Happy New Year friends!!! I am so glad to be writing this post today in good health and hoping you are all reading this the same way. It is a new year, we have a fresh start, and hope for what lies ahead of us this year. We’ve made it through a most difficult and challenging time in our lives and also in terms of our guild and although we are certainly not out of the woods yet, there is hope on the horizon. If you missed me saying it earlier, I am so pleased to welcome back each and every one of our existing members as well as our new member, Rosemary. Things are looking up for sure!

Our first official meeting is scheduled for this coming Saturday 1/9/21 at 10:30 am. If you haven’t joined us yet in this fashion, go to our member page, look for Eileen’s Room for this day, click on it and you will be redirected I’m always there early and you can text me if you’re having trouble getting in. It does help to have the Facebook Messenger App on your device. I’m trying to accommodate everyone so I also have another meeting set up for Wednesday evening 1/20/21 at 7 pm. Come to one or both, whatever works for you!! Whichever meeting you come to please bring:

1. Your absolute favorite fabric that you are hoarding/ saving for that one special project and tell us how you acquired it and why it is so dear to you.

2. Three (3) 3 1/2 inch squares of fabric, (2) of the same and (1) coordinating. I’m going to show you a super quick make.

3. Show and Tell if you have any.

And all your enthusiasm, ideas, and suggestions for this new year!

I’ve mentioned in the past about sewing the Mini Maker Case together as a group. I’ve not had much feedback but I am still open to that so let’s talk about it at the meeting and either plan a day or scrap the idea. Im working on a sample of another bag of sorts, that is born out of the fact that I do not know how to do anything on a small scale, buy, cook, you name it. When you grow up in a house with ten children everything is bought in exact measure of what you will need for the week etc. No such thing as stockpiling. So when I needed to make something for my house I bought way too much of a certain “material” and I was trying to brainstorm what I could do to get rid of it. If it works out I will get that key ingredient to all of you and we can have a group project for February. I actually thought it would be a fun swap project; however, that may not be feasible right now. Tell me how you feel about swaps right now, I always like to be on the receiving end of a handmade item, you? And who doesn’t like when something that’s not a bill shows up in your mailbox? Let’s chat!

Lastly, I am going to join in on a Block of the Month this year with Kim Lapacek of Persimmon Dreams. Early on in my journey, when Craftsy was free I participated in two block of the month. I would guesstimate that a solid 70% of my quilting skills were learned there. It is a unique opportunity to learn new skills or hone the ones you may already have and haven’t used in a while. You have nothing to lose, it is free, she has some wonderful quilters scheduled in the lineup, and you end up with a decent size quilt, as the bocks are 12 1/2”. I should probably mention that the finished quilt is a mystery. It starts on the 12th, so go take a look. Kim’s theme this year is the Old School Block of the Month, new takes on old quilt blocks. I would love for you to join me, who’s in?

I’m making a personal commitment to keep this blog up to date this year, so be on the lookout. I’m also hoping to keep the social media outlets more engaged so please post your projects and tell me about anything new and exciting so I can repost.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone this month, whether it be on Saturday or on Wednesday, or both. Eileen