It was a fine night for a meeting . . . too bad I missed the first 10-15 minutes of it by having to go back home to get the items from the display case which I had forgotten !! Oh, no !! What I missed was Show & Tell. Thank you Ann Ware for taking pictures !

Tina Dietz hexie quilt

Tina Dietz Arcadia Avenue Fly Away block

Tina Dietz Arcadia Avenue Fly Away block color variation

Carol Zaleski with her first Double Irish Chain

Kathy Wickham re-invented ragged edge

Kathy Wickham re-invented ragged edge reverse

The Round Robin exchange was made and Kathy Wickham explained the premise of Round Robin to the Ryan’s Case ladies whose eyes all lit up with excitement and possibilities. This will be the last border round on the Round Robins which will be turned in next month and owners will claim their block for the great reveal. At that time, the owners and members will all see the final results for the first time and see what 3 others have done to their original piece. It is always exciting.

The ladies from Ryan’s Case For Smiles were there and Mary Jo Reed gave a short but informative talk about the organization and their purpose. She indicated that Carilion Memorial Hospital has a need for about 300 pillowcases each month for children under their care. Amazing. Also, although Lewis Gale Hospital has no pediatric practice, they do occasionally have young people under their care and will require a dozen cases to get them started. Also, UVA is being added to the pillowcase fund this year and they also have a need for 100+ pillowcases monthly. Wow, who knew?

Our members had made pillowcases and donated them last night for a total of 22 cases. The Ryan’s ladies then whipped out their machines and began sewing while BRQG members got busy cutting fabrics and pinning. Tina had a tutorial on how to do the seamless burrito style cases. For a video tutorial, go here: http://land.craftygeminicreates.com/pillow-case/?utm_source=cgyt&utm_medium=lp&utm_campaign=tcg15. (you may need to copy this into your browser) Doing it this way, there are absolutely no raw seams anywhere on the case. It is really easy !

Sew many cases to sew !

Pinning a case for sewing

Kathy Woods

Kathy Wickham being a cut-up

Claire Hightower, Ann Ware and Carol Dillman chatting

Ryan’s Case ladies hard at work

Sewers and helpers

Janet Martinez and Loretta Twiford

And, Carol Zaleski proposed a CHALLENGE. That the membership have FIFTY (50) pillowcases ready to turn in at our next meeting on May 10th. How about it – are you in? If every member made 3 cases, which is no strain on anyone, we will easily meet that goal. More is better . . . Thank you Carol Zaleski for taking these photos.

Everyone picked up their items which were in the Library Display Case and I went home with an empty box. When I left, the Ryan’s ladies were still sewing and several members were still pinning and helping out.

Calendar of upcoming meetings:

May — Marietta Price of Fabric Barn will be speaking about color. You won’t want to miss this meeting.
June — Field Trip to Quilting Essentials, 405 Apperson Drive, Salem, VA 24153. We will meet there at 6:30pm where we will have a short meeting and program, and then everyone’s favorite past time, shopping!  Carpooling is encouraged.

Blue Ridge Quilt Guild meets on the 2nd Tuesday each month at 6:30pm in the Blue Ridge Library located at 28 Avery Row, Roanoke, VA 24012. Phone 540-977-3433.

Officers:

President – Kathy Woods
Vice President – Kathy Wickham
Secretary – Janice Taylor
Treasurer – Louise Jargowsky
Committees:
    Programs 
Kathy Wickham
Tina Dietz
    Publicity
Carolyn Zaleski
    Newsletter 
Loretta Twiford
    Membership
Ann Ware
Victoria Person
Louise Jargowsky
Claire Hightower
    Historian
Ann Ware
    Audit
Cynthia Luedtke
Claire Hightower

Welcome new members and visitors

BREAKING NEWS:

This just in – – – Tina Dietz reports she has collected 165 Falling Triangle blocks so far!  Good job, ladies ! Stay turned for further updates.

More news:

Kitty Yates, longtime BRQG member, has recently had back surgery. Prayers are requested for Kitty’s full and speedy recovery.

Upcoming programs

April – Mary Jo Reed will be speaking about Ryan’s Case for Smiles (formerly ConKerr Cancer) http://caseforsmiles.org. They are asking folks to make standard size pillow cases for children undergoing illness, which will all remain locally in Roanoke Valley and be given to Carilion Memorial Hospital. They can be made with or without a contrasting strip and with or without a cuff. You will want to bring your sewing machines for this program. A list of supplies is also attached.
Tuesday night we will give our pillow cases to Ms. Reed, but for future information, Creative Quilting Connection will be a drop-off point for the pillow cases. Please feel free to make pillowcases at home if you prefer, and bring them to the meeting.

May – Marietta Price of Fabric Barn will be speaking about color. You won’t want to miss this meeting.

June – Field Trip to Quilting Essentials in Salem. We will meet there at 6:30 where we will have a short meeting and program, and then everyone’s favorite past time, shopping ! QUILTING ESSENTIALS, 405 Apperson Dr. Salem, VA. 24153. Carpooling is encouraged.

Ongoing:

Our Round Robin will be entering the last phase this month, so be sure to bring in your Round Robin bag so the final exchange can be made. Next month, the big reveal will be made and the original block owners, as well as everyone else, will be seeing what “improvements” their fellow quilters have made to their block. You won’t want to miss this meeting !

Be sure to bring in any Falling Triangle blocks you have been able to make toward or Community Quilt Project. This project will be ongoing for several months.

Upcoming shows and events:
(1)     May 13-14, 2016
The Floyd Quilt Show 2016
Friday, May 13th and Saturday, May 14th,  from 9a-4p, Floyd EcoVillage, 18 EcoVillage Trail, Floyd, VA. Admission $5.00. For registration information, visit http://www.floydquiltguild.com. Nine entry categories, Young Quilter’s category, Ribbons & Prizes.

Calendar Events:
(1) April 1st – April Fools Day (whew, glad that’s gone by)
(2) April 15th – Tax day (ugh)
(3) April 22nd – Earth Day (plant a tree or plow up a garden space)
(4) May 8th – Mothers Day

In Closing:
Be sure to check the website, http://www.blueridgequilters.wordpress.com, for pictures and a recap of recent meetings and Show and Tell. If you click on the little blue box in the lower right corner and fill in your email address, you will receive an email any time the site is updated so it will be easier to keep up to date with what is going on if you are unable to attend meetings or when you are away. So far there are 22 followers !! Yea !

If you go out looking for friends, you’re going to find they are
very scarce. If you go out to be a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.

Zig Ziglar

IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER:
In accordance with our By-Laws: In case of inclement weather we will follow the closing schedule of Botetourt County Schools. Missed meetings will not be rescheduled.

Newsletter Editor, Loretta Twiford

ps – I was requested to add this website for your perusal: http://www.guidelines4quilting.com. Some of their products are really very handy and helpful. Check ‘em out.