A great way to get perfect circles for applique is to go to the craft store and buy a circle puncher. These are found in the scrapbooking section. Using any of those annoying cards that come in magazines (or any other heavy paper), punch the number of circles you want for your project.  They are perfect everytime. — submitted by Karen Grover

When you are basting the fabric to a circle template to make perfect circles, leave a tail of thread in the color you are going to applique with.  When you go to applique the circles to your project, just thread your needle on to this tale and you will be ready to applique. — submitted by Karen Grover

To prevent the creep of the top piece of fabric finishing past the bottom piece when sewing somewhat larger squares or triangles, e.g., I use a stilletto to gently “brush” the top piece forward while sewing.  This motion mimics an even feed foot such as that which is on the Pfaff machines.  I hold the stilletto nearly horizontal to the top fabric pieces to “brush” and guide them along as I chain stitch. — submitted by Anne Brown

Have a dirty or sticky iron?  You don’t need to buy the expensive cleaners to clean it, just take a magic eraser, wet it very well and set that on a heavy bath towel to absorb the excess water.  Heat your iron and rub the iron over the magic eraser.  You would be surprised just how clean it gets. — submitted by Jo Ann Russell

Just a reminder that the bus is leaving Bethesda Church at 8:15 a.m. on the 22nd. Be there at 8:00 and park in the south parking lot. Admission to the show IS INCLUDED in the price you paid for the bus trip.

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Thank you to those who have sent me tips. Keep them coming! I’ll be spreading them out and posting one every couple of days. They will also be posted on our Facebook page.

I’ve started restructuring how the Tips/Tricks will show up on the website. Each tip will be a separate posting and appear on the home page the day it is posted. Click on the Tips/Tricks tab to scroll through all of the tips. I’ve moved the current page that contained five tips on it to the Resources section. I will be re-posting each of those tips over the next couple of weeks to fit into the new format.

Do you have an AccuQuilt GO that you would be willing to demonstrate at the July meeting? Call or email Pauline Cyborski.

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Send me your Tips & Tricks for the website. Our goal is to have TEN new tips in June. It’s okay to submit tips you’ve gotten from other quilters, magazines, websites or workshops … just make sure to give credit to the author. If it’s one from the internet, include the website address. I’ll be repeating the ones we have because I want to restructure how they appear on the site.

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I’ll be giving the website a little face lift over the summer months … nothing drastic, but the colors and some of the navigation tabs across the top may change. I also need to update the software I use and I never know what affect it’s going to have. The site may look a little wacky on the days I’m working on it, but check back at another time if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

Modern quilt made and photographed by Laura O’Connell. It should be a magazine cover!

Pretty bullseye quilt made by Sue Lacerra.

Pretty pink and green quilt made by Colleen Magee.

Table runner  made by Colleen Magee.

Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to wait until Show & Tell to see what everyone has made? Take a picture of your finished projects and send them to me for posting. Laura O’Connell has inspired me to get creative with my quilt photography, and I’ll be taking my next finished one outside. How about you?

 The June/July newsletter has been posted. Click HERE or click on the Newsletter tab above.

Thursday, June 6th, Mini-Morning Workshop, 9:30-11:30: Tissue Covers.

Thursday, June 6th Program, 1:00 & 6:45: Judy Parlato - Paint Stick Possibilities. I have decided that if any quilt project remains in my home long enough, it will get embellished with Shiva Artist’s Paint Sticks.  My name is Judy Parlato and I am a confessed addicted embellisher.  I love to share my joy of quilting and embellishing. I began my quilting journey as a traditional quilter in 1997 and then was liberated by the freedom of art quilts in 2005. I honor the designer of traditional quilt patterns by following his/her directions and then kick the pattern up 10 notches embellishing with paint sticks etc.  I have had a wonderful time embellishing my many Edyta Sitar quilts. I use photographs, stencils, and random objects as inspiration for this embellishing.  I also love whole cloth quilts.  A delicious yard of fabric sings to me and beckons design.  Viola!  A quilt is born! I have a variety of samples and techniques to share with you. A great book to review is Paintsticks on Fabric by Shelly Stokes.

Friday, June 7th Workshop: Coneflower Paint Stick Project. My crazy paint stick embellishing phase began with a whole quilt pattern called “Coneflower” by Nancy Kazlauckas.  This Cedar Canyon pattern requires one yard of fabric and 5 or 6 Shiva Artist Paint sticks.  The quilter will want to also bring several ½” or ¾” stencil brushes. The mylar stencils are included in the pattern. The finished wall hanging quilt will measure 27 ½” x 38”. Quilters will want to wear paint clothes or a smock. Class fee: $35 member, $45 non-member, 9:30 am-3:30 pm. Swedish American Hospital, use Heart Hospital entrance off of Charles Street. Click HERE for supply list.

Saturday, June 8th Workshop: Coneflower Paint Stick Project. Same as Friday’s workshop.

Saturday, June 15th, SPAM Workshop, 10-4, Cherry Valley Library: Bring a project to work on.

Saturday, June 22nd: Bus trip to International Quilt Festival, Rosemont, IL

THE SIGN-UP DEADLINE IS THURSDAY, MAY 30th, at 5:00 p.m. Call Teresa Hancock at 815-335-1084. There are a few seats left on the bus trip to the International Quilt Festival at Rosemont, IL on Saturday, June 22nd. The cost is $30 for members and $40 for non-members. It’s the no hassle way to attend … avoid driving in the horrendous road construction on I-90, paying tolls, and expensive parking. The bus will leave Bethesda Covenant Church at 8:15 a.m. and return there around 6:00 p.m.

Martha has passed away and her funeral is Thursday, May 30th at Honquest Funeral Home, 4311 N. Mulford, at 1:30 p.m., visitation at 12:30 p.m.

Martha had been homebound for over a year but maintained her membership to keep up on our news and had many friends in the guild.

Beth’s family is inviting the guild members to join them in celebrating Beth’s 80th birthday!

Open House
Saturday, July 6, 2013
2:00-4:00 p.m.
Beth & Bill’s Home
5034 Painted Pony Lane
Loves Park, IL

RSVP marybmommy@yahoo.com by July 1, 2013.