News & Updates

Updated September 7, 2008

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Helen Kelley: It is with extreme sadness that we report the passing of Helen Kelley, one of Minnesota Quilters' founding members, on Sunday, August 31, 2008. Helen was an internationally renowned quilter and teacher, who was inducted into the Quilter's Hall of Fame in July, 2008. She was a columnist for Quilters Newsletter Magazine since 1983 and the author of six books. Helen's quilt, Renaissance, was selected by the International Quilt Association as one of the 100 Best Quilts of the 20 th Century. We will miss Helen's enthusiasm, warmth, creativity, and friendship.

There is a memorial service scheduled for September 12. You can view the details here.

The MQ 2008 Fall Getaway information is now available on the Events page. The Getaway will again be at the University of Minnesota Forestry Center near Cloquet, Minnesota. The accommodations are very comfortable, the food is great, the surroundings are peaceful (and pieceful!), and the people are friendly. This year you can register online or use a mail-in form.

October meetings: Bonnie Bosma shares her story of teaching longarm quilting to refugee women in a mission located in Kenya, Africa.

Check your membership date. Some time ago, amid a mix and mingle of new and old databases, we lost everyone's original membership dates. Check out your membership date on your Memberclicks profile. If you can remember what year (or approximate year) that you joined MQ and want to have this date updated, please contact our Business Manager, Becky McPeek , either by e-mail at quilter@mnquilt.org or by phone at 612-436-0449 or by mail: Minnesota Quilters, Inc. 3000 University Avenue SE, Ste. 120, Minneapolis MN 55414.

2008 Minnesota Quilters' Award Winners: A list of the Minnesota Quilters 2008 Annual Show and Conference award winners is now available. Thank you to everyone who shared their quilts, including judged, non-judged, children, and special exhibits. Click here to see the list of winners.

Important Parking Reminders: When you attend an MQ meeting you can park (legally!) in the Ostvold parking lot, accessed by the alley off of Arthur street just west of the Textile Center. In case you don't know where that is, here is a diagram.

Remember, you cannot park in the business lots across University Avenue from the Textile Center or in the Nano Computer lot in the back. They will tow!

Introducing Online Membership Management! As of January 1, 2008, Minnesota Quilters, Inc. introduced our new online Membership Management feature. If you are a Minnesota Quilters' member you will be able to update your membership information online, change addresses, renew your membership online, and register for the annual quilt show. Go to the Membership page for detailed information.

Quilts of Valor: Offer comfort and express thanks to wounded service men and women. For more information about how to help, visit the web sitewww.qovf-um.org or contact Marcia at MStevens@brainerd.net or Page Johnson at pagej@frontiernet.net

Home of the Brave Quilt Project
The Home of the Brave Quilt Project is an effort to make and deliver a quilt to every family that has lost a soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan. For more information on the project, see www.HomeoftheBraveMN.org or contact Jean Loken to learn how you can help with this effort: phone 952-431-7435 or email sandjloken@att.net

Library Notes
Please contact the MQ librarian if you would like to suggest books to be purchased for the library. Anything quilt-related, including fiction, history, and children's books will be considered.

Library hours: Monday & Wednesday: 9am - 1pm; Tuesday: 9am - 7pm; Thursday: 9am - 1pm & 5pm - 7pm; Friday: 12noon - 4pm; Saturday: 9am - 1pm

The Textile Center Library space is available for textile exhibits. There is wall space and a locking display cabinet for small items. The space is available to all participating member organizations. If you are interested in having a library exhibit, please contact the MQ librarian.

The Textile Center Library contains thousands of books and periodicals about quilting and all of the other textile arts. As a member of Minnesota Quilters, you may check out any materials for one month.

Minnesota Quilters, Inc. (MQ) is a volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to the celebration of quilting. Our activities and events are structured to honor the past, celebrate the present, and nurture the future of this time-honored traditional craft in all its forms.