CFMQG Breaking News!

Lee Heinrichs - FreshlyPieced - is coming to Central Florida on February 13 and 14. We've been taking registrations for her Saturday afternoon "Advanced Piecing" workshop.

And now we have another opportunity!

"Off the Grid" from 9-3 on Sunday, February 14 (yes, that's Valentine's Day) has been added!

Members! What You Need To Do

Let us know by email before Tuesday, February 2 if:

1. you will attend the “Off the Grid” workshop. Your $80 check is payable to QGOTV and can be turned in at our Monday, February 8 Central Florida MQG meeting.

2. you’ve already registered for “Advanced Piecing” (Saturday afternoon workshop) and want to switch to “Off the Grid.” Your additional $30 is due at our Monday, February 8, Central Florida MQG meeting.

3. you will attend “Off the Grid,” and are willing to bring a design wall (the stand type is preferred). 

We hope to see lots of our members at the lecture (Saturday morning), "Advancing Piecing" workshop (Saturday afternoon), and/or "Off the Grid" (Sunday)!

Webinar! Don't Miss It!

If you missed the MQG Webinar on Tuesday evening, January 26...

"Social Media Principles to Connect with Quilters, Sell Your Goods, and Build Your Guild"

...be sure to view it! It's one of the perks of MQG membership, and it was a great webinar! See the MQG webinar here. (Note, you must be an MQG member to access it.) 

Media professional Jessica Plunkett (@moosesaymoo) presented a thoughtful, thorough, and information-packed review of various forms of social media, how they function, and how individuals and quilting-related businesses can utilize them.

In particular, Jessica focused on Instagram, a social media platform that has been embraced, in particular, by quilters. Because every Instagram post uses a photo, it's a wonderful way to share our quilts and our quilting-related questions with quilters in our state, nation, and around the world.

Have a quilting dilemma or concern?

Take a picture, post it to Instagram, and watch suggestions pour in!

As of this month, our chapter is on Instagram - @CentralFloridaMQG

We will be using this account to share and promote our chapter members' quilts and activities. We encourage all our members to create an Instagram account, and at the very least, follow us! 

Our photos will be posted as #CentralFloridaMQG, and the national MQG (@theMQG) has asked us to use #showusyourMQG so we can see what other MQG chapters are doing too!

If you haven't already, now's the time to embrace social media. It's where modern quilters and modern quilting are happenin'!

January 11 Meeting

Twenty-six members and one guest attended the first 2016 Central Florida Modern Quilt Guild meeting on Monday, January 11.

We were happy to be led by our newly-elected president, Debbie, who received applause when the meeting concluded! Debbie was previously a member of the Chicago MQG.

Our program was demonstrations of both flanged binding and faced binding. Karen demonstrated flanged binding with step-by-step samples, and provided a hand-out so everyone can give this method a try.

Beth demonstrated faced binding, showing several quilts she completed with this method, and her step-by-step samples. Of note is how to finish the top edge of a quilt with a facing and sleeve, for hanging.

Triangles at the corners make faced binding work best.

Edge stitching helps too.

Bette with "Avery's Garden," made for her granddaughter, and quilted herself. 

Karen E., - on her birthday! - brought "Remix," a quilt inspired by Libs Elliott designs.
Karen designed and machine quilted it herself.

The back of Karen E.'s quilt.

Karen T. pieced and quilted "Zen" herself.

Ruth used the Urban Abacas pattern and a Quick Curve Ruler, to create pieced abacases.
She calls this "New York Abacus," and plans to quilt it herself.

"Standing Triangles," and "Circle of Friends," are mini quilts Beth made for swaps.
Standing Triangles is fused and raw edge appliquéd, and matchstick quilted.
Circle of Friends is made with three-dimensional flying geese.

Led by Bette, and with assistance from Sandy, Jill, and Central Florida MQG members,
the delectable mountains quilt, to be given to North Lake Presbyterian Church, is complete.
President Debbie donated her longarm quilting skills to this quilt. 

Thirty-one Central Florida MQG members are participating in the Mighty Lucky Quilting Club during 2016. Members Lynette, Ruth, and Cindy shared some of their bias tape/appliqué test pieces. 

Other News

1. Six openings remain in Lee Heinrich's workshop on Saturday, February 13.
2. Sew-In dates have changed due to a chapter conflict and a conflict with the Belleview Library. See all correct dates on right menu bar.
3. Central Florida MQG has it's own Instagram account. Please follow us! And members, please use #CentralFloridaMQG when you're posting your quilt photos on Instagram. (If you don't yet have an Instagram account, go to: www.Instagram.com)
4. We now have a library! Books will be available to check out at each meeting. Refer to library policies through the "Chapter Documents" tab at the top of this page.

February 8 Program - "Modern Block Improv Exercise" presented by Mel

The February program is about playing, and practicing what we've been learning about modern quilts for the past two years. On a 12" x 12" "design wall" of batting everyone will create a mini-quilt masterpiece using only fabric scraps. When designing is completed we'll "show and tell" each one, and members can take home their project to sew into a finished piece, as desired. 

Bring:

• fabric scraps - "modern" prints are not necessary
• scissors

Batting will be provide.

The New Year!

We're starting 2016 with happenings!

First, this Friday, January 8, at 2 pm, the new Executive Committee is meeting at Panera Bread in Sumter Landing to plan our 2016 activities. As always, this meeting is open to any member who's interested in participating.

Second, we're anticipating our first 2016 Sew-In this Saturday, January 9 from 10 am to 6 pm at the Belleview Public Library. This is a great way to get to know one another better, and of course, get in some social sewing time. Bring whatever you want to work on. If you want to attend and haven't signed up, please let Karen E. know.

Third, our regular meeting is January 11, at 6:30 pm at North Lake Presbyterian Church in the Fellowship Hall. We've had a program change, so this is what you can look forward to:

"Flanged Binding, and a Facing Finish"
Karen E. and Beth S. will offer two demos.

• Karen will demonstrate how to add a very narrow flange to the binding of your quilt to create an extra visual pop. This method is accomplished entirely on the sewing machine.
• Beth will demonstrate how to apply a faced finish to the edges of a quilt. This method is used when you want your entire design and color to flow to the edge of your quilt. Beth's method incorporates ideas from Kay Sorensen of Wisconsin, and Internet tips.

In addition:

1. remember to wear your name tag, 
2. bring your show and tell, and
3. if you're a member of the Mighty Lucky Quilt Club (as 31 of our members are!), bring what you've been working on for the January Challenge: Quilts from your Sketchbook - Shapes and Curves.

NOTE: Seven openings remain for Lee Heinrich's Saturday, February 13 visit to The Villages. 

"Traditional Blocks with a Fresh Start" FREE
9:30-11 a.m. at Eisenhower Rec Center, 3560 Buena Vista Boulevard
Lee will show 15-20 quilts and discuss her creative journey, design philosophy and strategies.

"Advanced Piecing" - $50
12:30-4 pm at Eisenhower Rec Center, 3560 Buena Vista Boulevard
Take your piecing skills to the next level and sew more complex designs with advanced techniques such as foundation paper piecing, piecing with traditional templates, and partial seams. We'll spend time making several blocks from Lee's book "Vintage Quilt Revival." Students will leave with a good start on the sampler quilt from the book.
Visit www.FreshlyPieced.com for more information about Lee.

If you're interested in the workshop, send an email to CentralFloridaMQG@gmail.com

We're starting off 2016 with a bang! Hope you're ready for a fun ride!