Welcome to the home of the Thunder Bay Quilters Guild. Find us on Facebook
Monthly Meetings
Join us at the Calvary Lutheran Church (in 2020/2021 we are not sure where our meetings will be but from September until January they will be held over Zoom) at 2820 Donald Street East located at the intersection of Donald Street and Edward Street. We will meet on the third Monday of each month, September through June – our meetings begin at 7:00 pm with doors opening at 6:00 p.m. (5:00 on Pot Luck meetings). All are welcome.
President’s message: We are anticipating that in-person meetings will not be an option until well into the fall. Therefore, in order to make our plans, we are looking at January for the possible first meeting at the Church. We will be constantly reviewing this timeline and will let you know if there is a possibility to change it. While we will try everything we can to provide in-person events, realistically our Guild will be going virtual.
This is going to give us many exciting options. Adrienne and Mary Catharine have been working hard to plan some interesting programs, Laura is working with members to set up some workshops and Ginny is continuing to make the electronic payments and refunds a seamless process. Our Quill will continue to be emailed to members and will provide you with updates, patterns, etc. We will be relying on our Facebook and Instagram accounts as well as expanding our website. To assist with this expansion, stay tuned for information about the opportunity to become the Communication Coordinator for the Guild.
I want to assure all of our members that we will do everything we can to assist you in getting ‘on-line’. And for those who think their COVID hairdo too much for videos, we can show you how to turn off your cameras while still staying connected. For those who aren’t on-line, we are hoping to have conversations with you to find out how you can stay connected. For some of you the prospect is overwhelming but we are confident that we can assist you in this adventure.
I encourage all of our members to look for Joanne’s email with a link to the survey about what 2020/2021 will look like. Complete this to help guild our plans
Cathy
Our next meeting will be: September 2020.
In the meantime you can –
- Here’s a nice table topper to make with one of those charm packs you have Precut Charm Squares Table Topper or Wall hanging
- Over the summer why not try out a new placemat pattern or two. There is a new Placemat pattern index to help you choose.
- Peggy has given you lots of great patterns to try for different teddy bear quilts – let’s beat our record from last year:
Click here for information about our past meetings and a schedule for our 2019 – 2020 meetings as well as details of our meetings from years past.
Click here for the Guild’s Constitution and Procedural Manual.
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Registration is now open for Andrea Tsang Jackson – 3rd Story Workshops – October 24 & 25, 2020
We are happy to announce that Andrea Tsang Jackson of 3rd Story Workshop will be in Thunder Bay on October 24 and 25, 2020 to teach two fantastic workshops and present a trunk show on Saturday evening.
Gemology Workshop – Saturday, October 24, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at Oliver Road Community Centre. Workshop Fees – $80 per participant for TBQG member, $100 for non-TBQG members. Gemology Book Required = $38 (available to purchase at the class) Templates required if you already own the book for $2 fee (pay at the class).
Quilted Maps Workshop – Sunday, October 25, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at Oliver Road Community Centre. Workshop Fees – $90 per participant for TBQG member, $110 for non-TBQG members. Plus Map Pattern Fee = $10 (pay at registration)
Trunk Show – Saturday, October 24, 7:00 pm (location TBD).
To register contact cridley@tbaytel.net. For more information about the classes click here.
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Superior Quilt Show – currently being re-scheduled
plans are well underway and it is never too early to start thinking of what you will enter,
or start your challenge quilt. Click here for more details.
Keep checking this site for more details.
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Placemats – *New Patterns* added
Two hundred and twenty one placemats were collected for Meals on Wheels at the first six meetings of 2019/2020. I know there are lots more that we will be seeing when we are finally able to meet again as a group!
There are lots of new patterns for placemats to try. Download the handy Placemat pattern index and try one or two or all of them. Patterns can been found here. If you need some labels, please contact Doris (dorisd@tbaytel.net ) to make arrangements to get a supply.
Last year our members contributed more than 400 placemats that were gratefully received by Meals on Wheels for distribution to their clients. There was so much beauty, ingenuity and quality workmanship displayed! You are also encouraged to make placemats using your own materials and patterns. If you wish to do so, we recommend that the finished size is approximately 12” x 18”. We also have labels for you to attach to the back side of the placemats that you make for donation. Fold the label in half, wrong sides together, and tuck the cut edges under the binding before you complete it. Contact Judy or Doris for labels.
Click here for information and links to the patterns or to download the pdf’s. And here are some new patterns to try:
- NINE PATCH STAR placemat
- WIDE STAR placemat
- CHARM WAVE placemat
- CHARMED GEESE placemat
- DOUBLE CROSSED placemat
- FLY HIGH AND LOW placemat
Some Oldies but Goodies – FLY AWAY HOME single, ORPHAN SURROUNDED single, STAR AND STRIPS single, SOURDOUGH 24 single,Disappearing Nine Patch and Blushing Peonies Placemats– from Cindy
Doris & Judy
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Libs Elliott – Guest Quilter coming to Thunder Bay January 16 & 17, 2021 for 2 Workshops and a Trunk Show.
**Both workshops are full but email to put your name on the waiting list. Still lots of room at the Trunk Show-you can get your ticket by contacting cridley@tbaytel.net.
Click here for more information.
Visit Libs Elliott’s website at www.libselliott.com
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Quilt Bee – TBD – hopefully soon
Do you have a kit from past Quilt Bees or other charity quilt kits to finish? Use some time this summer to work on them. I encourage you to finish them off. I will be working on a few over the summer. I have some panels that will make great wheelchair quilts and I plan to practice free motion quilting on them. It’s the best way to try new motifs.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2020 Bee. You helped us to create a very large number of completed quilts and even more went home with people to finish. We produced enough to go through more than one roll of batting! If you have finished a charity quilt and hand it in at a meeting please remember to let Adrienne, Leona or Wendy know so your name can be marked off the list. Remember to attach the guild label before handing it in. Thanks.
Any questions? Email Adrienne at alopes@tbaytel.net.
Adrienne
For more information on the Quilt Bees and our Community Projects – click here.
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Library
The Library is open from 6 – 7 pm and during the break. Members are allowed to sign out 3 books at a time. Did you know that Quilting magazines are available for free and discontinued library books are on sale for $2.50.
Try out one of the new rulers:
- Non-slip Pineapple Trim Tool Mini (4″, 5″,6″) or the Regular (6″, 8″, 10″) size
Quick Curve Ruler (Regular Size and Mini) with Runner Pattern
Tucker Trimmer
Wing Clipper
Add-A-Quarter Inch Plus Ruler (12″ long and a 6″ mini)
Click here for more information on what’s new to borrow at the Library.
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Comfort and Figit Quilts
In February 27 lap-sized and 7 bed-sized comfort quilts were collected along with 2 neo natal blankets. Figit quilts are small textured touchy/feely blankets or squares that are washable and safe for children and seniors. They are wonderful items to amuse and occupy time. We have some pattern suggestions if anyone is interested or there are lots of options if you search on the internet. We have some supplies of lace, textured fabrics and other notions so let us know if you want some starter materials.
The Committee is always reviewing and updating the list of locations that receives Comfort Quilts. If you know of any location that may benefit from receiving a quilt or quilts, please provide contact and background information. The aim has been to support facilities where quilts will be used multiple times and benefit the users. We don’t provide quilts to sell or give specifically to any individuals, however, Guild members often contribute their time for these other projects.
Jackie Black is piecing together larger quilts using the quilted 12 1/2 inch blocks. Please keep bringing them in. Blocks can be any pattern but we are requesting that colours be kept neutral so they can be used by male and female residents. Remember to sandwich larger (about 14 inch backing and batting) and leave them untrimmed. It is a wonderful way to try out a pattern you find in a magazine or on-line. Come find Jackie or me if you have questions.
Thanks goes out to the many quilters who contributed quilts, squares, time and so much support so far this year. We wish you Happy Holidays and a Wonder-filled New Year!
Just a reminder – Labels should be sewn on the back of the quilts flat so that they do not get caught on anything including fingers and toes. The label that is sewn on flat is the correct way to sew them on. Click here for more information about our Comfort Quilts and other community projects.Have you thought about making a Figit Quilt? Florence and I could provide you some tactile fabrics and notions to give it a try. Here is a great example of a fidget quilt. This is from ‘Man Quilting’ with Rob Apell. He has some great ideas on this fidget quilt. If you Google ‘fidget pillows’ you’ll see more examples made as pillows instead.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=GhojSOjTAn4Florence and Pat
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Christmas Cheer Teddy Bear Quilts – 380!!!
I want to give a big thank you to my committee who tied up all the stuffed animals at the last guild meeting and also to those that were able to come to the Christmas Cheer Kick-off on Friday November 29 at the CLE Cardinal Room. It was a big job to tie up all 380 of the stuffed animals and bag them ready to be given out in a few weeks.
I also want to thank all the ladies of the Guild who contributed those 380 stuffed animals with their quilts and pillowcases. You really out did yourselves this year. I was very proud to be a member of the Thunder Bay Quilters Guild and stand before the TV camera to say that there were 380 stuffed animals donated by our Guild. WOW, how will we ever beat that total next year?
We hope to have some new stuffed animals to be given out to members at the next meeting.
Click here for more information on this wonderful project and some more great patterns to try like:
Peggy
For more details about this and other Community Service Projects click here.
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FAQs and Tips
Aunt Marti’s 52 Quilts – Susie’s Magic Binding Tutorial – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8N6nv90H2c
Binding a quilt without binding strips – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw_OBqG_nAI
Do you have any tips to share? Click here for more…
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Superior Quilt Show – date to be determined but the planning begins!
Take a look at what we’ve done in our past shows –
Superior Quilt Show 2019
Viewers’ Choice Best in Show & Members’ Choice – Paradise in Bloom by Shirley Assaunt
2nd in Viewers’ Choice – Full Bloom by Suzanne Mills
3rd in Viewers’ Choice – Friendship by Jeanette Dann
Winner of the Challenge – Joyce Gilmore
Best Booth – Road 17N
For more information about the Superior Quilt Show – click here
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Superior Quilt Show 2017
Dorothy Mills – 1st Place Viewers Choice Flights of Fancy
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