Club Notes June 17, 2026

There were 14 of us celebrating our club’s 10^th anniversary today.  We had lots of good food and fun.

I started with a couple of announcements while everyone was eating.

B.J. Herter is Going to miss the next 8 meetings, since she has pulmonary rehab appointments scheduled.

Laura Tomich is currently in Freedom Point rehab. When she is released from there she will move into Watercrest Independent Living on Rt 466. I asked her to send me her new address so we can keep in touch.

Sew Together quilt shop has finally announced their move.  They are moving online and will not have a physical store.  The web address is Sewtogetherfabrics.com.

Happy birthday Eileen DiSanto.  Her birthday was yesterday, 6/16.

I asked Wayne Witczak for a preliminary estimate of how many kids are scheduled to graduate from the Sheriffs Youth Ranch next year.  The current estimate is 7 graduated in 2027.

Show and Tell: 

Bev Minnerly showed the latest doll clothes she made..

Ceal Pedersen showed her latest batch of stuffed toys.

Ellen Hein made 10 sets of receiving blankets and burp pads, plus 1 extra burp pad. She also showed her completed denim quilt.

Mic Pickard added ruffles to the collar and bottom of a t-shirt.  She said she hadn’t used a ruffler foot for a long time and had to relearn how to attach it and use it.  It came out great.

 

After show and tell, I talked about the club’s beginnings.  The following ladies attended the very first meeting on June 15, 2016.  (Note: names with * indicate they are still members, d indicates deceased.)

Eileen DiSanto*, Pat Pipa*, Mary Kahlow*, Diane Placek*, Kathy Jones, Jane Motrinec, Kathy Nichols, Susie Pendry, Carol Riggs, Chris Leedy, Nita Hand(d), Linda Lynch(d), Jane Swafford (d}, and me.

Six more came the 2^nd week:

Sue Campbell*, Donna Rissman*, Kathy Franklin, Susan Morris, Marty Rhyne, and Sheddy Reese

B.J. Herter* and Bev Minnerly* came to the third meeting.

Audrey Phillips* and her daughter Lynn DelGado*, Ellen Hein* and Lu Karatzas* joined by the end of summer.

We had a lot of other ladies come and go, but the 12 stared above have stuck with me for all 10 years. I made a little gift for each of them to thank them for staying with the club.  Mic Pickard joined us when she moved to The Villages in 2017 and has been an invaluable helper, so I gave her a thank you gift too.

The rest of the afternoon consisted of sewing and U.S. history trivia, and several games of BINGO.

Next week we will be back to sewing fun.  We are out of stuffing again, so I will bring another box next week.  We will put out the fabric for toys.  There is a constant need for the toys we make, receiving blankets, burp pads, children’s quilts, Hospice quilts(40x40), Honor Flight quilts(40x60), kennel quilts(12x18), walker bags, zipper bags, and drawstring backpacks.  I will never tell you what to make, but if you can make any of the above items, they will be greatly appreciated by our charities.  If you need patterns, just ask.  I have most of our patterns on my computer and can quickly email any that you request.

Hope to see you next week.

Lois

Club Notes - June 10, 2026

Twelve seems to be our lucky number.  It’s not always the same 12 ladies, but it has been averaging 12 of us for the past few weeks. Maybe we might have a few more next week for our 10^th anniversary potluck.

 We put out the 3.5” squares and fabric scraps for toys. I brought in some flannel to be used for receiving blankets and burp pads for the Advent Waterman’s hospital maternity unit.

After show and tell I showed everyone how to make a flying geese block with 2 background squares and a rectangle that is the same height and 2x the width. For example, I used two 3.5” background squares and a rectangle 3.5” x 7”.  If anyone wants me to show it again, just ask.

Show and Tell

Eileen DiSanto showed a receiving blanket she made.

Ceal Pedersen showed 3 stuffed cats and 5 bears     
                                                               

She also showed a doll that she was hoping someone could make clothes for (Bev?)

Donna Rissman showed two quilt tops 

and some pillows she made using a hamster panel.

On June 17 we will celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Sewing ‘N More club with our next potluck.  Remember to bring 25 pennies, buttons, or anything else you can use to mark your bingo cards. You will also need a pen or pencil to mark your trivia answers.    I hope you can join us.

 

Club Notes - June 3, 2026

There were 12 of us again this afternoon. We put out the 3.5” squares and a small amount of fabric that was donated today.  I brought a bin of white/off-white fabric in case anyone had a use for it.

I reminded everyone that there are 2 bins of fabric pieces in the closet, all appropriate sizes for making toys.  Ceal took the last of the stuffing home to stuff the toys she plans to make this week.  I have another box of stuffing that I will bring next week.

Show and Tell:

Bev Minnerly showed some of the doll clothes she made.

Ceal Pedersen showed a bunch of stuffed toys.  

Carolyn Grasso made the horse.  

Ceal made most of the others..  

Ellen Hein showed two quilts that she finished the binding on. She made the large quilt 

and I made the small one.

She also showed a quilt top she made using denim.

I showed my finished no-sew patriotic wreath.

 

On June 17 we will celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Sewing ‘N More club with our next potluck.      I hope you can join us.

Next week I plan to show you a quick, easy way to make a flying geese block, without paper piecing.

 I hope to see you next week.

Club Notes - May 27, 2026

There were 10 of us again this afternoon. I put out some horse fabric that I found in the panel bin and put out the 3.5” squares. I also brought a bin of white/off-white fabric at Ellen’s request.  I will bring a 2^nd bin of white next week.

After show and tell I started making my no-sew fabric wreath and showed everyone how easy it is.  I hope to have mine done by next week.   I’ve attached an instruction for anyone who would like to try it.

Show and Tell:

Louise Stem showed 2 pillowcases she made.

Carolyn Grasso sewed another pony 

and showed a quilt top she is working on.

Eileen St. Clair showed a quilt she made.

Ellen Hein showed two quilts that she finished the binding on.  

Carolyn Grasso made the Oriental one 

and Ellen made the other one.

Ceal Pedersen showed a bunch of stuffed toys. 

This week she made them all. 

Eileen DeSanto showed 2 pig forms she made.

Diane Placek showed some patriotic coasters she made for her weekend guests.

Jean Peters showed a man’s clothing protector and matching walker bag she made for Busy Hands.

I showed 3 panel quilt tops I made.

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On June 17 we will celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Sewing ‘N More club with our next pot luck.      I hope you can join us.

For now, hope to see you next week.

Lois