History: 2000-2005

2000-2001

The 2000/2001 year began with current president Francyne Willby handing the infamous “bell” over to Marilyn Osterkamp.

Charitable highlights of the year included the presentation of a full size “Jewel Box” quilt to Project Safe. The quilt was made by the members of the “Friendly Starters” bee which met at Elsie Lewis’ house. There was also a “marathon” safe house workshop which made numerous children’s quilts. We also presented Project Safe with two checks throughout the year, totaling $2,500.

Programs included “Creative Memories for Quilt History”, presented by member, Jessica Casey. She encouraged us to photograph our quilts and keep an historical record of our work. We also heard from Holly Anderson who spoke about the Georgia Quilt Council birdhouse quilt challenge which benefits Habitat for Humanity. We also heard from member, Marybeth Stalp, who was writing her dissertation on the role of quilting in women’s lives.

We gave a “kitchen shower” for the Lyndon House as a way of saying thank you. Along with numerous kitchen items donated by the members, the guild gave a stainless steel cart.

Workshops were presented by Brenda Duncan (Working with Decorative Threads), Melissa Poland (Quilt Bindings), and Frances Arnold (Machine Quilting)

At one point during the year, there were 9 bees meeting on a regular basis.

Our biennial show “2001 – A Quilt Odyssey” was held in March of 2001, with Shirley Erickson acting as chairman. Elizabeth Barton took Best-of-Show honors with “Headland Home” and Shirley Erickson won the Judge’s Choice award with “Noah’s Ark”. “Viewer’s Choice” was won by Mary Ann Ware.

The Raffle quilt, made by Terri Jarrett, brought in $2,700. We all laughed as the winner was chosen…..Terri Jarrett!!!!

2001-2002
The first meeting of 2001/2002 was “rung” in by incoming president, Jeanne Lindberg.

Wonderful programs were presented during the year, starting with Mr. Joe Sanders, a local treasure, who spoke about his life with quilting. We cancelled our September meeting, as a sign of respect to the victims of the 9/11 attacks. In October, we presented our challenge projects…..”Earth, Wind, Fire & Chocolate”, and in November we learned from Lynne Reynolds about “Quilted Underwear of the 19th Century”. Ray Barreras told us about the “Quilt Ladies of the Dominican Republic”.

The final program of the year was the opening of “The Manhole Cover Quilt Show” at the Lyndon House. The members had a private viewing of the show before the public opening 4 days later.

Terri Jarrett began our workshop season with a session about evaluating your fabric stash. The theme was continued as national quilter, Ann Johnston, conducted a two-day workshop titled “Color By Accident”. Lois Griffin spent a day in January teaching us about “Crazy Quilting”, Marilyn Osterkamp taught “Foundation Piecing”, Frances Arnold presented yet another session of “Machine Qulting”. Terri Jarrett finished out the year with a workshop on “Working with Triangles”.

2002-2003

In July of 2002, Judy Caputi began her reign as president of the guild. An additional feature of the evening was the presentation of the “Critter Challenge” quilts. Fourteen members brought quilts that fit the challenge…..the viewer’s choice award went to Amanda Whitsel whose quilt featured intertwined cats with mice in the border.

Workshops during the year included “Beginning Quilting” presented by Amanda Whitsel, “Bindings the Right Way” by Melissa Poland, “Fat Quarter Bag” by Mary Ann Cox, “Pieced Vest” by Shirley Erickson, “Seminole Piecing” by Sandy Jordan, and “Picket Fence” by Terri Jarrett.

In September, the guild heard from Ray Berraras who presented a “Man’s view of Quilting”. Quilt related items were gathered for him to take to the ladies in the Dominican Republic.

In October, Robbie Joy Eklow visited Athens and presented two workshops…. “Choose to Fuse” and “Design As You Go: Unmarked Free Motion Machine Quilting.”

The December meeting brought the game “Fat Quarter Lotto” where members bring fat quarters and receive 1 ticket for each fat quarter. One or more lucky winners get to go home with a wide assortment of fat quarters.

The 5th Biennial Quilt Show, “Pieceful Hearts” was held on March 7-9, 2003. 190 quilts were shown, 1200 people attended, and net proceeds were approximately $3,400. Jean Lester of Knoxville, TN was the Show’s Judge. Judy Caputi was awarded the “Best of Show” ribbon for “Log Cabin”, and Faye Rawls was awarded the “Judge’s Choice” award for “Two of My Favorite Things”. .

The Viewer’s Choice award was awarded to “Hearts for Katie, Love Mama and Me” by Cathy Rowan. Cathy’s mother had begun the quilt, and Cathy completed it.

Fay Rawls - "Two Of My Favorite Things"
Fay Rawls – “Two Of My Favorite Things”
Cathy Rowan - "Hearts for Katie, Love, Mama and Me"
Cathy Rowan – “Hearts for Katie, Love, Mama and Me”
Judy Caputi - "Log Cabin"
Judy Caputi – “Log Cabin”

In April, internationally known quilt teacher, Dilys Fronks presented two workshops…. “Creating a Background for Reverse Applique” and “Reverse Applique based on Iron Frill Designs”. Many beautiful quilts came out of these two workshops.

At the fiscal year end meeting in June, the guild presented Joan Prittie from Project Safe with a check for $968, which represented one half of the proceeds from the sale of our raffle quilt. The results of the “Oh My Stars” Challenge was also presented, with excellent participation. Awards were given for various criteria, including Smallest Star, Most Stars and Most Humorous.

2003-2004

The new year began in July of 2003 with Mary Colley taking over as president. The meeting, “Cotton Patch 101″ answered many of our member’s questions concerning the functioning of the guild.

In July, a number of members took a field trip to Mary Jo’s Fabrics in Gastonia, NC, the first of many such field trips!!

Programs during the fall included Florine Johnson, a member of the Hall County Quilt Guild, who talked about her Rooster designs and patterns, Jayne Buckwalter, who spoke about “Civil War Quilts and the Women Who Made Them”, and “Eagle Ranch Quilts” presented by members of the Hall County Quilters. In the early months of 2004, members enjoyed “Madelyn Hawley and her Boa”, photos from the AQS show, narrated by Terri Jarret, and Basicos of colors and fabrics by Kay Hewett.

The guild was inspired by the presence of national teacher, Billie Lauder, the queen of “doing things quickly”. She presented an informative lecture, followed by a wonderful workshop full of tips, tricks and techniques.

Other workshops were presented by Frances Arnold (Beginning Machine Quilting), Betty Kiser (Curved Piecing), Kathy Ethridge (TriRecs Stars), and Mary Pierson (Square In a Square).

2004-2005

In June of 2004, Fay Rawls was sworn in as president of the Guild.

Our first program for the year was “Gizmo’s, Gadgets and Gotta’s” where members brought their favorite and not-so-favorite items for us all to see. We also had a “Christmas In July” Show and Tell. Other programs included a hands-on color program by Terri Jarrett and a presentation about the Underground Railroad Quilts by Sandy Jordan. In November, our members strutted their stuff by showing the quilts that they had made for the “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” challenge, and then we Pot-lucked and enjoyed each other at our December meeting.

In October, we welcomed Barbara Barber from “Across the Pond”. She presented two workshops, one using bias to prepare a Drunkard’s Path quilt and a second one creating a continuous paper pieced border.
The guild proudly presented our 6th major show at the Oconee County Civic Center on March 4th through 6th of 2005. “Threads of Time” (Cotton Patch Quilters 20th Anniversary Show and Sale) was a very successful show, headed up by Judy Caputi. Quilts were judged by Dixie Haywood of Pensacola, Florida and over 175 quilts were shown. Members and visitors also enjoyed visiting 10 shops in the vendor mall as well as quilting demonstrations throughout the days.

Fay Rawls took the Best of Show award for “Somebunny Loves You All Year Long”, with Woodie Watson’s “Don’t Bug Me” being selected as the Viewer’s Choice. Judge’s Choice went to Francyne Willby for her piece entitled “Great Barrier Reef”.

 

Francyne Willby - "Great Barrier Reef"
Francyne Willby – “Great Barrier Reef”

 

Woodie Watson - "Don't Bug Me"
Woodie Watson – “Don’t Bug Me”
Fay Rawls - "Some Bunny Loves You All Year Long"
Fay Rawls – “Some Bunny Loves You All Year Long”

Our final workshop for the year was a Celtic Workshop by nationally known Scarlett Rose. Many of our members learned techniques that have made their way into future quilts. The final program for the year was Diane Barrett who spoke about the “African-American Quilters of Northeast Georgia”, and our last meeting for the year included a wonderful potluck, followed by a presentation of our “Initial Challenge” quilts and handing over of the gavel to new president, Mary Colley.