Clay Center Piotique Quilters Guild: HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AND GUILD CHALLENGE

Excitement started the moment you came in the door.

One of Jan's quilts decorated the sign in table, manned by Deb and Juanita.

The tables were decorated for the 10th Birthday celebration

Long table was decorated and placed on the platform

One of the tables contained the guild's scrap books ......

And the refreshments.........Wow! Carol and Sara did a fantastic job on the cakes. And a special thank you to the ones that brought in crackers, peanuts, cheese and meat.

Susie manned the tables holding fabric yardage, FQ's, and patterns of Iowana's that were for sale.

Before the meeting started, everyone was invited to view all of the Guild Challenge wall hangings and pick their "Best of Show"

Frances started the meeting with a few announcements, including the slate of officers that will be voted on next month.

Pres - Carol S.

Pres Elect - Karen U.

Secretary - Bev R.

Treasurer - Nancy R.

Program Co-Chairs - Carol B. & Ginny B

Prog. Co-Chair Elects - Deb M. & Susie R.

Publicity Chair - Dixie C.

Member-at-large - Verna Lee M.

Frances let everyone know that on the table with the scrap books were two letters - One from Bobby and one from Helen G - two members that were in on the beginning of the guild, but not able to join us for the celebration.

2015 Membership Information Sheets were passed out and everyone was encouraged to get them filled out and returned that night. 2015 Pres. will use the information for next years guild. You can find this form on the left side of this post, click and print.

Carol B gave us a tantalizing preview of next years programs - speakers will be coming from Wichita, McPherson, Manhattan, etc. A very exciting year coming up.

Then it was time for the guild challenge.

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Jan and Deb thanked the 15 members that had met the CHALLENGE. Gretchen and Kate from the Belleville guild - Heart of the Prairie - were invited to judge this years entries. They were very impressed with all of the ideas that demonstrated our 10 years. Jan asked that all entrants go up and stand by their quilts and then tell a little about them. (A short explaination will be included for all, but please - For the rest of the story - talk to the ladies.)

Lynn let us in on how challenging she found this paper piecing project she had gotten in Iowa. It included 10 different fabrics and 10 little squares.

Anne started with 10 squares......missed the rest of the story.

Vevia "Gathered Memories" with 10 wool baskets on her wall hanging.

Juanita was very impressed with the guild's pin and wanted to do a hanging incorporating that pattern with the embroidery stitches she has been learning this year.

Susie just loved these flowers and thought this was a cool design. She has 5 white on white fabrics and then 5 other colors to finish.

Jan wanted a quilt for the 4th of July and decided to use 10 fabrics in this crazy 9 patch. She quilted it with metallic thread.

Deb had gotten this fabric for a jacket......decided to use it for Debby Maddy's pattern and then hand quilted it with golden thread.

Carol B. used 10 fabrics, with 10 buttons and each one of the fabrics was special with their own sewing themes.

Cindy used a 7/8" ruler to make this 10 block sampler. Could not see her quilt when the picture was blown up, so added another picture we had taken.

A little trouble with Sara's also, so included a close up to show you how she made this 10 snowmen block quilt for her entry.

Donna J used 10 fabrics to show how the guild started small and then grew bigger as it went, as demonstrated in the star.

Frances wanted to do a hanging of the dogs in her family and extended family. Frances was not crazy about doing 10 dogs, but then she noted that she only had to do the 5 - 10 eyes and 10 ears .

Jenell teaches spanish so thought how great to do a wall hanging demonstrating what she teaches.

The pictures to the right of the words lets you know what number you are on.

Carol S. made this pheasant crossing pattern; however, one of her grandsons told her it looked more like train tracks.

Erlene stated that her wall hanging is a party in itself. She used a cookie cutter to get the cupcakes designed.

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And the Winners are........

Thank you to everyone that entered - our guild members show such talent and imagination. Great job to all!

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Kathy P was one of the earlier members of the guild, but had moved away. It was great to have her return for the celebration .. and she decided to bring a show and tell to a group that would really appreciate it. And we do. What a beautiful quilt. Thank you Kathy.

There was a great turn out of current members, past members and a few guests.

One of the memorable parts of the evening was listening to the panel

talk about the events through the years.

Bus trips and mishaps, programs, community service and charity quilts, covering trucks and trailers with fabric and winning 1st prize AND $75, cook books, wonderful teas, secret stitchers, charm square exchanges, UFO's, library books.

Frances read off the names of the 28 people that were at the first meeting. Marilyn remembers almost missing it. Ann L asked her to go; however, it was going to be on the 2nd Monday and Marilyn was already committed. Wasn't long and Ann came back and told Marilyn that it had been changed to the third Monday - no excuses, you are going! Marilyn said that she is so glad that she did - she has enjoyed every part of the past 10 years.

Verna Lee let everyone know that the name came from the dancers - Piotique Promenaders that was disbanning about that time - so Piotique was picked up in our name.