Meeting Recap: February 2013

I love attending our monthly guild meetings. We have such a talented and diverse group of women and it's always fun to see what they've created (and they're all nice as can be!)

We sit around several long tables placed end-to-end so we can see each other, like a big family Thanksgiving table. We keep growing, so I imagine, one day, some of us will have to sit at the kids' table. Until then, we're one happy and together group.

While most of the chatter was about QuiltCon, which starts this week, we had a group discussion about thread. How much could you possible say about thread? You'd be surprised. It's amazing how many different brands are on the market. And while there were many commonalities among the group, we all have our own individual preferences and we like what we like and it works for us. The main idea I came away with from the discussion was that sometimes our sewing machines are finicky and you have to find the right thread not only for you, but for your machine as well. 

We also had a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! June 14-16, 2013 will be our next QUILT RETREAT! We'll be going to Bluebird Lane Scrapbooking and Craft Retreat again, which is a fabulous place! Check out the EVENTS tab on the Private Facebook page for additional details/price/times and sign up to attend!

And because I can't remember what else was said...on to Show & Share!

Many of us are participating in a Pincushion Swap that will take place at QuiltCon. We'll be swapping the pincushions we've made with those made by another guild. Here are just a few from some of our members:

Angela's cute pear pincushion.

 Shana's pincushion. Yes, there's cupcake fabric!

Elizabeth's pincushion. She made another in a different color. 

Hmmm....I wonder if she's keeping that one for herself?

This sweet little thing is Amanda's handiwork. A gazillion french knots.

 

 Some of us are also participating in the Michael Miller Madrona Road Challenge. 

Here's Stephanie with her cute mini-quilt!

Jemellia was in charge of February's Block-of-the-Month.

Here's the sample block she made...

which is awesome...

and reminds me I haven't made mine yet...

Angie just joined our group last month. I don't know if she knows that several of us have been talking about making this Art Student Tote, pattern by Anna Maria Horner. And darn if she didn't beat us all to it. She did a beautiful job on it and now I'm re-inspired to make one myself.

Agnes is working on a quilt using selvages. I know. Wow.

Mandy showed us the quilt she's making for her husband. 

You can't see it, but the blue border is hand-quilted with a large dragonflies. 

And if all that wasn't enough, we also had a couple of swaps.

First, our Solid Fat Quarter Swap. Those participating bought 3 yards of one color. We had a sign up on Facebook so that we didn't duplicate colors. Then, we cut our yardage into fat quarters and tagged them with our name, fabric manufacturer and color. I know I tend to gravitate toward certain colors, so it was fun to come home with a dozen colors that I may not necessarily pick myself.

Our second swap involved this sweet little girl.

I think she likes those bright fat quarters.

Looks like her mama is raising her right!

Hope to see YOU at our next meeting! And keep an eye out for Flaunt Your Finish the last week of February!

Meeting Recap: January 2013

2013 is off to a busy start!

We had our first meeting of 2013 this week and it was jam-packed with information, ideas and projects. Our new meeting place is great! The Neighborhood Alliance on the corner of Classen Blvd. & 36th Street in OKC is a great little building and we're happy to be able to meet there EVERY month. Please mark the second Monday of EVERY month as Guild Meeting Day on your calendar and plan accordingly. (Meaning...don't you dare schedule anything else on that day!) Our guild is growing and we love seeing everyone there!

Let's get the business portion out of the way first:

1. After much discussion and a vote, the by-laws have been amended to make January 31st of each year the deadline for annual guild dues.
2. Additionally, if you are a member of our private Facebook group, if you have not paid your dues by January 31st, you will have 2 weeks until you are removed from the group. It sounds harsher than it is, and of course, once you pay your dues, you will be re-approved to the Facebook group. So...pay your dues...we like having you around!
3. After MUCH research and discussion, our next Quilt Show will be October 2014, at the Edmond Arts Institute. There's a lot of excitement about this location, and I'll be the first to say that 2014 seems a long, long way away...but, that just gives us more time to make epic quilts.
4. Sew Day for guild members is February 2nd. Please see the EVENTS tab on the Facebook page for time, location and to R.S.V.P.

Swap, Swap, Challenge!

That's right, THREE things to possibly participate in at once. And here's where I should make a side note. Please don't feel like you have to participate in EVERYTHING. Sometimes, it's just too much and we certainly don't want to take the fun out of quilting, am I right? So, participate when you can, without guilt. -new motto

Pincushion Swap: Due at the February Meeting

This is the swap that will take place at QuiltCon, but you don't have to be attending QuiltCon to participate in the swap. Please click on the Swaps & Challenges button on the top menu for all the details.

Solid Fat Quarter Swap: Due at the February Meeting

This is a great way to diversify your stash! Each participant will purchase 3 yards of the same solid fabric (no blenders) and cut it into 12 fat quarters. For more details about this swap and how to cut fat quarters, please visit Swaps & Challenges on the top menu.

Madrona Road Challenge: Due at the April Meeting

There are still a few spots, so email us (or Jemellia directly) to sign-up!

The rules are simple:

1. Make a mini quilt with the fat eight bundle of Madrona Road that we provide (thanks to Michael Miller Fabrics!). 
2. You may add more Madrona Road prints, and/or you can add solids. No other prints from any other line.
3. Mini quilts are due at the April meeting.
4. If you sign-up, please produce a mini-quilt! They are yours to keep, but we will need to take pictures and send them to The Modern Quilt Guild and Michael Miller Fabrics.
5. In a quilt show, a mini quilt's longest side does not exceed 24 inches, so feel free to adhere to that standard.

You are welcome to post your completed quilt in the MQG Madrona Road Challenge Flickr group and on our Flickr page.

And finally....Show & Share!

Mary's amazing quilting of negative space.

Jemellia's birthday skirt for her daughter.

Elizabeth's version of our January Block-of-the-Month.

A cupcake bag and table protector for Shana to do her nails on.

Emily's tote bag for her yoga mat.

A gazillion hand-sewn hexies by Stephanie.

Kristine was gathering a ruffle to sew on this skirt during the meeting.

Andrea's Haiti quilt that holds personal meaning and will be donated to her church.

Whew, I'm exhausted. Good job ladies!

November Meeting 2012

What a meeting!  We held our first elections, made some by-law changes, discussed some other business, did a show and share, and had a talk on African American quilting by Cornelia!

So, lets start off with the elections.  Despite one write in vote for a non-existent member (HA!) the following were elected for 2013:

President:  Jemellia Hilfiger
Vice President:  Amanda Lipscomb
Treasurer:  Agnes Stadler
Secretary:  Mandy Suellentrop
Committee Chair:  Shana Harper

We also passed the following changes to our by-laws:

1) increase dues from $20/year to $30/year (prorated to $15 in July)
2)  imposing term limits for officers and chairs as follows:  2 one-year consecutive term limits for that position

We also discussed a potential future need for a outreach/promotions chair.  We will continue to look at and evaluate that need this coming year.

Charity blocks were collected and given to Angelina.  She will be working piecing the quilt top (and will make the binding).  Amanda L. will be quilting it.  A big thanks for all of the donated blocks and other materials.  We will you give you more details on who donated what in the post dedicated to the quilt itself.  :)

Various upcoming projects were brought up.  The Modern Quilt Guilds Winter 2012 Fabric Challenge will begin Dec. 1st.  The Challenge will involve Violet Craft's "Madrona Road" line.  Jemellia has ordered some fabric packets for the guild.  The challenge ends January 31st, so this will be a fast paced project.

Jemellia has also been organizing a pincushion swap with some other MQGs, to be swapped at QuiltCon.  You do NOT have to be attending QuiltCon to participate.  Your pincushion will be taken to QuiltCon for you and you will receive one in return.  So please consider joining in this fun challenge and in making connections with fellow Modern Quilters.  :)

Cornelia gave a spectacular talk on African American Quilting with regards to it's history and it's influence on Modern Quilting.  It's always fascinating to learn how so much of what we're doing as "Modern" quilters has deep roots in history.  Cornelia plans to share some book titles with us so I will be sure to post that information here when we receive it.  :)

Cornelia gave a talk on African American Quilting.

Our next meeting is our Christmas party.  Paid members can find details as to the location and time on the groups Private Facebook page under the "Events" tab.  Everyone is asked to bring a handmade gift for exchange (your gift must be handmade, but it does not have to be made by you, and it does not have to be sewn) as well as a food item for the potluck meal.  If you are not a paid member please e-mail us for details.  Hope to see you there!

And here is a recap of our show and shares:

Cornelia brought this lovely quilt top in soft purples and creams to share. 

Amanda finished her hexie pillow.  

I (Amanda) made a mini quilt top of the OKC Memorial chairs.  We're using this in some presentations to other guilds/groups.

Andrea is obsessed with Echo apparently and made this quilt top from a Fresh Lemon Quilts pattern for a wedding gift. Lucky couple!

Agnes is in the process of completing this amazing fabric bowl.  So precise...so tiny!

Shana shared a block she made that will go in a quilt for her upcoming wedding.  She's such a cutie!

Lauren was a first time guest at our meeting and shared this lovely quilt that she made for someone undergoing chemotherapy. 

And Robin topped us all by bringing her latest work of art.  Her newborn baby girl!  Way to go Robin!!!   ;)

March 2012 Meeting in Review

WOW!  The March meeting was B.U.S.Y.!  We barely had a chance to squeeze show and tells in!  There are so many fantastic things happening in our little guild right now.

We kicked off the meeting by tweaking our new bylaws.  A HUGE thank you to Trina and those who helped to get those looking so sharp.  They're looking great and are so clear.  :)

After working on bylaws we elected in some new officers.  Congratulations to our VP Crystal, Secretary Kristine, and Program Coordinator Stephanie.  We all REALLY appreciate you taking on those duties to help our guild run as smoothly as possible.

Then it was time to discuss committees.  We decided that the ones we "needed" to get off the ground and running were the Social Media Committee - chaired by moi, Amanda, Promotional Committee - chaired by Leslie, and our Historian - Cornelia.

Aren't we a go-get 'em group?!  ;)

This month's challenge is a 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" (Can also be used for the QuiltCon Challenge going on right now.) block to potentially be sent of to the QuiltCon Challenge or used in our upcoming Quilt Show.  Details on the Quilt Show to come soon!  :)

Speaking of the Quilt Show...we have a theme:  Defining [mod-ern]  We're very busy working on promotion tasks, show setup ideas, and getting ready for the submissions to role in May 1st-15th.

Other various things were discussed.  But, come on...you want to see the show and tell right?

Agnes came to her first meeting and shared several beautiful quilts with us.  This was my favorite!  So simple,  yet it speaks volumes.

We gave back our swap items at the meeting.  This was my swap item for a Elizabeth.  Just a little mini quilt.  It will be going to it's new home soon.  Elizabeth wasn't able to make it this go around.   

Angela made a darling little iPad case for Trina.  Love that pop of blue!!!

Angelina shared her Swoon quilt.  I'm swooning over those colors!

Crystal showed us her scrappy half triangle quilt that has been a long time in the making.  SO impressive!!!

Erin brought this quilt she created for her daughter's class.  This picture doesn't do it justice.  The handprints are darling, and the lettering that goes around the entire border of the quilt is just beyond impressive!

This idea was displayed on our group facebook wall and Jemellia jumped right on it!  That lady has ambition.  I like it!

Kristine made this darling little pillow cover (still in the works) for her swap item.  I may have to steal it...I love a good Cathedral Window.

Do you remember Leslie's W.I.P. Picture from last week?  Well, she made this darling little apron for Robin.  :)

See?  Darling right?!  (The apron...well, Robin too!)  Robin shared this little compass block she created.  So cheery!  (The block...well, Robin too!)

Stephanie popped in to bring me my swap items which I forgot to snap a picture of and already have scattered around my house in use!  Thanks so much Stephanie...I love every piece!!!  This is the sewing kit that Crystal made for Stephanie.  Darling!

Trina added a plum border to her son's bed quilt.

And Trina made this sweet pillow cover for Angela for the swap.

And although she wasn't present, Elizabeth sent me along with her little swap items for Leslie.  Love those owls.  :)