MARIPOSA PIECE MAKERS NEWSLETTER – JULY 2008

Hello, Piece Makers.  Here’s hoping you’re all enjoying this long weekend.  Unfortunately for some, this is a time marked by sudden tragedy and loss, as a good friend of mine is experiencing.  Spending time with her and her family have caused me to reflect on what’s really important in life – relationships top that list, and being able to offer support and comfort.  I’ve seen that small gestures sometimes mean the most.  With that in mind, on our agenda for this month’s meeting is a project that was mentioned at the June meeting.  It involves making small (14X14) quilts from a very simple pattern.  They are made with a solid, very pale fabric in the center with borders added.  The quilts will be given to Childrens Hospital of Madera County, where staff will stamp the child’s handprint or footprint in the center, and present them to parents of very ill children.  For some, these will serve as memorials of a child who will not be coming home from the hospital.

We’ll use our fabric stash which is stored at St. Joseph’s for this.  But if you have fabric appropriate for the project, bring it along.  For batting, very low loft is needed, or even a piece of white or very light flannel.  Please bring your machine and supplies in order to participate in this project.  What a good cause; these will no doubt be treasured by families of ill children.

Also on the agenda this month:  TOOL TIME!  This is an opportunity to bring your favorite tool(s) for measuring, cutting, etc. and let all of us in on just why it’s so useful.  This will be a fun chance to learn from one another – and become better quiltmakers in the process.  And by the way, if you know someone who used to attend our meetings and does not any more, they might like to know about our new focus of Back to Basics.    That’s why you’ll see lots of demonstrations, information and mini-classes on our agenda.  There’s so much we can learn from one another!  Just ask anyone who was present last month for Kim’s outstanding presentation.

Our communal stash has grown tremendously, and Lil recently spent a lot of time reorganizing boxes and bags of fabric.  Please feel free to look through it and take what you might like for your own projects.  We also have books and magazines for the taking.  But we will not hang on to all of this indefinitely – what is left after a while will be donated to St. Joseph’s rummage sale (proceeds to be given to Habitat for Humanity).

Those of us still working on blocks for the opportunity quilt are asked to complete them and bring them to the meeting this Saturday.  Those who are going to  handle the next phase are raring to go.  Of course, once the quilt is completed we can begin selling “opportunities” to win this masterpiece.

We will have a special guest at the July meeting,  Tracy Miller, who is the new owner of the craft store downtown (formerly Hope’s Crafts).  She is anxious to let us know that her inventory will allow us to pick up notions, batting, thread, etc. right here in town.  No need to make a gas-guzzling dash out of town for just one of two small items.  She will also be asking what sort of things we’d like her to stock.   This is not a fabric store, and will never replace our favorite quilt shops, but will no doubt prove to be really handy.

This may be one of the last newsletters available only by email!  Why?  We’re working diligently to be able to post future newsletters on the website soon, along with announcements of various quilt shows in the area, tips, etc.  Sheila is working to put all of this together.  If you haven’t checked the website for a while, go to mariposapiecemakers.com and see what’s new.

Looking forward to your company on Saturday, Marianne