Sue Nickels of the Holly Girls presents at February guild meeting

PROGRAM - Despite the artic weather conditions we’ve had recently, we had a fantastic turnout last night with a warm welcome for award winning quilter and author SUE NICKELS of the HOLLY GIRLS duo as our program speaker.  Sue shared her quilting journey and inspiration, including humble beginnings of her 89 year old mother sewing elaborate dresses complete with bows and petticoats for the two young sisters using very simple tools.  After the program members inspected the amazing intricate machine quilting up close, all done on their home machines, their trademark.  Their quilt TWO OF US won Bernina of America Best Home Machine Workmanship Award at Paducah 2014.  The duo was featured in AQ American Quilter’s magazine January 2015 issue.  Thanks to Sue Nickels for generously providing books for as our program prizes this evening. 

STUFF THE BUS - seats are still available for the International Quilt Festival in Chicago Saturday, March 28.  The $55.00 ticket cost includes transportation (via a B&W 56 passenger coach, free wi-fi, on board restroom), show entrance, donuts, bottled water, plus a movie on the return trip. We will make a food stop on the way back (cost not included in ticket) or you may pack something that doesn’t need refrigeration. The bus will depart Sam’s Club/Holland parking lot at 7:00 AM SHARP and return roughly 11:00 PM.

RED & WHITE QUILT CHALLENGE – Honoring our new BIG RED Quilt Guild, we are pleased to announce our upcoming challenge.  We will cover this in depth at our April meeting when most snowbirds have returned but here are some important things to get you started:

·        2 categories - Traditional and Modern/Art

·        Quilt must be completed during the challenge period

·        Quilts must be completely finished, no tops accepted

·        Quilts must have 3 layers – top, batting and backing

·        Any shape (bed size, table runner, oval, etc) equaling 216 inches minimum (total) up to 352 inches maximum (total) of the outside edges

·        Limited to the Red and White colors families only (must read ‘red’ or ‘white’, for more information web search Infinite Variety three centuries of red and white quilts, the Joanna S. Rose collection or Pinterest Infinite variety three centuries of red and white quilts)

·        Entry form submitted at the April 2016 meeting with completion deadline by the June 2016 meeting when they will be judged

·        Prizes award for both categories

·        You may enter multiple quilts in both categories

UPCOMING PROGRAMS – Be sure to mark your calendar for our April 27, 2015 general meeting.  We welcome Tresa Keys, famed 1930’s style quilter and her presentation and trunk show.

SEW-IN – hope to see you 6:00-9:00 PM Monday, March 23, at the Lodge at Beechwood Church on Ottawa Beach Road.

Our meeting was adjourned shortly by 9:15.