Meeting Feb 7, 2019

Hello Everyone,
We had a nice group for our meeting today and enjoyed finding out more about what sewing and quilting opportunities are coming to Thimbleweed Quilters for 2019. Please check the Show & Tell tab for some lovely inspiration. 

The next meeting on February 21 will include a visit from Elizabeth D who will be teaching the April Spring Retreat quilt option. Those present will get to vote on the choices she has to offer. After the meeting will be the rescheduled Soup & Dialog. Please contact Faye H about what you would like to contribute. There is a new list so let her know what you have in mind. 

Please read the post by Daryl that follows this one and let us know what would help your Thimbleweed Blog experience.
Thanks and Happy Stitching, Holly P

Blog Stuff & Communication

I am glad to help out Holly with the blog when I am needed, so you are welcome. 

I also like to add things to the Freebies Section (see tab page at top of blog), when I come across things I think other members might have an interest in. I added a couple items this morning under Quilts in the Freebies. One is how to make a 9-patch block using 2 fabric squares. A lot of you know how to do this, but we have newer quilters that might find this useful. This particular link shows you a formula to use to get the size block you need. 

I also added a link to a Quilt Block Library, where you will find a lot of quilt blocks and each block may have more than one size to choose from.

I hope that more of you will read the blog and check back often to see what is new here. Holly puts in a lot of time on this and it is a nice form of communication when some things are too late to add to the emailed newsletter. But sadly the statistics of how many read the blog are extremely low, so I do know that hardly anyone will read this post. Not that many even view the Show & Tell either. 

For those few who do take the time to read the blog and are reading this post right now, what can Holly (and I) do to help bring you here? I mentioned to the group a while back about signing up for email notification and wrote about signing up for email notification here on a previous post too. Whenever there is a new blog post written (as I am writing here), you would receive an email. But sadly only 6 people (including Holly & myself) have signed up for this. If you only come to view the Show & Tell, you would not receive an email for that because pages (the tabs at the top of the blog) are continuously added to and are not a new post by itself, so only new posts would you receive an email about. Would it help if Holly (or I) were to write a short post and list what's newly added? Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post about the new items I added to the Freebies section? Then if you signed up for email notification, you would receive an email about the posting. Or if you just popped onto the blog and saw a post telling you something was added to one of the pages, would that help for you to visit that page? Please let Holly or I know what would help to bring you here to read YOUR blog. Or is having a blog is worth the effort that is being put into it? Do you read the email newsletter? Is that enough? Or maybe just the emails from Holly are sufficient? How many even read their email at all? I notice more and more people are abandoning email to Facebook. But that's a whole other story, so don't get me started, lol!!!!

I am writing this on my own accord. I did not speak to Holly or anyone else about this, but since I am an admin and saw the pitiful page views on each posting, I felt bad for the work Holly has put into this blog over the years and only 3-6 people have taken the time to read it? Perhaps Holly & I are included in those 3-6 people, which makes this even sadder. I have been writing my own personal blog for 11 years this March, so I know the effort and time it takes to do this. However, all the time it takes to write and post for about 3-6 people to read is not really that worthwhile to continue in my opinion. Maybe Holly enjoys writing the blog and posting the photos even if only 5 people are viewing it? That is something she will have to decide for herself if she wants to continue. I am not saying this for her to quit the blog (no Holly!), just pointing out some observations and wondering if it is worth the effort in having a blog at all? Most of the members would rather go on Facebook, so maybe that is where things should be posted instead? So, those other 4 people who are probably reading this post, what do you think?

What are the best ways for members to communicate with the group? Blog? Facebook? Email Newsletter from the city? Email reminder and more from Holly? Or only at meetings in person? 

One reason I bring up the topic of communication is that as a teacher of an upcoming class, I didn't receive many responses back from those signed up for my class and 2 emails came back to me. So how do I let students know what to bring to class when they won't respond to me? I don't know if my email went to their Spam and they never read it at all, or if they deleted it, or if they read it but didn't bother to respond back? I will hand out the paper supply list at the next 2 meetings, but if anyone in my class doesn't show up to those meetings and doesn't contact me, then they won't know what to bring with them. I did the best I can do.

With all these modern ways to communicate with one another, why is communication so difficult? 

January 17, 2019

Hello Everyone,
First I want to say a big THANK YOU! to Daryl P for filling in while I was away. She is a blog expert and having her added touches to our blog are appreciated.

Our meeting today was a 2 for 1 since we were snowed out the first Thursday of the month. There are some new and interesting classes coming up like Daryl's Sewing Selvages class in March and a new technique of paper-piecing in April. Some old favorites will be presented, starting with Tara C leading the Fat Quarter Bag at our next meeting in February.

Look for today's Show & Tell under the new 2019 tab. There are some great ideas and inspiration to see there. Ardith A. presented a mini-challenge - Try your hand at an Attic Window block! More details will appear here on the blog soon. This challenge should be completed for the first meeting in April. Ardith will share the next challenge block then with 2 more to follow during 2019.

May your new year bring lots of quilting fun.
Happy Stitching, Holly

December 6, 2018 Meeting

We had a lot of lovely Show & Tell at today's meeting, so be sure and click on the 2018 Show & Tell tab above to check it out.

Jeanne headed up the Potholder Swap today and I took photos of the potholders, which are posted under Fun Times tab above, so take a peek there too.

Holly is off somewhere having fun (I hope).

We said goodbye to our wonderful leaders Benee & Irene (although they will be our program directors for 2019) and said hello to our new leader for next year, Evonne. Thank you all ladies!

Here's wishing you all a joyous Holiday Season with your loved ones! See you all next year, in (gulp) 2019!

Selvage Class March 7, 2019

Selvage Class

March 7, 2019

Sign-ups for the Selvage class, being taught by Daryl, started at the November 1^st meeting and will continue at the December, January & February meetings. The last day to sign-up is February 21, 2019. Cost of the class, including a kit with everything you need to make both a mug rug and a small basket (except for thread) is $15. You must pay no later than February 21^st if you want to attend the class so that Daryl has time to put the kits together. You will receive your kit the day of the class. There will be no extra kits made, so please sign up and pay if you want to attend. An email will be sent out in late February to those who have signed up for the class with a basic supply list of things needed for the class, such as your sewing machine, ruler, mat, and more so you don’t forget to bring those important items with you to class.

You not only will learn Daryl’s method of sewing selvages, but Daryl will share with you a lot of tips and tricks that you can use for other things you make too, whether you make them with selvages or not. Let’s learn and have a fun day March 7^th!

Hello Everyone,
Our Nov 1st meeting was easy and brief. There were a few Show & Tell projects to enjoy then the three project demonstrations were presented. Many members enjoyed getting some ideas for gift giving. The rest of the day was spent eating potatoes with toppings and extras while visiting with each other. Hope your day was fun.
Happy Stitching, Holly

October 18 Meeting

Our meeting today had a smaller number of attendees than usual; only about 40 people came. Show & Tell was also sparse with 3 people showing their creations. Check out the Show & Tell under the Show & Tell 2018 tab above to see the lovely creations shown today.

At our next meeting in November is Projects & Potato Day. If you wish to attend please contact Benee. Bring potato toppings, etc. too.

Also, I (Daryl) will be taking sign-ups for the Selvage Class I will be teaching the first March meeting. Cost is $15 for the class, which includes a kit with everything you need to make a mug rug and a fabric basket, including the selvages. (To be safe, bring some selvages of your own too). You need to bring white, off white or light gray thread and your basic sewing supplies, machine, etc. I will post a list on the blog in January and give you a hand out when you sign up and pay for the class. Deadline for signing up is the 2nd meeting in February. 

The first eleven people to sign up for the Selvage Class, I will be including a little something extra. Must pay when you sign up to receive the extra goodie though. How's that for incentive? LOL!