Minutes of the General Meeting, via Zoom Oregon Coastal Quilters Guild March 11, 2021
The meeting, via Zoom, was called to order by President Meralee Wilson at 1:02 p.m.
Chris Benedetti moved to approve the minutes of the February 11, 2021 General meeting. Debbie Mosley seconded the motion. The motion passed, and the Minutes were approved without objection.
COMMITTEE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community Quilts. Sue Stephens announced the blog would notify members of the need for face masks and matching bags for children attending school. The committee is hopeful of a positive response to the blog request. The “Porch Drop” quilts made by members at the beginning of the pandemic will be made into quilts and, possibly, hung on display at the Newport Recreation Center.
Membership Booklets. Rose Shaw announced she has one-half of a box of membership directories at her house, and members are welcome to pick up their copy. Patti Stevens is in the Valley and can help deliver membership directories to those who do not live near Rose. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the membership directories will be available at Sew-It Seams.
Veteran’s Project. Ginger Dale and Rose Shaw announced on March 19, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be a sew-in at the Siletz Grange. There are thirty-eight names on the list already. Blocks can be picked up at Quilter’s Cove and Sew Hound Quilts. Also, on April 19, 2021, there will be a presentation of quilts to veterans.
Retreat. Georgia Sabourin announced she is working on contract details for the Retreat venue. Sign-up for the Retreat will begin on May 1, 2021.
Workshops. Jane Szabo announced the first workshop via Zoom will be on Friday, May 14, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Eight members have registered for the workshop. Please contact Jane by e-mail or telephone with questions.
Having no further business, Jane Szabo introduced our program and speaker. Debbie Wendt first took a sewing class in 1986 and fell in love with quilting but indeed “grew into it” when she moved to Egypt. Egyptian tentmakers are known for the expertise in making artistic panels which are then stitched together to create tents and other shelters, including those for Ramadan, funerals, weddings, parties, and other events. The tentmakers start with a pattern in which the design is drawn on paper. Needle-punched holes are made in the pattern to form the design on cloth. The pattern is laid on top of the fabric, and chalk or coal dust is used to “dust” the design onto the fabric. The tentmakers then stitch to the drawn line. Duck canvas is used for the bottom of the panel and the pattern is on top. Once stitched, the panels are tied together, using grommets to form the tent.
A popular pattern is of the lotus flower, which is more of a western influence and can be found in many panels’ design. Islamic emblems are also used. Traditionally, each family of tentmakers has its own designs. Red and blue hues are the predominant fabric colors for the panels. But other colors are also used, including an orange panel of traditional Islamic designs Debbie displayed for the members.
The first panel Debbie purchased is a teal green with pink overtones and has traditional Islamic designs. It is the size of a moderate wall-hanging. The second panel Debbie bought is a classic red/blue wall hanging with Islamic and lotus designs. One of the panels is of a jar with lotus flowers which contains some of the finest work Debbie has seen in Egypt. Debbie also displayed a vibrantly colored showpiece that AQS purchased in 2012. The design is of birds and flowers, and the extra stitches are done in Perle cotton.
When viewed up close, the panels show that the stitching is not what Western quilters think of as appropriate for applique. The stitches are not necessarily even, or the stitching straight. An indigo and white panel, which Debbie purchased through AQS, displays crooked stitches. Although the stitches are not exact, there are lots of them.
Traditionally, all of the tentmakers were men. However, the skill is now being taught to the tentmakers’ daughters and nieces. Also, tentmakers have ventured away from traditional to more modern uses of their abilities. Debbie displayed a red/black dress which she purchased at a Bedouin market. The red is cross-stitched on black fabric, and, as a result, the dress is extremely heavy. There are many stitches. A cast piece is all cross-stitched in black cloth.
Egypt has many different textile “industries.” Rag rugs are another specialty, particularly in Macadam Hill, the Coptic Christian neighborhood of Cairo. The rugs wear “like iron” and are very heavy. Tentmakers make batik fabrics, bookmarks are made from papyrus, and women are taught to weave to earn their own income.
In Egypt, there are approximately twenty to forty traditional tentmakers left.
Show and Share followed Debbie’s presentation and included:
- Julia Bailey presented one quilt, a colorful sampler quilt which was pieced, sewn, and quilted all by hand.
- Melissa Hollenbeck presented a Veteran’s quilt, which she quilted on her Juki machine.
- Marilyn Kleeman presented one antique quilt made entirely of hexagons with edge-to-edge quilting plus medallions for each of the points on the quilt borders. The quilt is bound with facing binding.
- Linda Reeve presented two quilts. The first is a 2019 full-size “Quilt of the Month” and is made up of adorable bunny blocks. The second quilt is made entirely of flannel begun by a friend and then given to Linda. It took ten years to complete.
- Nan Scott presented two quilts. The first is made of 2 ½ inch strips in which the sashing on a blue background forms colorful flowers. Nan practiced her freehand quilting on this quilt. The second quilt, which is for the Veteran’s Project, measures 65” x 74” and has a green fabric for highlights.
- Jane Szabo presented one quilt of a wall-hanging with four coffee cups. The coffee colors are very creative in that they mirror the tastes of different coffee drinkers.
REMINDERS
A reminder to the executive Board – the next meeting is Thursday, March 18, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.
The Community Quilters’ next meeting is April 1, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Waldport at Lee Palmers.
The meeting adjourned at 2:31 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara L. Kinzel, Secretary.