How does our Block of the Month work?
Whether you are a veteran guild member and have participated in may Block of the Month events or you are new to the guild and have never heard of BOM, let me tell you what a great way to basically win a quilt top. Yes, you heard me correctly WIN a quilt top.
Here is how it works:
The guild has two very seasoned quilters that have volunteered to organize the BOM for the 2007-08 guild years, Debbie Symonds and Margaret Grande. They have decided to do things just a little differently this year with our BOM, let me explain. If you attended the June guild meeting you were offered a packet of 15 block patterns to take home and keep. You all know the price of patterns and here you are getting 15 patterns for free just because you belong to the guild. Be sure to check the back side of the EQ5 patterns for further instructions. The BOM packets are available at every meeting; it is never too late to begin participating.
If you chose to participate you are being asked to make one block per month. Here is where it gets a little different than other years. You can pick any one of the 15 patterns in the packet; all Debbie and Margaret are asking is that you use fabric that coincides with the fabric theme they have selected. There is a list of fabric themes on the front of your packet for each month.
Now if you are new and do not know what Debbie and Margaret are talking about when they list words like Batiks, 30’s, etc. Please don’t worry. There will be someone at the meetings with Fat Quarters to sell that would fit the theme perfectly. What is a Fat Quarter you ask, a fat quarter is a piece of fabric cut 18 x 21 inches. If you do not want to purchase your fabric at the meetings that is fine, we are offering it so new members can view the sort of fabric that should be used and also to give members the convenience of picking up fabric they may not have in their stash at the meeting.
To also make life a little easier for all of us this year’s Fat Quarter Exchange will be fabrics that are used in the next month BOM. Never heard of a Fat Quarter Exchange, let me explain: you the member brings in a fat quarter that coincides with the theme for that month. When you hand your fabric to Lisa Initi or the member collecting the Fat Quarter’s, they will in turn give you a ticket stub. They then take all of the fat quarters and divide them into packets. They then pull tickets and a few lucky guild members win a packet of fat quarters. Now those winners have won the fabrics that next months BOM should be made from. Pretty neat huh!
Now back to the BOM, you now have the fabric and the pattern to participate. You are asked to construct one block a month. It doesn’t matter which of the 15 patterns you chose, just be sure to check on the theme of the fabric so your block blends with other blocks handed in that month. When you hand in your block Debbie or Margaret will hand you a ticket. Once again they will divide up the blocks that were handed in that night and some lucky member will win between 8 and 12 blocks. The numbers of blocks you win depend on the number of members that participate each month. Good reason to do your blocks.
So if you are one of the lucky winners and you assemble your blocks into a quilt top, guess what, like I said in the beginning of this letter – YOU WON A QUILT TOP!!!!!
As president of the guild I understand that not all of our members are seasoned quilter’s. It is my goal that these letters of explanation give you the understanding and the confidence to join in and participate. Both Debbie Symonds and Margaret Grande will be happy to take you aside at the end of a meeting and give you a quick lesson on putting together any one of the blocks offered this year. If you haven’t met Patty Kristoff our New Member Liaison look her up. Patty has volunteered to help our new members get acquainted with the guild. Patty also teaches quilt classes. She to would be glad to help with any quilting questions you have.
I am always available to meet with any of my members.
Sharon Kubich