President's Message by Helen Butler

Dear Fellow Guild Members,

 A quilter can never escape the joy and satisfaction of finishing the edges of their quilt.  Such was my joy again this month as I spent many hours to bind the edges of yet another quilt.  I thought a lot about this word “bind” as I logged the many hours it took to complete it.  The dictionary defines the word bind as something to fasten, to secure, to bandage, to cinch, to connect, glue, hem, stitch, or to yoke.

This month I felt very satisfied at our service meeting, as members of our guild met to make quilts and bags for those in need.  I saw lots of people connecting with each other as they worked and sewed together.  There was plenty of laughter, many smiles, joyous hugs, encouraging words, hearts lifted, and support being given.  It occurred to me that as we meet each month there is a lot of binding between people going on as well.  Indeed, quilting binds us together as we create bonds of love by serving, laughing, learning, stitching together, and pulling threads off each other.  Quilting has been around for generations and will continue for generations to come.  Perhaps it's not about quilting after all.

 We have two big shows coming up soon. The Home Machine Quilting Show (HMQS) and the Springville Quilt Show. I anticipate both with much excitement. The opportunity is there for all quilters to display their newest and best creations. If you have never entered a quilt show and someone has mentioned you should, then consider entering. We see many fabulous quilts at show-and-tell each month and may never see them again. So I encourage you to take the challenge and enter.

As a reminder, our guild sponsors the Springville show and it is our goal each year to make it the latest and greatest.

I am personally stitching as fast as I can to complete a work started in November of 2004. As I reflect back on the show, I used to attend it long before I lived in Utah. My sister, who lives in Springville, would take me to it each year. My thoughts at the time were, “I don't know how, but one day I will have a quilt hanging in this show.” We ended up moving to Utah in 2003. I have since entered 2 quilts per year.

My first year I learned I did not have enough hand quilting, so on my next quilt I made sure that that was corrected. Regardless of whatever you choose, you need to start somewhere. I have discovered that many quilters do not think their quilts are good enough to enter, but again, I encourage you to try it anyway. It will be a learning experience. I promise that nothing will improve your quilting more than entering because you start taking each stitch with more care knowing it will be judged and hanging for many to see.

We look forward to seeing your quilts there!

From my sewing room to yours,
Helen