It's been a few years since we've had our Quilt Show, and the 2023 Festival of Quilts is only two months away. I'm sure that many of our past attendees are unaware that we're now able to showcase our talents since Covid is behind us. It's time to start "spreading the word" and preparing ourselves for another great festival!

Have you registered your quilts? The early registration date is coming up shortly, and we want to make sure that there are PLENTY of lovely works to share with the attendees. Right now we have room for 100 more quilts, so register TODAY at www.acqcolorado.org!

Don't have a quilt for the show? You can still help support YOUR guild by volunteering, participating in the boutique, and inviting all of your friends to visit the show on Friday, June 9th and Saturday, June 10th. Entry is just $10.00 a person, and if you have a quilt in the show, your entry fee is waived!

Keep your eyes peeled for additional information in the next month on how you can share the Festival of Quilts with your friends, family, and community through your social media and word of mouth!

submitted by Jen Dietz , Past President

Read the full newsletter online. Sign in to the website to access the March newsletter here.  Look for the new Quilt Spot feature!

March is National Quilt Month. Every third Saturday of March is known as National Quilting Day...a day in which to celebrate the rich tradition of quilt-making. This day is for local quilters to show what they've made and to share their love of the craft. In 1989, the Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society organized a “Quilters’ Day Out” on the third Saturday of March to celebrate the rich tradition of quilt-making in Kentucky. In 1991, National Quilting Association officers were so enthused with the concept and success of “Quilters’ Day Out” that they voted to take it to a national level.

The first National Quilting Day was observed in 1992 and since then it has grown into a global celebration for all quiltmakers and quilt lovers. Helen Storbeck, one of the founders of National Quilting Day, wrote in The Quilting Quarterly, “Groups of quilters were encouraged to hold special events, publishers and shop owners were invited to sponsor promotions especially for quilters and it quickly became a grassroots endeavor with quilters in every part of the country participating.

In the first year of National Quilting Day, quilters in other countries asked to participate. They were welcomed with open arms. As our feelings of a community network has evolved to include a world community, it is only appropriate that quilters and quilt lovers everywhere united to give recognition to the special art form.”

Here are some ways to spend National Quilting Day:

• HANG YOUR QUILTS OUTDOORS ON NATIONAL QUILTING DAY
• MAKE IT A SERVICE DAY  Work on a quilt for your favorite cause.
• SHARE YOUR QUILTING SKILLS  Offer to teach a simple quilt project to a school, 4-H, scout, or other youth group, or spend the day passing along your love of quilting to your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or neighbors.
• SAVE QUILT STORIES  Organize a quilt history day or a quilt documentation project.

Many on-line quilt stores will offer free patterns, or bargains, during National Quilt Month and/or National Quilting Day. Watch our ACQ Community page for free offers during this month. 

submitted by Diane Sheriff 

I was inspired by Carolyn Morris and the Panel Quilt that she made for Children's Hospital. As many panels have been donated to ACQ, I have made several kits with fabrics for borders added, for you to put a small quilt together. You can use your own stash (or crumbs) to make the quilt worthy of someone needing quilt hugs! These are a quick project for those who would like to help out. Also, our contact from At Home Hospice has asked for Fidget Quilts. This might be a fun way to use scraps and other objects around the house. If you have items to donate or an interest in participating, please contact me at sheila-clark@comcast.net. I have included some helpful information below regarding Fidget Quilts.

WHAT IS A "FIDGET QUILT"?

Fidget quilts are used for Alzheimer, dementia patients who need something to do with their hands, especially those that are staying in an unfamiliar hospital or care home. The idea is give the fingers and hands something to do, and it can help those with dementia feel calm while keeping them occupied. The usual size is 18 x 20 inches. They can feature zippers, ties, ribbon, strings, buttons, snaps, closures, buckles, lace, velcro, elastic, beads, rick-rack and different textures - like minky, stretchy, pom-poms, pockets, braids.....you name it. Anything that can keep the fingers busy and can be washed will work....think of a child's busy book! Items must be able to withstand hot water as they'll be washed frequently. Since these interactive textiles are meant to stimulate memory, it is important that fidget quilts trigger the senses by using different textures and embellishments as much as possible. 

submitted by Sheila Clark

Coming Soon! A NEW Sewing Bee is starting soon specifically for working on Charity projects. We are going to call it the Charity / CPNLS "Blanket Bee" and would like all members who are interested in making CPNLS blankets or working on Charity quilts to join us! This will be an In-Person Bee. If interested, please contact the CPNLS Committee via cpnls_committee@acqcolorado.org. Your feedback is welcome so that we can pick a day, time, and place to meet that is convenient for those interested. You do not need to join the "Blanket Bee" in order to contribute your talents. We just thought this would be a nice way to get together and know each other, as well as provide another way for picking up and returning blankets and quilts.

submitted by Doreen Mortimer

PHOTOGRAPHER NEEDED.

Do you like to take pictures or have a friend that likes to? We have an opportunity for you!

The Festival of Quilts is looking for someone to take pictures of our quilt entries prior to judging. This would take place at the First Plymouth Congregational Church, 3501 S. Colorado Blvd., Englewood, CO on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, starting at 8 am. We expect to have 100 - 120 quilts that need photos. We will have people available to hang and move quilts, and the process takes about 4 hours to complete. Please contact Nancy Conklin or Jan Wolfgram (quiltshow@acqcolorado.org) for more information. 

MEMBERS - Please note that, effective January 2024, complete Newsletters in an easy-to-read and illustrated format are now located in the MEMBERS ONLY section under "Newsletters".

February is often known for being a month dedicated to, and all about, love. But February is not only about valentines and sweethearts, it can also be a month for fostering relationships with family and friends, loving others, and loving the things that we like to do, such as quilting.

Do you remember your first quilt? I do. I had been piecing blocks and strips together for a month or so. I saw a twisted snowball quilt in a magazine and knew I just had to make it. I spent the better part of the next month finding fabric, cutting, and piecing. My 1/4-inch seam allowance was far from perfect, so putting the blocks together was extremely challenging. I most likely shouldn't have decided to set the blocks on-point, but what did I know? I remember completing the wonky-looking top and giving it to my friend as I had no idea about the quilting and, dare I say, binding.

I remember seeing the completed project for the first time.  I did it! I was so happy and immediately wanted to show off the quilt. However, there weren't many in my circle who understood. My husband commented, "It's not large enough for a bed". And my aunt, "I don't understand why you would cut fabric only to sew it back together". The funniest was a coworker who asked if it was a chair cover. I just smiled.

Searching for a new site for Guild Meetings

In recent months, the Guild was notified that our current meeting location at Plymouth Congregational Church had decided to raise the rental fees for the use of our meetings in Plymouth Hall. The old fee was around $200.00 per meeting, and the new fee is closer to $525.00 per meeting. We are also being charged $100.00 for the Saturday Pop-Ups for the use of the driveway -- no chairs, tables, or use of bathrooms on Saturdays.

Because of these reasons, the President created a committee to search for a new location for meetings. The committee members include: Linda Mazunik, Jan Wolfgram, Louise Helton, Carolyn Morris, and chaired by Barb Pond, Vice-President.

We recently held our first meeting where we created a list of criteria. The list includes:

•    Availability
•    Wi-Fi System
•    Affordability
•    Size
•    Custodial Services
•    Accessibility
•    Parking
•    Flexibility for Spaces (i.e. Quilt Shows and Workshops)
•    Location

If you have a suggestion for a possible site where the rent is between $200.00 - $300.00 per meeting, please contact a member of this committee so we can check it out.

submitted by Barb Pond

Please join us for our February "pop-up" event at a NEW LOCATION! Due to the rising cost of renting the outdoor area at the church, plus lack of  restroom availability, we have decided to try another location at NO COST to the Guild.

THREE FOUNTAINS CLUBHOUSE

3280 S ONEIDA WAY

LANE 1

DENVER, CO 80224

The facility has tables and chairs, so come and be warm and comfy inside while you drop off or pick up charity quilts, your January door prizes, or just visit with your quilting friends!  Packets will be ready for upcoming February Retreat and there will be a table with quilt show information.    In addition there will be a "FREE" table!  Call Lori Land, ACQ Secretary, if you have difficulty finding us.  Hope to see you there!

Submitted by Lori Land