"How does our Block of the Month work?" you ask.

Whether you are a veteran guild member and have participated in many Block of the Month (BOM) events or you are new to the guild and have never heard of BOM, let me tell you this is a great way to basically win a quilt top. Yes, you heard me correctly: WIN a quilt top.

Here’s how the BOM for 2008/09 is going to work:

The guild is lucky to have two very seasoned quilters, Carol Marks and Marlene Marlowe, who have volunteered to organize the BOM for the 2008/09 guild year. They have decided to do something we have never done before with our BOM: they will be keeping some of the blocks, but let me explain!

The colors Carol and Marlene have chosen for this year’s BOM are chocolate and pink and sometimes turquoise (you will be told which months to add the turquoise). In the August newsletter, the guild sent a piece of the background fabric to be used by each member for her September block. Then at the September meeting Carol and Marlene sold 1 yard cuts of the background fabric for $5.00 a yard. Members wishing to participate this year purchased their background fabric at the meeting. There is still fabric available so even if you start to participate mid- year you can still purchase the background fabric.

Each month you will be given a different pattern to use. The patterns are available on our web site along with being sent via US mail to those members who have their newsletters mailed.

You are asked to make at least one block for each month, but you are welcome to make as many blocks as you would like. For each block you hand in, you will receive one ticket. One block- one ticket, 3 blocks- 3 tickets, etc. Each month Carol and Marlene will be taking 12 of the blocks they receive home with them. Any number of blocks over 12 will be raffled off at that meeting. One ticket will be drawn at each meeting for the extra blocks, and then all the tickets will be put in a sealed container to be used for drawings at the end of the year.

"Drawings for what?" you ask.

All the blocks that Carol and Marlene have taken home each month will be organized into kits. The guild will be purchasing the border fabric to complete the kits. The number of blocks Carol and Marlene have to work with will determine how many kits they can put together.

This is where it benefits you to bring in more than one block a month. If you bring 2 blocks every month at the end of 10 months you have 20 chances to win one of the kits.

Pretty cool, huh? That is basically how our BOM is going to work this year.

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As president of the guild I understand that not all of our members are seasoned quilters. It is my goal that this letter of explanation gives you the understanding and the confidence to join in and participate in our BOM. Both Carol and Marlene will be happy to give you a quick lesson on putting together any one of the blocks offered this year.

If you are a new member please feel free to ask Patty Kristoff or May Dudding our New Member Liaisons to help explain anything you do not understand. They would be glad to help.

I am always available to meet with any of my members.