Out of the Comfort Zone: New Directions in Quilting
A juried exhibition of contemporary art quilts by Mendocino County Artists, March 3 – July 29, 2012

The Grace Hudson Museum takes prides each year to present a contemporary art show that displays the quality of our regional artists in a particular media. With our current art quilt competition, Out of the Comfort Zone: New Directions in Quilting, we are exploring modern quilted wall art where traditional and experimental textile techniques are re-invented within unique artistic visions. From abstract to narrative, these artists inspire us with their imagery, design, color, materials and talent. The art quilt movement has added a new layer of visual poetry to quilting tradition.
http://www.gracehudsonmuseum.org/events.html

This was forwarded by our member, Judy Mathieson, as members may be interested in making these darling bears.
Click on the link at the bottom of the email to go to the website that also has a photo of the bears. A very worthy cause. Thanks to Judy for passing it along.

Judy,
I am writing you to see if you know of any sewing/quilting groups that would be interested in an ongoing special project. As you may remember, I work for the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health which is the fundraising arm for the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and pediatric programs at the Stanford School of Medicine.
One department at the hospital that I am working with is the Bereavement and Family Guidance Program (BFGP). They help families who are facing the death of a child or support them once their precious child dies. The BFGP in the process of beginning a sibling program to help brothers and sisters of these children. One aspect of this program is for the child and their sibling (s) to receive a memory bear. The bear is made from the dying child’s favorite blanket/quilt or clothing – I’ve attached a picture of some bears made for a family.
As you can see, this is a very special project. We are looking for a group of seamstresses/artists who would volunteer their time to sew and create these bears. Since you interact with many people and groups who have the special skills to do this, I thought maybe you could help me. I would appreciate your guidance, maybe you know of a group that would be interested in this project or does similar projects and would like that might be interested, or know of an e-bulletin board, blog where this request could be posted.
Judy, thanks for your insights and help with this. I appreciate anything you can do.
Warm regards, Debbie
Debbie Burkholder
Assistant Director, Children’s Fund
Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health
400 Hamilton Avenue, Suite 340, Palo Alto, CA 94301 P: 650.736.2437 E: debbie.burkholder@lpfch.org
http://www.supportLPCH.org

At our meeting this past Thursday our Community Quilts Chairperson, Pam Beebe, asked if anyone would be willing to take a quilt or two to be TIED instead of quilted. Sometimes the fabric, batting, or backing in a quilt is extra heavy, dense, or fluffy making machine quilting difficult.

While flipping through the May/June 2011 issue of the Fons & Porter Love of Quilting magazine yesterday I came across a great three-page article entitled “Tying a Quilt by Machine.” What super timing!

The instructions are mainly for a longarm, but can be converted to a home machine very easily. I have tied quilts with this method using leftover yarns, ribbons, and with embroidery floss.

How To Tye Quilts
– Sharon ‘the Librarian’ Fry

Hi, SRQG Members –

We finally have dates for our retreat!
When: Aug 5-10
Where: Zephyr Point Presbyterian Conference Center, right on the lake (north of Stateline)
Deposit: $200 Due by April 5
Who can attend: any SRQG member and his/her guest/family (guests need not be your roommates…)
Cost: $425 per person, double occupancy (contact Phyllis if you have a 3rd person in the room, or are bringing spouse of juveniles) single supplement: $200

What will make it happen: We need to have deposits for at least 12 rooms , and at least 20 quilters

What you get: a wonderful relaxing week right on Lake Tahoe! The sewing room has an entire window wall facing the lake, with a table per person, and additional ironing and cutting stations. The lodging rooms have 2 queen beds – there are no phones, TVs or radios to distract! All meals are provided, except for one dinner, where each will be free to explore the area.

I will try to have application forms and a flyer available within the next few days. I will send these out by email and post them on our website.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns. Requests may be made for accessible rooms, special diets, etc.
Click here for flyer

Phyllis G.

Linda Morand had given me a heads-up to watch for the March/April 2012 issue of “Machine Quilting Unlimited.” When the magazine arrived yesterday I dropped everything to find the article on page 28 to read about the challenge project Linda coordinated for the Pointless Sisters Art Quilt Group of Sonoma County. All of the Pointless Sisters are members of our Santa Rosa Quilt Guild.

Congratulations to our Pointless Sisters for once again producing a fantastic project!
– Sharon ‘the Librarian’ Fry

The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles has asked us to share this information with our membership.

Insights into Quilt National ’11
Sunday, March 18, 2012, 1-2:30pm
 
Nelda Warkentin, Quilt National ’11 juror and artist, will offer information and observations about the exhibition and the jury process. As a way of introducing herself, Warkentin will also discuss her work, its evolution and where its headed. Following her presentation, a ‘juror’s walk’ will highlight several of the quilts in the exhibition.
 
Warkentin is a fiber artist with gallery representation in Anchorage AK and Boston MA. Her quilts have been exhibited in the U.S. and internationally, including the U.S. Embassies in Belgium, Russia and South Africa. Her work, featured in the book, ‘Masters: Art Quilts, Volume 2’, has been juried 12 times into Quilt National and Visions. Warkentin is Treasurer of Studio Art Quilt Associates.
 
$10 students, $15 members, $25 non members. Purchase online.
 On Exhibit: Quilt National ’11 (Through April 29, 2012)
 
The 17th biennial juried exhibition of Quilt National returns to the San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles for the first time since 2006. This quintessential exhibition of contemporary art quilts features 46 works by first time entrants and established artists. Juried by Eleanor McCain, Pauline Verbeek-Cowart, and Nelda Warkentin in Ohio during the fall of 2010, the exhibit showcases state-of-the art contemporary quilting in all of its range of styles, techniques, and multi-faceted contemporary expressions. Its purpose is “to carry the definition of quilting far beyond its traditional parameters and to promote quilt making as what it always has been — an art form.” As always, the quilts selected for Quilt National have never before been exhibited or published before their premier showing at the Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens, Ohio, May 28 through September 5, 2011. The San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles is the only west coast venue that will feature this portion of Quilt National.

 For more information, click here http://sjquiltmuseum.org/exhibitions.html

Exhibit Sponsors: Contemporary Quilt and Fiber Artists and Northern California Quilt Council
 San Jose  Museum of Quilts & Textiles
            520 South  First Street San Jose,  California 95113
            408.971.0323
Open Tues – Sun 10am – 5pm
and 7-11pm on the first Friday of every month

Thought the guild would like to know this important announcement about TQS. A note from Gayleen Fitzgerald Quilt Artist.

Big news here! In honor of International Quilt Day (March 17, 2012), The Quilt Show ( http://www.thequiltshow.com ), the web TV show hosted by Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims, will “open” all of its shows from the first nine series–that is, from show 100 through show 913–for the entire weekend of March 16 –18. This means that—for three special days—everyone will have the chance to view these 117 shows, featuring some of the quilting world’s leading artists, for FREE.

As you may already know, I appeared as the featured artist on TQS in show 909. If you didn’t have the opportunity to see this show first time around, now you’ll have the chance to see it—and so many other terrific shows—at no cost in this unprecedented three-day offer.

I hope that you’ll share this information with all of your quilting friends. It’s a fantastic opportunity to enjoy three days of learning and fun without leaving your home…all for free.

Enjoy the shows, and thanks for helping to spread the word!

In Colourful Stitches…Gyleen

Regarding the treat in a mug … I know it’s not chocolate (is that forgivable?) but here is a healthy version that I’ve made … good to add raisins or some walnuts … I’m amazed at the versatility of ground flax seed … I used it instead of an egg in some meatballs the other night and they were great! (You can get it at Costco) and you can get Stevia packets and coconut oil at Traders … got this from Dr. Oz.
Okay, I guess you could through some chocolate pieces in it too …
 
Jorge’s Skinny Muffin
Traditional energy bars are often packed with sugar, which can cause a spike and a subsequent crash. These muffins are designed to provide sustainable energy that lasts through lunch, thanks to coconut oil, a healthy fat that’s good for your brain, fiber-rich flaxseed and egg protein.
Ingredients
Makes one serving
 1/4 cup ground flax
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp coconut oil
1 egg
1 packet stevia
 Directions
Mix all ingredients together in a mug and microwave for 50 seconds. Allow to cool to a safe temperature and enjoy!

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe)

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well.  Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
 Pour in the milk and oil and mix well..
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed!
Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT ! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

3-2-1: It’s Cake

You hate to make a huge cake, but you’re craving something sweet. This recipe combines two cake mixes that in minutes produce four dozen single servings of a sweet something resembling a cupcake. All you need to “bake” a single serving is a mug or bowl, a microwave and water.
These cakes have an airier texture and a little less tenderness than a standard cake. You can use any flavor cake mix, but for those with dehydrated ingredients, such as carrot cake, let the batter stand for a couple of minutes to soften before baking.

And remember that one of the cake mixes must be angel food.

3-2-1 CAKE MIX

1 box angel food cake mix
1 box any flavor cake mix

In a gallon-size, self-sealing food-storage bag, mix the dry ingredients from the two cake mixes. Seal bag and store in pantry for up to three months. Makes about 6 cups mix, which will make 48 small cakes.

For each individual cake serving, measure 3 tablespoons of the mix into a small microwave-safe container, Stir in 2 tablespoons water. Microwave on high for one minute.

Each cake is 80 calories.