Tuesday

July 21, 2014

Deb Karasik

1:00 p.m. 

& 7:00 p.m.

If I Can Do It, Anyone Can - My Quilting Journey

I cannot believe this weird summer, one day it's 80 and the next 67.  I hope you are all faring well with all the rainy weather and terrible storms going through our state.  I have been hunkering down in my sewing room and working on making small bags for the Silent Auction at our Quilt Show in October.  I hope they will be a good "buy it now" item.  Also, a good way to use up some material I forgot I had.  That's what happens when your "stash" gets too big!

The Charity Auction is drawing closer.  August 26 will be here before we know it.  I still need one person to work as a runner from 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. and one person to serve as an announcer's assistant during that same time slot.  Please email me at uagena@netins.net if you can fill either of those spots.

This year your Charity Auction donations can be directed to the American Heart Association, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, or the Alzheimer's Association.  All of these organizations are helping with women's health issues.

I hope you all had a good 4th of July and that your summer becomes a little brighter and warmer.  One thing you have to love about Iowa weather, wait 5 minutes and it will change. 

Mildred Agena

President

Mall in the Hall is an exciting part of the Women's Charity Auction evening.  This wonderful giant quilting garage sale is a great place to purchase books, tools, fabric kits, and much, much more.

This year we are making a few changes in the Mall in the Hall procedures:

• The committee will do all the pricing.  This will keep prices more consistent and fairer to all.  Bring your items to Fellowship Hall from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the day of the auction.  Items should be worth less than $50.  The committee will move items to the live auction, if needed.
• Bring items sale ready.  Items that need to be kept together need to be in a clear plastic bag or container.  Please make sure to indicate yardage on fabric.
• Only the Mall in the Hall committee will be allowed in Fellowship Hall until the Mall in the Hall sale starts at 5:00 p.m.  This will insure that all will have a chance to get the bargains. 
• After dropping off your items for Mall in the Hall, go enjoy refreshments at the coffee shop which opens at 3:00 p.m. This will be an opportunity to meet and greet other Guild members.
• A new addition to Mall in the Hall will be the Christmas Boutique.  Please see the following article to get ideas that you can contribute to this new area.
• As always, you will pay for Mall in the Hall items in Fellowship hall.

Let's make this the best Mall in the Hall ever!

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New for the 2014 Quilt Show 

Quilt Appraisals

We are going to have a new addition to this year's show - the availability of appraisals by an AQS certified appraiser.  Our judge for this year's DMAQG show, Carol Butzke, is not only a certified judge but also a certified appraiser (who also teaches quilt appraising for AQS).  This has provided a wonderful opportunity for our guild to be able to offer appraisals.

On Monday, September 29, 2014, Carol will be available to provide up to 14 quilt appraisals of quilts, current and antique, that will NOT be in this year's show.  Carol will then be able to appraise member quilts hanging in our show during the days of the show.  Her written appraisal will be sent to the quilt owner within a month of the show and can be used for insurance purposes or for valuing quilts being entered in other shows. 

We will be providing more information about this opportunity in the next few months.  Basically, if you have one or more quilts you would like appraised, you will need to complete the appropriate paperwork (available at the DMAQG July and August meetings) and provide a check made out to Carol Butzke in the amount of $45/quilt - both of these things sent to Renee McPhee, 2112 NW Gabus Drive, Grimes, IA 50111 no sooner than August 1, 2014 and no later than August 26, 2014, date of the annual DMAQG Charity Auction.   (Note:  paperwork is required only for current quilts; antique quilts are appraised differently.)  Renee will contact each member having a quilt appraised with drop off and other information. 

If you have any questions about this appraisal opportunity, please contact Mary Shotwell at 515-279-2368 or WMShotwell@aol.com  or Renee McPhee at 515-333-1902 or reneem@perspectivecp.com.

Mary Shotwell and Renee McPhee

2014 Judging Co-Chairs

2014 Quilt Show Judging Volunteers

Have you ever wondered how quilt judges view quilts, evaluate construction, and select the award winners?  Each year, we need volunteers to help with judging for our own DMAQG quilt show, which provides this behind-the-scenes look!  This year, we will sort quilts and assist with judging on Friday, September 26 through Sunday, September 28.  Volunteers should be able to assist on all three days. 

Volunteers must be non-smokers, and must not wear fragrances or jewelry on the days assisting.  Volunteers may also only help with judging for two years, so that more of our members have the opportunity to assist with judging.

If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please contact Renee McPhee at 515-333-1902 or reneem@perspectivecp.com.  I will also be available before both July Guild meetings for questions or to sign up. 

Renee McPhee

2014 Judging Co-Chair

__________________________________________________________

2014 Quilt Show Silent Auction

The 2014 quilt show will be here before we know it.  As always we will have a wonderful selection of little quilts and more for the buying pleasure of the quilt show attendees.  I am always amazed at the talent exhibited by our members.  The changes we have made in the past few years have been popular with our members and especially for those bidding on items.  We increased the size of the little quilts to 24" per side or a total of four sides equaling 96".  In addition to little quilts, we added bags, purses, and totes.  

This year we are adding yet another new twist to the auction. We had heard may people say that since they cannot be here at the end of the auction they doubt they will have the high bid; therefore, they do not bid at all.  To rectify that problem, we have decided to try "buy it now for this price."  Therefore we are asking everyone who makes an item to pin a note on it with your name and the top price you think someone might pay for it.  Please don't undersell yourself.  If you would like someone to help you arrive at a price, please consult with another Guild member.  I have been involved with the auction for a number of years and would be willing to give you an estimate, if needed.

Please remember that many of our pieces are mailed out at the end of the show.  So anything you make must be able to be folded and MUST fit one of several post office "if it fit it ships" boxes.  

Like every other year, the Guild depends on the generosity, great skill, and creativity of our members to make outstanding pieces that we have for sale at our show.  These quilted objects are the main source of income for our Guild.  So, once again we are asking for your help in contributing to the success of our quilt show by making a little quilt, bag, tote, or purse for the silent auction.

Please contact Leigh Lussie at leighlussie@hotmail.com or 515-276-0041 with any questions you have about donating items to the silent auction.

Leigh Lussie

Silent Auction Chair  

2014 Quilt Show

New Hanging Sleeve Requirement 

Due to changes regarding our lack of floor coverings during the quilt show and to ensure that your quilts will hang off the floor, we are requiring that all quilts longer than 96" have the sleeve attached to the back 95" from the bottom of the quilt.  All quilts 96" and shorter will have the sleeve remain at the top of the quilt. 

How To:  Layout your quilt on a flat surface.  Measure 95" from the bottom of the quilt and mark across the back of the quilt.  Put the top of the sleeve along this line and attach to the back of the quilt in your preferred method. 

We appreciate your cooperation as we transition to this new rule. 

Please feel free to contact Jill Reber, jillreber@yahoo.com, regarding any questions.

Many Great Books on Sale

Members will again find many great books on sale in the Friendship Room during our July Guild meetings.  Please stop by to take a look.  You may find just what you are looking for at a price you can't refuse!

Library Hours

Book sale and library hours in the Friendship Room are as follows:

Afternoon meeting - 1 hour prior to meeting and during refreshments.

Evening meeting - 1 hour prior to meeting.

Check-out System

It's the honor system.   Members check out books for one month and return them the following month.  Books may be renewed at that time.

Book Requests

For a complete listing of library holdings, members may refer to our library website, then e-mail the librarians with their request.  Books will then be "reserved" and ready for pick-up at the next meeting.

Happy Reading!

Registration

For any workshop, you may mail in your registration form along with your registration fee to Ann Reed, 681 61st Street, Des Moines, IA 50312. We will also be taking reservations at our meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month. If you have any questions you can contact Nan Earll, nanquilter@gmail.com  or 515-321-4949, or Ann Reed, 515-276-6005. 

Location 

Workshops will be held at West Des Moines Christian Church at 4501 Mills Civic Parkway in West Des Moines. To get there from Interstate 35, exit at Mills Civic Parkway, exit 70. Turn east onto Mills Civic Parkway and drive about 0.9 of a mile. The West Des Moines Christian Church will be on the north side of Mills Civic Parkway. We will meet in Building #3 which is the one closest to Prairie Life Fitness.