March Meeting Recap

The March meeting gave us a great time of getting to take on each other's unfinished project challenges. In an activity we called WIP 911 (WIP- works in progress), three members brought unfinished projects or blocks that they needed help getting unstuck on.

Sarah brought some blocks she received in a sewing bee, and members had ideas not only for layout, but also for chopping the blocks up and making them more blocks with more continuity.



Stacie brought a quilt she'd finished and sandwiched probably 10 years ago- and still loves!- but can't figure out how to quilt it. We heard several great suggestions including an orange peel design, and also to take into account that the bold fabrics might obscure any overly detailed quilting. Thanks for sharing!



Elizabeth brought in old quilt blocks from a swap that she never really loved. They are all stockings in different sizes, and  our group suggested everything from making a Christmas tree silhouette out of them, to hanging them on a quilted clothesline, to making it into a tree skirt.


It was a fun activity and good to get all of our creative juices flowing!

In some GREAT news, our charity quilt for Quiltcon 2017 has been found! It was lost in the postal system and sadly never made it to Savannah (so sad!), but we are happy it is safe and with us now.





We also had a great bunch of show and shares!

Sue is the queen of awesome minis, and she brought in three great ones this month, all in very different styles. Loving the thread spool mini!








Sarah brought in her quilt journal for February. Love how unique these all come out!



Jennifer made an adorable heart quilt featuring musical fabrics for her musical family!



Diane brought a quilt she finished for a client with great triangle quilting-



And a beautiful almost-finished quilt for her son and future daughter-in-law as a wedding present.



Mandy brought in a great tote that she made with the help of a class from fellow guild member Karen Munger. So stylish and usable!



And Sarah was awarded an ACE pin for Art! Woo hoo!



Thanks to everyone for another great meeting! Don't forget to order a t-shirt and sign up for our retreat in June (more info in our newsletters/Facebook group).

Last week for buying Hip to be Square raffle tickets

After months of selling tickets, it's about time to draw a winner for our OKCMQG Charity Quilt!



If you've been putting it off, don't waste any more time before buying your tickets and supporting Anna's House Foundation, providing Foster Family Support in Oklahoma.

Go to the button on the right side of our blog where it says "Donate". Tickets are 1 for $1 or 6 for $5. Tell your friends! Spread the word! We want to give Anna's House as generous a gift as possible!

#QuiltsforPulse Charity Drive

We share in the collective grief for all of the victims and survivors of the mass shooting at Pulse in Orlando. In conjunction with the Orlando Modern Quilt Guild and the National Modern Quilt Guild, we are participating in a quilt drive.

We are asking our members to make blocks following the Love Wins pattern by What the Bobbin.

Members need to have blocks to Maria A. by July 21; we will be receiving more info via email, meetings, and our Facebook group.

If you would like to participate individually, the Modern Quilt Guild has info for you on their website.

Quilters know that sewing and quilting is an act of love and a gift of comfort to the recipients, and has been so for hundreds of years. Let's show our love and support those who are suffering now. <3

Block by Maria

Block by Elizabeth

2016 Charity Raffle Quilt: Hip to Be Square

We are thrilled to unveil Hip to Be Square, the 2016 Charity Raffle Quilt made by members of the Oklahoma City Modern Quilt Guild! 

Yes! YOU have a chance to win this vibrant quilt! 

Details on how to enter are at the end of this post.

Hip to Be Square

Hip to Be Square is a collection of approximately 100 vibrant colored squares made by dozens of OKCMGQ members. 

Guild members were given the direction to make a 6-inch or 12-inch block of concentric squares using solid colored, 100% cotton fabric. They could use any color (except shades of brown) and were required to use at least 3 different colors per block. The widths of the concentric squares were up to each sewist.

The blocks were collected and assembled into a quilt top by guild member, Leslie Lamb.

The quilt was then quilted, using a cotton batting, with various free-motion designs by guild member, Beth Furnish of Bunza Quilting.

All proceeds from the raffle will benefit The Anna's House Foundation, a community of several homes in Luther, Oklahoma dedicated to providing foster children with a stable and nurturing home environment until a more permanent/long term foster or kinship placement can be found.  This unique community serves as an alternative to the continuously over crowded shelter system and the high probability of multiple moves. 

A black cotton binding frames the quilt and makes the colorful blocks pop!

Oops! I almost forgot the back (literally). Hip to Be Square has a smattering of colorful blocks on the back and measures approximately 75" x 79". 

ENTER NOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

1 Chance = $1.00

6 Chances = $5.00

Winner drawn July 31, 2016

Purchase your chances to win with our 

Raffle Quilt PayPal button at the top of the sidebar. 

Online purchases must be a minimum of $5.00. 

That's 6 chances, which is more bang for your buck!

All tickets (online and physical) will be combined. 

The winner will be drawn July 31, 2016 and announced here, on the blog. 

Winner will be contacted the same day via email or phone.

Thank you for your participation and best of luck!

Christmas Stockings for Anna's House

Anna's House Foundation is a community of several homes in Luther, Oklahoma that are dedicated to providing foster children, ages birth to six years old, with a stable and nurturing home environment until a more permanent/long term foster or kinship placement can be found.  This unique community serves as an alternative to the continuously over crowded shelter system and the high probability of multiple moves.  The OKCMQG is committed to providing a quilt to each child upon their arrival to the community. As most kids arrive with very little, these quilts will belong to each child and provide warmth and comfort to them wherever they may go.

OKCMQG President Shirlene Davis presents the stockings to Shelby Henrici from Anna's House.

We did it!

Thank you OKCMQG members! We achieved our goal of making 135+ Christmas stockings for Anna's House! Undertaking a task such as this is quite a process. Here's how it all went down.

When Anna's House requested Christmas Stockings for approximately 135 children in foster care we quickly said Yes! and set a date for a stocking Sew Day. With each of us taking a different part in the process we came armed with ironing boards, cutting mats and sewing machines. Much of our fabric was donated by members (Thank you all!) with the Guild providing additional supplies as need.

Every quilter and sewist knows you can't begin cutting until your fabric is pressed, so two ironing stations were immediately set up. We even had a visitor who saw our Sew Day advertised on this blog and came and pressed for several hours!

We used a FREE STOCKING PATTERN found on the site So Sew Easy and fabrics and linings (oh yes, they were lined) were cut. We had a terrific assortment of fabrics, most of which were not Christmas-themed...because, honestly, what kid wouldn't want a stocking with M&Ms or Minions on it?!

Stockings and cuffs were coordinated and cut, while linings were cut from muslin.  And don't forget the stocking hangers! Just prepping the pieces for assembly was a big undertaking. At the end of the day, only a dozen or so stocking were actually completed. The remaining stocking pieces were then grouped and placed in bags as kits for members to pick up and complete at home.

The stocking pattern was easy to sew, but our brilliant Agnes knew there was a quicker method. Thanks to her great sewing hack, we were able to be a little more efficient with our time. (See sewing hack at the end of this post.)

With most of the stockings assigned for home construction, a second Sew Day was scheduled to cut and complete the remaining stockings.

We achieved our goal and Agnes had cupcakes on hand to celebrate!

A BIG THANK YOU to the following:

• Melissa for organizing the project;
• Jemellia of Je's Bend for fabric donation;
• Newchurch for use of your wonderful facility;
• Sew Day 1 pressers, cutter and assemblers;
• Agnes and her wonderful short cut;
• Trish of Journey Quilt Company for use of your beautiful studio;
• Sew Day 2 sewists; and
• YOU! 

We couldn't have done it without everyone working together!

Stocking Sewing Hack:

Follow directions on So Sew Easy to download stocking pattern.
Cut stocking and lining as directed, but cut cuff 15.5" x 9".

To Assemble:

1.   Cut stocking cuff in half. You will then have two pieces cut 7.75" x 9".

2.   Line up two sets of stockings: outside - cuff - lining (Make sure toes point the same way!) Sew with right sides together inserting the stocking hangar between the cuff and lining on the side of the heel as shown above. 

3.   Place the two long pieces right sides together on top of each other. Mark about 6 inches on the calf area of the lining. Do not sew this area. 

4.   Sew around the perimeter of piece, leaving open the 6 inches you marked. Trim seam allowance with pinking shears or snip curves to ease turning. 

5.   Carefully pull stocking through the opening and turn right side out. As if top-stitching, sew the opening closed. Tuck lining into body of stocking, easing it with your hand. Fold over cuff.

6.   Sew a few stitches to reinforce hangar. 

Stocking is complete!

Moore Love Quilt Project: Wrap-Up

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all who donated to our Moore Love Quilt Project. The outpouring of support and quilts has simply been amazing and we can't thank you enough.

 To date, we have collected over 400 quilts!

I happened to pick out one of the quilts that a guild member gave a co-worker who lost everything in the tornado. A couple of days later, I just happened to be at the business the night she received them.  With tears in her eyes, she thanked me for the quilts. She was so grateful as they reminded her of the trunk of quilts her grandmother made that she'd just lost. The workmanship on the quilts she received were beautiful, "just like my grandmother's workmanship", she said. I felt completely unworthy, and yet so fortunate, to be the one accepting the gratitude that was really meant for the generous quilt maker.

A thank you note from a quilt recipient.

Where the quilts came from:

• From independent quilters and quilt guilds around the nation (including Hawaii), and as far away as Australia!
• A group of 3 and 4 years olds from New York. Their artwork was transferred to fabric and used as blocks.
• From a daughter who finished and donated a quilt in honor of her mother, who started the quilt but was then affected by Alzheimer's Disease.
• From a woman who had a family member who survived the devastation at Plaza Towers Elementary.
• From a woman who saw one of the teachers talking about protecting the children on T.V. and thought, "I'd love for her to have a quilt", and then made one.
• From quilters in Florida who lost their own homes in Hurricane Charley and gave as a way of saying "thank you" to those who so generously gave to them.

Personal notes accompanied many of the quilts.

Where a few of the quilts went:

• A sweet boy who lost his mother and home. Weeks later, when he received a quilt, he was still in the hospital recovering from his own injuries.
• A woman who lost her home and a trunk that held quilts made by her grandmother. The chest is still unaccounted for.
• A woman who stayed at one of the schools until all the kids were reunited with their parents.
• A Moore music teacher with two small children who lost her home and car. Quilts passed down in her family were lost, so receiving quilts had special meaning.
• A man (see photo below) injured in the tornado because he was still recovering from knee surgery and was unable to climb into shelter.

While collecting all these beautiful quilts, I learned a few things:

1. Be prepared. As quilters, we should always have a quilt or two on hand that can be given away. The day after the Moore tornado, while we were in the middle of a meeting discussing what we should do to help, I received a notification text from our Facebook page from quilters in Birmingham, Alabama that said: "We have 40 quilts! Where can we send them?" Just like that, before we even knew what we were doing!
2. Create the best you can. I was constantly amazed by the workmanship of the quilts we received. Several times I found myself saying, "I can't believe someone would put that much work into a quilt and then give it away to a stranger!"
3. Give generously. Not only were the quilts beautiful and well constructed, they were also numerous. People didn't just send one quilt (which is wonderful enough) but often two or more quilts were in each box or box-es, plural. I received three boxes from one woman and one 43 pound box from another that contained 13 quilts!

Label on one of the quilts.

Once again, thank you so much for donating your quilts. I know the recipients are all feeling the love and support that each quilt represents.

We've tried our best to photograph each and every quilt received and invite you to peruse our Moore Love flickr page.

Thanks Again!

OKCMQG