2015 is a Wrap!

With our monthly meeting falling on the same night as North Lake Presbyterian Church's annual Christmas concert - and parking being a huge issue - we scrambled to find a different meeting location. Happily, Sew Superior was able to accommodate us. The store sells sewing machines, and stocks a small quantity of fabrics, and lots of thread. We're very grateful to Sew Superior for allowing us to use their store when they would otherwise be closed for the evening.

Given that this holiday season finds many people away from home, we were delighted with our turnout of 22 quilters, three of whom were visitors.

Evening topics and activities were varied! Everyone was asked to bring, show and explain a non-quilting item that they use for quilting. Karen amazed us with how she creatively uses her Kona color card chips. First, she cut them all apart. Then she backed each color chip with a piece of 1"-wide magnet (purchased by the roll). Next she purchased an inexpensive set of three metal cookie sheets, and arranged all the color chips on those. Finally, she has another white magnetic board onto which she can place a piece of fabric, and then audition the color chips that might look nice with the fabrics. Such an ingenious idea! Thanks for sharing, Karen!

Donna was unable to complete her solids challenge quilt in time to enter it into last month's competition, so she brought it for us to see. This is her own design, and "sampler-quilted" on her Handi-Quilter.

Beginning with a nine patch block, Betty showed a progression of changes in those blocks to create improv-type blocks.

Beth showed two of her entries into Modern Quilt Guild challenges. This is her Michael Miller Challenge entry called "Vortex." Beth designed it in EQ7. It's pieced wonky stars, and appliquéd "streaks" sewn with metallic thread. The quilt is grid-quilted using a walking foot.

Using a bundle of gelato ombre fabrics purchased on MassDrop, Beth created this gorgeous quilt for the QuiltCon 2016 Triangle Quilt Challenge. Participants were required to use EZ Quilting Triangle Template by Darlene Zimmerman, as well as the mini 45 or 60 degree Simplicity ruler in some part of their quilt. Beth quilted this with a combination of walking foot and free motion quilting. She named it "Cut Diamonds."

P.S. Beth learned on December 16 that BOTH of the above quilts have been juried into QuiltCon 2016, in Pasadena, California. We're so proud of you, Beth! Congratulations!

And in her "Santa's Workshop," Beth busily sewed personalized Christmas stockings for her family, and the dog! She was inspired by stockings she saw that were made by Sew Kind of Wonderful.

Selina adapted this free "Holiday Forest" pattern from Lee Heinrich (Freshly Pieced) to make table runners for Christmas giving.

Jamie sewed this "Stand Up and Tote Notice" bag.

.... and a "Bionic Gear" bag with four inside zipper compartments with her own customization features.

After Show 'n Tell, members got down to business to hand sew binding to the back of our group quilt - Delectable Mountains. The colors requested from members were the same as those in the fabric line "Yoyogi Park." In 2016, the quilt will be given to North Lake Presbyterian Church as a thank-you for allowing us to hold our meetings there.

For some, this was the first time they'd hand sewn binding to a quilt!

• If you haven't yet done so, hurry to sign up with Karen for the Mighty Lucky Quilt Club. Central Florida MQG members get a discounted subscription!

• Also, sign up with Karen to participate in the latest Riley Blake challenge.

The above black and white fabric will be sent to ONE person in our chapter who will distribute to those who've signed up. Note that the Riley Blake challenge fabric must be used, and may include Riley Blake solids.

• Don't forget to sign up for our first 2016 Sew-In on Saturday, January 23.

• We still have openings for Lee Heinrich's (FreshlyPieced) "Traditional Blocks with a Fresh Start" presentation/trunk show and "Advanced Piecing" workshop on Saturday, February 13, 2016.

To register for any of these activities, email out-going president Karen, or incoming president Debbie, or CentralFloridaMQG@gmail.com

We're welcoming 2016 Executive Committee members, assistants, and committee members. Get to know our leaders! Visit the "Chapter Leaders" tab above.

Next Meeting
Monday, January 11, 2016, 6:30 pm
North Lake Presbyterian Church
Program: "A Positive Look at Negative Space" by Sharon A.
Sharon will give a media presentation about negative space, and effective quilting designs. Hand-outs will be provided. Members are invited to bring quilts that are examples of effective use of negative space.

December 14 Meeting

Due to parking lot concerns on concert night at North Lake Presbyterian Church, our December 14 meeting location is changed.

Instead, we will meet at 6:30 pm at Sew Superior (formerly A-White Sew & Vac) located at 980 Bichara Boulevard, Lady Lake. The shop is in a strip mall two doors from Winn Dixie grocery store.

Don't forget:

• bring treats to share with 4-6 others, and your own beverage
• bring an item that you use for quilting that is not made specifically for quilting
• bring any new quilting items to show
• bring show and tell
• together, we'll be hand-sewing binding to our donation quilt (needles and thread provided)
• pay $40 2016 dues, if you haven't already paid them
• sign-up for our Saturday, January 9 Sew-In at Belleview Public Library
• sign-up to volunteer for a position on a 2016 committee - Programs; Swaps and Challenges;  Charity Projects; Librarian; Sew-Ins and Retreats; and Membership
• register for 2016 Riley Blake fabric challenge, offered through the Modern Quilt Guild
• register for 2016 Mighty Lucky Quilt Club  

These things, and more, will be discussed at our meeting! Hope you can join us!

November Meeting

We had a special guest at this evening's meeting. Timm from the Mt. Dora store Sew Mini things was in attendance. Timm brought mini rulers for all of us and some great prizes for the Solids Quilt Challenge. Thank you so much for all the goodies Timm!

There were 14 entries from our group for our Central Florida MQG Solids Challenge. 

1st Place went to Frances with this large bed quilt. She said that it took her about eight months to complete it and that it was her husband that inspired her. He wanted something for their bed without wild prints and he loves the new quilt. Great job Frances.

a little bit of the close up quilting

2nd place was Beth's Sunset Ripples

3rd place was Mel's mom's, Janice, with Mod Triangle Quilt

4th place was Beth's American Made Brand Tiny Quilt Challenges

Tied for 5th place was Linda Thomas with All Squared Up and Jamie with Teals in Squares.

It was a fun challenge and neat to see all the solids quilts. Many of the participants stated that it made them go out of their comfort zones more and in doing so they also tried some different quilting techniques.

2015 Solid Challenge Quilts

It was nice being in the large room with all the quilts and the stage made it easier for a group photo.

We had several visitors attend the meeting tonight and hopefully we will call them members soon. Two of our visitors, Carol and Cara, both had quilts to share with us for show and tell.

Carol's Deconstructed Beauty

Cara's Walt Disney Birthday

Cara's Monsters Inc. Movie

                                                  
                                                                     
                                                  Beauty and the Beast work in progress

Reminder that this Saturday, November 14 is our next Sew In day at the Belleview Library, 13145 SE County Highway 484, Belleview, Florida. If you wish to attend and didn't sign up, please make sure to contact Toni or Karen as I believe all tables are spoken for. But there is still room to sew if you bring your own portable table.

Our next and last meeting of 2015 will be December 14. If you have not yet paid your $40 dues for 2016, please do so at this meeting. We have to pay dues to the Modern Quilt Guild by December 31 so we need to have all the money in. We are asking everyone to bring a snack to the meeting that would feed at least six people and your own beverage. Karen will provide paper goods.

We will all be hand sewing the binding together on our charity quilt at this meeting. Thread and needles will be provided.

Also, bring in a tool you use in your sewing room that is not a typical sewing tool. Choose something that is from a hardware store to share at the December meeting.

October Sew-In and Meeting

The Central Florida MQG has already crammed a month's worth of activities into the first 13 days of October, so it's no wonder that some of us are feeling a little tired out from having so much fun!

First up was our wonderful workshop with Sherri (see previous post) and her program, followed by our Saturday Sew-In at Belleview Public Library. We had our biggest turn-out to date with 14 quilters in attendance  We welcomed two visitors from the Gainesville MQG!

Back row, L-R: Lynn, Karen, Beth (GMQG), Susan, Toni, Jamie, Diane

Front row, L-R: Linda, Karen, Kathy, Lora (GMQG), Debbie, Kelly

(Sorry we missed you in our group photo, Beth #1!)

If you haven't yet attended a Sew-In, plan to do so! Our next is Saturday, November 14 at the library, from 10 am to 6 pm. Come for all or part of the day. 

Third in our line-up of fun was Monday evening's regular meeting at North Lake Presbyterian Church. Thirty people attended, two of whom were visitors. 

Briefly looking into 2016:
February 13-14 - Lee Heinrichs (FreshlyPieced) is coming from Wisconsin to give a program and lead a workshop. More info to come.
May 5-8 - Central Florida MQG retreat at Luther Springs. More info to come.

Of course, many of the quilters who were in Sherri Lynn Wood's improv class brought their projects to share.

Looking at the variety of designs, you might not guess we were all in the same workshop!

Our meeting speaker was Al Lawson, owner of Sharky's Vac 'n Sew on Highway 301 in Wildwood.

He shared information about sewing machines and their care, threads brands, fabrics, and basically entertained us with his stories and knowledge. Quilters in attendance who knew the right answers to questions were rewarded with several giveaway items - sponges, needles, thread, thread stand, batting, and the like. We really appreciated and enjoyed Al's program!

Don't forget to show your Central Florida MQG membership card for 10 percent off your Sharky's purchases.

Selina made a placemat using a mini tumbler template, and hand quilted it with #5 pearl cotton. 

Kathy made a bag of tumbler shapes using Kaffe Fasset fabrics.

Linda and Beth entered the American Made Brand "Tiny Quilt Challenge." Out of 228 entries, they were both in the top 12 winner's group! Linda's "Spherical Realm" placed third in appliqué; Beth's "Check Mark" placed third in piecing.

They won the same prizes - a 31 fat quarter bundle of AMB solids, an AMB color card, and an AMB tote bag.

In addition, Beth's off-set squares quilt was also selected by AMB to be part of the 40-quilt display! 

Gainesville MQG visitor, Lora, showed four Wedge Table Runners she made.
This is her own design using the freezer paper piecing technique.

Lora also showed her "Roxie Bag," another of her own designs.

Linda showed "Triangle Tango," a design she arranged using EQ7.
The quilt is domestic machine quilted with three different all over quilting designs.

Karen's "Mid-Century Modern Medley" is a design by Mark Lipinski.
She quilted it herself, and added flanged binding, a new technique to her.

Looking Ahead

• Members will soon receive an opportunity to vote electronically for the follow slate of 2016 officers.

President:  Debbie BookmanVice-President:  Beth ShuttyTreasurer: Susan Simone1st Media Coordinator:  Linda Hungerford 2nd Media Coordinator:  Jamie Naylor

Even though candidates are running unopposed, it's important that we have a majority response in order to install these quilters at our December meeting. Watch for an email with a link to vote. Thank you!

Our bylaws allow two individuals to share a position. Both the Vice-President and Treasurer "second" positions are open. 

• 2016 chapter dues of $40 are being accepted now through the end of 2015. If you're writing a check, please make it payable to Central Florida Modern Quilt Guild, Inc.

November Activities

• Our November 9 meeting is at North Lake Presbyterian Church, as usual. However, we are moving our meeting room from the classroom area to the Fellowship Hall. Enter by the same doors, follow the hall, turn right, then left into the Hall. This means we have more room to grow. Bring your friends!
• The November 9 meeting is the reveal of our "Solids Challenge." Kelly will be at the door to accept your entry. Please bring it hidden, in a bag or tote. Attendees will vote for their favorites with winners announced, and a participation prize given. Timm from Sew-Mini Things quilt shop in Mount Dora will attend to award prizes.
• November 14 - monthly Saturday Sew-In at Belleview Public Library.

December 14 Meeting

• Outgoing executive committee and incoming executive committee recognized.
• We'll revisit the continuum that many members saw (and placed their initials on) in January. Let's see how you've progressed as a modern quilter! If you aren't familiar with the continuum, MQG members may watch Jacquie Gering's MQG webinar "Modern Quilting: You Know it When You See It" here.
• Bring your non-sewing room notions to show and share. This would be an item from an office supply store or hardware store that you use in your sewing room.
• Binding Bee! Together, we'll be hand-sewing the binding down on our charity quilt. Thread and needles provided, but please bring your thimble. 
• No December Sew-In