Nimble Thimbles

Calling for all end-of-the-year quilts!

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:00:00 +0000

We are planning on delivering about 40 more quit ls next weekend, some to each of our three recipient groups: Chandler Fire Department, Project Linus, and Child Protective Services. This will put our total given for the 2009 year at 170.

We also have a few Carry Bags ready for Child Protective Services, where they are highly favored and much in demand. Melissa says that the ones we make are absolutely the best because they hold more and are well made.

If you can have any more quilts or bags ready by next Saturday, noon, please contact either Delores or Jean so we can add them to the stack for Christmas. Thank you for joining in and making this year a great one for "Charity Quilt Show and Tell". We've enjoyed seeing each one of the them.

Thank you, thank you, thank you ... for giving comfort to the children.

AQG Quilt Show Entries

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:01:00 +0000

Just a reminder that if you want to enter any quilts in the 2010 AQG Quilt Show, you need to print out the form from the Patchwork Chatter and send it in. The deadline for entries is January 15, 2010. The theme this year is Sun and Shade.

Arizona Historical Quilt Study Group

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:26:00 +0000

I just saw an article on the Arizona Historical Quilt Study Group that I thought some of you would find interesting. Here it is:

Examiner Article 11/14 on AHQSG

Holiday Party

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:09:00 +0000

The Holiday Party will be on December 8th at 6:30pm. It will be at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 739 W Erie St, in Chandler. Dinner will be provided. The cost is $10.00 and tickets must be purchased by November 17th. Bring a check made out to Nimble Thimbles or cash to purchase your ticket to the November 17th meeting.

Please bring your quilts or wall hangings that feature stars and we will hang them for all to enjoy. We will be collecting paper goods for My Sister's Place, a local women's shelter, and for the children, coloring books and crayons.

November Meetings & Sew-in

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:10:00 +0000

IMPORTANT - There will not be a meeting the first Tuesday of November.

November 17 Meeting - Gilbert Historical Museum - Pat Knoechel from Quilt in a Day will be doing the program. She always does a great program. She also usually has books and other products for sale at a discount.

November 24 Meeting - Chandler Center for the Arts - We will be viewing the Quilt Show. Significant Stitching. Parking is available in front of the Center for the Arts and also behind the Center in the parking lot shared with Chandler High School.

November 22 Sewing Day - Come join us at Desert Breeze Police Station Community Room from 9:00am to 4:30pm. You can come for the whole day or just stop in for a few hours. Bring what ever project you want to work on. You can also bring a sack lunch or pop-out to one of the near by restaurants.

Community Service Delivery

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0000

We had 29 quilts of various sizes, and 2 Carry Bags, ready for Child Protective Services by September 18 when Melissa Zeller, and her son T.J., came to pick them up. We also had a large box of used blankets and quilts to give her. Melissa was so happy to receive our donations. Some of these quilts will be taken to kiddos in St. Joseph's Hospital, some will be made available to children in Foster Care, and the remainder will be kept available in Melissa's office on a needs basis. The Carry Bags continue to be really hot items and are so very much appreciated. Melissa says these are the best they've ever had. If you haven't made one yet for her, you will find the pattern on our Charity Table at our meetings.

Thank you, Nimble Thimbles quilter, for your generous contributions towards this good cause. We're always excited to see what you've created for our project. If you haven't already, please fill out our 2010 Community Service Project planning questionnaire at the next meeting.

Jan's New Job

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:33:00 +0000

Ever wonder what it would be like to work at a quilt shop? Follow our newsletter editor, Jan's, new adventure as she starts a full time quilt shop career.

www.quiltersranch.blogspot.com

Folded Star Blocks

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:27:00 +0000

Several members have suggested that completed folded star blocks can be donated to make one charity quilt. These blocks are from the Make and Take that Kathy Silva did at the September 1 meeting. One completed block has already been turned in so we are hoping that some others will make their way to the charity table too. Just bring your completed block to any meeting.

October Meetings and Sew-in

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:29:00 +0000

October 6 - Lots of action at this meeting. Bring your finished ugly fabric challenge and mystery quilts for this year. (Note if you have the top done but not the quilting, go ahead and bring that.) This is also our small quilt auction. Bring a small quilt or two to donate to the auction. Proceeds will go to Nimble Thimbles. This is also a great time to bring friends who don't quilt. These small quilts also make great gifts so get a head start on your holiday shopping.

October 18 - Free Sew-in at the Desert Breeze Police Substation Community Room 9:00am to 4:30pm.

October 20 - Nimble Thimbles Reunion Party Meeting! This meeting will be held at Art on Boston, 11 W Boston St, Suite 1, in Chandler. We are asking current members not to bring show and tell. We are asking former members to bring one small item of show and tell to share.

Public Art: Crazy Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:50:00 +0000

There was an article in Saturday's Chandler Republic about a woven metal tapestry "crazy quilt" at the Downtown Chandler Public Library. Unfortunately, I can't find the article on-line to provide you a link to the article and picture. So, I'll summarize. The "quilt" is the work of artist Marianne Flenniken who began sewing and embroidery when she was young. She has also done weaving and has experimented with metal window screen fabric. The sculpture was part of a rotation of sculpture in Downtown Chandler but is now part of the permanent collection at the Downtown Chandler Library on the main floor. It is a woven metal tapestry that resembles a crazy quilt.

Downtown Chandler Library - 22 S Delaware St

September 15 Meeting & Sew-in

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:25:00 +0000

September 15 - Our program will be presented by the Bernina Connection. These ladies are always a lot of fun and usually have information regarding new products for quilters to share.

September 20 - Free sew-in at the Desert Breeze Police Substation Community Room - 9:00am to 4:30pm. Bring your own project to work on and a sack lunch if you want. You can come for the whole time or just stop by for a little while.

Next Meeting and Sew-in

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:29:00 +0000

The program for our August 18th meeting will be presented by Carol Rich on hand applique. She does beautiful work so this should be a good program!

The next free sew-in is on August 23 from 9:00am to 5:00pm at the Desert Breeze Police Substation Community Room. Bring any project you want to work on. Stay for a short time or come for the whole day. You can bring a sack lunch or go out for lunch.

Note: For those of you who are curious, the picture is just a picture of hand applique, it is not Carol's work. :)

Program Changes - July 21 and August 4

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 19:57:00 +0000

"There has been a program change for the next two meetings.

July 21, our Community Outreach Committee will be presenting a program. Delores and Jean have put together a slide show and have invited guest speakers from the recipient organizations to speak to us. Come and enjoy a review of your accomplishments for the year!

August 4 - is the new date for the Ice Cream Social. For those of you who didn't get to participate in July 7th's meeting and still want to participate in the PUP Challenge, just bring 3 unfinished projects to the meeting on August 4th and we'll pick one for you to finish by July 2010 (no, you don't get an extra month!). Laura Alexander will demo her chain piecing method for connecting-the-blocks. Bring some hand work and join us for an evening of fun.

Coming Up in July!

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:33:00 +0000

July 21 Meeting - We had so much fun at the July 7th meeting seeing many member's Poor Unfinished Projects and helping them choose one to finish bythe same time next year. A few people forgot to bring their projects. So, if you didn't get to participate at the July 7th meeting and you want to participate in the challenge, bring three unfinished projects to the July21st meeting and we'll chose one for you to finish by July 2010. This meeting will also be an ice cream social. That means bring some hand work and spend some time visiting with other members.

Just In from Jean - Delores and I (mostly Delores) have been working on our presentation for the July 21st meeting. Melissa from CPS will be coming to speak. Delores is also preparing a slide show of the quilts that have been donated. It should be interesting and informative.

July 19 Sew-in - Enjoy sewing in a cool space with lots of friends to chat with? Join us for part or all of the day at Desert Breeze Police Substation from 9:00am to 5:00pm. You can stop by at any time. Bring a project or projects to work on. You can bring a sack lunch or run out to a nearby place for lunch. This is a great time to get help from others on a technique or pattern that is giving you trouble. We will also have a planning meeting at 2:00 during the sew-in for the upcoming reunion meeting in October. (251 N Desert Breeze, Chandler, AZ - just north of ChandlerBlvd. between McClintock and Rural, park in the lot just north of thebuilding)

Small Quilt Auction - The small quilt auction is scheduled for October 6. Laura Harden will be our auctioneer. Now is the time to finish a small project to donate to the auction. If you have friends that like quilts,this is a great meeting to invite them to so they can bid on the quilts along with the rest of us. These quilts make great presents for the upcoming holiday season.

Community Service Quilts Update

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:11:00 +0000

Monday, June 29, was a very big "Quilts & Carry Bags Pick Up" day for
us. "Thank You" to Jean Nielsen for helping with preparing quilts and
bags for pick up.

Melissa Zeller, of Child Protection Services, took 26 of our quilts and
35 carry bags (Nimble Thimbles 6, and Suzie Evenstad's quilters 29).
Melissa was very excited to get the bags as her need for them has
increased and supplies have dwindled. She also took more smaller baby
quilts/blankets for use with her "little kidos," to supplement the 100
quilts recently given her by Project Linus. Melissa assures us that
EVERY item we give her is greatly appreciated and put to good use with
her kids.

Two strong men of the Chandler Fire Department gladly took two large
bags of quilts (30), most of which were made by our very own George.
When the guys saw the quilts their response was, again, "Oh, more of
those quilts!" They are already looking ahead to supplies for, can you
believe it, the coming winter.

Another stack of quilts/blankets (18) will be delivered to Project
Linus, SE Valley Chapter, at their next
Sewing Bee on Saturday, July 18 at the Gilbert Community Center. Our
quilts we've selected for Project Linus will be designated for children
in the Maricopa Medical center.
See their web page for info and a check list on items they request, and
how to prepare them:
http://www.orgsites.com/az/project-linus-se-phoenix/

Thank you all for the beautiful, and "beautifully useful," quilts and
carry bags you've made for children and young people in need of comfort
and specialness. We encourage you to continue to do a bit of sewing here
and there as your busy lives allow, and while you're at it, to add a bit
of experimentation with techniques, and even to teach someone else how
to sew.

Thank you all, Delores, Community Service Project Chair

July 7 - Meeting - The P.U.P. Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:26:00 +0000

P.U.P. stands for Poor Unfinished Projects

Bring 3 unfinished projects to our next meeting on July 7th.
At the meeting on the 7th we will have PUP show and tell, where you can
show us your PUP candidates, tell us their age and the issues that have
kept you from finishing them. Your friends and fellow quilters will then pick
one of these projects to be your challenge PUP - an unfinished project for
you to have completed by July 6, 2010.
Participation is voluntary of course, but why not?! This is the time to ----------

* rescue those kits from the closet (you know, the one you bought at
shop hop 2002 and haven't petted since 2003)

* attack the technique (oy vey, inset seams and mitered borders)

* find that fabric (the web mall has grown since you ran short)

* complete that gift promised months (years) ago

Even if you choose not to enter the challenge, your participation is
important. Remember, your vote ensures that your friends are challenged by
their worst P.U.P.

Thank Goodness for Little Projects

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:10:00 +0000

After having spent most of this year quilting and finishing up some big projects. It was nice to sit down and do a small table top quilt from charm squares and a fat quarter in one afternoon. At least, the piecing of it. The quilting will be left for another day. If you haven't given yourself the gift of a small quick project in a while, summer is the perfect time. After all, good things come in small packages!

Leave a comment and tell us what you have decided to do. There is so much to choose from: wall hangings, table runners, bags, and more!

Coming Events

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:00:00 +0000

Tonight's meeting is at the Gilbert Historical Museum near the front of the museum not in the normal meeting room. Bring some hand work to do.

At our June 16th meeting Laurie Fagen will be presenting a trunk show. Laurie has been a member of the Mavericks and does some beautiful art quilt pieces. She is a contemporary fiber artist. You can learn more about her at www.FagenDesigns.com.

The next free sew-in is on June 28th at the Desert Breeze Police Substation. Bring something to work on. Stop by any time between 9:00am and 5:00pm or stay all day if you like. You can bring a sack lunch or run out at grab a bite at a nearby restaurant.

Book Collection and Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 23:50:00 +0000

Thanks to those of you who have supported Ellen and Kelsey O'Brien as they earn their Girl Scout Bronze Award. The girls as a team have collected 639 books. These books will benefit Chandler Public Library, St. Peters Mission School on the Gila Indian Reservation, and Arizona Health Access programs for lower income children, and nursing homes in the East Valley.

The second half of their Bronze award work involves a book collection and sale at Santan Elementary in south Chandler. After collecting books from families in the school district for two weeks, a book sale will be held on May 1. The sale is a fund-raiser for three teachers who are participating in the 3-day Walk for a Cure for Breast Cancer research. The book sale is on Friday, May 1, from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at the Santan Junior High Cafeteria. Both Santan Elementary and Junior High are located at 1550 Chandler Heights Road, between Cooper and McQueen. The books will be priced at 50 cents to $1.00 each.

All of the remaining books after the sale are consolidated with your generous donations and given to the Chandler Public Library for further distribution. Thank you again for your support. Kathy O'Brien

Pictures from Spring Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:52:00 +0000

Patty sent me some pictures from camp to post. It looks like they had lots of fun and got a lot done too!

Marlene Wardell won the opportunity quilt & McGuire the dog was our official mascot!

April Meeting & Sew-in

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 18:05:00 +0000

Please remember that beginning in April, we will no longer be meeting at Temple Beth Sholom.

Our new meeting location will be at the Gilbert Historical Museum, 10 S Gilbert Rd in downtown Gilbert. Meetings will still begin at 7pm. Our meeting room is not in the main museum building, but in the building just south of it. Parking for the museum is available just to the west of the museum, in the Patterson Elementary School. There is a gate that separates the school from the museum grounds, and members can walk through the gate from the school parking lot to the building at the rear of the main museum building. Members will be standing by to help guide the way for the first few meetings.

Our next free sewing day is scheduled for April 26 at the Desert Breeze Police Substation Community Room from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Bring whatever project you would like to work on and stop by for the whole day or just a few hours. You can bring your lunch or run out to a nearby place.

Nimble Thimbles Spring Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 22:21:00 +0000

Nimble Thimbles Spring Camp - April 16 - 20, 2009 Yes! We have Thursday this spring.

$90 covers Thursday to Sunday, if you can't make it until Friday, then it's only $78.

Please join us at Camp this year. We can arrive at Emmanuel Pines starting at 2:00p on Thursday the 16th and have the space until Sunday at 2:00p.
We have a great time, sewing, talking, quilting, walking, quilting, snacking, quilting, napping, and oh yeah... quilting!

Your camp fee includes dinner on Friday, all 3 meals on Saturday and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. We have a potluck on Thursday evening or you can wander into Prescott and find food on your own.

Camp is a lot of fun and a great place to work on that project you've been trying to get done. Nothing is scheduled except for the great meals that Emmanuel Pines provides for us.

Please make sure we have your money by the 1st meeting in April. You can give me or Patti your payment. Please remember - you MUST be a member of AQG in order to go to camp. We use AQG's insurance.

Let me know if there are any questions. My contact information is in the Nimble Thimbles newsletter. You can also email NimbleThimbles@gmail.com with questions and your email will be forwarded to me.

Lee Anna
Camp Queen

Charity Work Party

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 23:09:00 +0000

On Friday, March 27, you are all cordially invited to a cutting party and potluck.

What: Charity kit cutting party
When: 9:30am - 2:00pm
Where: Kathy O'Brien's house, 1613 E. Crescent Way, Chandler
Telephone: 480-855-1318

Please bring the following:

Cutting mat
Rotary cutter
Omnigrid measuring tools
and a side dish/salad or dessert to share.

I look forward to a fun gathering!

Kathy O'Brien

Ugly Fabric - Quilt Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:19:00 +0000

It was so much fun last year that we are doing it again! If you have a piece of fabric that you consider to be ugly that is at least 1/4 of a yard in size, bring it to the March 17th meeting. Martha will put each piece of fabric in a plain paper bag and mix them all up. You will pick a bag and go home with someone else's "ugly" fabric. Just make a small quilt, wall hanging, or table runner, with some of the fabric visible on the front side. You can add whatever other fabric you choose. Bring it to show at the Small Quilt Auction this fall and see what other's did with their fabric. You can chose to donate your quilt to the auction or keep it for yourself.

Borrow Quilting Books from AQG

noreply@blogger.com (Nimble Thimbles) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 15:13:00 +0000

The Arizona Quilters Guild has a library of quilting books for members to use. They will send you the book at no charge. You just have to pay the cost of shipping it back to them. So check out all the great books available to you:

AQG Library