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! 

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.