Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Quilt Alongs

If you're interested in joining a quilt along through a blog, Instagram or Facebook, here are a few suggestions. The first one listed isn't necessarily modern, but it could be with the use of solids and modern fabrics. The other two are definitely modern. All of them are free!

1) Year of Scrappy Triangles (#yearofscrappytriangles) is led by Leila Gardunia (@sewnbyleila) at www.SewnbyLeila . Each week Leila is offering a free 6-1/2” square (unfinished) foundation paper pieced block. Here’s the link to the first block: http://sewnbyleila.blogspot.com/2017/10/block-1-year-of-scrappy-triangles.html
If you need to learn how to foundation paper piece, Leila offers a tutorial here: http://sewnbyleila.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-ultimate-guide-to-foundation-paper.html

2) The Bernina Zen Chic Quilt Along (#berninazenchicqal) is being led by Brigitte Heitland (@zenchicmoda). It too is mostly, but not all, foundation paper piecing to make pieced 60-degree triangles that finish into a queen-sized quilt. Find this one on the Bernina blog: http://blog.bernina.com/en/2017/08/bernina-zen-chic-quilt/

3) The Wayward Transparency Quilt Along (#waywardtransparencyqal) is being led by Yvonne Fuchs (@quiltingjetgirl). This is a great way to learn about color and value. Steps are given to make a 48” square or 68” square quilt. Go here to get started: https://quiltingjetgirl.com/wayward-transparency-quilt-along/

If you come across a modern block-of-the-month or quilt along, send us an email so we can share it with all our members. Thanks! 

Thursday, November 16, 2017

November Meeting - Part 2

We saw so many great-looking modern quilts with the entries in our chapter's challenge! (See previous blog post.) It's wonderful to see how many of our members are producing quilts with modern aesthetics. Our show and tell also saw quite a few modern quilts. Yay mod quilters!

Dee (quilterdee) and a mini made from her Sew Sampler Box 
Pixelated Sewing Machine
A Sew Sampler Box pattern made with Kona's solid color of the year, Pink Flamingo.
Wiggle Me Colourful made with Alison Glass fabrics
Wonky Bright Diamonds by Zen Chic 
Mary's finish from our July 16 "Leftovers" workshop with Debra Jalbert (madeofhonorquilts)
Mary's quilt made using a fat quarter from the now-discontinued Central Florida MQG Birthday Club 
Treasurer Kathy (themagnoliatree) has a new granddaughter! Congratulations!
Jodie (simplykidsocala) shared her Arrow Quilt, a pattern by Initial K made with Kona solids
Merry Christmas by Maker Valley
A Moda Bakeshop pattern called Tropical Punch made with Canyon fabrics by Kate Spain
Joey's (joeysmithfla) pumpkin quilt top, a design by Cluck Cluck Sew
Beth (blue_dragonfly5) made this quilt entirely from up-cycled fabrics (clothing) that came from Sherri Lynn Wood (sherrilynwood) who collected them from a dump. Beth used an old sheet for backing. 
Beth made several Sew Together bags for Christmas giving
These are Interleave quilts
Frances made this patriotic quilt for our host church's pastor to give to a WWII veteran
Made during our spring quilt retreat, and domestic machine quilted by Margaret
Made by Ardie

Ardie's favorite Christmas quilt
A king-sized "Rudy" made and longarm quilted by Victoria
Becky (rchianese26) made this transparency mini using the free Single Burst Mini Quilt pattern designed by Yvonne Fuchs (quiltingjetgirl) for Fresh Quilting TV. 
Linda also made a mini quilt using a free pattern from Fresh Quilting TV. This is the Cross-Check Mini Quilt designed by Yvonne Fuchs (quiltingjetgirl) 
Cindy (cbubblesnsews) made and domestic machine quilted Lombard Street, a pattern by Sassafras Lane
Upcoming Activities
No Sew-In in December! 


Members' Christmas Party
Monday, December 11, 6:30 pm at the home of Ardie
Please bring a treat to share with 4-6 people. 
Optional: Bring a $10 wrapped gift item for a gift exchange. The gift does not have to be quilting/sewing related.

Monthly Meeting
Monday, January 8, 2018, 6:30 pm
North Lake Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall
Program: "Is This Modern?"
We'll review and discuss modern quilt elements to guide us toward making quilts that are more modern. Members may bring a quilt to the meeting to receive a constructive critique with suggestions of ways to make their quilt more modern. Participation with a quilt of your own quilt is entirely optional!

Sew-In
Saturday, January 13, 10 am to 6 pm
Belleview Public Library
Bring whatever you'd like to work on, and socialize with members! It's a fun activity where we get to know each other. Bring your own drink and lunch, or go out (Subway) if you wish. 

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

November Meeting - Part 1

Our November 13 meeting was so full of fun and photo opportunities that this meeting review will be published in two blog posts!

We were very pleased to welcome eight first-time visitors to our meeting! A few guests were from The Villages - both full-time and part-time residents - and one guest from Leesburg. In total, 46 quilters were in attendance!

We've begun collecting 2018 dues which remain at $40 per year. The benefits of guild membership are too numerous to mention, but having access to educational resources such as webinars and Fresh Quilting TV, as well as local chapter activities, are worth $40 in themselves!

Dues must be paid by December 30.

Members may bring dues to our Christmas party on Monday, December 11, (6:30 pm) or mail dues to our post office box: 
Central Florida MQG
P.O. Box 1355
Lady Lake, FL 32158

Our members-only Christmas party is being hosted by Ardie at her home. If you need her address, email us.

November 13 Program
"Tips and Demos For Modern Quilters" was presented by six of our members: Cindy, Dee, Lora, Bette, Linda H., and Beth. 

Cindy demo'ed how to use a Strip Stick, a device to make it easier to press seam allowances open.
Sharing the table with Cindy, Dee showed how to use rulers with handles to aid in rotary cutting.

Lora showed unique, made-in-Brazil, quilting mitts, and how to use Sench hand needles designed for easier threading.

For free motion quilting, Bette showed how to use Golden Threads paper, and the more economical pattern tracing paper.

Sharing the table with Bette, Linda showed how to use a square Bloc Loc ruler for trimming half-square triangles, and how to use the Bloc Loc Triangle in a Square ruler to make those blocks. 
 

Beth showed a rotary cutter sharpener, and reviewed how to keep your sewing machine running smoothly by changing needles and cleaning the bobbin area.

Following the program, quilters who participated in the challenge, showed their quilts. Here are each of the 11 quilts submitted, along with the (non-quilting) magazine page that inspired their quilt.











Members were asked to choose three quilts that were their favorites. Then, everyone posed for a group picture.

Members who participated in the challenge are (L-R):
Karen D., Brenda, Lora, Beth, Peggy, Linda H. Ardie, Margaret, Cindy, Bette, and Susan.

From the left:
  • Third place by Brenda was designed from an advertisement for Beano. 
  • Second place by Linda H. was designed from a L'Oreal Wrinkle Expert advertisement. 
  • First place by Beth was designed from an architectural magazine picture of a sunset reflected on a glass building.

Our entire chapter thanks everyone who participated. We loved seeing so much modern! Special thanks to this year's challenge coordinator, Debbie who planned this. Well done, everyone!