Paula Jones and Helen Thornton led us in singing Joy to the World to open our December meeting. Our incoming president, Connie Hitt, entertained us by singing a quilters’ paraphrase of 12 Days of Christmas.
Connie Hitt singing
We traditionally make a quilt for our outgoing president; since Susie Jackson she has so little time for piecing, she requested we give her blocks of various sizes in earthtones and let her complete her quilt. Betty Allen collected these blocks and displayed them pinned to a sheet background. We are eager to see what masterpiece Susie will make of this interesting collection.
Blocks for Susie Jackson
Mug Rugs
We exchanged mug rugs and were amazed at the clever creations! Everyone who made one received one chosen by random drawing.
We enjoyed sharing quilts and other gifts at this December meeting. We gave 160 children’s quilts to six agencies and two long tables covered with gifts for mothers and children at Domestic Abuse Family Shelter. Their new director, Sarah Holifield, accepted these gifts. In addition to the ones pictured below, we sent quilts to the Columbia Fire Department to be given to victims of the recent tornado there.
We meet all year and make children’s quilts, but no one works as hard and joyfully as our member Joe Bingham. He made 121 quilts and completed 40 more from tops turned in by others.
 Leigh Ann Leonard, Forrest General |
 Joan Harper, Merit Health-Wesley |
 Riley Herrin and Ashton Thompson, Shafer Center |
 Shekera Smith, South MS Children’s Center |
 Robert Hall, Marcus Smith, and Seth Barham, Hattiesburg Fire Department |
 Sarah Holifield, DAFS |
After a delicious meal catered by Seasoned with Love, we had door prizes, Snippets, fat quarter drawing, and Show & Tell. Several quilts had been completed using the Bingo blocks from our last meeting.
Quilts made from Bingo Blocks
Looking forward to another great year led by new officers Connie Hitt, president; Susie Jackson, vice president; Missy Lee, treasurer; Linda Flanders, secretary/newsletter; and Ellen Hall, secretary/membership. At our January 13 meeting we look forward to hearing speakers Mary Ann Pettway and China Pettway from the Gee’s Bend Quilters.
Quilt show coming October 7-8-9, 2016! It will be our 16th Biennial! Save the date.