We provided over 50 bags to CASA Foundation for Kids which have all been distributed and the Foundation is again in need of more bags. Please join us on Saturday, March 22 from 9:00 to 1:00 in the Elks Lodge Meeting Room for another sewing session. All materials and supplies are provided, and sewing machines are available for use. If you can cut, sew or use an iron, we can use you!
Diana Ramsey & Kathy Hofmeister
Block of the Month 2024-2025
It is Winter so cooler temps and threatening weather encourage us to remain in our quilting happy place. In February we will construct the last two blocks, Numbers 11 and 12, of our “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not”. Once these two blocks are completed, we will stitch the sashings and pieced corners, and this quilt top will be complete. The designer of this quilt gave permission for us to use this pattern with the promise to send her a photo of our completed quilt tops. How you complete this project is up to you. If you want to do the full quilt, great. If you leave the sashings out, it will be smaller. Perhaps you did a few blocks but did not continue. If so, stitch a few blocks together for a lap quilt or a table runner. Plan to complete your project and bring to our May meeting so that we can share our projects with the guild and take a group photo. If you are working on “Happy Hues” , you know that we have completed that quilt top. Same instructions: complete your quilt or quilt top and plan to bring your project to our May Guild meeting so we can share with our guild and take a group photo.
Suzanne Szot
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, designed by TK Harrison of BOMQuilts.com, was designed for a specific fabric collection in 2014. When you look at a photo of this quilt, you will see the sashing strips seem to include triangles, but the fabric used for the borders and sashing is a striped fabric with printed triangles and diamonds on one narrow stripe and a floral print in a wide stripe. There are 12 blocks in this quilt. As pictured in this quilt, Block 1 is made twice in one colorway and twice more in a different colorway. I am choosing to make all four in different colorways because I did not care for the duplicates. The finished quilt is 70” by 90” and each block finishes at 17”. There are no tiny elements; the smallest piece is a 2 5/8” square.
Happy Hues, designed by Laurie Miller of Laurie Miller Designs, and presented by American Patchwork Quilting on AllPeopleQuilt.com. This is a medallion quilt with a large center medallion surrounded by smaller blocks. It is shown on the website in several different colorways, some in vibrant colors on a white background, black background or gray background. I have seen photos made in all shades of blue on a white background, rather than the vibrant colors shown in the pattern, so make it in the colors that make you happy. This quilt has the benefit of having two different sets of cutting instructions: one traditional instruction using a rotary cutter and ruler, and another cutting instruction using an Accuquilt cutter and 8” block cube and strip dies. Be sure to check that you are using the fabric requirements for the cutting instructions you need as they are slightly different for each way of cutting. The finished quilt is 80 ½” by 80 ½”.
To see a slide show click on one of the pictures and use the arrows to slide!
Community Quilts
By Suzy Davidson and Vicky Hall
Vicky and I want to thank everyone for participating in the Community Quilt Overstock sale. We raised over $800 which will keep us in batting for a few months (we used over 2 rolls on the last workday). To date this fiscal year we have given out 350 quilts and we have 5 months left to donate. We will have quilts that need to be quilted, quilts that need to be bound and some kits available for you at the February 17th meeting. We’ll also continue to sell some of our overstock, 1yd cuts for $1, fat quarters for $0.50 and 1 lb. grab bags for $1. As we continue to sort through donations, we will have more items for sale. Our next work meeting is on February 24th, at 9:00 am. Come and join us. We have lots of new fabric, started tops and new patterns and backs that need to be pieced! It should be a fun and creative day. Bring lunch as we will be working on projects until 3:00 or 4:00 pm.
Click here for more information about Community Quilts.
Casa Adoption Quilt Banner
ECHOS
E Education – promoting knowledge of the art of quilting
C Challenge – learn new techniques and patterns
H Help – assistance with quilting questions and problems from experienced quilters
O Opportunity – a chance to share and teach skills and knowledge
S Social – meet new people and visit with friends
The ECHOS program is offered to Mountain Top Quilters members usually during the afternoon following the general meeting. Instruction in different techniques or information on how to do various projects is presented. An MTQG member free of charge or for a nominal fee to cover the cost of supplies incurred by the instructor. You do not need to sign up for demonstrations, just come by, watch, and ask questions.
Thanks Janice for the the snap pouch Class!
Fun Day – April 2025
Diane Stockhaus
Our much-loved biennial Fun Day is rapidly approaching, currently scheduled for Tuesday, April 22. We will begin taking reservations for the event at the January 20, Guild meeting. This year, our kits will be color coordinated. Each participant will select a color when signing up, and their customized kit will contain all the materials necessary to finish the project. As a reminder, Fun Day is a full day of sewing and companionship, which should result in a completed quilt top for each participant. Each sewer will receive a kit of precut pieces. Instructions will be provided to make blocks, then assemble those tops into a quilt! Lunch will be provided by the committee! The cost of the event is $30 (cash or check only) and MUST be paid when signing up. There is room for 25 participants, with a wait list, should it be needed. This is a very popular guild event, so sign up early with Diane Stockhaus – she will be at the lodge early on January 20!
Meals on Wheels Placemats
Michele Schneider reminded members about the placemat program through Meals on Wheels. This year’s goal is 200 placemats. If possible, an MTQG label, available from Community Quilts, should be affixed to the back. Some donated placemat panels were distributed. The placemats should be new and not have religious or political content.
Mini Group Information
MTQG Mini Groups are smaller interest-based groups that meet at various times and locations in addition to the large monthly guild meeting. Listed are the MTQG current Mini Groups to show how much creative activity goes on behind the scenes at MTQG. Interested in a group(s), Please reach out to the contact person for information regarding availability as the groups may be full. Members are encouraged to check them out and see if there is a spot in one (or more) of these mini groups. This is a great chance to enjoy friendships, share ideas, and support one another in a smaller group setting.
Current Board Members, and Committee Chairs, Past President’s Quilt Presentation, Spring Luncheon Pictures, Meals on Wheels Volunteer placemats, Diane Stockhaus Recognition, click here to see
New Member Group
Our New Member group will meet soon. New and old members are invited. Please join us. Times will be posted soon.
Ricky Tims Coming Phoenix March 7, 2025, at 35th Ave Sew and Vac
Ricky Tims is a professional quilter, life-long musician, avid photographer, and author. His quilts have been displayed worldwide and are regarded as excellent examples of contemporary quilts with traditional appeal. A popular presenter, he encourages individuals to cultivate self-expression, reach for the unreachable, and believe in the impossible.
This all day event includes 3 technique-driven lectures/demos by Ricky Tims, snacks, lunch, and a downloadable PDF of the lecture notes. A printed booklet of all the notes for all 3 lectures is available for an additional $20. The booklet must be prepaid for by February 26th & will be available for pickup when you arrive. Click Here for more information.
Spring Quilt Camp
Liz Ryder
Good Day Quilters! It’s time to start thinking about Spring Quilt Camp which will be from Tuesday through Friday, April 1 to April 4, 2025 at Chapel Rock in Prescott. (www.chapelrock.net) Sign ups will take place starting at 9:00 am on Monday, February 17 at our regular Guild meeting. There is room for 18 campers and a waiting list will be started in case of cancellations. In order to secure your reservation, you must turn in the registration form and either your deposit of $170 or full payment at the time of sign ups. The balance will be due at the March 17 guild meeting. This is all non-refundable. We will start a wait list for people who may not get their registration form completed in time, in which case you may coordinate with a waitlist person to reimburse you the fee and take your place. This is standard Guild procedures. Registration forms are available on the MTQG website under Forms. Prices include hotel-style accommodations (except for day campers), 9 meals at the on-site dining hall, snacks, and an abundance of sewing time with new friends! Bring your own projects to work on. There will be a sewing project for our placemat donations to the Prescott Meals on Wheels with fabric and patterns on-site. In a snapshot:
What? Spring Quilt Camp! Who? MTQG members first! If there is leftover space we will open it up to non-members When? Tuesday through Friday, April 1-4, 2025 Where? Chapel Rock, 1131 Country Club Drive, Prescott How Much? ● $406 for a single occupancy room ● $340 per person for double occupancy (2 beds per room) ● $170 for day campers not spending the night.
Our new class begins Tuesday, January 14th and we have nine continuing students this session. Most students will be finishing up the sampler blocks they started last session and piecing them together in preparation for long arming. The two beginning students will be making skirts and the more advanced students will be starting paper pieced blocks that will be framed with Attic Windows. If you would like to volunteer to help, you can sign up for one Tuesday a month or every week– whatever works best for your schedule. No special sewing skills are required, just a willingness to share your love of sewing with a youngster! Come be a part of inspiring the next generation of quilters. Please contact me if you can help. We meet at the Elks Lodge every Tuesday from about 3:00 to 5:30.
