THE QUILT SHOW IS COMING!

The dates of the ACQ 2023 Festival of Quilts {FOQ) are June 9 and 10, 2023. Only 4 months to go until we welcome visitors to see what we have been working on for the last 3 years.

Registration opens on February 9, 2023 ONLINE. Current ACQ members may enter 2 quilts on a priority basis -- $30.00 for the first quilt and $20.00 for the second quilt. Deadline is Friday, April 7, 2023.

Late registration runs from April 8th through April 28th if space is available, and the registration fee is $40.00 per quilt.

Final entry deadline is April 28, 2023. Membership in ACQ is required to be eligible to register any quilt. Please note that each entry also requires a 2-hour volunteer time commitment sometime during the set-up and/or show times.

The link will be live on the ACQ website on February 9, 2023 for quilt, volunteer, boutique and "Friends of the Festival" registrations.

The FOQ committee has been working for months to get ready for the show. We look forward to seeing what you have to share!

submitted by Jan Wolfgram

Do you enjoy taking workshops and learning something new? Have you wanted to take workshops but the cost has held you back? Do you enjoy meeting new people, having fun, and would like to be able to select programs that YOU would like to see? Then this could be the position for YOU!

We are in need of a VP of Programs Chairman for the year 2023-2024. Everything that you need is prepared for you with forms, verbal training, and step-by-step instructions. Want to learn more?

Contact Diane Sheriff if interested, or reach out to Linda Starkey for full details.

UFO Project: 2023!  We had so much fun in 2022, and collectively completed over 90 projects that were on our "to-do" list. This year, we've decided to try it again with a little twist. Sign up for 12 projects (or fewer) that you have started and would like to complete in 2023. We will have quarterly drawings for projects finished each quarter (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, July-Sept, Oct-Dec) as well as one GRAND PRIZE drawing at the end of the year.

We are also partnering with our longarm business members to provide discounts on longarming services for participants of the UFO 2023. Make sure you start collecting a list of your UFO's and sign up before February 28th HERE.

 --- submitted by Jen Dietz

Come and join us for our second annual virtual retreat! The fun will begin on Friday, February 17th at 5 pm until 2 pm on Sunday, February 19th. Your admission includes events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. You are welcome to come the entire time, or pop-in on your own schedule. Space is limited - so sign up early. The first 20 registrants get a special surprise in their registration packet!

The retreat fee covers your registration, a pre-retreat quilt pattern and opportunity to participate in QUILT BINGO, supplies for a project, quilt block ideas, prize drawings, games and entry into the GRAND PRIZE give away.

Last year we had a great time, so we decided to make it "bigger and better" this year. Since the retreat will be held virtually (through Zoom), you can invite friends from all across the country (and world) to experience a "winter get-away" in Colorado. The more the merrier!

REGISTRATION:  There are two options for registration. The first is to have your registration packet mailed; the second is for pick-up only at ACQ pop-up event in early February. Mailed packets will go out in early February, so you will have everything when the retreat begins.

NEW OPTION for 2023:  You will now have the option to participate in QUILT BINGO. This is a pre-treat activity in which you will create 9 patch blocks with 6 different coordinating fat quarters of your choice. If you choose to participate, a pattern will be emailed to you with instructions and a layout suggestion for turning your BINGO board into a finished quilt.

--- submitted by Jen Dietz

Welcome 2023!  We're so excited for the New Year and hope that you are too!

We are busy working on events and programs for our members this year. We will continue support to support our mission of fellowship, education and charity, and there are plans for new programs, a virtual retreat, and this year's quilt show. We will continue our charity quilts and CPNLS efforts as well. The UFO project will return in 2023 in a new format. Please watch for more information regarding these upcoming events.

I would like to continue our goal of 75% member participation. We want to give our members the very best, and we need your help to do this. There are so many opportunities for participation. I hope that you will contact me with any ideas or suggestions on how best to do this, as I truly want to hear from you!

Please reach out to me if you have interest in volunteering or helping to organize our events. We currently need help with Programs. This position would work with Linda Starkey to support this year's events while beginning to shape the direction for next year's programs. This is a critical role for our organization. Your input and help is greatly needed to continue our work in education.

Mark your calendar for our first online program on January 12th. Michelle Crawford from "Just Cut the Scraps" will also be presenting two 1/2-day workshops on "Crumb Quilting" and "Spontaneous Log Cabin" on January 14th. Don't miss this opportunity to discover new ways to use those scraps!

We are looking forward to sharing this year with you!

---submitted by Diane Sheriff

What a fun ride it has been.

In the past two years we have been forced to reinvent the guild- moving “seamlessly” from in person to online meetings due to the pandemic. We have refocused on the three guiding values of the guild: charity, learning and fellowship. We have successfully pulled off a virtual retreat, created in person pop-up events, and expanded opportunities to collaborate with others through Friday Night Socials and online bees. 

As we start to get back to our new “normal”, the guild is in a great position for the future. We have perfected a hybrid meeting style, allowing us to meet the needs of our virtual and in person members. We are planning a comeback of our Festival of Quilts- our guild quilt show- in 2023. We have a year full of learning opportunities through programs and workshops. We are hosting a block of the month quilt along. And, coming in February we will be again hosting a virtual retreat.

Thank you for all of your ongoing support in keeping the guild going. It has truly been a pleasure leading you over the past couple years- and I look forward to what is to come!!!

Submitted by Jen Dietz

Register NOW for our December Dinner and Social as we celebrate the Holidays and another year of fun, friendships, and giving!  This event will be held in person at the church as well as live-streamed for those who are unable to attend in person. Please select the appropriate category (Live or Zoom) when registering for this event.

We will begin the evening with a B.Y.O.B dinner.  Everyone will bring their own meal, which can be something from home or something that you stop and pick-up on the way.  Since there are those who are still not comfortable about dining from an open buffet, we thought this was the best way to keep everyone safe plus allow more time for our meeting festivities.  Nathlia (Hospitality) will provide drinks and dessert. Plates, napkins, cups, etc. will also be available.

To celebrate the season of giving, we will be also be having a small gift exchange while seated at our tables.  This will be done by playing a short Holiday game to rotate the gifts around the table.  Please bring a BAGGED or WRAPPED small gift around $10 but not exceeding $15.  The gift must be new and unused.  Sewing notions would make ideal gifts and are things that everyone can use!  The item can be something practical, unique, fun or creative. 

With the Quilt Show coming in June of next year, we have scheduled Ellen Palmer, a CQC Quilt Judge, to give a short lecture on what judges are looking for and the protocol that they follow when judging a quilt.  This will be positive in nature and will give you information to help you grow and improve your quilting. You won’t want to miss it!

 Other festivities will include:

• Installation of New Officers
• Show 'n Tell Extravaganza
• UFO Prize Winners

We hope that you can join us!

MAKEUP WORKSHOP FOR SHELLEY CAVANNA

Last month, Shelley Cavanna of “Cora’s Quilts” was scheduled to teach her “Aurora Quilt” workshop on November 12^th showing her tips, tricks, and techniques for making beautiful, mosaic-inspired quilts.  Unfortunately, her workshop was canceled due to Shelley’s hospitalization with pneumonia.  We are rescheduling this class for Saturday, January 21^st from 10 am to 3 pm.  Those who had previously signed up for the class have been moved to the new workshop date of January 21^st.  For those who would like to sign up and join us, we still have 4 spots available.  This is a 3-hour workshop at half the cost of our regular 6-hour class.   You will need to purchase the pattern and do a little prep work in advance, so please plan accordingly.  Full details can be found on the event’s page.  

 Zoom presentation.

2023 Programs Coming soon !!!!

We had a wonderful response to the BOM program that is starting in February taught by Pat Syta.

There are a few spots left.  Check out the details by clicking  BOM.   Something that Pat wrote in her Runaway pattern really struck me as the whole goal of the meetings and workshops we sponsor.  “Grow and learn in your process of quilting --- take as many classes as you can – you will ALWAYS learn something. “  I think that is so true, and any time we can learn another skill or practice the ones we already have the more we will grow as quilters. 

All Guild meetings and workshops for the first Quarter of 2023 are open for registration.  January through March meetings and workshops will all be done via zoom.  Please check them out: 

January  - Scraps with Michelle Crawford of Flower box Quilts

February – Memory Quilts with Beth Sullivan of Beth Sullivan Designs

March – Using Graphic Design to create quilt patterns with Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill ofWhole Circle Studios  

April 1^st – Brilliance Quilt Workshop (in person) with Pat Syta at Holly’s Quilt Cabin

Submitted by Linda Starkey

2023 Membership Renewal

Our membership renewal process has started for 2023.  Dues for the 2023 program year are $35 and are due by January 1. Our initial renewal reminder email was issued November 2, 2022. This email message has a link to where you can make a secure payment on-line.  If you choose to make payment via check, please mail it to:

Arapahoe County Quilters, PO Box 5357,Englewood, CO 80155

A big Thank You to the members who have already renewed for 2023. We trust that you found the process easy to complete on-line. For those who have yet to renew, please keep your eyes open for another email reminder in the second half of December. You don’t have to wait for this email reminder; you can renew at any time on-line by following these simple steps:  

• Go to www.ACQcolorado.org
• Click on “join Us” in the white banner at the top of the page.
• Then Click on the blue Renew Online Today button.

If you haven’t already, please be sure to check out information already posted for some 2023 programs. Information about the January, February and March guild meetings can be found here: https://acqcolorado.org/program-descriptions

2023 will be just as fun and rewarding as 2022.  We have the quilt show plus a virtual BOM event with Pat Syta! Be sure to renew your membership for 2023 to join in all of the fun.

We repeat our favor request.  If you are part of a quilt bee, could you please reach out to any bee members who were past ACQ members or who have never joined ACQ.  Share with them what you like about ACQ.  We would love to welcome returning and new members to ACQ.

ACQ Business Members: If you would like us to feature you in a future newsletter, please contact Ann Roman (annroman8858@icloud.com) or Louise Helton (redwee@hotmail.com) and we would love to share your story.  This month’s featured business member is eQuilter.com