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Tuesday, December 24, 2013

SURVEY RESULTS ARE IN!


 
 
 
We emailed out surveys last month asking YOU want you wanted to see for OUR Central Florida Modern Quilt Guild in 2014, and received 18 completed surveys. 
 
AND YOUR REPLIES ARE ....... (Drumroll......) 
 
Interest in participating in a Block of the Month:      5.6 average (out of 0-10)
 
Number of times per year to participate in a Sew-In:  4.6 average
 
Interest in a workshop participation (with costs of $15 - $40 fee):  8.2 (out of 0-10)
 
Interest in shop-hop or quilting-related day trip:  5.47 average (out of 0-10)
 
Interest in attending 2015 QuiltCon (possible location is Austin, Texas): 4.8
     (2 people responded a 10, 1 responded a 9, 2 responded an 8, and 2 responded a 7)
 
Interest in participating in a group project to make North Lake a "thank you" quilt:
     8.25 average (out of 0-10)  WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THE MEETING ROOM!!!!!
     16 people offered to make one or more blocks
      6 people offered to sew together completed blocks
      3 people offered to baste and layer
      1 person offered to quilt
      3 people offered to be on a team to coordinate this project
 
Interest in sharing your 5 minute "quilting story" at a meeting: 10 people
 
Interest in sharing a quilting tip at a meeting:  9 people 

 topics you want to learn more about in 2014:
free-motion quilting (lots of interest here!),  components of modern quilting, choosing a quilting design that compliments the pattern, designing patterns, balance and what makes a quilt visually appealing, short-cuts, modern fabrics, color, use of negative space, wonky piecing, random design, making a name-tag, and more .....
 
THANK YOU to those who submitted programs that you may be willing to deliver (we will be contacting you!)
 
THANKS TO ALL WHO COMPLETED THIS SURVEY!   If you still have a survey to submit, please do so .... we still want your input!
 
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A FUN AND EDUCATIONAL TIME TOGETHER IN 2014!
 
 


Saturday, December 21, 2013

Next Year

The Modern Quilt Guild has recently sent member reminders that the Riley Blake Challenge deadline is February 17. 

Revealing Our Riley Blake Challenge
Our chapter has chosen to participate in the challenge among ourselves, and have set our finish and reveal deadline for the Monday, January 13 meeting - 6:30 p.m.

Thirteen CFMQG quilters are participating, so we'll no doubt see some creative designs at the reveal. If you have a challenge entry, please remember to be at the meeting by 6 p.m. so we can hang/display the pieces. Everyone attending the meeting will be invited to cast a vote for the Riley Blake Viewer's Choice Award, which will be announced at the meeting. 

After the meeting, a separate judging will occur, using the skills of experienced modern quilters Marny Buck and Jill Guffy of Ames, Iowa, co-owners of Modern Quilt Relish. Marny and Jill have previous experiences selecting "Best Modern Design" winners for other MQG chapters. Criteria for choosing a winner will be based on the elements of modern quilt design - not technique - since they will be selecting a winner based on the photographs emailed to them. The Riley Blake Best Design Challenge Award will be announced on this blog, and by email. The winner will be awarded a 15-piece fat quarter bundle of Riley Blake Medium Dots.

Other MQG chapters across the US are participating in the challenge. Check out Kansas City MQG's recent Riley Blake Challenge reveal.

Central Florida MQG January Program 
Also at our January 13 meeting, we'll enjoy a special program by our own talented Doris who will help us understand "Color, Hue and Value" and how those characteristics relate to modern quilting.

Karen, our new chapter leader, and her leadership team are working on some exciting activities for 2014. Are you up for: 
a swap?
a challenge?
a workshop with a guest speaker?
making a thank-you quilt for the church where we meet?
a few Sew-Ins? 

These are among some of the things being planned for 2014 and we hope you'll be part of it! Our chapter has been thriving for 15 months because you are saying, "yes" when asked to participate and help. In 2014, we hope you'll continue to make Central Florida MQG the "happenin' chapter!" 

Don't forget to wear your home sewn name tag to the January meeting! If you're in need of name tag inspiration, check out all the ideas here

We can't wait to see you next year!

Friday, December 20, 2013

An Opportunity


You could have a quilt in a new Improv Book for Modern Quilters! Get all the information here.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

About Last Night, or... Our December Social

Nineteen quilters attended our first annual December Social on December 9. It was a great opportunity to get better acquainted, and talk about our favorite and least favorite sewing and quilting notions. Several people really stepped up our request to bring "one or two notions to share"... and brought a half dozen or more! Thankfully, those on the "favorite" side were in greater supply than those that were bad-mouthed as "unfavorite."
Gloria liking her binding tail joining tool
Frieda touting her bodkin, for pushing out point corners
Denise enlightening us about the many uses for sewer tank lining!
Denise and her comic book cards for fabric folding and storage.


Doris shows us a seam ripper, a tool we love to hate.
Karen and her Kona color card
Linda and her favorite 1/8"-thick nested circle acrylic rulers
Jill tells about her favorite Aurifil thread
Sandy likes her Martinelli rotary cutter
More than one quilter likes her magnetic bowl, from an automotive store.
Terry likes her magnifying seam ripper
Linda likes the flexible, fusible tape for joining batting pieces.
And, her dangerous-looking stiletto!
A quilt top by Carolyn
Sandy, who quilted this wreath herself
Sharon with her modern batiks quilt
longarm quilting
For the first time, we were able to get a picture of the group that's been responsible for getting our chapter off the ground.

We're grateful for the generous leadership of these quilters: (left to right)
Karen E.; Linda T.; Doris H.; Denise L.; Mel T.; Gae N.; Brenda H.; and Linda H.  

Missing from our group picture, yet not to pass unnoticed, was also valued input from Carla S., Sheddy R., and Carly W. Thank you everyone!

We're especially grateful for Karen's willingness to take on the chapter's leadership role beginning in 2014.

Monday, November 11, 2013

November 11 Meeting Review

What a great turnout for our November meeting!

Twenty-two quilters were in attendance; three of them were first-time visitors! We're happy to see such interest in modern quilting.

Linda won one of our door prizes.

Beth gave our 12-Minute Tip... which may have gone slightly over 12 minutes.

She showed us numerous items, purchased from a home improvement store, that can be used for quilting.

Our program was - "Make a Hottie" - where we shared what we'd made with Insul-Bright, one of the products included in a box of batting and other products donated by The Warm Company to Modern Quilt Guild chapters across the US.

We saw curling iron holders...

hot pads...


more hot pads...

table top protectors...
Carolyn
Updated to add: If you'd like to make the table top protector/hot pad that Carolyn showed (above), the five-minute YouTube video is here: How to Sew a Hot Pad, Triangle Version, by Brandi Frey

a potato bag...

... and a shoulder bag for a Kindle or tablet. Insul-Bright is placed in back of the tablet pocket, to keep the heat off your lap,


Joan
Joan
Rebecca
Rebecca
Beth - a Weeks Ringle design
Beth
Carolyn
Linda - a Weeks Ringle design with Victorian Modern fabrics
Looking ahead...

DECEMBER 9:
  • Program: "Favorite and Unfavorite Tools and Notions" - The program is for everyone to share one or two tools or notions that you can't sew without, or that you wish you'd never bought.
  • Social Time: Bring an appetizer or dessert to share with 4 to 6 people. Drinks and paper products will be provided. 
  • Brainstorm: We'll have a general discussion about possible programs and activities for 2014. 
JANUARY 13, 2014:
  • Program: "Color, Hue, and Value" by Doris Hulse
  • Riley Blake Challenge Reveal - Everyone who received a challenge packet will show their completed project.
  • Quilter Spotlight - A new, get-to-know-a-quilter time will begin this month, and continue throughout the year.
FEBRUARY 10, 2014:
  • Program: "Circlin' Around" by Beth Shutty
All meetings are at North Lake Presbyterian Church, on Rolling Acres Road (behind Home Depot) in Lady Lake, Florida. We hope to see you at a future meeting!

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

October 14 Meeting

Twenty quilters turned out for our monthly meeting! Though there was an unanticipated problem getting into the building (Locks had been changed and our quilter hadn't received the new key!), we managed to conduct most of our business meeting outdoors, while waiting to be let in. We're grateful for the beautiful Florida weather we've been enjoying!

Once inside, in a new-to-us, larger, well-lit room, we got down to sharing some quilting.

Brenda gave a 12-Minute Tip about how to easily sew a Windmill block.

Three quilters who are participating in the BAM BOM shared their latest blocks: "Woven." (See BOM list on menu bar at right. Please join in!)
Beth, Gae, and Linda
Linda gave the "Hexie Craze" program, explaining and demonstrating different ways to make hexagon quilts - using the Hex 'n More ruler, and with English paper-pieced hexagons.


Made by Brenda with Kaffe Fassett fabrics
Back side of Brenda's quilt
Designed and free motion quilted by Doris
Quilt top made by Frieda
Designed and quilted by Carly
Made and tied by Pat


Riley Blake Challenge fabrics were distributed. Participants are asked to follow the national guidelines when making their projects.

  • Make anything you want as long as it is quilted!
  • Add in any solids or Riley Blake printed fabric.
  • You do not need to use all the fabrics given to you.
Those who have an individual MQG membership will find information here. CFMQG finished challenge pieces will be shown at the January 13, 2014 meeting.




November 11 Meeting - "Make a Hottie!"
Also distributed to October meeting attendees were various specialty battings for use in the oven or microwave. These were donated to us by The Warm Company. Our quilters are asked to use these battings to sew items for the November 11 "Make a Hottie" challenge. Everyone is invited to participate whether you received batting at the meeting or not.

Simply make anything suitable for use in the oven or microwave - such as a potato bag, pot pad, pot holder, bowl buddy - using modern fabrics. The item is yours to keep or gift, as you choose. Bring your finished item to show at the November 11 meeting, noting where you found your pattern. That information will be posted here at a later time.

We're still looking for regular attenders to wear a homemade name tag. Lots of ideas are out there on Flickr!

Don't forget to upload pictures of your modern quilts to our own Central Florida MQG Flickr group page! This is especially useful to our long-distance members. Can't wait to see what you've been working on!