Good-bye to 2020 and Welcome to 2021. We have a lot to look forward to this coming year: the promise of Covid-19 vaccines, some much needed rain this winter, and the continued friendships within our quilting community.
We have scheduled Zoom presentations for some of our upcoming general meetings and a Zoom workshop in February. While Zoom is not optimal, it is our best approach right now to continue our quilting fellowship. Our sincere hope is to have in-person gatherings by the fall and to renew our face-to-face friendships.
In the meantime, remember to submit your 2021 membership application and dues so we can continue to meet, to offer programs, and to continue our community efforts.
Thank you all, Penni Simily
A message to members, from our President:
Quick Links:
Scroll down to "Upcoming Events" for more info
Our Mission
Promote the preservation of traditional needlework and quilting techniques,
while encouraging experimentation in contemporary application of these techniques.
Educate the public in general about the value of artistic, handcrafted quilted items.
Encourage cooperation, fellowship, creativity, and quality craftsmanship.
Sierra Mountain Quilters Association
PO Box 1359
Oakhurst, CA 93644
Meetings held at the Oakhurst Community Center* (unless otherwise announced) at 39800 Fresno Flats Rd (Road 425B), Oakhurst, CA 93644
*Due to current restrictions, all meetings will be held virtually until further notice.
Click on, or hover over a photograph, to see information about the quilt.
Virtual Show and Tell
Community Quilt - Paws Furever
Whew! Now that was definitely a work of heart for the both of us. Patty loves dogs and Lissa adores cats. We both worked so hard on the Eastern Madera County SPCA community quilt. We both have embroidery machines and enjoy making quilts, so we each did a number of embroidered blocks of dogs and cats to begin with. Then the borders were put on the blocks and we chose a background. That was fun! Going shopping for fabric! This was all before Covid-19 reared its ugly head, thankfully; otherwise it would be a different story. Next, we tried to figure out a layout for the quilt. That was a lot harder than we thought. We put the blocks on Patty’s flannel board and cut the sections that would attach them all together. We were both thankful when that was done. Next to decide on a quilter. Well, that was a nobrainer: Jeri Carney to the rescue. We decided it needed something in the center of the quilt, and Patty came up with a fun phrase: Paws Furever. How cute is that! We are both sad that we cannot do a show and tell at a guild meeting, but you can see it here on the SMQA website and the August 2020 newsletter.
Submitted be Lissa Metzger
THANKS FROM EMCSPCA Thank you to the SMQA for the lovely quilt you donated for our Eastern Madera County SPCA raffle. I had the pleasure to call one of our own, Betsy Anne Youngholm, with the news that she had won the quilt and she was extremely excited. We are so pleased that a member of our SPCA and, of course, a member of the quilt guild, was the winner. Our total income from the quilt raffle was $2,681. Thank you to the two artists and to the quilt guild for this wonderful donation.
Sincerely, Nancy L. Swanson EMCSPCA and SMQA
Upcoming Events
See calendar below and program page
for more information
 February 4, 2021 - Twin sisters Lora and Lisa will be presenting: Overcoming Quilting Disasters: Horror movies are less scary than when you have a HUGE problem with a quilt! Bleeding and shredding and tears, oh my! Chin up, my quilting friend; help has arrived. Enjoy twin sisters, Lora Zmak and Lisa Norton of MaterialGirlfriends.com as they provide you with numerous solutions to Quilting Disasters. Have a particular problem? Bring your quilt and questions and enjoy their humor and expertise. |  Confetti Hunter Star Workshop: Check off one of your ‘bucket list’ quilt projects by joining twin instructors, Lisa and Lora in a Hunter Star adventure. Learn a revolutionary technique that super simplifies the cutting and piecing of the Hunter Star Block. NO Y SEAMS! No special rulers! Be encouraged to mix and match your block halves to easily create one of the four different Hunter Star settings included in the Confetti Hunter Star pattern by Material Girlfriends. Laugh and enjoy the sisters’ |
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 Confetti Hunter Star workshop February 5th, 9 am to noon February 6th, 9 am to noon Another colorway and layout |  Confetti Star adventure - one of four different Hunter Star settings included in the Confetti Hunter Star pattern by Material Girlfriends. |
 Lora and Lisa of Material Girlfriends will be teaching Confetti Star via Zoom February 5th and 6th, 2021. See the program page for more info. |  Presentation on March 4, 2021 “Edgy” Borders can just be there, or they can be what defines your quilt and gives it real visual impact. Do not settle for the quick and dirty. A little extra piecing can create tremendous attention getting results. One definition of edgy is having an intense or sharp quality. Borders: plain or pieced. What will give your quilt the best possible visual impact and how do you decide? |
 Ice Dyeing Workshop - Janet Morita instructor. Date to be determined |  Janet Morita - presenter for guild meeting. Date to be determined. |
 "Grand Convergence Quilt" Workshop - Date to be determined. |  Quilted Chair Workshop by Chris Hudson - Date to be determined. |
 Guild Meeting with Presenter - Rachel Clark. Date to be determined. |  Workshop with Rachel Clark - Date to be determined. |