crystal Coast QUilters' guild

Hello and Happy Valentines Day! The Valentine’s candy may now ‘officially’ be brought out and indulged in! As well the cards and flowers surrounding this celebration. How many of you make your cards? There is something about getting a Valentine’s Day card, isn’t there. I keep saying I am actually going to do up some SIMPLE cards in fabric. Still saying that. Maybe that’s what I should list on my next UFO list.

A big THANK YOU for attending and staying for the meeting last month for the annual budget presentation. And the very productive discussion that followed. Mare Rudasill did an excellent job of developing the spreadsheet for us to track the Guild’s expenditures and income. As was presented this is a ‘WHIP’, work in progress. Stay tuned as we move towards a more balanced budget.

We also heard from Theresa Thacker on the need to return those books that may not be involved in a current project. You don’t want to end up on Thresa’s naughty List! Remember there are only approximately 327 days left until Christmas to make the nice list.

You don’t want to miss the fun many of us had at the initial all day Drop In the last Tuesday of January. We are scheduled to repeat it on February 24th. Come and spend the day just sewing on what YOU want to.

Remember the February meeting is the LAST Thursday, the 26th.

We are moving towards bolstering up all of our Committees this year to have a minimum of 2 members per Committee, we are hiring with a few IMMEDIATE openings! This is to prevent emergent situations when a member either needs to step away from their current responsibilities due to their health OR their family issues. With at least two members we have continuity and institutional knowledge of how the Guild functions, both key factors for the Guild to function when members have to step aside. You all have special interests as well talents that would lend themselves to these Committees. Committee work is enriching and there is always the fun factor!

In closing I would like to stress the need for all of us to ‘always be humble and kind’ as the Tim McGraw song lyrics say. Recently some of our members have had family issues and illnesses and have asked for the particulars not to be shared just yet. We need to respect their request for privacy and as much as we want to or feel we have a need to know everything. We do not. Perhaps send them an email or a hand-written note to let them know you are thinking of them. As Tim so aptly writes,’ always be humble and kind’.

Enjoy every bite of that chocolate or butter creams or homemade mints! After all, there are no calories for Valentines!

See ya on the quilted side, Lis

Happy New Year to you all! Are you one to make resolutions or one who enjoys things as they materialize? Either way, 2026 promises to be filled with activates and events for everyone! Celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday is a once in a lifetime experience for us all.

As the new year begins and starts to unfold, I like to set challenges for myself, to see if I can accomplish them. That is one of the reasons I love our Guild’s UFO challenge. I seem to work better with a deadline. This year one of my first challenges is finally finishing up my name tag! I know, I know how long can one pin just our Guild’s logo with my name embroidered on it to my blouse? I think I have settled on a ‘style’ for my name tag. Honestly one would think this was a major decision.

I hope many of you will be at our January meeting, it is that time of year when the annual budget is reviewed and voted on. It is true, ‘money makes the world go around.’ We are looking really healthy budget wise; the Board’s goal is to continue along that trend. There are a couple new processes that will be introduced this year to ease reimbursement to members as well clarify spending trends.

Speaking of challenges, how many of us will be entering the Stamp Challenge for this year’s Day of Sharing, on March 28th? I am still sketching out my ideas but I look forward to seeing others’ creative process on display in this format.

Looking ahead to next month, the Modern Guild’s quilt show, QuiltCon, returns to Raleigh, NC. How many of you are already planning a trip there? Just seeing all those quilts was inspiring and a bit tiring, if I am honest. And the vendors! You really need to allow for extra time to fully take in both.

As we move into this new year and all it promises to bring, I invite you all to join myself and the Executive Board to make this year a fulfilling one and to embrace all that YOUR Guild has to offer. We are only as fun and interesting as our members make us. Join us, for the best is about to be!

See ya on the quilted side!

Lis

As we begin the last month of 2025 and the most joyous season of the year, I would like to thank all our members for their support, friendship, suggestions and many hours of work that helped make our guild so successful and productive. It has been a pleasure and honor to have been your president these past 2 years. And as sad as we are to see Karin leave our guild, we know she will be well received in Raleigh by her family. Thank you for stepping up and accepting the treasurer's position the past year and half, job well done.

Now, as the baton is passed to Lisa Rechkemmer and her board, I know we are in good hands and look forward to many fun and exciting months and ideas in 2026-2027.

Christmas party is on the horizon, don't forget December 11th at 11:30. Anyone who wishes to come early, please do, lots to set-up and prepare for our catered luncheon by Smithfield's BBQ at (hopefully) noon. Christmas block and gift exchange (you bring one , you leave with one), 2026 scholarship names drawing and games and prizes to award. Anticipate a fun afternoon. Dress festive.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!!!!!

Until Dec 11th, keep stitchin',

Nancy

The winning tickets for the 2025 raffle quilt, Stargazing at the Cape, was pulled by Pepper Cory, drum roll please, the winner was our very own HOLLY SCHULTZ!!!! Congratulations Holly.

At our October meeting we elected the following members for 2026-2027;

• Lisa Rechkemmer, president; 
• Kristeen Dolan, vice president (2026); and 
• Marion Rudasill, treasurer.

We are confident they are more than capable to perform their required duties. But as any Board knows, it takes all of us to be willing to assist when needed.

As the old Board leaves and the new Board takes the reins we have been discussing the need for back-up personnel on all our committees. And we know unfortunate situations can arise at any time, so with this in mind, we are asking each member (who is not already part of a committee) to consider volunteering to be on a committee, of your choosing, to assist as a back-up. Our current committees are: membership, sunshine & shadow, workshop, web-site, newsletter, library, hero quilts, kids quilts, pink and white cancer blocks, zoom, hospice quilts, raffle quilt scheduling, raffle ticket printing and tracking ----- I'm sure each of these committees would welcome some behind the scene assistance when and if required. So please give this some thought and pick where you think you can be the most helpful.

November and Turkey Day is just around the corner. Hope everyone will have a delicious day with friends and family.

2026 Budget meeting is scheduled for Nov 13 at Shepherd of the Sea Lutheran Church at 10 am. If any committee head has not submitted their requirements then the 2025 budget amount will be used.

Guild Christmas Party Dec 11 at Shepherd of the Sea Lutheran Church at 11 am. Mark you calendar and please plan to attend; food, games, blocks, gifts and prizes in store for all attendees.

See you Nov 20 for our next monthly meeting....until then,

Keep stitchin',

Nancy

October is here, what happened to summer, it's now fall, and we have had a really nice one so far, keeping our fingers crossed for no major storms.

The attendees at our September meeting voted for a catered luncheon by Smithfield's BBQ for our annual Christmas party. I have contacted the church and locked in Thursday December 11 from 11:30 to 2:30, stay turned for additional info in November.

At our October meeting we will vote for our slate of officers for 2026 -2027 for president, vice president and treasurer and we will draw the winning ticket for our lovely 2025 raffle quilt, "Stargazing at the Cape". And our 2026 raffle quilt "Happy Birthday America" was unveiled, and it is stunning. Thank you to Cathy and Jeanne for co-chairing this endeavor and to Laurie for the remarkable quilting. Tickets for purchase will be available at the Greenville Day of Sharing. Buy early and often!!!

2026 is fast approaching and we need to put together the budget; so, I need ALL committee chairs to submit their estimated monetary requirements to me by Oct 31st. Any committee requirements not received we will use the same amount as submitted for 2025. Budget planning meeting is scheduled for November 13 at the church.

See you all on October 16. Until then keep stitchin',

Nancy

Schools are back in session so Fall can't be far behind. Time to think about cooler weather, falling leaves, no hurricanes and quilts to make and or finish before the holidays arrive.

Our August program was a software design program titled Prequilt and was very interesting and informative. A special thank you to Patti for helping get it scheduled and to Vicky for making sure the Zoom connections worked.

Lisa will present the September program on quilting rulers and how we use all the angle decree lines on them. Cathy Crandell will provide the October program, Follow-up to the Round Table ideas and suggestions from earlier this year. And November will be presented by our 2025 scholarship winners.

Also, Mary Frankle will present our slate of officers at the September meeting, we will vote on them at the October meeting and install them in November. So don't miss the next several months, exciting things are happening.

CHRISTMAS PARTY December 11 !!! Date change, mark your calendar. We will vote at the September meeting on where we would like to have our party, either the church or a local restaurant for lunch, we have a list of suggested places. Also, the members in attendance at the August meeting voted to have a Santa Gift Exchange, valued at $10.00 to $15.00. Get your creative juices flowing and let your imagination steer you towards unique and useful gift purchases. Ask yourself "would I like to receive this gift"? We will also continue the Christmas Block exchange. A 12 1/2 unfinished block in red, green and cream/off white fabrics, you choose the block to make. Make 2, you bring one to the party with your name on it and you keep the second one for yourself. When you have collected enough blocks, you make yourself a Christmas Sampler Quilt and bring to Show and Tell.

Until September 18, keep stitchin'

Nancy

The dog days of August are upon us and outside certainly feels like it, hot, hot, hot. Perfect weather to stay inside and sew and quilt to your heart's content. Finish current projects, start new ones or just dream about future ones. Or organize your sewing room, fabrics or scraps.

A big thank you to Nan and her birthday day party crew for our lovely cake and ice cream social held in July with games and several door prizes. Our Christmas luncheon is approaching fast, and I would like ideas as to where we would like to go; so please put suggestions in the box, never too soon to make reservations.

And I would like to thank everyone who contributed quilting donations for the ladies in WNC. I returned late Friday afternoon with St. Paul's youth group, fun week but tried. The quilt that was donated by one of our members was presented to Barbara, a single elderly lady, we installed flooring in her house, and she was thrilled with the quilt. Her granddaughter attends NC State and tried to claim it, but grandma held tight. The quilt notions were given to a lady who is a member of a quilt circle in Marshall. Eight ladies meet once a week to sew and quilt together. So, our items will be distributed and enjoyed by many. Thank you again for your generosity.

Please plan to attend our August 21st meeting for the zoom presentation on quilt software.

Stay cool and keep stitchin'

Nancy

Well, Summer arrived right on time, "Hot and Humid" just what the South is known for! Time to stay inside, drink water, SEW, QUILT and continue with our yoga exercises.

July is here and it includes two important Birthdays. Celebrate America's 249th on July 4th and our Guild's 41st on July 17th. Nan and her volunteer party crew have planned an exciting event for us with door prizes, games and BD Cake and Ice Cream with a multitude of toppings. The party meeting starts at 5:30!!!!!! Hope to see you there for fun and friendship. Don't forget to bring non-perishable food for Martha's Mission Pantry.

If you haven't made a pink and white 12 1/2 square (unfinished) yet, please consider making one and bring it to our July or August meeting, so the committee can complete the quilt(s) we donated to the RAAB Center in October, Breast Cancer Awareness month.

There was a suggestion in the Suggestion Box last month for our Guild's "experts to share tips" with us. I am not an expert, but have learned a few things over the years since I've been quilting; everyone has their own methods and no one method is the absolute. The final results are the same, make a quilt for your family and friends with LOVE sewn in.

Quilt tip of the month - when I have to piece the back, I join the pieces with a half inch seam allowance, using smaller stitches and press the seam open, and I always cut off the salvage. The salvage is very tightly woven on the sides of the length of the fabric, kind of like binding it off the weaving machine. I always cut this off since it is a tighter weave; if left on, the fabric can pucker and not really lay flat.

Hope this helps and this is the type of tips requested. And because of this suggestion, Chris and I are planning "mini workshops" one Tuesday a month at drop-in; handouts will be provided and available at our monthly meetings for those unable to attend Tuesday drop in. Subjects to be discussed include: Needles - why so many different needles and when to use what kind, Threads - all the different weight and ply. Let one of us know if you wish a specific topic to be taught and discussed.

Keep stitching,

Nancy

A Hugh Thank You to Debbie Goines for taking the reins and presiding over our May meeting for me. I know she did an outstanding job, and I have heard the meeting was concluded in record time. Maybe I need to take some 'snap the whip' lessons from her . And I have also heard Mary H. did a bang-up job, as usual, presenting our 2026 Day of Sharing Challenge Quilt/Block.

June temps are climbing in anticipation of Summer, when it's time to stay inside with the AC during the hottest part of the day and sew/quilt to your heart's content. Fun with fabric, thread and batting produce more 'Show and Tell' for our meetings.

Don't forget the nominating committee maybe contacting YOU to hopefully fill the Treasury and President positions for 2026-2027. Please consider serving our guild in this opportunity.

We have programs lined up through September, if you would like to share your knowledge on a specific subject please contact me for the October or November time slot.

June - yoga for sewing

August - zoom on quilting software

July - BD Party September - Rulers Rule

Also, there has been a suggestion to share tips and techniques once a month at Drop-in Tuesdays. Chris has a list of subject ideas, and we are making plans to start this monthly event, mini workshops, stay tune. All ideas and suggestions are welcomed in order to make us a better guild and beneficial to our members.

Hope to see everyone on June 19th, 5:30 social, meeting at 6.

Until then, Keep Stitchin',

Nancy

Welcome to May. I hope everyone had a happy and joyful Easter. Mother's Day is just around the corner and here's wishing all guild mothers a wonderful restful day.

April showers bring May flowers, so maybe it's time to pull out all those floral fabrics you have and make a very colorful quilt for yourself or someone special in your family. And don't forget to work on those "pink and white 12 1/2 " blocks, due in August, for our cancer center charity quilt(s). Also, a big thank you to everyone who stepped up to sell raffle tickets on April 12th at BHA for Public Day. Hopefully we will have many more opportunities to showcase our 2025 raffle quilt and sell tickets. And if you haven't purchased or sold your tickets yet, just remember it only takes ONE ticket to WIN this gorgeous quilt.

Don't forget to Keep Stitchin'

Nancy