Thanks for such an awesome job making our doll show a grand event. You are all part of a fantastic team. There is no way anyone could do this without such support. Thank you all so very much. Huge thanks to Desi for accepting the honor of being doll show chairperson in the future. I know she has a wonderful team to work with. Thanks to Jan for great graphics on our posters and flyers. Thanks to Meagan, Margi, Sue, Marty, Lauren, and Margaret for such clever, inspiring make and takes. Thanks to Desi for such a nifty kid themed snack area. Thanks to Courtney for being our photographer. Thanks to Margi for setting up the mini-raffle. Thanks to all those who displayed their collections. I loved the variety this year and ROADKILL was a huge hit. Thanks to Margi for such a complete display of our work for “quilts of valor”.
    A few days after my surgery I received this beautiful bouquet of flowers in a gorgeous rose pink vase. The bouquet has rose and purple carnations, yellow daisies, green berries, baby’s breath, ferns and other greenery.
    Thank you all so very much for brightening my day! I’m still enjoying them; there is nothing like flowers to make you feel better.
    Thanks to Barbara H., Dusty and Penny for the great cards.

    There were loads of wonderful items in the Mini Raffle, and lots of people looking and trying to decide. Many times I saw the kids ponder and ponder which item they should take a try for. It was a lot of fun and I think everyone liked it. Thank you to all those who helped out and worked.
    An extra thanks to Sharon who worked longer to help me out. And thank you for all your generosity in your donations, everything was so nice, the wall hangings were beautiful, the scarf's were beautiful, the chickens were fun, the stuffed animals everyone liked, the sweatshirt, the tote, all of it was so nice. The pillowcases were so colorful, the toes too cute, the fabric bowls, and the kits were wanted by many, our basket was so nice, thank you to those who contributed money and thank you to Nela for those extra goodies. Everyone loved the doll, and hand made items were so pretty and that calendar was too cute (thank you...that is what I won) (For all those that were there when we drew names - my Lauren is still excited about her scarf ~ I know you will understand that comment)
    Personally I thought all in all the Toy and Doll Show was great fun and Nela the fabric on the cans is gorgeous and Desi the tables were too much fun. Again, thank you, Margi Duffy

    A great big thanks is due to those who did a Make and Take It tables! They were a great success and the Kids seemed to love them! Thanks go to.... Lauren Duffy, she was a great help at the doll show helping the kids color! Thank You Lauren! It was amazing how well Miss. Sue's woolly creations went! Even the boys joined in and many had patience to work on this project. Thank You Miss. Sue! All of the kids were talking about Miss. Marty's fossils! They were a great attraction and each child received a fossil as a goody. Thank You Miss. Marty! Miss. Margaret's table was a blast to be at! The Kids got to see the effects of alcohol and permanent markers and got to take home a charm square that they did. Thank You Miss. Margaret! What could be more fun than coloring? Margi had a table where the kids got to take home a finished block that they had colored.

Thank You Mom!

Meagan Duffy

    As most of you know we are now making quilts for the babies of soldiers that have been sent to Iraq. In a attempt to help defer some of the cost, I have written a whole bunch of letters to fabric manufactures asking for donations of 100% cotton. We have gotten a good response so far. I have 2 boxes of fabrics and fabric swatches, as well as one other box on the way and a few other promised.
As well I have written local clubs and groups asking for monetary donations to help offset the cost of sending the quilts out to various hospital.
    Thank you cards have been written and sent, if you are interested in writing a separate thank you to any of the companies let me know and I can give you the address.
    As well for those of you who have order a Yellow Brick Road baby kit from me, they have been ordered. I will hand them out as soon as I get them.
    This is such a wonderful thing to be involved in and I know that the receivers will be blessed also. A huge enormous thank you to Sally Cunningham who most generously donated a big bag of beautiful fabric for these quilts. You go Girl!!! Remember that with the baby quilts and also the quilts for soldiers you are more than welcomed to include a personal note.

Margi and Meagan Duffy

Edyth Irvine
My husband and I moved from Claremont, California 5 years ago after retiring from teaching in public education. We love the blue sky, clean air, and mountains. My quilting experience is limited. I took a class at "Sew it Seams" one year ago and only do machine quilting. I joined Calico Quilters because Jo Bacon invited me to join the group and said you were a great organization of women. (She also said she would drive!) The monthly classes looked like fun and I felt they would motivate me to quilt and also make new friends.

Pat Smoogen
I'm a retired teacher having taught elementary school children in the Wilsona School District (Antelope Valley) for 21 years. My husband, E.L., and I retired and moved to Mammoth in June 2000 because we love the outdoors and the wonderful opportunities the Sierras provide for year around play--hiking, biking, backpacking, skiing, snowshoeing. Sewing has been a part of my life since I was a teenager when I learned to sew my own clothes through a 4-H class. When my daughters were young, making their clothes was necessary if we were to stay within the boundaries of a young family's budget. However, quilting has become a passion of mine only in the past five years as retirement has provided me enough time to explore pattern, design, material. I joined the quilt guild for several reasons--to be inspired by the talents and enthusiasm of fellow quilters, to learn new techniques, to enjoy the companionship of a group of people who have the same interests.

Sherrie Williams
I was born and raised in Pasadena, CA. I married my high school sweetheart and we lived in the Monrovia-Duarte area the next 48 years. We have 2 sons and 1 daughter. The past 27 years I managed a neurosurgeons office practice. I retired last October 19th and moved to Big Pine 2 days later. We have always loved the area but never expected to live here. WE LOVE TO FISH!!!. I have sewn and crafted all my life but never quilted. I've found being a member of Calico Quilters a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted . I want to thank everyone who has made me feel so welcome.

Judy Speed Castleberry
I am proud to say that I am a new member of this fine organization. Everyone has been so friendly and so helpful and I am really enjoying the world of quilting and all you ladies.Thank you very much. Just a little background information about myself and my family. My husband Don and myself bought our home in Big Pine in 2001. Don retired from the Department of the Navy in January of 2002 and moved up here in October of 2002 to become the new owner of Dalton's Appliance Store. In March of 2004, I retired from the Department of Defense and moved up to our new home in Big Pine. We really enjoy it here. It is so beautiful and peaceful. I have five wonderful sons with lovely wives, nine grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Don has two fine sons and two lovely daughters with thirteen grandchildren and six great children. I am really looking forward to getting to know you all better and learning to be a Calico Quilter.

• A huge hug and a gigantic thank you to Virginia Cannon for her generous contribution to help with the postage for our quilts for soldiers. It is your kind of generosity that make a project like this work. Thank you Virginia. /
• Dusty "Funky Chicken" Majors would like to remind that 2005 is "THE YEAR OF THE CHICKEN''

    I had so much fun at Road 2 Ca. Barbara and I attended two luncheons I thought the food was delicious and the entertainment was enjoyable and inspirational. The lady from England (Jennie Rayment) was very humorous and her quilts are most unique but the best part was the strip tease at the end. I forgot which luncheon but there was a whole room full of people and we shared a table with a lady from Mammoth (Pat Smoogen), what a small world. Pat has decided to join our guild Yay!
    We had two full days of lectures from Linda Taylor (the longarm quilting guru) what an inspiring lady. She does all custom quilting and just dreams the patterns up as she goes along (much like our Jan I think). Now I wish I lived in Dallas Texas so I could hang out at her shop.
    We also attended a lecture on kimonos from Jane Colburn. I didn’t realize I’ve always pronounced this word incorrectly. I say kah-mono, the proper pronunciation is kee-mono. I couldn’t believe what they cost $ 30,000 to $ 80,000 with $25,000 for the obi. The traditions attached to them mean that you may only be able to wear them once or twice in a lifetime and they can’t be passed down as that is a huge insult to the fathers (they can’t afford to buy their daughters new ones).
    The lecture from Nancy Chong on Hawaiian quilts was very informational as well. The big take home lesson for me was that a Hawaiian quilt design should be your own-something that has meaning to you. That is why you can’t buy a “real Hawaiian” pattern. Nancy also informed us of the 5 characteristics of Hawaiian quilts.

Debi Earls and Barbara Stuhaan

    At this year's annual picnic, we will be having a quilter's garage sale. That means here is a great way to donate those patterns/books that you are never going to make, or that fabric you are wondering why you were purchased it to begin with. But it just might be that exact color or pattern that someone else has been searching for. And then of course there are those treasures that someone just can't live without.
    So, clean out those drawers, go through those baskets and boxes, filter through your fabric stash and for those who have lost control, pull all that stuff from under the bed and donate it to our garage sale.
    As well, if you are interested in selling something on your own, you are welcomed to bring that item on the day of the sale, and handle the transaction.
    We will start collecting these quilter's treasures at the March meeting.

Thank you, and I better get started myself...Margi Duffy and Carole Sample

Quilt as you sew placemats - Margi Duffy

* 1 piece for the main focus approx. 6 1/2" X 15" -You can use an embroidered piece or a large piece of your favorite print.
*1 fat quarter -Should be a Coordinating solid for strips on either side of main fabric and binding
*Assorted prints 1/4 to 1/2 yd
* Backing 15" X 20"
* Batting 15" X 20" ( I used Pellon)
* Sewing Machine
* Usual sewing supplies
* Rotary Cutter, Ruler & Mat

Come and join us - it will be a fun time! Special Door Prize! Margi and Meagan