Modern Mini Quilt Challenge Reveal

Our Modern Mini Quilt Challenge reveal took place at our May 8th meeting.  There were fourteen entries.  All the minis were so varied and brought interesting color combinations!  These were the basic challenge rules:

The mini should be no larger than 96" in total inches around. Sides don't have to be equal length

You will choose 3 colors and a background. The 3 colors chosen are based on the initials of your first, middle, and last name.  Color names that also start with that initial will be used.  These colors can be  found on a fabric color card such as Moda Bella Solids or Kona Cotton, or may be found on paint chip cards.  These fabrics will be a solid color. Background is your choice of a solid or print of a neutral color.  

Design is your own choice except that it must incorporate a modern characteristic. Finishing can be bound or faced.

The mini quilts were brought in a closed bag, and Debbie (coordinator of the challenge) then laid them out and numbered them.  Later in the meeting, we were all invited to look at the minis and write the number of our favorite on a piece of paper.  Debbie tallied the results of this Viewer's Choice, and the winners were as follows:

Karen E. won 1st place with her mini made of 4" triangles from the book "Modern Triangles" by Rebecca Bryan of www.bryanhousequilts.com

Three quilts tied for 2nd place.  Here are those winners:

 Susan makes the most beautiful bias curved pieces

 This was the first time Jane has made half-square triangles.  We think she has it down!

 Ardie made this fantastic geometric piece.

And here are the rest of these fun minis:

Debbie shared Linda's improv piece (in Linda's absence).

Bette, with another geometric

Lora, with a sneak peak at what may be an upcoming pattern....at least

that's what we're all trying to talk her into!

 Beth, with some excellent background quilting

 Lynette's very striking color combo!

(Shared by Cindy in Lynette's absence)

 Karen T, with an improv made of of cut-up pinwheels

Selina, again with big stitch quilting that adds interest

 Marie, with lots of color play!  And the back is just as fun...

Marie is our over-achiever!  This is a "map" of where she lives

 Victoria's table runner.  She thought it turned out to look like Halloween....

so she quilted it in spider webs!

Thank you, Debbie, for bringing us this fun challenge,

and thank you to all those who participated to add to the fun!

Rumor is that we're about to receive a new challenge that will be due in November.

  Hmmm.....

Looking forward to what's next!

May 8th Meeting

 May meeting was a busy and enthusiastic one, with many projects to show and much to talk about.  We welcomed our new member, Victoria, who is a fun addition to our group.  We also enjoyed the presence of two 2nd time visitors, and three 1st time visitors.  President Karen E. opened the meeting with two door prize drawings for those who wore their home-made nametags.  Kathy read a thank-you from North Lake Presbyterian Church for our quilt donation.

Beth gave a very informative program full of tips on "Quilting With a Walking Foot."  The book "Walk" by Jacquie Gering was highlighted. 

The program included an inspiring trunk show of Beth's projects, as well as other member's quilts completed with the use of a walking foot.

Cindy's project:

Mary brought in an older project of hers to point out "what worked and what didn't work",

which is always a helpful share!

There were some other walking foot projects brought in, but we'll save those pictures for the upcoming blog post on our "Modern Minis Challenge!

We also enjoyed the following  Show and Tell:

Lora made this quilt with Blueberry Park fabric and the use of the 10" slicer

 The backing fabric is Elizabeth Harman's "Rhoda Ruth"

 Lora also made this table runner using the 5" slicer

Kathy made this lap quilt in a patriotic theme for an area veteran,

along with an explanation of how we can get involved as a chapter

in this community service endeavor.

Dee purchased this Modern X pattern and fabric at QuiltCon,

finished the top at retreat, and here it is!

Kaye made this flowery panel

Linda T. completed this Weeks Ringle pattern "Beach Glass",

using the walking foot to do some incredible spiral quilting.

 The back was as beautiful as the front

Peggy(on the left), a new member as of last month, made three "tic-tac-toe" projects

for some lucky nephews

Debbie spent her time at retreat making this "Chic Diamond" pattern by Sew Kind of Wonderful. 

  The background is a gray Moda Grunge, which made several of us

want to go shopping for some!

This was Cindy's quilt, made for the MQG Riley Blake "Rock Star" challenge. 

This was also quilted with the walking foot.

There is so much more to share from this meeting.  Stay tuned for more in a "coming soon" blog.

Upcoming June Events:

June 10:  Sew-In at the Belleview Public Library from 10:00-6:00

June 12:  Meeting at North Lake Presbyterian Church at 6:30 p.m.  Our program will be "Modern Book Review", with members sharing projects made from books, along with a discussion about favorite modern quilting books.

Until then,

Happy Quilting!

Central Florida MQG Retreat 2017

Eighteen members of Central Florida MQG had our 2017 retreat at the beautiful Luther Spring Retreat Center in Hawthorne, Florida.  www.LutherSprings.com




We even had our own little quilt shop provided by Lora at Dragonfly Quiltworks!   We all took advantage of this shopping opportunity!  http://www.dragonflyquiltworks.com/etsy-shop/



An unplanned, impromptu demo of  working with rulers and the walking foot by Beth took place


Our retreat committee - Karen T., Dee, and Cindy - had several surprises for us throughout the retreat, one of which was this low-fat and high-fiber "fat-quarter dessert!"


Cindy even made us our own scented soaps rich in essential oils for a little retreat pampering



Here are pictures of various projects our members were working on during retreat:

Gravity Quilt, a Jaybird Quilts design, by Beth



Mel was "feeling the love" -



Joey will be gifting this quilt to her son's girlfriend (who must be a "keeper!")  There's a "happy mistake" in this one.  Can you find the owl?



Karen T. made this darling pinwheel quilt with Blueberry Park fabric for a 12 year old girl relative



Debbie completed the top of this "Chic Diamonds" by www.sewkindofwonderful.com
using the quick curve ruler.  We all wanted to buy some Moda grunge after seeing this!



Ardie made this striking "plus quilt".  It will be fun to see how all that negative space is quilted!



Janice, our "Mamacita", put this beauty together



After a spray-basting demo by Linda T., Cindy was thrilled to have all these half-square triangles put together and ready for quilting


Now we're home, and tackling all the unpacking.  Our 2018 retreat at Luther Springs is already scheduled.  Until then -

Happy Quilting!