June Meeting 2015

New Business Several challenge ideas were suggested, Jana suggested the Oregon State Motto "She Flies With Her Own Wings." Everyone loved this theme, and it was chosen for our June to October challenge, 20" max per side, any technique. No participation required, if you want to do an art piece, then please join us, if you don't want to, that's ok too. Peggy suggested, "A Path Less Traveled" again we all really liked where this could take us. Having a continuous path to connect all the pieces, like the River challenge, was also agreed upon. Sherry suggested we do more of a jigsaw puzzle, with curved edges and a path connecting them. I made a quick sketch to give you an idea.

This will be our Big challenge for the April Umpqua Valley Quilters Guild Show. We will hand out pattern pieces and if you choose to participate, we need a commitment from you, to finish your piece. This will be due at our March meeting. Old Business The wet felting workshop was postponed, several people who wanted to be there could not make it on Saturday. We will reschedule for later. The Seattle Trip is canceled, as the show is no longer being produced. The Oakland Quilt Show booth was also canceled, due to lack of interest.

Show & Tell

Cheryl knit a colorful baby ball for her new granddaughter, she experimented with several different interior rattle making things, and wrapped the noise maker in plastic, so the ball could be washed.

Cheryl has been spinning Lorraine's Jacob fleece, from her ewe named "Sybil" and plying it into yarn, no project decision yet. Lorraine had trouble finding someone to sheer the sheep, her big ram has four horns, and it was hard to get a good hold on him.

Pat G. made two lovely purses, the beige/brown one is made from linen, the sunflower from regular quilting cotton.This looks like a fun pattern, with the pockets on the side.

Lorraine has been in contact with people from the class she took at Asilomar, who want to use the book "Modern Quilting" by Jacquie Gering and Katie Pedersen, and do each of the lessons in the 8 chapters. They have been emailing back and forth.

Lorraine has done the first two lessons, as individually quilted blocks. The one has 1/4" echo quilting the other a zigzag pattern. She will put them all together into one quilt when she is done. Sherry and Kay are recovering from lots of family & guests visiting for Kay's 80th birthday celebration. Crystal had quiet an adventure teaching painting to all 450 students at Hucrest school. She is an artist in residence for the Umpqua Valley Arts Assoc. She worked with one class at a time, each grade level had a different ocean theme. Up to 25 kids at a time, all at easels, with paint brushes flying in every direction. She is very proud of the art they made and each kid had fun and took home their finished canvases. Her new business downtown "Create and Sip" is doing well.

An upcoming trip to England has inspired Clare to mass produce some gifts to take along. The colorful microwave bowl potholders, are quick and easy.

Clare's weaving studio is up and running, all the shelving in and the looms set up. She has two large floor looms and an extensive array of yarn, with which to work from.

Peggy was inspired by our trip to the iris gardens in Salem. She made a homemade gelatin plate, and tried acrylic inks on it. She said they were very different to work with than regular acrylics, she was concerned they would stain the gelatin. They did not stain, so now she will try them on the large Gelli Plate. She made a paper mask for the iris shape, and also used watercolor pencils to add detail.

Jana has made her first skein of yarn on her new electric spinner. It is made from a dark plum merino wool and carded with "Firestar" fibers to give it sheen. Jana is looking forward to the "Toure de Fleece" sponsered by the website "Ravelry," it is a commitment to spin everyday during the Toure De France.

She has finished the first of a pair of socks, with a "crowsfeet lace" pattern. They are a gift for her college roommate who has a thing about crows. A discussion occurred over how to keep the heels of homemade socks from wearing out so quickly, Cheryl suggested the heel and toe yarn be spun with a blend of stronger fibers, a nylon or silk blend. They will wear better and longer that way.

Vi has brought several of her woven and beaded necklaces to show us. She had to make individual shaped looms on ceiling tiles for each one that she made. The one she is wearing is a traditional color for Native American art, the green one has an undersea theme, with lots of shells.

The other 3 necklaces are woven and heavily beaded. No Demo We had no demo this meeting, if anyone wants to volunteer to demo a technique or new product, please tell Amy. Also request anything you would like to learn about, and we will arrange it.