Possum Town Quilter's Christmas Party

Watana welcomed us and now shows her Grandmother's feedsack quilt.

Santa arrived and delivered gifts.

Lauren poses with Santa.

Our quilters enjoying the party.

MMMMMM good!

Watana shows her "A Southerly North Wind" quilt that will be shown at The National Quilt Museum with the exhibit "Quilts of the Coastal South" Feb. 5 to April 6, 2010.

December Minutes

POSSUM TOWN QUILTERS’ GUILD MEETING

DECEMBER 5, 2009

Twenty members attended the PTQ Annual Christmas Party, hosted by Watana Cantrell. A joyous and hilarious time was had by all. We had a short business meeting finish out the year. Everyone brought a “Christmas Block” and they decorated the walls of Watana’s kitchen/dining room. Brenda Crownover was the lucky winner of the blocks! Then a surprise guest arrived: a very jolly Santa appeared at the door. He knew all about Possum Town Quilters! As he passed around gifts to the members, he kept everyone in “stitches”. Watana was a very generous hostess and provided several door prizes – even a stuffed possum! It was time then to partake of all the wonderful food each member brought. After lunch, we played “Dirty Santa”. The fellowship continued until 2:00 pm.

Julia Graber, the 2010 vice-president, explained the changes for lotto blocks next year. Starting in January the monthly block winners will be determined for the next month’s block winners. This will allow the individual’s to choose their color/pattern preferences.

Everyone who attends will be a winner next year. Since we have around 24 members who routinely attend meetings, we will do two per month. January’s block winners will be Sue Seymer and Judy Stokes. Julia will let everyone know what colors/block pattern to make.

Merry Christmas to All.

Wilson Family

Here are a few pictures of the Wilson family receiving their quilts.

Quilts for Habitat for Humanity

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Guild was well represented at the Habitat Open House for the Wilsons. We even made the WCBI news. I apologize for not recognizing all the members who attended to the audience. Sharon, Julia and Paul, Barbara, Terry, Brenda and I were there. The faces of the children were precious when they received their quilts. We did it individually. ...so it took a while to give them all out. On the news, we got credit and I think we stole the show! The next house in just down the road from this house, so we will be able to find it without any trouble. Thanks everyone for all the hard work.

November Meeting

Sharon Hedrick won an assortment of autumn blocks.

Julia Graber won the autumn maple leaf blocks.

Barbara Walker showed an antique butterfly quilt and asked for suggestions for washing and repairing it.

Barbara also showed us dolls and doll quilts that she has made for gifts.

Julia showed her "Ragamuffin" quilt that she made for her grandson.

November Meeting Minutes

Sharon opened the meeting, there were no visitors. Twelve members were present.
Barbara Walker showed two baby doll quilts and dolls. She is planning another. She also showed an antique quilt that was well used and asked suggestions for washing and repairing. Sharon gave suggestions of using washer and not agitating the machine, with Orvis Paste, no fabric softener, or quilt soap. Mary Anne suggested using wonder under to put under frayed pieces to stabilize the material.
Julia showed a quilt called “Ragamuffin” made for her grandson. She also showed her Sunflower quilt called “The Desert Shall Rejoice” and shared that it had been accepted into the show.
The treasurer’s report will be covered next meeting as will the minutes.
Habitat donation will be at 859 Kidd Road at 2 pm, Sunday November 22.
The Columbus Library Christmas Tree will be decorated on Monday, November 30 at 1 pm.
Judy had an idea that on the Wassail Fest night it would be fun to go as a group. It will be December 4. Interested members should meet at 5:30 at the Arts Center. Walk and visit the shops and have Wassail.
Christmas Party at Wantana’s December 5. Meet at Lowes and carpool around 10:30. Wantana lives in Vernon. Time is 11 to 1. Bring a dish of your choice, and a dirty Santa Gift, limit about $15 - $20. Also bring a 12 ½ block Christmas themed block.
Christmas Party with Golden Triangle quilters at 5:30 December 17 at First United Methodist Church. Bring a fat quarter in a brown paper bag, lunch size.
This afternoon we work on the Challenge quilt, and work on things for the Library’s silent auction. Donations need to be made by November 30. Last date to turn in Last year’s challenge block is our meeting in January.
Annis Cox is going to come Saturday, February 6. She will be presenting a detailed workshop on color.
Back basting appliqué technique was shown by Sharon. This technique is in the American Quilter magazine, January 2009 issue.
Members discussed marking fabrics. Sandi suggested using Prisma pencils as they wash out every time. She suggested getting flesh, grey and white to mark on darks. She suggested getting pencil sharpeners by Sally’s beauty supply.Julia won the Maple Ll;eaf blocks and Sharon won the Fall blocks and the Christmas Fat Quarters.

September Show & Tell

This "String Quilt" is for Habitat for Humanity.

Carolyn made this "Turning 20" cowboy quilt for a great grandson.

Watana made this quilt for Relay for Life.

She sewed a nice label on to the back.

Judy showed her BOM (Block of the Month) quilt that will be for her granddaughter.
This is Julia's BOM using most of the same blocks but different fabrics.

Challenge Winners

Winners of our challenge, Crazy Quilt/Sights of Columbus were:

1st place and viewers choice -- Brenda Crownover
2nd place -- Judy Stokes
3rd place -- Annette Pennington
Congratulations to all!!!

September Minutes

Minutes for Possum Town Quilters Guild
September 19, 2009

The Possum Town Quilters Guild met on Saturday, September 19, 2009, at the RAC in Columbus. There were 26 members and one return visitor present.

The meeting began with Show and Tell. (1) Jo Anne Slancauskas showed her pink baby quilt top and another baby quilt made with the extra blocks. (2) Carla Formel showed her completed “Turning 20”. (3) Donna Lea showed two Auburn baby quilts that were made by her for a missionary couple. (4) Watana Cantrell showed a Relay for Life quilt that she made to be raffled off for cancer research. (5) Judy Stokes showed her finished BOM which will be her granddaughter’s quilt and the Habitat for Humanity quilt, Divide and conquer. It just needs the binding and it is finished, too. (6) Annette Pennington read an article called “Quilt Addiction”. (7) Carolyn Ward showed her finished “Turning 20”. This was made from cowboy fabrics for her great grandson. (8) Sandi Bowen showed the first quilt she quilted on her new quilting system. She did a great job. The back was a soft flannel from Hancocks.

Jo Anne read the August meeting minutes. The minutes were approved as read.

Sue Seymer gave the Treasurer’s Report.

Old Business: (1) The Jackson Quilt Show is this weekend. Tomorrow three of our members are going. Judy will be able to pick up the quilt frames for hanging quilts at the Fall Gathering. (2) The PTQ t-shirts are available for pick up. (3) Members who sold items at the Quilt Show in the RAC received their checks. Ralph Null, the chair of the Gallery shows said that our show really brought in the visitors to the gallery!

New Business: (1) The nominating committee for next year’s officers has been selected. They are Julia Graber, Lawana Schultz and Watana Cantrell. The committee is doing a poll of the membership to get ideas of who would be good candidates for next year. They passed out slips to everyone for opinions/suggestions. The committee will report and give their recommendation on a slate of officers at the next (Oct) meeting.
(2) JoAnn’s Fabrics will be opening in Birmingham on Thurs, September 24th. A group is planning to attend.
(3) Terry Turnage made a pitch to the members to join the Columbus Arts Council. Membership is very reasonable and we should consider joining since we meet there every month.
(4) There is a lady in Macon who has sheep and makes wool battings. (This information was received by e-mail to all members.
(5) Julia Graber reported that Angie Rosemond would like our Guild to make 3 small (baby size) quilts from her mother’s old clothing. She is willing to pay. The Guild decided to do this, but it would be after the first the year.
(6) For the Fall Gathering, there will be one bag which will have a Possum Town pot holder. This will be worth an extra door prize during the gathering.
(7) Melissa mother made shopping bags that we will use as the “goody bags) for the Fall Gathering.
(8) Judy had extra copies of the Fall Gathering Registration forms for those members not on the MQA website. She explained that non-members of MQA will have to pay a $5.00 guest fee or join MQA for $15.00
(9) The presentation of the winners of our Crazy Quilt/Sites of Columbus challenge blocks followed. Viewers’ Choice went to Brenda Crownover. Third place was for First Baptist Church block by Annette Pennington. Second place was for The Masonic Home block by Judy Stokes. The First Place winner was the First United Methodist Church block by Brenda Crownover. Congrats to everyone, all the block were beautiful.
(10) This afternoon, we will work on items for the Fall Gathering goody bags. Next Saturday, September 26th, will be the day to assemble the bags.
(11) Julia Graber had received notification of an AQS exhibit next year at the Paducah KY National Quilt Museum. They will be featuring quilts from the Coastal South. This includes Mississippi. More information to follow.

Sandi Bowen did the demonstration for next month’s lotto blocks. (1) A scrappy spider web using directions at www.quiltville.com.
(2) The second block will be a disappearing 9-patch with the center block being yellow. All the other blocks will a different fabric. These need to be 5” blocks.

The meeting adjourned at 12:30.

Respectfully submitted,
Jo Anne Slancauskas, Secretary

August Show & Tell

Our guild made this "Friendship Star" for Habitat for Humanity.This Dutchman's Puzzle is also for Habitat.

Sue Skipper showed an old scrappy string quilt.

Julia Graber showed her Compass quilt done in M'Liss Rae Hawley's class.

Rachel Jolly showed her "Fruit Punch" quilt.

Barbara Walker won these fan blocks.

Sandi Bowen won the brown/turquoise blocks.

August Minutes

Minutes for Possum Town Quilters’ Guild
August 15, 2009

Possum Town Quilters Guild August meeting was held at the RAC in Columbus with 20 members present. There were no new visitors this month. The meeting began with Show and Tell. (1) Judy Stokes showed the finished Habitat for Humanity quilt for the parents, the purple,green Dutchman’s Puzzle, the pink Dutchman’s puzzle, the red Hearts quilt and the Tossed 9-Patch (that will be for another Habitat house). (2) Sandi Bowen showed the progress of a disappearing 9-Patch for the 2 yr old Habitat recipient. (3) Sue Skipper showed an old scrappy string quilt (spider web). (4) Julia Graber showed her Compass quilt done in M’Liss Rae Hawley class. (5) Rachel Jolly showed her “Fruit Punch” quilt.

Old Business: (1) The Quilt Show is up at the RAC. It will be taken down the last Friday in August. (2) The challenge blocks (crazy quilt) have been judged. The judges put the results in an envelope and sealed. Rachel and Kristen from the RAC will talley the votes/scores and the winners will be announced at the September meeting. (3) Judy showed the tri-fold brochures that were fresh from the printers.

New Business: (1) Eddy Young shared an article in the 2007 magazine (American Quilter) on how to face potholders w/o using bias tape. (2) Mrs. Elsie Johnson is leaving Columbus to live in Tupelo with her daughter. She donated her batting to the Guild. (3) The MQA Fall Gathering was planned and committees set up. (4) Ticket packets for the Raffle quilt are ready to hand out today. It was proposed that a percentage of the proceeds go to the Columbus Library for letting us set up the quilt there to quilt on it. This money would be earmarked for quilt books for the library. (5) Sue Seymer gave the Treasurer’s Report for August.

Winners of the Lotto Blocks for August:
Fan Blocks: Barbara Walker
Brown/Turquoise: Sandi Bowen

July Show-N-Tell

Watana Cantrell with her "A Southern North Wind.

Sandi Bowen showing her "disappearing 9-patch."

Two quilts of "Grandmothers Flower Garden" done by Sandi's aunt.

Rachel Jolly with her pink scrappy squares.

Lawana Schultz shared her "Endless Wells" quilt.

Benda Crownover with her miniature Bow Tie quilt.

CC Coggins with her two quilts "Square in a Block."

July 2009 Minutes

Minutes of the Possum Town Quilters’ Guild
July 18, 2009
Rosenweig Arts Center

The Possum Town Quilters Guild met at 9:30 am on July 18, 2009 at the RAC with 26 signing the roster. The three (3) visitors were: Donna Lee, Betty Morgan and Rachel Jolly. The visitors were introduced to the membership by the acting President, Jo Anne Slancauskas. The President and Vice President were both ill and unable to attend the meeting.

We had an update on the Vice President’s condition from Dorindia Bates. A card was passed around for signatures of the members.

SHOW AND TELL:
CC Coggins showed two quilt tops she ade for her granddaughter called “Square in a Block”. One was done in all purple and the other done in purple and green.
Watana Cantrell shared (a) “A Southern North Wind”, (b) a beautiful wall hanging with a large dream-catcher, and (c) the first quilt she ever made from a pattern – “The House that Jack Built”.
Brenda Crownover showed a miniature Bow Tie quilt that she hand pieced and quilted.
Lawana Schultz shared her “Endless Wells” quilt.
Rachel Jolly showed her quilt that hung at the Library this year. It was machine pieced and hand quilted. The pattern was pink scrappy squares.
Sandi Bowen showed her “disappearing 9-patch” quilt patch. She used 2 ½” squares for the 9-patch. She also showed a “Grandmothers Flower Garden” quilt done by her aunt that will be for sale at the quilt show.

BUSINESS MEETING: (Old Business)

Report on MQA June Gathering. Jo Anne and Lauren reported on the June Gathering in Pearl, MS. Four PTQ members attended the Friday/Saturday event. All took classes that were offered. All PTQ members were encouraged to attend next year and take advantage of the classes offered.
Update on “Hearts and Gizzard” Quilt. Judy Stokes (who was home sick) sent word that the quilting was complete! She will get the binding on, wash the quilt and have it photographed. A picture of the quilt will be part of the advertising for the Quilt Show at the RAC in August. Jo Anne reported that the RAC will display the Hearts and Gizzard quilt and help sell raffle tickets during the Quilt Show. The drawing for this quilt will be at the conclusion of the MQA Fall Gathering that PTQ is hosting in October in Columbus. Lauren reported she will have the raffle ticket packets before the next meeting. Members need to watch for e-mail(s) on where to pick up the packets.
Habitat For Humanity Quilts. Eight of the 14 quilts are in various stages of completion. The parents’ quilt is ready to be machine quilted. Watana volunteered to quilt this one. After this meeting, PTQ members will work some more on these quilts.
The Quilt Fest in Birmingham. The Quilt Fest was attended on June 20, 2009. Thirteen members attended. This was in lieu of our June guild meeting. Our own Sandi Bowen won the big prize – a Pfaff mid-arm quilting machine and a next generation quilt frame!
The Quilt Show at the RAC in August. Annette Pennington is the coordinator of what each member is putting in the quilt show. Terry Turnage is photographing all the items and putting together a power point presentation for the RAC management. Discussion of pricing our items included a reminder that the RAC will get 25%, so price items accordingly. Also, all items do not have to be for sale, but 75% of all items must be for sale. Quilts are to be hung by PTQ members on July 31st. The Reception to follow on Thursday, August 6th at 5:30 pm;
Judy ordered the tri-fold brochures from the printer. The cost was $150.00 for 500 tri-folds.

New Business:

1. Collection and Display of Challenge Blocks. Jo Anne explained that only the quilts turned in today would be judged. Any blocks turned in later will be hung at the RAC for “Viewer’s Choice” competition.
2. Demo of Lotto Blocks for August Meeting. Annette Pennington demonstrated the two (2) blocks for our next Guild Meeting. (a) Fan Block: Annette passed out patterns for a “quarter fan” block. The background will be tone-on-tone black cut 12 ½” square. The fan wedges are to be cut from 8 different prints with a black background. The quarter circle of the fan should also be tone-on-tone in a coordinating color with one of the wedges. White lace will be used between the ¼ circle and fan wedges. Lace should also be on the outer edge of the fan. (b) The next block will be done in member’s choice of pattern in turquoise and medium brown. This should be 12 ½” square.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. If anyone has blue, green and yellow fabric scraps (preferably strips), please bring to the next meeting. We will need those for two boys’ quilts for Habitat for Humanity.
2. If anyone has any extra 9-patch blocks in blue and purple we did in 2007 for lotto blocks, please donate them for Habitat quilts, too.
3. All workshops in August will be working on Habitat quilts.

LOTTO DRAWING:
1. Yo-Yo – Sue Skipper
2. 10” Fabric Squares – Annette Pennington
3. “Didn’t Quite Make It” block – Sue Seymer

Lunch was provided by Terry Turnage. Next “Chef on a Shoestring” will be Carla Formel and Christine Anderson. The remainder of the afternoon will be working on Habitat quilts and learning to tie quilts.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jo Anne Slancauskas,
Secretary

Quilts for Habitat for Humanity

Today we worked on quilts for Habitat for Humanity.