The March 16 Sew What Table was a resounding success!  I know, you've heard me rave about the great results before, and it just keeps getting better.  Here are the highlights:

• We had a record number of people show up:  127 signed in.  
• We banked our 2nd highest amount in at least 4 years.  
• We left The Joslyn Center with 58 empty bins!  That means that you, dear shoppers, went home with a lot of great stuff!  That included everything from gorgeous fabrics to color-sorted bags of scraps; from quilting cotton to flannel and fleece to non-(traditional)-quilting-cotton.  
• In addition, we emptied 6 boxes of notions, tools and patterns.  
• AND we sold a sewing machine and a serger.  
• New members joined the Guild and received $25 gift certificates, which they promptly spent!

We drew names for not one, but TWO "shopping spree" prizes.  The winners each had 2 minutes to fill a tote bag with the fabric of their choice.  In addition, we gave away 10 small bags of fabric and notions as door prizes.  

We're taking donations for the next Sew What Table, but it's not for a while, so you have time to sew some great projects with the fabrics you bought on Saturday and get ready.  If you have relatively small amounts of fabric and notions, you can bring them to me at the Joslyn Center any Tuesday between 9 and 11:30, though I would appreciate a "heads-up" email or call to let me know you're coming, to make sure I have room in my car for them.  If you have a large donation, please contact me to make arrangements.  And if Tuesdays don't work for you, please contact me.

The volunteers who made this event possible are many: Thirteen people prepared fabrics and notions for the sale; and 22 worked on the day of the event, several of them also working the day before on setup.  The total number of volunteers who brought the Sew What Table to you is thirty!  

The next Sew What Table event will be on December 7, so mark you calendars now.  See you there!

SEW WHAT TABLE 

 SAT., NOVEMBER 4

Joslyn Senior Center

If you are wanting to bust your stash or have someone in your friendship circle or family member who needs to get rid of fabric please call. 

All funds received from the sale goes to help the general fund.

To make a donation, please contact Leslie Herbst at info@cvquiltguild.org

SEW WHAT TABLE RECAP

SATURDAY, MAY 20

Many, many thanks to everyone who helped out with the Sew What Table on May 20 – from those who donated fabric and other stuff, to those who helped measure, tag and price everything, to the ones who helped set it up and run it, and clean up afterwards – AND those who came to shop!!  There are a lot of people involved in putting on this event, and it pays off every time! 

We raised money to operate the guild and signed up 5 new members.  Philanthropy collected 4 quilts, 9 placemats and 12  burp cloths, and gave out 14 more burp cloth kits.  It was too late in the year to allow many of the snowbirds to come, so our attendance was down from February; 70 people signed in.  And while I was sick and unable to attend, myself, I did hear from quite a few people that THEY HAD FUN!!  And for me, that alone makes the event a success! 

We tried out a couple new things this time.  We arranged the tables differently and were able to get more tables in the room, displaying more fabric at one time.  That seemed to work out well.  And we added a new procedure to make the check-out process faster.  It seems to have been an improvement, and we’ll continue to tweak the process for even greater improvement. 

Next Sew What Table will be Saturday, November 4, from 9 to 11.  So mark you calendars, plan to come, and remember us if you have any quilting fabric, tools, or notions you can donate.  Drop off small donations any Tuesday at The Joslyn Center between 9 and 11:30, or at any scheduled Philanthropy drop-off, or contact me to make arrangements.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED ….

The Sew What Table held on February 18 was another huge success!!  This has become the Guild’s major source of revenue, over the 3 events we have through the year. 

Shoppers came out in record numbers:  85 people signed in to shop.  I should mention that our crew of 20 people working at the event also shop – I’ve never included them (us!) in the door count before, and I’m not sure why.  I will include this count from now on.  (I do know of one additional person who is out of the country and had a designated shopper buying fabric for her!)

We also signed a record high number of new members:  16 people joined at the event and received $25 gift certificates.  Philanthropy collected quilts and placemats, and shoppers showed appreciation to the Joslyn Center for hosting us, in the form of cash and non-perishable food donations.  18 gift certificates were redeemed, giving away $450 in merchandise!

But the most notable aspect of the event, as far as I’m concerned, is how much fun everyone had!!  When I see smiles on faces, and when people come up and thank me and other crew members, I know we’re doing something right.

AND WHAT’S NEXT …

Now is the time to start collecting new fabrics, tools, and notions for the next Sew What Table – which will be held on Saturday, May 20.  If you’ve been thinking about cleaning out your stash, this would be a good time.  If you know someone who has a large stash to give away, please put them in touch with me.  Here are some guidelines for the things we’re looking for:

Quilting Cotton –

·        yardage

·        small pieces of at least ¼ yard by WOF or at least equivalent to a fat quarter

Other fabrics may be accepted if they are typically used by art quilters or applique makers, such as good quality wool, silk, lace, etc.  (If you’re unsure – ask.)

Batting

Tools and notions – new, or used in good condition

Patterns – for quilts, accessories, home dec items.  No clothing patterns, please, except things that include typical quilting/appliqueing elements – of interest to quilters

Books and magazines, as a rule, are not accepted, unless they are unique, of interest to antique collectors, or otherwise very out of the ordinary.  (If you’re unsure – ask.)

SEW WHAT TABLE FIND

We currently have one good “workhorse” sewing machine for sale.  It’s a Kenmore 158.17600.  You can look it up …I found only one similar to it for sale on the internet, with no power cord or accessories, for $100.  Ours DOES have a power cord and foot pedal, but no other accessories.  Our favorite sewing machine mechanic has taken a quick look at it and deemed it saleworthy.  Note, this does NOT imply a thorough inspection and certification – just a quick opinion.  (Thank you, Cheryl Taylor.)  No guarantees are offered.  I’ll entertain nearly any offer for this – just want to find it a happy home.

WHAT ELSE WE NEED …

We’re currently looking for additional people to help in a couple areas:

-        accept donations of fabric and notions and get them to our storage unit

-        measure and price yardage in preparation for the next sale (I will provide training, to make sure we’re all doing the same thing)

If you’re interested – contact Leslie Herbst.  Guild members have my contact information in the directory.  Non-members, please send an email to info@cvquiltguild.org. Provide contact information and I will reach out to you.

And remember … If you join the Guild as a new member at any Sew What Table, you will receive a $25 off your Sew What Table purchase!!

Sew What Table

Saturday, April 23, 2022

9am to 11am

Well, our hard work paid off!  A huge thanks to those people who volunteered to prepare, setup, staff, and clean up after our Sew What Table on Saturday!  I know you worked as hard as I did, and everyone did their part extremely well. The event ran smoothly and the flow of traffic was handled expertly!

How’d we do, you want to know?

The event was fantastic!  I really thought that with some of the Snowbirds having departed, the number of shoppers would be smaller, and the financial support to the Guild would be less.  I was half right:  54 shoppers signed in, (though we think a few may have slipped through without signing in), compared to 68 in January - plus, of course, our staff of 15, who also get to shop!  But our membership, our Friendship Group neighbors, The Joslyn Center’s support, and the sewing community at large, came through in a big way because we raised exactly $10 more than we did in January!  Plus, 5 people redeemed a total of $125 worth of gift certificates.  And we’re on track to exceed our goal for the year by a wide margin!  So thank you, thank you, thank you to those to came to support us!  

In addition to what we raised for the Guild, shoppers contributed more than $140 to The Joslyn Center, plus food for Penny’s Pantry.

Keep telling your friends about the Sew What Table.  The next event - in the Fall - will be a little different!  Stay tuned for more details later in the year. 

If you have fabric to donate, or any questions about the Sew What Table,  or if you have input to help us improve our events, contact me -- I’d love to talk to you.  I’m particularly interested in expanding our promotion of these events, so if you want to help with that, please let me know.

I don’t have a Sew What Table Finds item for you today.  Maybe we’ll run across something great for next time!  Till then – keep quilting, and have fun!!

Sew What Table

Saturday, January 15, 2022

What a wonderful sale Leslie Herbst and her team put on at the Joslyn Senior Center.  There was more than enough wonderful fabric, quilting tools, books, patterns and much more to go around.  If you are a scrap quilter you could fill a large bag for $1 of a wide variety of scraps.  Altogether they made $3292.32 to help fund guild activities.  

Thank you to Leslie and her team and to all the shoppers for raising so much money.  Watch the email blasts, website and newsletter for the next Sew What Table event.

SEW WHAT TABLE!!

SATURDAY, MAY 15

9:30AM TO 12:00PM

 Saturday, March 27, 2021

 Joslyn Senior Center parking lot

The Sew What Table on March 27 was a huge success, thanks to all of you who came out to support the Guild!  There were 41 people who shopped in our outdoor location in Joslyn Center’s parking lot in Palm Desert.  (Some even came back for a 2^nd go at it!!)  And we raised over $2000!  Lots of people thanked us and said they had a lot of fun – including me and ALL of the other people who helped staff the event – and I heard a lot of comments about the quantity and variety of fabric, notions, and books that were available.  We collected $150 in donations to the Joslyn Center, and some people brought food for Joslyn’s food program.  Our thanks go to Joslyn for supporting us, even though they’re closed due to the pandemic.

We have received new donations that we will be getting ready to offer to you at one more Sew What Table before summer.  Keep an eye on the Guild website and watch your email for the announcement.  If you’re not on our mailing list and want to be added, send an email to newsletter@cvquiltguild.org or go to our HOME page and click on the link at the bottom. You do not have to be a member to receive the newsletter, or to participate in the Sew What Tables.