May Meeting

The May 6 meeting of the Central Florida MQG saw a good turnout of 23 attendees, six of whom were first-time visitors. We're thrilled that regular attenders are expressing their desire to be involved in the modern quilting movement by becoming dues-paying members (only $15 dues from now through December 2013.)

This new meeting arrangement, at Sharky's Vac 'n Sew, proved helpful for everyone to get better acquainted and share in our program discussion called "Make it Modern."

This month we talked about Modern Style and Design, looking for and finding in various pictures and patterns of modern quilts, these elements:

• inspired by modern art or architecture

• simplicity, minimalism

• reinterpreted traditional blocks, called “Modern Traditionalism”

• alternative block structures, lack of visible structures

• negative space

• asymmetry

Thursday evening, May 16 at 7:00 p.m., Lora Douglas (Gainesville MQG) and Linda Hungerford (Central Florida MQG) will present a program - "What is Modern Quilting?"- to Country Road Quilters of Ocala (FL), and others who wish to attend. The meeting is at St. Mark's Methodist Church, 1839 NE 8th Road, Ocala

Show and Tell

Gae and one of the three Moda Bake Shop quilt tops she brought to show.

Carly shared the flags she made to send to the Vancouver MQG who hopes to collected 500 of them during their "To Boston With Love" project. A special exhibit of the flags will be displayed in Boston on Memorial Day Weekend to remember those people involved in the recent Boston Marathon bombing. If you'd like to make a banner, get sewing! Flags are due May 21. More information can be found here.

Carly made this quilt for a girlfriend's birthday.

Denise and her HST quilt.

Linda T. shared this quilt top made with 16 fat quarters of fabrics by Ringle and Kerr.

Carol brought three completed projects that will be given this summer as graduation and wedding gifts. The first two are Yellow Brick Road pattern, by Atkinson Designs, the last is a laundry bag.

Jill showed her finished Trip-Around-the-World quilt, made according to instructions shared by Sheddy at our March MQG program.

Jill also made a nurse quilt for a family member.

Sandy and Jill show their "Pinafore" bags, by Three Sisters... and how nicely they coordinate with their attire.

Betty shared her FPP quilt top, sewn with batiks.

We appreciate everyone's participation in our lively program discussion, and for sharing their unfinished and finished projects during show and tell. The June 3 meeting will see us continue to focus on "Make it Modern" as we discussion modern quilting techniques such as improvisational piecing and pixellated quilts.

The June 3 meeting will also be our Apron Runway Challenge. Everyone is invited to make their own modern apron, using a pattern you may already have, a pattern you wish to purchase, or a free pattern from one of these many options.

Happy sewing!