Upcoming, and In-the-News

In just a little more than a week, Christina Cameli will be coming from Portland, Oregon to Lady Lake and The Villages, Florida!

We're so excited for her visit!

Saturday, September 7
At this moment, we have three openings in Christina's "Texture Quilting" workshop, so if you haven't yet registered, you need to do so! This is a rare opportunity to learn domestic machine quilting - or more about domestic machine quilting - from someone who's a pro. Christina has written several quilting books, appeared on MQG webinars, Fresh Quilting TV, and recorded lesson videos for Bluprint (formerly Craftsy).

Email us to let us know you're interested in the workshop: $75 for members; $95 for non-members

Friday, September 6 - 6:30 pm
If you aren't attending the workshop, don't miss the chance to hear Christina talk about her quilting, and see her quilts. She's flying-in Friday afternoon, and will be at our 6:30 meeting just in time to share her wonderful program. You want to be there!

Only $5 at the door if you aren't a member of Central Florida MQG. Free, if you're a member.

North Lake Presbyterian Church
975 Rolling Acres Road, Lady Lake

Get detailed workshop and program fliers for Christina's visit. 

In other news...Last year, several of our members participated in Leila Gardunia's "Year of Scrappy Triangles," a sew-along where each week a new 6"-square, foundation paper-pieced block was offered (free).

In Leila's latest e-newsletter, she shared some of the many layout possibilities for the blocks. Two of our members' quilts were featured! Karen E. @sunrayatplay, and Linda H. @flourishingpalms

Check it out here. Read through, and when you reach "Click To See More Scrappy Triangle Quilts" you'll also see another member's quilt: Beth S. @blue_dragonfly5. You can also download the free blocks for yourself, if you wish!

We're looking forward to see everyone next week, at our special, guest-presented meeting. Remember, no show and tell when we have a guest speaker, so our next show and tell is November 11.

2020 QuiltCon Charity Challenge Quilt

Let's do this!

Our chapter will make a Charity Quilt Challenge for QuiltCon 2020.

For those unfamiliar with the QuiltCon Charity Quilt Challenge, you'll want to know that the charity aspect of the quilt follows QuiltCon. After the quilt is displayed at QuiltCon (February 20-23, 2020)  in Austin, along with dozens of other quilts made by MQG chapters, it will be returned to us. For the third year in a row, we anticipate donating our quilt to the annual silent auction portion of The Villages "Time to Give Back Golf Tournament and Dinner" to be held in June, 2020. All monies raised for the quilt will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. 

Following the theme dictated by the Modern Quilt Guild (complete information here), we'll make a text quilt. In addition to fulfilling size requirements, the quilt must include at least one pieced word that's central to the overall design theme. This color palette has been designated by the MQG: white, shades of gray, and black.

Once again, Jane G. is leading the effort, with help from Charity Quilt Committee members: 

Missy G.

Bette M.

Dee S.

Beth S.

Mel T.

Rosemary V.

In July, the committee met for the first time at Rooster's on Oxford, in Wildwood, to discuss and select an overall theme and design.  

The committee selected the Art Gallery pattern "Acoustics," and the theme "Science, Technology, Engineering and Math" (STEM).  STEM is the foundation for so much of what we do each day, including sewing and quilting - from fabric creation, to pattern design, to high tech sewing, the quilting machines we use, and beyond. STEM is part of it all. 

STEM also nicely fits with QuiltCon's text theme. In keeping with requirements, the word EXPLORE will be pieced into fabric. (See the word in the design above.) Science, technology, engineering and math allow us to continue to explore, and consider what's possible in the future.

The committee is now collecting fabrics and will be asking chapter members to participate in sewing blocks, as well as becoming involved in later steps such as piecing backing, basting the quilt sandwich, quilting, binding, labeling, and attaching a quilt sleeve. Please be thinking about how you might help.

More information will be coming!

August Meeting Part I

Our August meeting was packed with many Show and Tell shares, which 29 quilters enjoyed. A "Part II" post will follow to show our pictures from our quilts made with specialty rulers. We welcomed four new members at this meeting, bringing our chapter to a total of 62 members.

President Karen E. shared announcements, including our upcoming September 6 lecture and  September 7 workshop by Christina Cameli, as well as Rebecca's Bryan's October 14 lecture and workshop.  There are still a few openings in both workshops.  Please click on the date on our calendar for further information.

Our Show and Tell of recently completed projects included the following:

Dee shared "Colorblock Strips" by Urban Elementary, which is 52.5"x 82.5".  She quilted this herself on her Bernina Q780.

Karen T. completed this "Honeymoon Giraffe", which is a paper-pieced Giraffe Abstractions pattern by Violet Craft.  The colorful giraffe was made with Kaffe Fassett fabrics.  She quilted it on her Janome 9400 QCP.

Honeymoon Giraffe was made as a gift to her daughter and son-in-law to celebrate their honeymoon trip to Africa, which is represented on the back of the quilt.

Beth shared "Shades of Blue", which is 35"x35".  She made this while participating in the Cross-Cut Quiltalong with Debbie at www.aquilterstable.blogspot.com

This is Beth's own design named "Light and Shadows."  This is 15"x15", and was created using the Interweave technique.  This is Beth's submission into Curated Quilts current Black and White Challenge.  We all expect to see this in the upcoming issue!

Beth used the leftover corners of Light and Shadows to make another 12"x12", named "4 Corner Wedges."  She domestic machine quilted both minis.

Tambry treated us all to this showing of her version of Harry Potter made for her son after participating in the Sew Fresh Quilts and Kelli Fannin Quiltalong.  This is queen-sized, and was quilted by MyQuiltingLongarm (IG).

Cindy B. treated us to an in-house workshop last month in which we had so much fun making these Zippered Wrapper Pouches!

After our Show and Tell, CHALLENGES for 2020 was an exciting topic.  Beth had the creative sides of our minds reeling with all of her fantastic options!  This is Beth with a her quilt made from repurposed fabric, which was supplied by Sherri Lyn Wood's "dump-diving" project.  This quilt was on the front page of a Curated Quilts issue this past year.  Repurposed fabric was a popular option from those presented.

Beth also described her processes of ice-dyeing, solar dyeing, and fabric-stamping, providing dozens of examples that were just gorgeous.  She talked of many household items she's used to make her own stamps - including items from hubby's tools in the garage!  The following is an example of a piece of fabric that was both dyed, and then stamped by Beth.

Stay posted for August Meeting Part II coming soon!

Upcoming August Activities... and Beyond

First up...

Sew-In
This Saturday, August 10 is our monthly Sew-In at the Belleview Public Library. We gather at about 10 am to hang-out... sew, chat, share what each other's working on, take a little lunch break, and keep sewing until we run out of steam. 😀
Stop in to sew and say hi! It's a great way to get to know each other better.

Second... 

August 12 Meeting
Due to an unexpected circumstance, Linda H. isn't available to give her long-planned "Big Stitch Quilting" program. 😞 But, she promises to present it at a future, to-be-determined date in 2020. 

In lieu of what was planned, we've put our heads together to come up with several - what we think - are interesting meeting topics.

1) Let's Talk Specialty Rulers

Specifically, let's look at designs and patterns that can be made with these rulers:

• Sew Kind of Wonderful - Quick Curve ruler, and Mini Quick Curve ruler
• JayBird Quilts - Hex 'n More ruler, and Super Sidekick ruler

If you have made a quilt with any of these rulers, please bring them to the meeting. We'll show and share. Then, maybe you'll want to go home with one of those rulers checked out from our Ruler Lending Library! 

2) Quilt Challenges
With two 2020 QuiltCon challenges for individuals, and the "Text" charity challenge for MQG chapters...

"TEXT" CHALLENGE COLORS

...as well as a Curated Quilts (magazine) challenge, and planning our own 2020 challenges, we have lots of challenges to discuss! You'll hear about them from President Karen, QuiltCon Charity Quilt Challenge Chair Jane, and Chapter Challenge Chair Beth.

These challenges are meant to grow us as modern quilters... to take the next step beyond following a quilt pattern.

3) Fabric Dyeing
Beth will share her experiences with fabric-dyeing, including the ice-dyeing technique. If you've already tried fabric dyeing, please bring your fabrics and/or quilts made with your self-dyed fabric. This is new area for us to explore.







Bring to the Meeting

1) If you made a zippered snack bag pouch in last month's Sew-In workshop with Cindy, or you've made a zipper pouch since then, bring it to show. And if anyone cares to fill their zipper pouch with the product from the bag... feel free! 

2) Show and Tell - We always love to see what you've created, so bring your quilts, along with a completed Show and Tell Form. Not only does the form remind us of what modern elements are in your quilt, it also provides information needed for our blog and Instagram posts.

Here's the link to download the Show and Tell form.

3) Nametag - Wear it! We always have visitors and new members, so please be courteous and let us know who you are. Thank you!

Register!

We're taking registrations for a a few openings left in Christina Cameli's September 7 "Texture Quilting" workshop. (Click on calendar date, above/right.) Her workshop has been opened to the public, so we are accepting non-member registrations as well.

Christina's "Texture Quilting"

We're also taking registrations for Rebecca Bryan's October 14 "Color Play" workshop (Click on calendar date). On September 1, Rebecca's workshop will open to non-members.

Rebecca's workshop quilt - "Murmuration"

Looking Way Ahead
On November 11 we're looking forward to a program presented by member Carol P. who will share information about "Pressing Matters."

You won't want to miss this as Carol reviews different types of irons, pressing tables and mats, and other accouterments for flattening fabric! 😊

These next few months are gonna be fabulous! See you!