MVQ
Quilter of the Year 2010 – 2011
This year’s Quilter of the Year is a woman who has been a member for about ten plus years.
She has served the guild in many capacities in a very quiet gentle way. She has taught classes over the years at a local quilt shop in her area, she has shared her journey with us, she has been the guild treasurer and she has won ribbons for her quilting at many of our guilt shows. She co-chaired this year’s quilt show and our winner is Mary Ginn.
Ruth Martineau’s Sister Paula has passed away
Ruth Martineau’s sister Paula has died as a result of a brain tumor.
She was waked on June 2nd.
For full story click here.
WOW!
WOW!. . . .that’s something we heard a lot of as strolling through the quilt show on Friday and Saturday. Both quilters and non-quilters alike were very impressed with the great display of excellent workwomanship and also the nice variety of quilts that were entered this year. We are a very talented group of women! It was exciting to see the contribution made by some of our new members. Another comment that was heard a lot was how much everyone liked the ribbons and our new signs!
As you know, this was our first year with a professional judge, and she also expressed to us how impressed she was with the quality of work she was looking at. She couldn’t believe it was our first judged show. I hope all our members got a chance to get to the show and see their work hanging proudly whether judged or not.
Attendance was down a bit this year, but the people that did come shopped and ate more to make up for it. The numbers are in, and Ginny Platt will be tallying them up and reporting in more detail at the wrap up meeting.
A huge thanks to all the committee members, ribbon makers, worker bees, friends, relatives, and draftees that made this show possible. Pat and I could not have done this without you. It takes a village. . . We hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as we did.
Gratefully,
Pat Lucey & Mary Ginn
Special thanks to Doris, Lillian and Margaret
In Memory of Peter Hudson
Peter Hudson, Jan Taylor’s son, passed away on Sat. 3/26/11 after an 18 year long battle with a brain tumor. He died peacefully at home in Oakland, CA.
He was 41 years old, and was Administrative Manager for the Bay Area Youth Action Consortium (BAYAC). He will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and coworkers. His life was too short, but the world is a better place for him having been in it.
If you feel like doing something in his memory, give to charity. You can choose your own, of course, but Pete had two suggestions:
The American Brain Tumor Association (www.abta.org) which supports the types of research that gave him 18 good years after his tumor was diagnosed. Let’s hope the research continues so people in the future get even more time.
And, Bay Area Community Resources (www.bacr.org), designated for the Bay Area Youth Action Consortium (BAYAC). Pete’s work at BAYAC over the last decade gave his life meaning and purpose.
Infinite Variety – A Trip to NYC
When I heard about the exhibits at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City, I thought it would be a great trip. I have a niece who is presently attending college in NYC. This gave me a great opportunity to go to NYC and stay with her. I mentioned this to Carol Sullivan. We both decided it was a must do trip.
The exhibit “Infinite Variety – Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts” is phenomenal. Just walking through the door you are awestruck. It’s hard to fathom you are looking at 650 red and white quilts. The way the quilts are displayed you feel surrounded by history. 
Previously, I was never particularly fond of red and white quilts. Now I have a greater appreciation of theses two color quilts. The variety of quilts is just stunning. There were appliqued, pieced, and Hawiian applique. There were a few variations on bar quilts. Quite a few used the same block but the different color placements and settings made the exhibit all the more interesting Who knew you could do so much with just two colors. Will I be making a red and white quilt in the future? No, but blue and white is definitely a possibility.
If you can get to NYC this week, it is well worth the trip. The red and white quilt exhibit runs through to March 30th. If not, the museum will be coming out with a catalog of all the quilts in the exhibit. Once I get home I will upload the pictures Carol and I took.
Your friend in quilting,
Cathy Harnisch
Merrimack Valley Quilters 