 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.

Speaking of the guild Calendar, I do try to keep it up to date with RQG events as well as quilt shows, etc., so please do check it out.

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

It's our Annual Summer Potluck! Everyone is invited to bring something tasty to share.

We also be exchanging our Itty Bitty Picture Perfect Quilts: Summer Edition!

In light of these activities, the Mystery Box will be on hiatus.




Other unique RQG activities coming up this month...

Other than our usual scheduled events (Sew Night, etc.), no other activities are currently scheduled at this time. We are still working on securing a time and location for the Elizabeth Eastmond workshop and will post that information as soon as it is finalized.
- Cassandra G.

5/30/17

Remembering our fallen heroes

Forgive me for being a day late, but you could argue that we should remember our brave heroes everyday.

Thank you for your sacrifice.



Many of you may remember my father James Gray who visited us at our January guild meeting. He has started working with the Library of Congress to conduct interviews with US military veterans, the Veterans History Project, telling the stories of their lives and military service. They are fascinating and it is so wonderful that their memories are being captured and shared:



- Cassandra G.

5/24/17

May 2017 Meeting Review

We were stuffed to the gills last Tuesday night with lots of visitors and guests for a total of 102 to enjoy the fabulous trunk show of quilts by our own Elizabeth Eastmond!

Elizabeth showing her first ever quilt
President Jeri R. lead us out by reminding us that we should all have a good time (no problem!) and that you don't have to be a quilter to have fun - booyah!

Then we marveled at the amazing quilts by Elizabeth Eastmond. She took us on a journey through her quilts using a Quilt Abecedary and she informed us that many of her quilts are available as free patterns from her website.

Be sure to check out all the photos or view the photo video to see them all!

Elizabeth will hold a workshop to make her Home Sweet Home quilt. The date and location is still to be determined, but we are hoping for either July 22nd or July 29th. As soon as we know, we'll get the word out. If you are interested in attending, please contact Susan M. We'll collect money at the June guild meeting.

Elly H. issued our next challenge, which will be due at the July meeting - the Page 44 Craft Challenge. To participate in this challenge, find a magazine (quilting magazine, crafting machine, or really any kind of magazine) and turn to page 44. Find something on page 44 that inspires you to make a quilt, a bag, an article of clothing, crocheted hat, oil painting, dovetail jointed chest of drawers - whatever! Elly implored us to NOT CHEAT (ed. note: *cough*) and commit to the magazine before you peak at page 44. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!

We also had our first row by row exchange - remember to make a row that compliments the original quilters row, but do NOT sew it onto that row. Rows are also due at the July meeting. Contact Cassandra G. if you have any questions.

But before both of those challenges are due, our next challenge due is the Itty Bitty Picture Perfect Challenge: Summer Edition at the June meeting! Check out the blog post here for more information.

Community Service

  • Just to rack up more challenges, Angie N. challenged us all to make a baby quilt for the Neonatal project in memory of our dear Alice - no particularly due date, just when you feel inclined.
  • And yet another challenge, Mystery Box/Bucket Maven Christine S. informed us that we will receive 2 free mystery box tickets for every Rape Center Crisis bag we make and bring to the July meeting (put to 6 tickets if you bring in 3 bags). The pattern is available here. If you have any questions in general about these bags, please contact Sandy S.
  • Susan C. told us she has several more quilt tops ready to be quilted and bound for Quilts of Valor. Please contact her if you can help.
  • Three people came to the Happy Bag sew day last month and produced 17 bags. Way to go! Dawn M. would also like to remind people to please try to pick up the free flashlights that are sometimes given away for free or with a "free with coupon" from Harbor Freight. Contact Dawn if you have any questions.
  • We learned about a new community service project, Crafty Ladies, which makes washable and reusable sanitary napkins for women in need in Africa. Mary M. is looking for donations of 100% cotton flannel (no people or animal prints please) to help with the project. Please bring your flannel donation to any meeting and contact Mary if you have any questions.

Elly H. was pleased to see a few April BOM blocks were turned in (ed. note: *cough*) and she introduced our next block, Disappearing Nine Patch. Instructions are here.

Door Prize Winners

  • Best Press & fat quarters - Judy B.
  • Moda charm pack & tape measure - Eileen B.
  • Moda scrap strips - Susan C.
  • Scissors USB flash drive & fat quarters - Linda H.
  • Fabric Pens - Christine S.

Mystery Box Bucket Winner
Florence

Please note that the Mystery Box will be on hiatus in June for the potluck and Itty Bitty exchange and will return at the July meeting.
- Cassandra G.

5/11/17

Reminder: Guild meeting Tuesday!

MAY DAY MAY DAY! ...was actually several days ago, but you know how I get excited about these things...

May Day by Jenny K Lyon
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 are participating in the 2017 BOM, the third two blocks.
  • If are you participating in Cassandra G.'s Row by Row Round Robin challenge, your first row is due! Spots are still available, so contact me if you'd like in or have questions.
  • If you were born in May, August, October, or November, 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.

5/5/17

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

...as long as you remember that today is to commemorate the Mexican Army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Learn more.

Design by Karen K. Stone (I believe)

- Cassandra G.

5/4/17

May the Fourth


To all my nerdettes out there...

May the Fourth Be With You!


- Cassandra G.

5/2/17

June Challenge: Itty Bitty Picture Perfect Challenge, SUMMER Edition!

Hey folks, we've mentioned it a few times, but to remind everyone...

Everyone is invited to make a Summer themed Itty Bitty Picture Perfect Quilt, which will fit perfectly on the 8.5" x 11" stand up acrylic frame that each member received from the guild at last year's November meeting as our annual gift (if you can't find yours, these are pretty inexpensive at Wal-Mart or OfficeDepot, etc.).

The instructions:

  1. Make a Summer themed mini quilt that has a raw size of 8 3/4" x 10 1/2" before binding. The quilt should be in portrait orientation.
  2. Hem one of the short edges of a piece of fabric 8 3/4" x 9 1/2" and add it to the back of the quilt, raw edge aligned to the top. This will act as the sleeve for the acrylic stand.
  3. Add a binding as normal.
  4. Stand back and marvel at your creativity and craftsmanship/womanship!
  5. Place your quilt (and just the quilt - keep your acrylic stand) in an unmarked brown paper bag and bring it to the June meeting!

To ensure we have plenty of time to enjoy our summer potluck (please oh please oh please don't forget to bring tasty foods, if you feel so inclined!), we're going to change up how we perform the exchange...rumor has that a crazy red head whose name starts with T (which rhymes wit P, which stands for pool - oooh, good theme for my quilt!) will be on hand to help us!

As in November, we really encourage everyone to make their quilt be beautiful and steal-worthy, something that you'd really like to keep! I liked the one I made in November so much, I made one for myself!

If you want inspiration from our winter themed quilts, check out the photos and photo video from our November meeting.

- Cassandra G.

5/1/17

Threads of Love Sew Day


Sorry I'm late on this, but we had a great turn out at Rancho Cabelleros on March 25th for a Threads of Love Sew Day.


Sharon wants to extend her many thanks to everyone who participated on the day and everyone who's been taking and making kits.

Sharon has also received permission from Posh Patterns to reproduce and distribute their crocheted baby bonnet pattern to make baby bonnets for Threads of Love. The pattern is available here - please only use for Threads of Love. :)

Be sure to check out all the pictures both Sharon and I took or have a look at the picture video.

- Cassandra G.

4/30/17

April 2017 Meeting Review

A fortnight ago we had another great monthly meeting and our annual 50% Challenge - what a great turn out! Enjoy the 50% Challenge quilts as well as quilts from our regular Show and Share segment as pictures and our picture video.


We welcomed several guests: Natalie, Delia F., Joan H., Linda M., and Lynette W. We hope to see you ladies again!

Good job to everyone who brought in their March BOM blocks! Elly H. introduced our latest BOM called the Ribbon Star. She noted that the instructions have different cutting instructions depending on how you like to piece this type of block.

Elizabeth's Home Sweet Home



For our May meeting, we will enjoy a trunk show by our own Elizabeth Eastman, noted quilt and pattern designer. She will also hold a workshop on June 3rd from 9am-2pm to make her "The Heart's Solace is Home Sweet Home". Contact Susan M. to sign up.






We've got a few events and challenges coming up:

  • May Guild Meeting: Row-by-Row Round Robin (contact Cassandra G. if you're interested) - our first rows are due at the May meeting.
  • May 19th-21st: Retreat at the Nunnery - Contact Barbara M. if you have any questions.
  • June Guild Meeting: Itty Bitty Picture Perfect Challenge - Summer Edition - This is due at the June meeting. I'll post a blog soon dedicated to more information on this.
  • July 31st: Hoffman Tour - Contact Evie if you have questions.
  • October ??: Sewing room tour!

Make sure to check out the Guild Calendar for a complete listing of upcoming events!

Door prizes:
Quilt coffee mug - Mary M.
Best Press/fat quarter - Christine S.
Fat bundle - Phyllis H.
Sewing Machine earrings & stuff - Carol H.
Lil Twister - Vickie M.

Mystery Box - Linda H.
- Cassandra G.

P.S. Today is my dog Jan's 7th birthday, so please join me in wishing her a happy birthday!