January 2012 Newsletter

Happy New Years, ladies! It's a fine day to hunker down and write y'all about what has passed and what is yet to come. We're expecting 6" to 8" of snow today! Argh! But this is why God made snow blowers.

NOVEMBER 2011 MEETING: 17 of us met, and had a mighty fine gathering. Show and tell was nice, as always. The subject for the evening was:

FAVORITE TOOLS: Here is a list of favorites, the best to my note taking abilities. There are moments in life that just get passed me. I wanted to share these in case you missed the meeting, or just couldn't remember that one idea....

#1 MILLINER NEEDLE: sharp but straight (doesn't bulge at the eye) so it can do heavy French knots, etc, and you can pull the needle through easily.

RUBY BEHOLDERS, color evaluator 2: This has green in addition to the red plastic so you can get values on red fabrics!

HEAT GUN: To dry paints and inks.

RING SIZER: for marking circles. You know, like the jewelers use!

PRE CUT MATS OR FRAMES: to help choose fabric section for a project, and fussy cutting in a larger sense.

STILETTO: This favorite is actually made of purple plastic! And there was a 2nd stiletto choice mentioned: She sharpened a chop stick in a pencil sharpener! (I'm not sure, but I think she was trying to hurt a dinner guest during Chinese take out night and had a revelation!)

SILPAT: SILICONE BAKING SHEET: Found in the baking section at Bed Bath & Beyond in a variety of sizes and prices (the larger one being around $20 minus your 20% off coupon!). This is used to protect your ironing board. Plus the fabric doesn't shift which means your block won't stretch. Great for bias edges. Only problem is that your iron won't slide across the surface. Several women swore by this one, not at it!

PINEAPPLE SHEETS (paper piecing): Pre printed sheets by Jane Hall & Dixie Haywood. She also paper pieced 1/2 square triangles on a roll.

DENTAL PICK: Another stiletto!

HEMOSTAT: Because it's like a pliers with a lock, it's good to pull threads out of your machine, etc.

SNIPS: These thread snips are hard to describe. Instead of the standard scissors design, it's bendy metal, and from the side looks like an Egyptian eye. You press down on the top and bottom "eye lid", and this causes the small blades at the end to work like a normal scissors. Very odd looking, but they do the trick.

SIDE WINDER: to wind your bobbins with an additional spool of thread rather than un thread your machine every time. Available at JoAnn's, then take your 40% off coupon. (One just has to love coupons!)

FINGER COTS: These are actually used to protect your fingers when cut. It's a quilter's condom without the reservoir tip! Gross! But now you have the opportunity to practice safe quilting! Roll it partially down your pointer finger, and it helps by gripping the needle as you sew. Especially good if you have arthritis in your thumb! For every pound of pressure you put at the top of your thumb, it's 10 pounds at the base of your thumb. When you don't have to grip as hard, less pressure....you get the picture. These can be found in quilt shops, as well as drug stores near the bandage section.

NEEDLE GRIP-IT: Similar to the finger cot idea, these are flexible self-adhesive dots for easy needle handling. They are 7/16th" circles, stick to your finger or fingers, and away you go. There was a tell of actually doing dishes with them on when taking a sewing break! Magical! Even a band-aid won't do that!

BODKIN: Tweezer with teeth that grips and locks to pull things through the casing. Sounds great for small work.

FURRIER WAXED SKEIN: For hand sewing. The card read New Bedford Thread Co, Inc, New Bedford, Mass., Size A, 675 yards, and comes pre cut!

KANZSHA FLOWER MAKER (CLOVER): This gadget makes one petal at a time, comes in a variety of sizes. It's similar to their yoyo maker, only it's petals! Make as many as you need per flower. Way cute.

DOUBLE DIAMOND RULER: $21 at bright-quilting-notions.com. This allows you to cut diamonds that are 1.5" to 3.5".

FIBONACCI ... NUMBER SERIES: This is to help you make your designs to be visually pleasing by getting your dimensions to your best advantage. (Did I get that right?)

C&T PUBLISHING ULTIMATE 3 IN 1 COLOR TOOL: This is an updated 3rd addition and comes with red and green clear sheets. If I remember right, it was a booklet sort of thing with directions, etc.

JEAN WOFROM'S "MAGIC DESIGN RATION TOOL": again, to figure sizes.

Okay, that's all that I have notes on. So, if you missed the evening, you have an idea of what was shown. If you have more questions about any of these, hit reply all on the notice for this newsletter being ready, and ask away!

DEMO SCHEDULE: January 23: Snow dying! Providing we have snow on that evening. There are several sites on line showing how to do this, all a little different. Patty will be doing this for us. If no snow, then she'll be demonstrating how to use a thermofax thingy. (I think it's like a silk screening process.) Patty, you need to let us know what we should bring. Are we all snow dying, or watching you? Is there a charge? Thanks. March 26: Cheryl will have an LED light project for us to work on. More on the cost, and the supply list later. April 23: Linda will be giving a kaleidoscope quilt demo. Always fun. That's it for now: We are looking for more demo's, so if you have anything interesting, please let us know at the January meeting!

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SELL YOUR BOOKS? Never forget your Diva friends! But if you'd prefer not to sell them to us, you can go to Half Price Books store (they give store credit or cash). Frugal Muse gives store credit.

BLOOMINGDALE PARK DISTRICT MUSEUM 2012 EXHIBITION SCHEDULE: www.bloomingdaleparks.org/Facilities/BPD-museum/exhibitions.htm will give you all the info. There will be 8 exhibits ranging from student art to quilting. July 21 - August 25 (artist's reception July 29, 2-4pm) will be the Fiber Artists Coalition: "Conversations in Stitch on Nature". Interestingly enough, I just checked the site and it's got nothin'! Must be too soon, but mark your calendars. It's normally the likes of Laura Wasilowski, Freida Anderson, Emily Parson, Patt Kroth,...names like those, but not necessarily them.

GENTLER TIMES QUILT STORE: This is a new store! 476 S. Route 59, Suite 152, Naperville, IL 60540. 630-305-0102. M - F: 10 - 8, Sat: 10 - 6, Sun: zip! www.gentlertimesstitching.com This place is on Route 50 and Aurora, right near the John M. Smithe store. Look for a giant Bernina sign on the building, not Gentler Times. Nice, clean and bright. She was getting new fabrics in as I shopped! Definitely shows promise.

CraiLin Studios: Quilt Photography: This is owned by our member and her husband, Craig and Linda Vander Kolk. He did an excellent job on our quilt calendar a few years ago, and has his own business now! Yea! 630-527-8500. www.crailinstudios.com. Congratulations!

THE END! Okay, that's it. I've run out of words. I hope to see you all at our next meeting, Monday, January 23 at the Naperville Art League, check a past newsletter for the info at the end. I'm hungry and must go feed me! See you in a few weeks. xxxooo, Laurie

Early 2012 Meeting dates

January 23 - 7pm - Naperville Art League - snow dyeing/other if no snow!
February 27 - 7 pm - Naperville Art League - topic TBA
March 26 - 7 pm - Naperville Art League - LED/ Light up fabric Artist Trading Cards
April 23 - 7pm - Naperville Art League

Fiber Art Divas Show October 22 to 30, 2011

The annual Fiber Art Divas show will be held  at the Naperville Fine Art Center and Gallery, 508 North Center St., Naperville, IL. The show will feature one-of-a-kind art incorporating techniques such as art quilting, wool felting, knitting, mixed fiber, silk painting, and more. Items on display will include wall art, fiber sculpture, jewelry, and art-to wear. Several items will be available for purchase.

The show represents the work of the Fiber Art Divas, a local group of fiber art enthusiasts who meet monthly to share ideas and explore new techniques.  Several of the group’s members are award-winning or published artists.  Theme challenges from the past year will be featured along with other work by the artists.

An artists’ reception, open to the public, will be held Sunday, October 20 from 1 to 4 p.m.  Demonstrations of various fiber art methods will be held.

Show hours are Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 1 to 4 p.m., Monday 7 to 9 p.m., closed Tuesday, Wednesday through Saturday noon to 4 p.m.  Admission is free.

October, 2011

Hello, earthlings! I have come a great distance to get this information to you. I apologize for not getting to you sooner, but life has a way of getting in the way.

QUILT SHOW INFO: Forms and artist statement info will be delivered to your e-mail address. Remember, if you haven't come to the meetings, you will be unable to show your work. Sorry about that. Drop off is on Friday, October 21st, from 12 to 6. If you find that this time slot doesn't work for you, please get your submissions to a friend who can deliver them. The show will be hung by a select few after that time. When dropping off, be prepared to have an entry form filled out. You or your good buddy will need to fill out one card per piece to be hung with each submission. If it's for sale, you'll need that info as well. I believe there is a list out there with people who are willing to spend time at the Naperville Art League to show a face for the show, answer questions, do some handwork,.... The Artist's Reception will be on Sunday, October 23rd from 1 - 4 p.m. The more the merrier! And there will be demo's for both Saturday and Sunday, October 22 and 23. People have been just as interested in basic hand work, as well as the more exotic things like Shiva sticks. Knock your socks off! Go ahead! Knock THEIR socks off!! Take down will be when we close the doors on the show on Sunday, October 30 at 4 p.m. Again, if you can't make it, have a friend help out.

OCTOBER MEETING IS OCTOBER 24th: 7 p.m. as usual. The show will be open on that night as well.

CHALLENGE DUE: I believe the challenge was due last month, but there was a poor "turn out" of quilts. So, if this last month gave you the time, please bring them in. If they're in the show, then we can walk in and visit them! Perhaps we can bring them chocolates! Perhaps we can bring ME chocolates! Yea! I like the sound of that!! Okay, it's agreed. We're all bringing me chocolate! I love this group! Two of my favorite things...quilts and chocolate. Of course, this doesn't diminish the love for my family any. It's just that they're not made of chocolate.

Probably good for them because they would have been eaten long before this. Would that be considered cannibalism? I mean, they would have been CHOCOLATE, not flesh and blood!

WRAP UP: Okay, that's enough for now. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at the show, as well as at the meeting. This will be way fun. Till we meet again....

xo, Laurie

July 2011 Newslsetter

Good day to you, ladies and gentleman!

Haven't seen you in a few months, but do intend to be there this Monday, July 25th at 7 p.m. for the meeting.

This will be a very brief letter due to minimal info to hand out. More next time. (Thank you, Cheryl, for your meeting notes!)

JULY 25TH MEETING: We will be discussing our upcoming show. Be prepared to come with suggested names for our show. (Don't forget that sometimes it's best to repeat the name so people begin to recognize that name with our work) We are also supposed to be thinking about a group logo. (I'm thinking about maybe a sparkly tiara! I mean...think about it...what do divas wear?) Anyway, those who have taken on specific portions of the upcoming show, please arrive with your notes that were set up after the last show. This show will be way more organized than last time, which we found is necessary. Flying by the seat of our pants will have to be a transportation choice no longer!

AUGUST 22ND MEETING: Zentangles (a repetitive pattern drawing art form that has applications for sewing) will be the subject du jour. Check out www.zentangle.com to be better informed than I am! (Okay, I peeked! It's basically pen and ink doodling in a creative way. Some of which would be very easily turned into free form quilting patterns, and way more complicated applique. Interesting, and the kind of thing that has had my interest for years.)

SEPTEMBER 26TH MEETING: Our very own Catherine Redford will be giving a coil pot demo. Check it out at www.catherineredford.com. Hit GALLERY, then hit WEARABLE, USABLE, AND OTHER 3-D ITEMS. Coil pots are number 3 in that portion of her gallery. Way cool!

THE POWER OF PLAY: Our current challenge theme is Power of Play. More on that next time. That's all I know about it. Power of Play. I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that it can be interpreted in any way you'd like. Don't quote me on that though!

OKAY, that's it until next time. We'll meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 25th at the Naperville Art League, 508 N. Center Street, in...waittttttttt for ittttttttttt...NAPERVILLE!!!!!!!! I know that was a surprise!

xxxooo, Laurie

April 2011 Newsletter

Good day to you, ladies! Spring is here and laughing at us. Very rude on spring's part, if you ask me! The last meeting was very nice, with lots of show and tell. We then started working on our name tags, thanks to some nudging by Linda and Camille! Mine is still unfinished, but I have great intentions! Let's see how many are ready to wear at the next meeting. Thanks for spurring us on, ladies!

Illinois State Museum, Lockport, IL has a show up until September 16, 2011: Amish and "English": Quilts from the Illinois State Museum Collection. The quilts date from 1870 through 1950. Looks very interesting. Check it out at www.museum.state.il.us/ismsites/lockport/exhibitions.html

The Art and Science Exhibit for PAQA will be on exhibit somewhere in Joliet this May

(more on that in the next newsletter, maybe), and at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle this September. They always put on a nice show.

Catherine Redford has a piece for the Alzheimer's exhibit, "Heart Break to Hope", which will be traveling for 3 years. Yea!!!

An "Electric Quilts" presentation will take place at the April 25th meeting! Cheryl will be giving a 40 minute Powerpoint talk on e-textiles, and will also bring her electronic quilts. Lucky thing for all of you, I have my electronic robots to sleep under them! I'll be sure to bring them. This will be very interesting for dinosaurs such as myself. Thank you, Cheryl!

May 23rd will have Nancy with a demo on paper fabric ala Kelli Perkins! I just checked it out on-line, and it's way cool, and very collage-like. You can scan through part of her book at www.amazon.com/Stitch-Alchemy-Combining-Fabric-Paper/dp/1596681136 All you need to do is pull it up and click on the arrows to the left or right, rather than scrolling down and doing the same thing. Looking forward to this! Thanks!

June 27th will bring Sharon Malec with a hands on demo/do it yourself thingy on Felting Animals! $2 will get you the supplies you need to participate, in addition to the normal $3 meeting fee. Sharon does beautiful work,...everything from leaves and branches, to buffalo! Very impressive. Thank you, my dear!

Lynne Erbach will be giving a lecture on "How Do Judges Choose Award-winning Quilts?" This will be next Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at the Faithful Circle Quilt Guild meeting. It starts at 7 p.m. and I believe there is a $5 fee for non-members,...BUT they have a sweets table during break! Woo-woo! Maybe this is where the true meaning of "fat quarters" comes from! Lynn is a certified judge, and this lecture should prove to be very informative for those of us who are submitting our work to shows. You can get more information as to the location, as well as upcoming shows and workshops at www.fcquilters.com

You lucked out! I don't have much to report this time! "Blabber fingers Laurie" will be signing off shortly. Remember, our next meeting will be on Monday, April 25th at 7 p.m. at the Naperville Art League, 508 N. Center St, Naperville, IL. $3 will get you in, and life will be good! See you Monday, moo-cha-cha's! xo, Laurie

March 2011 Newsletter

Hello, one and all! Welcome to the wild and wacky world of the Fiber Art Divas!

Our last meeting was on February 28th, and there were 19 of us.

GRAFFITI FABRICS was taught by Cheryl, and was way fun! This involved pre-washed fabrics and Tulip brand fabric paints in spray bottles. Add stencils and you've got some fun fabrics! The stencils she brought were a variety that went from elegant swirls to cockroaches. (Strange girl, that Cheryl!) And the results were great. Everyone had a great time. Thanks to you, Cheryl!

THIS NEXT MEETING IS OUR NAME TAG MEETING! Linda and Camille have been kind enough to offer up a night to FINALLY make our name tags. As much as I'd like to say that I have a great memory, I still have trouble with the names of our members. What a dope! You will need to bring a 5" square of top fabric of your choice. This should be a light enough color so your name shows. If you want to make a name tag that hangs around your neck, bring extra fabric or cording.

Embellishments and a hand sewing kit are also necessary. Linda and Camille will provide backing fabrics, batting, pens, extra embellishments, fusible web, fabric glue, and an iron and ironing board. Your finished name tags will be approximately 3" x 3". So, come on out to the March meeting and make your name tag so that we'll finally know who you are!

DEMOS COMING UP are listed in the February newsletter, but are "E-Quilts" in April,

Paper fabric in May, and felted animals (or something) in June (with a $2 supply fee). Can't wait!

Put your thinking caps on and come to the meeting with any ideas of demos or "classes" you'd like

to give to the group. Thanks in advance.

HARVEST HOUSE QUILTING has a great offer for you. They will give you a 90 minute lesson on their long arm quilting machine for $25. You will need to purchase zippers ($25) to attach to your piece, which will make for easy installation of your quilts onto the machine. It will also allow you to zip on and zip off if you don't finish quilting your piece in one session. At $9.50/hour, you may now schedule to use their long arm to finish up your quilts. How cool is that!

Harvest House Quilting, 24231 Apple Tree Lane, Plainfield, IL 60585,

815-609-5831 www.harvesthousequilting.com/about-us.htm

THE CLEARING FOLK SCHOOL is in Door County, Wisconsin. It has classes starting in May

for their summer programs, and are said to be excellent and in a wonderful, relaxing environment.

http://theclearing.org/2010/index.shtml will get you to their website, and lists everything from

bird watching to quilting, wood turning to photography, poetry, watercolor...and the list goes on.

Check it out!

GRACE ERREA from California will be speaking at the Faithful Circle Quilt Guild on June 22

at 7 pm (for more info go to www.fcquilters.com). "The Value of Quilting" is the topic. She'll be

teaching 2 classes for Faithful Circle Quilting Guild on June 23 and 24 of this year. The first is on

values, and the 2nd concerns a pattern from her website (www.amazingquiltsbygrace.com). I just

checked it out, and amazing is definitely the operative word here! If you hit "about", along the left

edge is "categories", with class descriptions. Anyway, it's $5 for the lecture, and $45 for non

members per class. You may take either class, or both classes, no problemo.

PHOTOS FROM OUR LAST 2 QUILT SHOWS are available to us. Please bring a zipdrive,

jump drive, memory stick or whatever you call it to the meeting. A 2 GB will have plenty of room.

Bring it in a bag marked with your name on it, hand it to Yvette. She will transfer the photos

and bring it back to us. The only cost to you is that of the memory stick and a hug. Thanks, Yvette!

MARCH CHALLENGE, UNDERFOOT is due at this meeting. No restrictions of any kind other

than the theme. This can be interpreted in any way you'd like. Can't wait to see what y'all have

come up with!

THE ORIGINAL SEWING & QUILTING EXPO IS MARCH 31 - APRIL 2 at the Renaissance

Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Dr, Schaumburg, IL. Admission is $10.

Hours Th & F 10 t0 6, Sat 10 - 5. Go to www.sewingexpo.com

OUR NEXT MEETING will be on Monday, March 28th at 7 p.m. at the Naperville Art League, 508 N Center Street, Naperville, IL 60563 (a block or so from the intersection of Washington & 5th).

Be sure to bring your name tag making kit, as well as some show and tell! April 25 & May 23 are

the next two meetings after that. See you soon. xxxooo, Laurie