President's Message by Helen Butler

 Dear Fellow Guild Members,

 First off, a big thank you to Bonnie Miles for bringing us her friend, Corey Kunde.  I hope every one in attendance enjoyed her trunk show as much as I did.  I left the meeting so inspired to make some of these adorable quilts that are given as companions to favorite children's storybooks.  In fact, I went on a hunt for that “hungry caterpillar” fabric and to my delight I found it!  I also enjoyed browsing the children's literature section at the bookstore, and my own children's library of favorite books for ideas.  This really got the creative juices flowing.  I am now looking at the novelty prints a little more closely, whereas normally I just passed them up.  The grandchildren are starting to multiply so it is very fun to return to these juvenile fabrics.  Oh, if there were only a few more hours in the day to quilt!  I look forward to making and giving with pleasure these quilts and storybooks to my grandchildren.  My little grandsons just love the movie “Cars” and Thomas the Train.”  Has anyone seen fabric out there from these shows? 

 I hope you all had the opportunity to attend the Home Machine Quilt Show this last month and visit our guild's display of 61 quilts.  It was truly amazing!  I felt so proud of the workmanship and quality of quilting within our guild.  Thanks to all who took the time to get your quilts turned in and a tremendous thank you to Shirley Olsen for her super human effort to organize, collect, hang, and take down the show.  I would also like to thank those who volunteered their time to assist in this effort.  Everyone working together is what makes this guild go round.

 Have you ever considered keeping a journal of your quilting?  My husband just laughs that I keep one.  “What in the world is that?”  Well,” I responded, “It's a log of dates, details, and information of whatever I am working on.  I also record who the quilt is to be given to, and any memories I might have had while making it.”  It serves as a reminder of the current work in progress, helps me retrieve any facts when I need them, and is just a fun memory for me to look through.  Something that makes it even more unique is the fabric swatches that I insert on the pages.  For example, one page has six little swatches of greens (all different) that are in one of my quilts.  As I look at them, they remind me of my six children, all so different in size, shape, and personality.  Each one is unique and essential to the whole.  Together this mix of green fabrics makes for one fabulous quilt.  Indeed, this journal has become a very valuable record to me.

 In the end, I have concluded that my life is really just threads and scraps of fabric -- little insignificant moments but woven all together make up the fabric of my life.

 From My Sewing Room to Yours,

Helen