Coachella Valley Quilt Guild

 Happy Spring!

Although it feels more like summer has arrived on some days recently.  I am glad that the mornings are still cool and I can get out and have a walk around La Quinta Cove area and work in the garden.  As much as I love quilting and sewing it is good to get outside.

The Quilt Along is drawing to a close and Kelley Bachli and Patti Reyes have done a wonderful job organizing it and sending out tips and updates.  The sit and sews also seem to be a success and enjoyed by the members who are attending.  It is good to see members and share what we are working on.  Thanks, Kelley and Patti, for suggesting this great activity.  So what is next on the activities agenda ???  Watch the email blasts and newsletter in the fall to see what is happening.

Normally the guild has wound down activities over the summer because our snowbird members had left and even those who are here year round might be leaving the desert for awhile. But Zoom has certainly changed things since we can reach out to our members even if they are not in the valley.  So check the newsletter and the website for the lectures, studio tours and a photo contest we will be doing over the summer and see where you can participate.

Thank you to the 2020-2021 Board as their term comes to a close.  It has been an interesting year and I am so glad that you have all been very flexible as we worked out this new way of holding meetings.  Thank you also to the Standing Committee Chairs and Coordinators for all their work in adapting to the changing circumstances this past year.  You have all done a wonderful job.

We will be installing our 2021-2022 board at the May meeting.  So join us and put a face to the names that you heard at the April meeting.  I am looking forward to working with all the new (and returning) board members. 

I hope you will check the newsletter for information on upcoming events and our show — The Desert Guilds Quilt Show.  It will be interesting to see how this next year plays out and we find a new normal.  We are so fortunate that we have quilting and a supportive group of quilters — both near and far — to keep us going.  

See you at our next Zoom meeting.

Kathleen Herring, President 

The Desert Guilds Quilt Show committee has been meeting via Zoom and planning for an in-person quilt show.   We are keeping our fingers crossed that this will happen.  

We do this show in conjunction with Pass Patchers Quilt Guild and Cactus-Sewables Quilt Guild.  That sounds like there should be lots of people involved and we wouldn’t need much help but we do.  You can help make this show a success by entering quilts in the various areas — Main Entry, Challenge and Miniatures.   

In the Main Entry you can enter a wall hanging, throw, bed  quilt, art quilt, etc.  If you have never entered a quilt show this is an opportunity to do that.  You just need to fill out an application this fall, take a picture of your quilt and yourself and send it in.  The show is not juried, but you do have to be one of the first 40 people from our guild to enter to have your quilt accepted to the show. You may enter only one item in this category.  The entry form is on the Desert Guilds Quilt Show website.

Then there is the challenge with the theme Fortune Cookie.  You may also enter one quilt in this category.

Finally there is the Miniatures — Small Quilts and/or Small Art Quilts.  You may have multiple entries in this area.  More information will be available in the fall.

In addition to entering quilts, you can make things for the boutique — rope bowls, needle cases, potholders, fabric boxes, etc. 

In addtion, we are planning a booth where members may sell their quilts.  This would be for larger quilts then normally found in the boutique.  There will be a $5 entry fee to sell your quilt and the show (including our guild) would get 20% of the sale price.  But this might be the perfect opportunity to find a new home for those lovely quilts you have stacked in your cupboards.  More information available in the fall. 

Thank you all for participating in our Zoom break out rooms and coming up with categories for our summer photo contest.  We ended up with a list of 36 different categories!  Awesome!  Here is the list for the summer contest.

Rules of the contest:

A guild member must have made the quilt at some time in their life.  The quilt does not have to be in the member’s possession at the time of the photo contest. 

Only one photo entry per member.

Entry photos need to be sent to Annie Houston, hahaannie@aol.com and the email must include the number of the category.  All entries must be submitted by Tuesday, August 10, 2021.

Categories for Photo Contest:

1. A pandemic quilt inspired by Covid or made to deal with the pandemic.
2. A quilt made by a group.
3. A purse or a bag.
4. A quilt that has large flowers or a bloom (at least 10 by 10 inches).
5. A quilt based on a trip.
6. Why did I ever buy this fabric?
7. Going in circles…must have complete circles, not clammies.
8. A holiday quilt celebrating a spring or summer holiday.
9. A quilt inspired by a photo. (Please include the inspirational photo also.)
10. A quilt made with monochromatic colors.

May Meeting with Lori Allison, "All About Color Trunk Show"

Lori is a former Home Ec (FACS) teacher, a quilt pattern designer (Allison Quilt Designs) and now an online and show vending retailer of all Kaffe Fassett Collective fabrics, books, patterns & unique quilt kits.  Her "quilt show" to the guild will be 20 of the latest quilts and wallhangings made with Kaffe Fassett Collective fabrics. Join Lori for a fun, bright, colorful display featuring creative ways to use the Kaffe Fassett Collective fabrics.

June Meeting with Lynn Hanna, "Elements of a Modern Quilt"

Ever wonder what makes a quilt a "modern quilt"?  There seems to be many definitions out there, but Lynn Hanna from the Inland Empire Modern Quilt Guild will share the Modern Quilt Guild's definition with descriptions and sample quilts. Join us as Lynn walks us through a few short presentations each highlighting a portion of the Modern Quilt Guild's definition of a modern quilt.

July Meeting featuring Studio Tours

Studio Tours!  During our meeting this month we will explore the studios of fellow guild members Robert Tucker and Joanne Hunt. (And you can do it from the comfort of your own sewing room!)

A big THANK YOU to over thirty of our members who participated in the quilt along!  We had a great time seeing everyone during our Zoom sessions and watching as the quilts came beautifully together.  If you haven't already, please submit a photo of your completed top to Kelley Bachli, kbachli@gmail.com.  During our June show and share we will share all of the completed quilts, as well as post them to the website.  So perhaps this is the motivation you need to get those tops quilted so that we can show them all off in June!

Kelley Bachli and Patti Reyes, QAL Co-Hosts

Treese Pflum, Membership Chair, and Buck (her cute parrot)

Hi Everyone,

This will be my last newsletter as I will hand over the Philanthropy chairperson position to two lovely ladies Jackie Mason and Judy Moran in June.  They will continue to distribute your beautiful charity quilts.   I would like to thank all that have made these beautiful quilts.  I know that they were made with love.  I also want to thank those that so willingly helped me during a hard time when I was not well, especially Kathleen Herring our President.  Her uplifting attitude and patience was wonderful. I will continue to help the guild where needed.  Please continue making your charity quilts, as they are so needed and the charities are so thankful for them.   

Marcia Ulrich, Philanthropy Chair