September Newsletter

June Potluck & Meeting Minutes

Thanks to Bonnie Atwood for hosting this June's Heartstring Quilter's potluck. The weather almost put a damper on our plans, but the rain that arrived was not enough to deter people from attending a great party. As always, the food was amazing - you'll find recipes below (from this and other potlucks: if you have one to share, please let me know). And no gathering is complete without Show & Tell. Here are a few photos.

L. Gwen Gatto Presented Elizabeth with her marriage "Owl Quilt" top–we all were so happy,
and Elizabeth seemed so surprised and pleased!

C. Vernyce modeled her $3 dress–directional fabric @ 75% off–glazed cotton (really lustrous);
also "Art All Night" in Trenton, she has a quilt submitted for sale, and will wear her dress;
willing to hire out to make a dress for someone buying from a thrift store.

R. Rose showed us a Kaffe Fassett style batike quilt–love the color combinations, and the backing;
first-time mitered corners and her own quilting.

Christina has a new baby in the family, and did a panel with some special touches in quilting;
she added her lovely colorful flying geese (below right). She has a new studio and went into Lonni's shop
and took her new line "Facets" and did a "Narrow Quilt" for her kitchen, using fine placement (above left).
Libby showed us a prototype of a few months ago that has taken a new path; beading; there is no back, so it's very transparent; very heavy; top and backing are organza; middle layer is scraps from other projects, but with the beading and the way in which the "trapped" layer was pinned and then hand-stitched, with backlighting, this is truly a gorgeous piece.

 

 

 

L. Bonnie and Joann did a quilt top 27 years ago for Lower Merion Academy, but it was never finished. Now for their 200th year,
2 weeks before, Bonnie found the quilt and finished it. The quilt pattern was chosen after viewing all the "poseys"
(Meandering Fox - Sarah) is the quilter with Bonnie.

 In Other News....

There is a new show on Create: "Quilting Arts," 6 and noon, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Susan–squares and the circles that she showed last year was selected for the quilt show in Herndon this year. Yay!

Karoline is willing to do another "zhuzhing."

Sandy:  Using Kate Themel's process (one of our recent speakers), Sandy  is preparing a workshop. Margo mentioned that we still need to find a venue, so anyone with ideas should email Margo.

Soryl is finishing her great-niece's quilt for her "big-girl" bed

Carol, a friend of Bonnie's from her Flower Club, showed us her Byzantine icons which she is learning to paint with a Russian teacher.  She starts with the deepest colors; the luminosity of the products used (some are actually very dangerous chemicals) is amazing. Hopefully, she felt welcome in our fabric-oriented midst, and will return again to show her work.

Lauren's daughter Katie is getting married in August, so she is making glass centerpieces; "Summer and Water" are her daughter's favorite places to be; with very clean design and beautiful colors of glass, we look forward to seeing pictures of the finished quilt.

The guild thanked Bonnie for her hospitality.

Margo and Christina have already put together some great programs for next year–the guild acknowledges their great work! We're asking for volunteers to replace them!

Fund raising needs to be something that we're thinking about. Community-building opportunity. We have some ideas that have been generated over time. We're considering a holiday type sale of our efforts (November).
 
Raffle quilt?

Quilt consortium seems to be drifting.
Main Line is doing a lot more charity quilts (like for Habitat for Humanity)
but they are also more "modern."

Please email Lauren recipes from our potluck gatherings.
 
Handbook–Lauren is putting something together with all our important papers, etc.

Respectfully submitted,
Marcy George
Recording Secretary


Recipes:

SMOKY CASSEROLE

Marinara sauce
Sprinkle of uncooked rice
Shredded smoked pork
Kale (broad) leaves
Top: weird fried onion things

1. Layer first four ingredients, in order provided.  Make 2 layers or more depending on how much you have.

2. Bake covered at 350 degrees until thoroughly heated.
 -Libby


CHICKEN MARBELLA  (Judy Fliegelman)

This recipe is one of those easily doubled, substitute ingredients, freezable party dishes.  Marinates overnight. Serves 8 but adding 2-4 more pieces of chicken  won’t hurt anything.  I count 2 pieces per person but I have the large breasts cut in half.

(NOTE re chicken: for this dish I like to use bone-in chicken parts as it adds to the richness of the sauce.  I also leave the skin on but trim the underlying fat very carefully, especially on the thighs.  This is really very good with boneless skinless chicken pieces too. )

16 pieces bone-in chicken parts, any combination; breasts, wings thighs etc
6-8 cloves garlic, mashed
1 tsp. oregano
1/2 c. olive oil
1/2 c. red wine vinegar or Balsamic Vinegar
1 c. pitted prunes (prunes are dried plums, I use Sunsweet in the blue and yellow can and I use the whole container of Prunes)
1/2 c. green olives, drained (can use chopped jarred olives w/ pimentos)
1-2 whole bay leaves
1 jar (3 oz.) Capers with juice

1 c. brown sugar
1 c. white wine
parsley to garnish

In large bowl with cover, combine all ingredients except the wine and brown sugar.   Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Cover and let marinate overnight in refrigerator.  Move things around so that all chicken gets to be marinated.

To bake:
Lay out chicken in one or two large  baking dishes in single layer and pour marinade and fruit over meat . Sprinkle with brown sugar and white wine. Bake in 350 oven for 50 to 60 min.  Remove chicken to serving platter, spoon some sauce and fruit over and garnish with fresh parsley.  Serve with lots of rice or couscous and plenty of the remaining sauce and fruit.   Freezes beautifully.

Video of the Month

Ted Talk: Julie Burstein: 4 lessons in creativity