Upcountry Quilters Guild Newsletter - April 2025

Newsletter Content Authors:

  • Meeting Minutes – Donna A.
  • Birthdays – Janice H.
  • Community Service – Edith P., Kay M., Pam J.
  • Oconee/Pickens County QOV / Sit-N-Sew – Beth E.
  • Quilt Shows, Workshops & Events – Cheryl B./Gretchen C.
  • Show & Tell Photos – Beth E.

Next Guild Meetings

Tuesday, May 27, 2025 (7 pm)

Program:  Delia Dorn will give a presentation on “Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Quilt Judge?”

Delia is the owner, lead designer and quilter at Willowlark Quilt Studio in Landrum, SC.

Location:  Pickens Presbyterian Church (311 S. Main St., Pickens, SC 29671)

Tuesday, June 27, 2025 (7pm)

The program will be presentations by our own, very talented guild members.

  • Cathy C. – Flange and Piped binding
  • Beth E. – Specialty machine binding
  • Robbie – Facing your quilt project
  • Kris – Hanging sleeves

Meeting Minutes

UQG Meeting Minutes, April 22, 2025

  • Meeting called to order by Cheryl B.
  • Beth E. offered an invocation.
  • Program presented by Faye Jones-“Making  your quilts more contemporary”.
  • Kris V. asked about how many were planning on entering a Challenge Quilt-approximately 15-20 members plan to enter the Challenge Quilt.
  • Kris V. asked for volunteer to prepare food for the picnic.  Sign up sheet was sent around.  The guild will provide ham and chicken, but volunteers will need to bring other food items.  Picnic will be August 26 at the Dacusville Community Center.  Kris also asked for volunteers for the Picnic Committee.  Sign up sheet was sent around.
  • Minutes for March 25, 2025 guild meeting were approved as published on the website.  A link was sent out via email.


Treasurer Report was given by Linda C.

Membership:  24 members and 1 guest in attendance.  Phoenix Armstrong from Agape Hospice was our visitor.  She brought treats for the guild members in observance of Volunteer Appreciation Month.  She thanked the guild for all the quilts that had been made and donated for their patients.  Donna A. was the winner of the name tag drawing.

Community Service:

  • 13 quilts have been gifted to Hands of Hope Pediatric Hospice.
  • 3 quilts have been donated for preemies.
  • Precut batting is available for these quilts.  Cheryl B. also has batting available at the Hagood Community Center.
  • QOV: Kay M. shared that she had information sheets to complete for any donated QOV.  Cheryl B. reminded members to sew a 1/8 inch seem around the quilt tops if we are going to turn them in for her to quilt.


Publicity: Tammy M. announced that she had the 3 quilts she needed for display in the community.

Tea and Sympathy:

  • Carolyn G. was back with us at the meeting.
  • Mary O. was thankful for the cards she received while out.


Newsletter:  Cheryl B. asked for feedback regarding the way the newsletter was being presented.  Janice H. asked that reports be sent to her by May 4.

Upcoming Events – Guild Booth:  Cheryl reminded members that signup sheets were available for volunteers for the Azalea Festival (April 26) and the Ag and Art Tour (May 3 and 4).

Vice-President report: Gretchen C. reminded members to bring boutique items for the quilt show and the Azalea Festival.  If you don’t have them ready now, then please make a list and email to Gretchen.  Items will need to be brought to the September meeting prior to the Quilt Show.  Remember Boutique sales help fund our programs for 2 years.

Upcoming Guild Meeting Programs:

  • The May guild meeting program will be Delia Dorn “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Quilt Judge”. 
  • The June program will be all about binding with several of our own members presenting the program.


Quilt Show Presentation Quilt:  It has been completed and it was shown to the guild members.

Azalea Festival is April 26.  We will have raffle tickets available for sale for our Presentation Quilt along with boutique items for sale.  Sign up sheet for manning the booth is available.

Art and Ag Festival is at Farm Girl, 146 Holliday Road, Six Mile on Saturday, May 3-4.  Sign up sheet for manning the booth is available.

Janice H. will get pictures of our presentation quilt for members to be able to sell raffle tickets.

Quilt Show:  Mary P. is in charge of Food for our members.  She needs volunteers to assist.  Also ice chests will be needed as there is no refrigeration available.

Quilt categories have been finalized and distributed.  Also they will be on the website.  Janice has added content to the Quilt Show page on the website.

Sewing Bees:  A reminder was given that a Sewing Bee is held every Tuesday from 10-4.

Show and Tell:  See pictures in this newsletter.

Meeting adjourned.

Minutes submitted by Donna A.

Birthdays

 MAY

  • Constance S.    5/11    
  • Helene T.          5/14      


JUNE

  • Charlene M.     6/13
  • Tammie Y.        6/14  
  • Linda C.            6/17
  • Sue M.             6/17
  • Cheryl B.          6/23

Community Service

  • 2 more Quilts of Valor were received in the month of April.

Oconee/Pickens County QOV / Sit-N-Sew

Those comforted as of  March 31, 2025

Last Month – 2,688

Year to Date – 7,086

Lifetime Total – 408,447

  • We awarded 4 Veterans with quilts in April. 
  • The World War II and a Korean Vets  that Beth E. mentioned last month has turned into 8 instead of 2. 
  • Please keep working on quilts.  Beth E. has already come to the conclusion that we will not have all of the 83 done when they return.  As much as QOV would like to just stop giving anyone quilts except this group, we can’t.  When you have veterans that have medical problems, are in nursing homes, and also in their 80s, we have to do those 1st. 
  • Beth E. will discuss with the National Guard when they get back.  We will start giving them quilts as we get sections done.


We are still having QOV sewing from 0900 to 1600 on the 3rd and the 4th Fridays.  Please bring your own lunch if you plan to stay and sew.

Upcoming Quilt Shows, Workshops & Events

  • A Mountain Quiltfest at the LeConte Center in Pigeon Forge, TN will be June 10-12, 2025
  • The Lake and Mountain Quilt Guild Show, “Art Feeds The Soul”, is June 27-28, 2025 at the Seneca Middle School on Wells Hwy.  Their presentation quilt is titled “Japanese Fans” and is honoring one of their former members, Jan Hannewold
  • The Original Carolina Shop Hop is scheduled for July 17-26. 2025, featuring 11 shops in Western NC and SC.  This is a fun adventure – start planning now for your group, attire and route Groups of at least 4 receive a special prize at each shop.
  • The Asheville Quilt Show is August 14-16, 2025 at the WNC Ag Center in Fletcher, NC. Hopefully they can avoid any storms this year!! Plan to visit Foam and Fabrics as well during your visit (the bakery across from Foam and Fabrics is pretty good, too!)
  • All Carolinas Shop Hop is September 1 – October 31, 2025. Visit quilt shops all over both North and South Carolina to be eligible for prizes throughout the states.
  • The Quilters of South Carolina (Statewide quilt guild – get to know quilters from all over the state) will have their Fall Retreat “QSC Pieceable Retreat” in Myrtle Beach at the Doubletree Resort October 23-26, 2025. There are many fantastic classes that should provide a variety of experiences/challenges for many quilters.
  • Ag+Art Festival in Pickens County May 3-4, 2025. Check out www.agandarttour.com for locations of tours and events. The Upcountry Quilters guild will be located at Farm Girl Deliveries 146 Holliday Road, Six Mile, SC
    29682.

April Guild Meeting Program

Faye Jones presented “Making Your Quilt Contemporary”.  Faye belongs to the Modern Quilt Lab, a group of artists who explore creating modern quilt designs based on specified inspirations.

Faye talked about fabrics and colors, thinking about color values which are more important because of the contrast. Take a picture of your fabrics and change the picture to black and white in order to see the contrast and values. Shapes are important as well.

To take traditional blocks and turn them into a more modern look:

  • Use variations of width, and audition fabrics, sizes, and shapes
  • Don’t just go buy fabrics, use what you have, and don’t let the pattern define you
  • Try different arrangements, and use low level backgrounds.
  • Give them your personality!

Show & Tell Photos (April 2025 Meeting)