Ì  Ì    Pieceful Patchers Newsletter    Ì  Ì 

President Peggy T.    Vice President Ruth S.    Secretary Mary K.    Treasurer Janice P.

 

October, November, December, 2005

 

z  z  z    Meeting Dates    z  z  z

 

October 24th – 7:00 PM

-         Underground Railroad lecture by Sue C.

-         Semi-annual dues are due - $12.00

-         Veterans Quilts will be collected for distribution on Veteran’s Day

 

November 28th – 7:00 PM

-         Quiltable Quotes – bring in your wallhanging (any size, any technique, quilted or not) that depicts a quote, phrase, or saying of your choice; the words do not have to be on the quilt top.

-         Christmas stockings for Tri-County Life Center will be collected

-         Fat Quarter Exchange – Bring an unwashed (quality quilter’s cotton) fabric fat quarter (18”x22”) of a non-print-batik fabric.  Each volunteer to participant will put her name in a drawing.  One or two of us will go home with a new fat quarter stash!

-         Paper Shower for Heide Hall – please bring in a package of kitchen paper goods for our meeting hall – napkins, cups, paper towels, etc.

 

December 1?th – 6:30 PM  º

(Note date and time change; date will be announced at guild meeting.)

-         Guild Christmas Party

-         Bring a main dish, dessert, or salad to share.  Come early to help set up or stay late to help clean up.  Table decorations and/or door prize contributions are welcome.

-         Gift Exchange – bring a gift-wrapped quilt-related gadget (tool, accessory, notion, etc.) with a value between $6.00 to $8.00 for a grab-bag gift.

-         Busy Bee Block is due (details in this newsletter)

 

 

Guild Volunteer Committee Chairwomen

Historian: Doris H.       Membership : Sue D.              Busy Bee Block & Newsletter: Kathy W.

Librarian: Jean Y.        Hospitality: Carol R.           Quilt Retreat: Carol S., Dee P.        

Programs: Debbie R.       Charity Quilts: Donna T.     Fat Quarter Exchange: Donna T.

 

Cookie Schedule

Please bring 1-2 dozen cookies for our meeting refreshments… and plan to help set up or clean up.  If you cannot be at the meeting on your scheduled night, please trade with someone.                                                 Thanks – Carol R., Hospitality Chairwoman

October

Naomi M., Suzan M., Alice O., Jean O., Janice P.

November

Denise P., Dee P., Helen P., Judy P., Debbie R.

 

Charity Quilting

Volunteers meet the 4th Wednesday of each month at Clinton Presbyterian Church (Route 228 in Clinton Township) from 10 AM – 2 PM.  Bring a bag lunch.  Days are subject to change in holiday months.  See Donna T. for details.  724-352-9130

 

Cindy S.’s Orange Creamsicle Pie

(This recipe makes 2 pies and it’s Orangelicious!)

1 envelope Knox gelatin

1 orange:

- juice the orange

- use the grated peel from half the orange

- use the zest from the other orange half

1 12-oz. container Cool-Whip

¼ c. orange juice concentrate

red and yellow food coloring

3 8-oz. pkgs. cream cheese

2 graham cracker crumb piecrusts

1 c. sugar

1. Add orange juice to concentrate to make ½ cup total.  Add gelatin in juice and microwave to dissolve.

2. Combine and beat cream cheese and sugar until fluffy. 

3. Gradually add orange juice mixture and grated peel. 

4. Beat in Cool Whip.

5. Add food coloring until desired orange color is obtained.

6. Spoon into pie shells.  Chill 4 hours or overnight.

7. To serve, garnish with whipped cream and grated zest.

 

Answers to Quilt Quiz from the Last Newsletter

1. False – dates back to 3400 B.C.

12.Rectangles, several shapes of triangles

23 Solid colors

2. Combining fabric pieces, hand or machine pieced, inserting batting and backing, hand or machine quilting

13. Quilt guild

24. Black – seldom white

3. Top – Batting - Backing

14. Scraps

25. Simplicity and elaborate hand quilting

4. Cotton

15. Pieces sewn together to make a patch vs. design hand-sewn on top of or background

26. Flower garden and others

5. Cotton, wool, or synthetic, or combo

16. Block names

27. Signature or album; Civil War

6. Smaller

17. Sampler

28. Crazy

7. False

18.True

29.Trip around the World

8. Chain and strip piecing

19. False

30. Political issues, runaway slaves (historic)

9. False

20 Red & yellow; hearth & fireplace

31. Folk art

10. Rotary cutter, cutting mat, rulers (different sizes & shapes)

21. Lone star

 

11.By the number of yards of thread used

22. Only God is perfect

 

Sue D.’s Angel Crisp Cookies

½ c. white sugar

1 egg

½ t. salt

½ c. brown sugar

1 t. vanilla

1 t, baking soda

1 c. shortening

2 c. flour

1 t. cream of tartar

Cream sugars, shortening, egg, and vanilla.  Add dry ingredients, sifted together.  Form into walnut-sized balls.  Dip top half of each ball in water and then in sugar.  Place on greased cookie sheet and press down in center with your finger.  Bake in 400˚ in oven for 8-20 minutes.  (I bake them for 12 minutes.)

         

 

 

Caring for Heirloom Quilts

Question: Can I safely use an heirloom quilt occasionally or must I always keep it stored to preserve it?

Answer:

An heirloom quilt in good condition can withstand occasional use under the right condition.

Textiles are materials that are damaged by strong light, uncontrolled levels of relative humidity, high temperatures, and certain pests.  Modern homes with climate control systems generally have levels of relative humidity and temperature that are acceptable for textiles, although when houses are heated during the winter, they can be too dry, unless there is supplemental humidification.  When the environment is too dry, fibers become brittle; when the environment is too humid, there is danger of pests, especially mold.

Bright window light, spotlights or high intensity lamps whose light falls on a textile are a problem in the home.  This lighting is often directional and uneven and may cause colors to fade and fibers to weaken.  Never display your quilt in bright light.  The ultraviolet (uv) component of the light should be low as well.  Be aware that some of the inexpensive spot lamps on the market today have a high uv level.

Your quilt is best displayed flat and supported, as on a bed in a guest room.  Enjoy and use it for limited periods of time.  When not in use, the quilt should be stored by rolling it on a tube, or, more practically due to size, by folding.  Pad the folds well with rolled acid-free tissue paper, muslin or polyester batting.  Re-fold regularly to avoid creases and inspect for pests and mold.

Another way to display a quilt in good condition is to drape it over a padded tube.  It is important to seal the tube so that harmful acids do not migrate to the quilt.  Aluminum foil can be used as a barrier and polyester quilt batting makes an excellent padding material.  Cover with a washed, unbleached cotton muslin.

Remember to alternate the display of your quilt with a period of time in storage to ensure its preservation.   [Thanks to Melissa S. for this internet tip about museum treasure preservation.]

 

 

Membership Dues Reminder

Article III of our guild by-laws states:

“Dues are $2.00 per month, payable in April and October.  Dues not paid at the April or October meeting are to be paid within 30 days, either in person or by mail to the Treasurer of the Guild.  Failure to pay dues by the May or November meeting will result in said member’s name being dropped from the Guild’s membership list.  Membership may be re-instated upon receipt of current dues.”

Note: If your name is dropped from membership, you will no longer receive the guild newsletter.