Quilting Open house at State College YMCA

 State College YMCA is having a Quilting Open House in their Community Room
on August 14 from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm. Carol B and Becky T are leading, but the rest
of the guild is also invited to stop by and talk up the guild.

State College YMCA Community Room

Come explore how fun and beautiful quilting can be with hosts Carol Baker, Becky Trunzo, and Centre Pieces Quilt Guild.

• Enjoy quilt displays, live demonstrations, and hands-on fun
• Try easy and exciting techniques like: Exploding Pineapples, Charms on Point, and Jelly Roll Races
• Hear inspiring stories from our quilting journeys
• Play with fabric and let your creativity unfold
• Learn about upcoming classes and quilt guild opportunities

Coffee and snacks will be provided. No experience needed—just bring your curiosity. You CAN quilt—and we’ll help you get started!

Wednesday gathering - totes, totes, totes!

 Check out the photos of last Wednesday's gathering where Diane G led a workshop on making a playful stitching tote. It looks like a great time was had by all!

Peggy T showing her progress

Peggy R making adjustments

Lenore C sewing a seam

Diane G trying some new stitches

Diane G explaining the stabilizer

Cindy R at work

Barbara Z getting organized

Finished!

A show & tell from Peggy T

July evening meeting - organization, fabric shops, and more!

Co-presidents Lenore C and Diane G

What a jam-packed meeting this past Tuesday evening! Amongst the normal business-y updates, we watched a video on how one quilter organizes the different steps in her quilt making process. This is definitely something to which we can aspire! You can check out the YouTube video here

The leadership asked the guild informally polled the guild on the communication method they are most likely to access: Sunday reminder email, Facebook, and/or the CPQG website. This is a reminder that there are multiple ways to be engaged with your guild!

A lively discussion was had on favorite quilt shops both brick & mortar and online. This discussion may have led to several quilters planning future road trips! You can find the list of shops that were mentioned on the 'Links to pages of interest to quilters' on this website.

Then, of course, show and tell:

Check out the minutes linked on this website!

What are you reading?

On the hot, hot days of summer - what is better than finding a cool, cozy nook and settling in with a good book and a nice cold glass of iced tea? Keeping it quilty, what are your favorite books? I'm a long time fan of Jennifer Chiaverini and her Elm Creek Quilts series. 

Are you a lover of cozy quilting mysteries? Check out some of these authors' books:

Arlene Sachitano's Harriet Truman/Loose Threads mystery series
Earlene Fowler's Benni Harper series
Debbie Mumford's Garnet County mysteries and others

Patrick E. Craig's The Porch Swing mysteries and others

Maybe you are a fan of historical fiction - if so, check out Canary Girls or Switchboard Soldiers are a few of that genre written by Chiaverini.

Of course I'm sure we all have favorite instructional quilting books that we peruse for ideas for new projects - those by Jenny Doan, Georgia Bonesteel, Tula Pink, Tone Finnager, among others. What are your favorites? Do you have a book that you turn to when you are looking for inspiration?

Feel free to comment below if you have a favorite book, author, or series. Would you be willing to share? Are you looking for a particular book? Ask here and maybe one of your fellow guild members can help you out!

Are you ready for a challenge?

 CPQG Challenge 2025-2026

Our next challenge will be revealed at the September 9, Tuesday Night meeting. To participate, you must bring a single sheet of paper that has 1) an image of a quilt block, 2) the name(s) of the block, and 3) your name. This can be your favorite block, one you have always wanted to try, or something that inspires you. The image must clearly show the block, but it can be a photo, a wireframe, a diagram, or a sketch, and does not need to have measurements. The examples shown at the June picnic will be available at the July and August Tuesday night meetings for reference. If you cannot attend the September meeting, but would still like to participate, please email Zak K at zak.koyn@gmail.com with your submission or with any questions.

Check out the July newsletter for links to several online resources for hundreds of quilt block patterns to amaze and inspire you! 

Eye candy from quilter Kellie K.

Guild member Kellie K shared these photos of her recent projects - thanks Kellie! Kellie sends a big shout out to Alleycat Quiltworks for the quilting on all but 2 of these items!

Lap size quilt in my room and the purple dragon is a soft sculpture I did. Has wire hangers so he can be posed. PS - I finally found a craft I never want to do again!!! (The soft sculpture) My cousin Charlie in Washington state did the quilting.

Baby's First quilt! 

Queen-sized quilt for mother for Christmas. Made from gramma's and great gramma's house coats (people of a certain age will know!) that I found in the attic. 

Snail’s trail wall hanging. Couldn’t get far enough away (hanging in the hallway) to get the whole thing. 

Wall hanging in my bedroom. My cousin Charlie in Washington state did the quilting.

 

Calling all quilters-get ready for the fair!

 

Are you ready for the great Centre County Grange Fair? It will be here before you know it - August 15 through 23rd. Are you planning on entering a quilt or other quilted item? Well that deadline is quickly approaching. Your Centre County Grange Fair exhibit entry form is due July 31, 2025. 

Each person is required to pay a $2 entry fee for every 20 items entered. Entry forms can be mailed to:

Centre County Grange Fair
Exhibit Entries
P.O. Box 271
Centre Hall, PA 16828 

or you can drop your entry form off at the Administration Building next to Gate 2 or leave it in the drop off box near Gate 2. 

For more information, you can access the 2025 Exhibit Premium Book here.