October

Monday the 3^rd  -  Lecture:  Maureen McClintock – The PeaceQuilts Cooperative in Haiti

Tuesday the 4^th  -  Workshop: Pat Ferguson  -  Zentangle

(this is a two-hour class - $20 members/$30 non-members)

Maureen McClintock, a quilter and psychotherapist, will be here to tell us about The PeaceQuilts Cooperative, an organization in Haiti that she and Jeanne Staples, organized and run. PeaceQuilts is an economic development project that creates independent quilting cooperatives where quilters earn a living wage plus a commission when a quilt is sold.  The economic effect is significant in a country where there is such poverty that one person with a job might be the sole provider for three generations of his or her family.  The organization relies on donated materials.  We Piecemakers are an uncontrollably generous bunch.  Please consider bringing donated supplies to the October meeting that Maureen can take to Haiti.  The usual list – 100% cotton scraps or yardage, especially bold-colored small-scale geometric prints, solids, batiks, and plain muslin.  Cotton batting, embroidery floss, buttons, scissors, needles, thread, rotary cutters and replacement blades.

Pat Ferguson was here with us in March as a speaker.  Based on the very enthusiastic response we received from so many of you, she’ll be back to teach Zentangles!  Pat is an award-winning quilter and last year became a certified Zentangle teacher.  Zentangle is an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns and provides a fun and lighthearted way to relax, shift your focus and perspective, and inspire your creativity. As your eye follows your pen strokes your attention shifts to a state that allows fresh thoughts, new perspectives, and creative insights to flow unhindered. A Zentangle has no up or down and is not a picture of something, so you have no worries about whether you can draw a hand, or a duck. You always succeed in creating a Zentangle. This is a two-hour class.  The fee is $20.00 plus a $6.00 kit fee (paid directly to Pat).   Just bring yourself and a sense of adventure!

Tuesday through Thursday October 18-20 - Quilt in Retreat - Heritage Hotel in Southbury - for registered participants only

November

Monday the 14^th  -  Lecture: Jerri McKee - Sweatshirt Jackets and More

Tuesday the 15^th  -  Workshop: Beads, Buttons and Bling sweatshirt jacket

Jerri McKee is a pattern designer and teacher known for her boutique quality jacket patterns made from sweatshirts – turning this ordinary item into wearable art.  Jerri has 25 years of sewing experience and loves to share her shortcuts and secrets with her students. She can be seen on America Quilts Creatively, Kaye’s Quilting Friends, and America Sews. Her pattern company, Moonlight Design Quilts and Wearables offers beautiful jacket, purse, accessory and quilt patterns. Jerri will lecture on Monday and we’ve chosen Beads, Buttons and Bling for her class.

Click Here for the November Workshop supply list - Paid students only please

December 12th - Holiday Pot Holder Exchange

January

Monday the 9^th  -  Lecture:  Nancy Monson – Craft to Heal

Tuesday the 10^th  -  Workshop: Pat Ferguson – Zen Quilting

Piecemakers member Nancy Monson will speak on the healing powers of our creative pursuits.  Nancy is a nationally published freelance writer who specializes in the topics of crafts, health, nutrition, fitness, and psychology. Her book Craft to Heal describes how creative pursuits  are good for our mental, physical, and spiritual health and can be transformed into healing arts, which in  turn, can transform you. For the past 20 years, Nancy has collaborated with healthcare providers and mental health experts to create continuing education materials for doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists and patients in a variety of medical specialties. Nancy has been a crafter since she was a child and an avid quilter for many years.

Tuesday, Pat Ferguson will teach Zen Quilting, a free-motion quilting technique.  It’s not necessary to take the Zentangle class in October to prepare yourself for this class – but it would be great fun to practice your Zentangles then move on to creating them in your quilting.  Participants should have some knowledge of machine quilting for this class.  There will be a $40.00 kit fee (payable directly to Pat).  The kit includes pre-cut fabric and batting, stabilizer, pens, markers, other goodies for you to practice and design a 9” Zen Quilting art piece, plus Pat’s new Zen Quilting Workbook.

 Click Here for the January Workshop supply list - Paid students only please

February 13/14: TBA

March

Monday the 12: Maureen Wolter - "Machine Heirloom Techniques for Quilting"

The guest speaker at our Monday, March 12th meeting will be Maureen Wolter, owner of *Timeless Treasurers by Maureen* in Branford, Connecticut. During her presentation, Maureen will show quilts and other heirloom pieces.  Maureen is multi-licensed by Martha Pullen and teaches classes in these and other interests: heirloom wall hanging/baby quilts; Amy Butler and other designer bags/purses; home decorating items; christening gowns; hand smocking; Brazilian Embroidery (hand); Shadow Work embroidery (hand); machine embroidery; and basic sewing.  In addition, Maureen brings in teachers from all over the country who are masters in their field to teach at sewing retreat weekends in Branford.
 

Tuesday the 13th & 20th: Sally Fried - "Tuck Yourself In"

Sally Fried will teach our March workshop, *Tuck Yourself In*.  In this fascinating class we'll learn how to create beautiful tucks and pleats that
can be used in our quilts in a wide variety of ways. This is a two-day class: the first class is Tuesday, March 13th and the second class is Tuesday, March 20.  You'll have a little sewing homework in between.  Both classes will take place at Calvary Church (set-up 9:00-9:30, class 9:30-3:30). Cost for the class is $70.00.
 

Click here for March Workshop Supply List - Paid students only please

April:  Meeting - TBA

Saturday and Sunday April 21 & 22, 2012 - CT Piecemakers - Spring Shower Of Quilts Quilt Show- Crowne Plaza Hotel, Southbury, CT

May

Monday the 14^th  -  Lecture: Susan Cleveland - TBA

Monday the 14^th  -  ½-day Workshop - Marvelous Miters ($20/members/$30 non-members + $8 Kit fee)

Tuesday the 15^th  -  full-day Workshop - Piping Hot Binding

Susan Cleveland’s quilts have been shown in international-level competitions since 1997 and have received many, many awards.  She bases her designs on traditional patterns then adds specialty threads, prairie points, piping, and great binding techniques. Her lecture will be Making Simple Quilts With Spark.  On Monday afternoon we’ll have her ½ workshop Marvelous Miters. Learn to miter borders on blocks and quilts with this simple technique that makes impressive miters with beautiful intersections.  The full-day workshop on Tuesday will be Piping Hot Binding.  Piped bindings add spark and a professional finish to any style piece. Every detail of binding and perfect piping will be covered in class.  Students will work on practice pieces to achieve making perfect piping, preparing the quilt, applying binding, mitering corners, joining tails, and finishing for a show-quality piece.    Many major award-winners are using this technique to achieve stunning results. Susan has a new book coming out in the fall called Precision &  Panache. In 2010 she was named Minnesota Quilter of the Year.

Click Here For Supply list for May Workshops-Paid Students only please

June 11, 2012- Luncheon - TBD