Meet eQuilter.com

If you haven’t already visited or purchased from eQuilter.com, we want to take this opportunity to introduce you to one of ACQ’s business members.  eQuilter.com is independently owned by Luana and Paul Rubin and is located in Boulder, CO. The business was started in the basement of their home in March 1999. Luana was looking for a way to work with fabric and design, after working in the garment industry. Their sales exceeded their 3 year business plan in 60 days, and they moved to their first 4000 sq ft warehouse by the Fall of 1999. After expanding to 11K sq ft, then 14K sq ft, they now own a 23K building and occupy 14K sq ft of the space. (They designed and built the structure, and share with 2 tenants on the 4 year old property.)

eQuilter.com has the largest online selection of contemporary quilt fabrics and quilting accessories. Over 1000 new products per month are introduced in the weekly e-newsletters that go out to 120,000 subscribers.  One feature I especially enjoy and find useful on the eQuilter web page is the ability to search for fabrics of a particular color.  This really makes finding and auditioning fabrics easy.  There is also a Design Board to audition fabrics and colors. 2-3 Free Quilt Patterns are sent out in emails each week. They have big clearance sales several times a year, and smaller sales every week. Be sure to register for the eQuilter.com e-newsletters for all of the latest products and news.

A special feature of eQuilter is their charity effort.  eQuilter donates 2% of all purchases to charitable organizations throughout the world.  This charity program has raised over $1.9 million for non-profits and anticipates hitting $2 million in donations in 2023. When you check out, you choose from 7 various non-profits to direct your 2% donation. eQuilter has raised over $330K for Breast Cancer research alone. Doctors Without Borders is another popular recipient. In addition eQuilter – in partnership with Mission of Love – has distributed over 17,000 donated comfort quilts for disaster relief locally and around the country, and the world. 

In addition to running the business, Luana has been busy with other quilting activities.  Luana was a speaker this summer at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham UK as well as at the SAQA conference in San Diego, speaking on the topic of “Art and Activism”. Her quilts were displayed in Birmingham, as well as hanging in Sacred Threads in Washington DC.  Another quilt is currently on display in the Women’s Voices, Women’s Votes, Women’s Rights exhibition at the Clinton Presidential Library.  Lastly, be sure to check out Quilting Arts TV for two segments with Luana airing this Fall on PBS.

eQuilter is a major sponsor of quilt festivals, exhibits and contests around the world.  This has included our own Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, the Houston Quilt Festival, International Quilt Museum, Visions Quilt Museum, New England Quilt Museum, Quilt Canada, and quilt festivals in the UK and France recently. Luana has traveled to 49 countries and recently led a tour to Churchill in Canada, to photograph the polar bears. Her polar bear quilt is traveling with the Endangered Species exhibit, and she has 2 quilts in the “Inspired by Washington DC” exhibit.

Their mission is to inspire and support quilters, and to provide specialty quilting fabrics and supplies for the creative quilter and textile artist. Luana is a Bernina Ambassador, and has designed textiles for many fabric manufacturers over the years. Her background as a fashion designer, living in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, and New York City, has contributed to her expertise in the quilting industry. She has worked as a designer in the fashion, textile and quilt industry for over 40 years. Paul and Luana live in the same house where they started the business in 1999, with 3 cats and 2 dogs, 1 mile from their new eQuilter building. They invite us to come and pick up orders in person, and to schedule group tours!

eQuilter.com – thank you for contributions to the quilting community, all of your charitable support and your support of Arapahoe County Quilters.

ACQ Charity Quilts December 2022 Newsletter

Arapahoe Quilt Guild has exceeded expectations with quilt donations, over 500 quilts donated to 5 organizations. Thank you to the many members who sewed quilt tops, quilted sandwiches and affixed bindings. Please view the photos.  Jan W. delivers quilts to the VOA Clermont Commons and the nurse at VOA Family Motel shows quilty love when she chooses a specific quilt for one of her patients. 

I am looking forward to our December meeting to see people in person. If you have questions or comments, please contact me by phone, text, or email at  720.300.0973  or sheila-clark@comcast.net .

503  Total Quilts Donated 

222  Marshall Fire Victims

188  VOA Family Motel (Previously homeless families)

  53  VOA Clermont Commons (Women Veterans)

  28  Children’s Hospital

  12  At Home Hospice (New non-profit) for ACQ donations)

Crystal A. is a CNA for At Home Hospice. She found ACQ through the website and a few of us did the research on the business. Crystal came to my house to pick up. I was so pleased to see her pick up a quilt and know immediately who would appreciate it. 

Special thank you to:

Linda Starkey for bringing quilts and winning items to my house

Diane Sheriff for delivering quilts to my house

Joan Greland for delivering a completed quilt and picking up kits to sew

Terry Chase for delivering wide back fabric to my house

Cathy Zirkelbach for binding quilts, sewing labels and helping at the POP-UP Drive Thru

Jan Wolfgram for taking my place at the POP-UP Drive Thru, delivering completed quilts, tops, and donated fabric to my house

THANKFUL .  .  .

During this season of thanksgiving, I wanted to give thanks for the wonderful accomplishments our guild has collectively made during this year.  We have successfully figured out how to make a hybrid meeting work, allowing us to include our friends near and far in all of our meetings.  This has proven extremely beneficial as we move into a period where costs to meet in person have increased significantly.  In line with the survey of our members and the decision of our board, we will continue to meet in person at least once per quarter to accommodate those who prefer being together in person.  Thanks to the great volunteers, we will also be able to accommodate all of our members when we have the in person meetings, and will continue to have great programming both virtual and in person.

We have also accomplished amazing things with our charitable programs.  This year we have exceeded our stretch goal of collecting and distributing 365 quilts to community programs including Children’s Hospital, individuals in transitional housing, and women veterans.  We have also provided numerous quilts to families impacted by the Marshall Fire, and continued community outreach with other quilters across the country and world.  We are also the only quilt guild that provides infant loss blankets, and are on our way to meeting our goal of 250 blankets collected in 2022.

We have had an amazing year of programs, and workshops that have been very well attended.  We also have several spots open for our last workshop of the year - Aurora Quilt with Shelley Cavanna.  The great thing about this workshop is that it is a bit shorter than previous workshops, and is priced accordingly.  Please consider joining us to close out the year with a beautiful quilt!

Another thing to be thankful for is that we have a full slate of board members to vote on in the November meeting.  Thanks to the generosity of our guild members who have stepped up to lead us into the future.  You will be in awesome hands - and will help to bring in fresh ideas and continue the great programs and opportunities that we have developed!

And a special thanks to all of our members.  Without you, we would not be able to collectively accomplish everything we have this year.

Submitted by Jen Dietz

By now you've received an ACQ email addressing the 2023 membership renewal process. Dues for the 2023 program year are $35 (same as 2022!) and are due by January 1.  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

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.  Plus, there is the quilt show! 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.

Submitted by Ann Roman and Louise Helton

Our Fall Auction was very successful! We raised over $2700 for our charity materials that will help with expenses in 2023.  

I want to thank the following members for one or more donations to the auction:

Beth Taggert                                             Martha Wells

Nancy Conklin                                           Doreen Mortimer

Linda Starkey                                             Alma Lee (former member)

Ashley McNeese                                       Linda Mazunik

Jody Charmatz                                          Kate Colleran

Laura Eley                                                   Nathlia Holtz

Lori Hansen                                                Jean Gibson

Carolyn Morris                                          Jen Dietz

Carol Haines                                              Barb Pond

Lucy Rognes                                              Kathy Wasilewski

Louise Helton

Also thanks to Carol Kiser, Terri Shelgren , Nancy Conklin, Ann Roman, and Jen Dietz for helping distribute items on October 29^th from 10-12 noon.

Although it is still 2022, it’s not too early to start planning for a donation in 2023.  I already ordered some Halloween fabric for next year’s auction items I will be making. The big sellers this year were place mats, wall hangings, table runners, and table toppers that were quilted, along with beautifully embroidered towels and kid’s pillow cases. Lap top size quilts were also popular, especially if they had applique or complex quilt patterns on them.

Start thinking now how you can create items for next year’s fall auction, which will again be in October.

Submitted by Barb Pond

As is tradition in ACQ, we like to send our President off with blocks to create a quilt commemorating their time as ACQ president. As Jen Dietz finalizes her 2 year stint as our President, join us in thanking her for her hard work, dedication and overall awesomeness. Jen told us she would like to create a red and white sampler quilt with blocks from members. In order to ensure that the blocks fit together, we are asking you adhere to the following perimeters:

• Blocks can be made out of any combination of red and white.  This can be solids, tone on tone, prints or batiks. Quilter's choice!

• Blocks should measure either 6.5 inches or 12.5 inches - so that they will finish in the quilt at 6 or 12 inches.

• Please include your name somewhere within your block so it is permanent - Micron pen, embroidery or other personal touch.

• Please submit your block to Barb Pond by November 10, 2022  (in-person Meeting, Pop-Up, snail mail, carrier pigeon)

Submitted by Barb Pond

Join us on November 10^th as we welcome Shelley Cavanna of “Cora’s Quilts” for our online Guild Meeting as she presents “Modern Mosaic Quilts”.  Shelley has a passion for intricate, mosaic-inspired quilts and loves creating designs with layer-upon-layer of elements that weave in and out of one another creating depth and movement.  Her quilts look complicated, but are easy to make.  Join us for her lecture as Shelley shares the story of her design evolution and shows the progression of how she developed her signature mosaic style.  Zoom presentation.

Learn Shelley's techniques, tips, and tricks for making dreamy, mosaic-inspired nine-patch blocks at our “Aurora Workshop” on November 12th!  Use her favorite Stitch + Flip techniques - and your favorite fat quarter bundle - to make a truly stunning quilt ... simply!  This is a 3-hour workshop at half the cost of our regular 6-hour classes.   You will need to purchase the pattern and do a little prep work in advance, so please plan accordingly.  Zoom presentation. 

DECEMBER TO REMEMBER HOLIDAY CELEBRATION! 

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. 

Here are a few suggestions:

• Pins (straight, silk, fine, applique etc) or Needles (hand or machine)
• Scissors or Clippers
• Aurifil Thread (anything in a neutral color)
• Seam Ripper, Rotary Cutter, Binding Clips, Ruler, Pin Holders, etc.
• Storage Container for threads or fabric
• Gift certificate from a local quilt store
• Wrap a ribbon around a coordinating set of Fat Quarters

The list is endless!

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!

Submitted by Kathy Wasilewski

We have the opportunity to be part of an exciting program in 2023.  A virtual BOM class by ACQ's very own Pat Syta.

Pat is going to offer a BOM for her pattern Runaway.  The class will be held virtually on either Monday or Tuesday evening once a month from February through September.  Each class will be recorded and if the class time does not work into your schedule, Pat will be providing a link that you can view on your own.  That will be available for 2 weeks after each class.  

The class cost for the 13 blocks plus borders will be $45, payable as soon as we have 15 committed members signed up.   The cost of the pattern is normally $25, but Pat is offering ACQ members, who register for the monthly program, a 40% discount through her website.   

In order to take advantage of this, we need to have at least 15 people enroll in the class.  You can sign up by going to the BOM event.  Once we have the minimum enrollment, you will be notified to pay for the workshop.  The BOM will only be open to members only.  

All Guild meetings and workshops for the first Quarter of 2023 are now 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

ACQ Festival of Quilts Coming in June 2023

The Festival of Quilts Team is already working hard to get ready for the show in June 2023.  The dates are June 9 and 10, 2023.  I hope you will have a quilt to enter in the show. 

There is a saying about it taking a village to raise a child. Well, it takes an entire quilt guild to put on a quilt show.  Of course, we will need many of you to enter your quilts, and we will need lots of volunteers to make it run smoothly.  

We also need sponsors for the show.  As costs and services keep going up to us as individuals so do the costs to put the show.  If you have a business and would like to help sponsor our Festival of Quilts, please contact Regina Hoffman.  Any type of quilting related business is welcome.  

Again, at this show, we will also offer you the opportunity to become a “Friend of the Quilt Show.”  More information about how to become a Friend of the Quilt Show will be in future newsletters and announcements.

Now let’s get started on those masterpieces.

Submitted by Nancy Conklin

 Kate Colleran is a fabric and quilt pattern designer. She has been teaching and designing quilts for over 19 years. Her quilt patterns are known for their complete, easy to follow instructions with an eclectic design style; inspired by traditional elements and put together with a modern twist. She has had quilts in many quilt magazines, has online classes on both Craftsy and Quilting Daily and has co-written articles for American Quilt Retailer. 

Kate has taught at quilt shops, for guilds and at national quilt shows and is the designer of the popular Braid and Mini Braid Templates. She co-authored the book, Smash Your Precut Stash. Her first digital fabric line that she designed, Blooming, came out in August with Suite B Fabrics of Island Batik.  Kate’s first, designed by her batik line, Paisley Got Mod, is in Island Batik's Spring/Summer 22 catalog and recently shipped to fabric stores.  It is also available online at Missouri Star Quilting.

On her website, you can find her patterns, a few tools she likes and her blog which is filled with lots of great information. She has a series of posts called Exploring the Basics with each post having tips on an aspect about quilting. You can also sign up for her newsletter and get a free quilt pattern!

Kate loves working with quilters, cherishes her time spent on designing and her business goal is simple: to help you make a quilt. Kate – we thank you for your support and involvement with Arapahoe County Quilters.

Website: https://katecollerandesigns.com/

Instagram: @katecollerandesigns

Facebook: KateColleranDesigns

Submitted by Ann Roman & Louise Helton