Mennonite Church of Normal
805 S. Cottage
Normal, IL 61761
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There will be no meetings until Governor Pritzker cancel the coronavirus Illinois stay-at-home order

​Quilt Spectrum

The Quilt Spectrum has been rescheduled for April 30, 2021 and May 1, 2021 at the Interstate Center. This decision was not made lightly as this is a major fund raiser for the Guild. For the safety of our members and to comply with the Governor’s executive orders, the show could just not be held for the wellbeing of our members and guests.  So, keep working on those UFO’s for next year’s Spectrum!

A reminder

Gerry Shrock is still collecting blocks for the President's quilt.  Please get the blocks to Gerry ASAP so that she can start working on it.

All Guild Activities Cancelled Until Further Notice

​Members, the executive board has decided that with the CDC recommendations that groups with more than 10 individuals should not meet for the next eight weeks. So it has been decided that ALL HAAQG activities are cancelled until further notice, which also includes the Quilt Spectrum. This recommendation goes until May 3,2020 so hopefully the May salad supper & silent auction can still be held. For future updates, watch the newsletter, website or Facebook as the executive board will stay on top of this. Thank you members for understanding.
 
Thank you. 
 Connie Borth

President's Message

No UFO’s Left Behind!
Hello Quilters!

Summer has finally decided to arrive this past week with the warm temperatures and afternoon/evening thunderstorms. Do you like to listen to the thunder and watch the lightning?  I enjoy watching the light show but prefer to do it from the safety of my home and not be caught out in it. I don’t sew during a thunderstorm and actually will make sure all of my machines are unplugged in case the power goes out. I know some people actually like to sew during a thunderstorm, but I will cut out a new quilt during this time. What do you like to do during a thunderstorm?
 
Well my time as being president of the guild is coming to an end and what an ending it has been!  Nobody could have predicted this a year ago that we would have not been able to meet for the last two months of our year or that we don’t know when we will be able to meet again. Yes, my time as president has been tumultuous but I have enjoyed it and certainly have learned a lot more about this guild in more ways than I can count.
 
Members it is time to send in your membership forms for next year. Pam has not received very many renewals at the writing of this column, and this is important so the guild can make their budget for next year.  In this newsletter and on the website you will find the forms to renew your membership and also to sign up for next year’s workshops. Remember that membership checks are to be dated June 1st, 2020 and any checks for the workshops are to be dated 60 days prior to the date of the workshop. Then just mail your registration form and workshop form to Pam Riss. Pam’s address can be found in the member’s directory.
 
In regard to next year and when the guild will be able to hold meetings again, nobody knows when this will happen. Supposedly at the end of June the state will move into phase 4 which allows for groups of 50 or less to meet, but our guild is considerably bigger than that. So, the program committee has been contacting the speakers that we have contracts for to see if the lectures can be done virtually or what arrangements can be made with them.  As soon as these items have been taken care of, the information will be passed onto members, either by email or on the website. It will not be posted on Facebook, as the HAAQG group page is public and anybody can view it, even people who are not members of the Guild. The Facebook page is a great place to showcase items that have been created or to ask for guidance on projects but not a great place to post sensitive information regarding the Guild.

 
In regard to the Quilt Spectrum that was to take place in September 2020, it has been cancelled completely. The Guild’s next Quilt Spectrum will take place April 30, 2021 and May 1, 2021 at the Interstate Center. This decision was not made lightly as this is a major fund raiser for the Guild but for the safety of our members and to comply with the Governor’s executive orders, the show could just not be held for the wellbeing of our members and guests.  So, keep working on those UFO’s for next year’s Spectrum!
 
Members please stay safe healthy and look forward to when we can all meet again.
​
Connie Borth
President

Mystery Bags

​Whenever we have our Quilt Spectrum, we will have over 500 mystery bags ready!   The “sorters”, Marge Ehlers, Nancy Powell, Jerry Schrock, Mary Wilkins, Noemi Bowers, Connie Borth and Ary Anderson have been working since October to get the bags prepared.  Again, you have exceeded your efforts in supplying scraps for this project.  THANK YOU!

2019-2020
​Guest Speakers

Click image to go to speaker's homepage

Programs and Classes

​CHANGES, CHANGES, CHANGES!
Like everything else in our lives, “Changes” will be the motto for our 2020-21 programs.  Whether we have actual or digital classes, depends on the comfort level of our scheduled presenters to travel and the availability of a place to meet.  Every attempt will be made to keep our web page current during July and August when there is no newsletter. 

Bookmarks that you received in March and the online registration form has a CHANGE for SEPTEMBER.  Susan Knapp will NOT be in Bloomington to physically conduct classes September 4 & 5, 2020. If you have registered for either of her classes, you might want to apply the cost to the class we hope to offer.  Pam Riss will hold your check until you decide.  She will then either cash it, return to you or shred it.  The Programs Committee is working with Susan to select a shorter class to do digitally either Friday or Saturday of that week-end.   If the Guild will be allowed to meet September 3, plans are in progress to have her do her program “Branching Out” on some electronic platform. 
 
MEMBERSHIP DUES REMINDER
In order to be registered for a class, your dues must be current.  The membership form is on the web site for you to download, print, complete, and send to Pam Riss.  Her address is on the form.

Ary Anderson
Programs

​Registration for 2020-21 program year

Members can download the registration form from the Guild’s website and use the dates listed to pre-date each check.  Please write a separate check for each teacher and put the name of the class(es) on the memo line. If you want to look at the classes in more detail, here are the websites for the presenters for 2020-21 program year.

Sep. 3, ,4, & 5, 2020 Susan Knapp; www.quiltbranch.com
Oct. 1, 2, & 3, 2020 Monique Jacobs; www.opengatequilts.com
Nov. 5, 6, & 7, 2020 Gudrun Erla; www.gequiltdessigns.com
Dec. 3, 4, & 5, 2020 Cheryl Sleboda; www.muppin.com
Feb. 4, 5, & 6, 2021 Lori Dickman; www.quiltingwithlori.com
Mar. 4, 5, & 6, 2021 Mary Wilson Kerr; www.marywkerr.com
Apr. 1, 2, & 3, 2021 Carole Lyles Shaw; www.carolelylesshaw.com

SEPTEMBER 3, 4, &, 5, 2020 are the correct dates for the September meeting.  The September dates on the green bookmark were changed after printing.

Mentor Survey

Help the Mentor Program plan this year's classes by taking the Mentor Survey. The information you provide will help in deciding what classes Guild members are interested in.

You can take the survey online or print off the pdf form. You can return the printed form at the monthly meeting.​

Library - Check it out

Sooo. With no access to the Guild Library, I'm going to review a new book from my personal library. Petal + Stem by Amy Friend appealed to me because Amy is a gardener and a quilter. Flowers spark her creativity and color combinations. Amy writes "There are a lot of parallels between gardening and quilting." We plan, tend, labor then enjoy our results; in our gardens and in our quilts.

Petal + Stem includes 40 quilt blocks to mix and match. Fun with a modern twist. All paper pieced. Yes - all. (I'll overcome my paper piecing fear to make one of these quilts.) Also included are 7 quilt projects with alternate possibilities and all templates needed to complete all the blocks.

We tend our gardens, plan our garden beds, collect plants and look for inspiration. Ditto with quilting. We tend our sewing machines, plan our layouts, collect fabrics and see inspiration everywhere. Our individual gardens are so different yet include many gifted plants from gardening friends. Again, ditto with our quilts. Different yet may contain gifted fabrics from quilty friends.

Check out Amy's website duringquiettime.com 

The Library will again be taking used quilting books , quilting magazines, and patterns when HAAQG begins our year again. If you have a large amount, please bring it in smaller amounts. Our storage is limited. Questions contact MaryvWeakman, 


​Connie J Carstens & Mary Weakman