August 13 Meeting

During the summer months, we expect our monthly meeting attendance to be lower, so we were happily surprised to have 25 quilters at our August 13 meeting! Three people were first-time visitors. 

We're always glad to welcome guests, and know that there's continued interest in modern quiltmaking.

During the meeting, our program coordinator Linda, updated everyone on programs for the remainder of the year, and shared that we're making an effort to coordinate future guest presenters with the Orlando MQG - a benefit for both chapters, as well as economizing on costs. 

Our evening program was a brief lesson about how to use "resources" on the MQG website - navigating to find episodes and segments of Fresh Quilting TV, a program that's available on some public television stations, and on-demand for MQG members. 

We watched segments by:

1) Latifah Saafir who explained half-rectangle triangles - episode 110

2) Victoria Findlay Wolfe who explained how to make a traditional block modern - episode 113

3) Shannon Brinkley who explained how she makes raw-edged collage appliqué - episode 109

Members who were unable to attend the meeting may watch these by clicking the link to each segment. You will need to log in.

Ardie (@fatquarteraddict on Instagram) has been exploring several new skills and techniques. She designed this quilt using EQ8; used a Bloc Loc ruler to cut, piece, and trim the blocks; sandwiched the quilt with two layers of 80/20 Pellon batting; and used her Pro-Stitcher longarm to free motion quilt shapes within each geese block, and straight line quilt using the longarm's channel lock. This is her "Which Way Did They Go?" quilt. 

Susan (@sesquilter on Instagram) completed "Floating Squares," the first improv score from Sherri Lynn Wood's book, "The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters." She domestic machine quilted it with a walking foot.

Nancy (@nancymenn on Instagram) made this "Giggles" quilt from a Jaybird Quilts pattern. She quilted it on a domestic machine. 

Because the backing fabric Nancy selected wasn't wide enough, she dug through scraps in the trash bin to piece an insertion strip. We love it!

Beth (@blue_dragonfly5 on Instagram) designed and pieced this top using a "Van Gogh" jelly roll of Painter's Palette solids. She used wool batting, and domestic machine quilted it with numerous Aurifil thread colors using a serpentine stitch.

Dee (@quilterdee on Instagram) completed another quilt from a Sew Sampler box. This is "Mesa Valley" made with Tula Pink "Spirit Animal" prints. She domestic machine quilted it in a double cross-hatch pattern using variegated thread.

Our next meeting on Monday, September 10 brings us another guest speaker from the Orlando MQG. 

Debra Jalbert (who presented her "Leftovers" workshop to our chapter in July 2016) will present "Inspiration for Modern Quilting." She will share how to find ideas for choosing and planning quilting designs for your quilts.

Debra, who is a longarm quilter, will share several methods, with specific examples of what she does. Then, looking at three different quilt tops, we'll work through ideas for quilting them.

You won't want to miss this meeting!

Publication Challenge Opportunity

In case you missed out on the chance to participate in our chapter's recent Inspiration Challenge, here's another opportunity to put your creativity into action. 

Curated Quilts, a new-this-year publication that's a beautiful combo of magazine and journal without any advertising, has released its challenge for the next issue. 

As you can see, the challenge is "house," and the colors to be used are some or all of those in the above graphic. Pear green, peacoat blue, poppy red, ocean spray, clay brown, light gray -- descriptors not actual color names, and prints are always welcome. 

The quilt must be square, and larger than 10" X 10", but no larger than 16" X 16". 

It's due August 31. For detailed information go here.

We hope to see our members' works in print, just as we have in previous issues from Beth S. and Linda H. 

Go, modern Central Florida MQG quilters! Let's see what you can do!

Saturday Sew-In, QuiltCon Challenge

Eleven of our members met at the Belleview Public Library for our monthly Sew-In. It's such a great way to get to know fellow modern quilt makers, and see what everyone is working on. 

Members of the QuiltCon Charity Quilt Challenge were in attendance, and had their own brief meeting to discuss the 2019 quilt project. Fabrics seen here are in the color palette as determined by the MQG. For more information about the challenge, go here.

All Central Florida MQG members will be invited to participate. 

Susan showed the progress she's making on the quilt she began in Sherry Lynn Wood's improv workshop, when Sherry Lynn visited our chapter in October 2015.

Debbie is working on triangles she's making as she participates in Rebecca Bryan's online series, "Design Improv With Triangles."

President Karen is foundation paper-piecing "Year of Scrappy Triangles," as offered by Leila Gardenia on her blog.

Peggy is making bed runners for her parents.

Karen T., who adores Kaffe Fasset fabrics, is foundation paper-piecing Pineapple Blocks.

Cindy is piecing.

Vice President Bette is binding.

QuiltCon Charity Quilt Challenge Chair Jane is piecing.

Dee is making lots of Bowl Buddies. Here's the link to the free tutorial.

Beth is using leftover solids from another project to also make foundation paper-pieced blocks from Leila's "Year of Scrappy Triangles."

Though Beth is a long-time quilter, we all found it a little bit refreshing to learn that veteran quilt makers also make mistakes... like this one where Beth machine-sewed her plastic ruler to her foundation paper! Thanks for being a good sport, Beth!

Program Chair, and Media Coordinator Linda is piecing triangle blocks to complete the Bernina Zen Chic Quiltalong that began last August and concludes this August.

You can see that our members enjoy getting together, and that making modern is what we like to do. We hope more members will join us at future Saturday Sew-Ins. Save the date for the next Saturday Sew-In on August 11! 

July 9 Meeting - Part 2, Challenge

Probably the most enjoyable aspect of our July 9 meeting was seeing the quilts our members made for our 2018 Inspiration Challenge.

Member Beth (@blue_dragonfly5) is credited for coming up with a wonderful challenge that she introduced in her January program about places to find inspiration. Honestly, inspiration is everywhere!

Challenge quilts had to be at least 20" X 20", and were meant to make each of us try designing on our own, or at least modify a pattern. Also, during the making, we were free to share our ideas, designs, and techniques with others. Having a "no secrets" challenge was a refreshing change, and allowed each of us to make our designs better as we shared the process and contributed ideas to one another.

Also, no Viewer's Choice selections were made. Prizes were randomly drawn from the names of participants.

Upon seeing the finished quilts we realized that the most enjoyable aspect was seeing what inspired! Such a variety of items! As you scroll through pictures, be sure to note each person's photo or explanation of inspiration.

Here are the quilt makers with their quilts, and their inspiration...

Rosemary (on Instagram @rosemaryvorndran) created "Serenity" as she was inspired by a Sam's Club Member's Mark box of tissues. She enhanced quilting with additional big stitch hand quilting.

Karen (on Instagram @thoroughly_modern_ninny) made a quilt inspired by the window in her front door. She straight-lined quilted  "My Window" on a home sewing machine.

Debbie (on Instagram @dbook1) was inspired to make this improv quilt based on colors of a hibiscus bloom. She longarm quilted  "Tropical Hibiscus." 

Karen (on Instagram @sunrayatplay) was inspired by the "All Sizes" quilt pattern by Amanda Jean Nyberg (CrazyMomQuilts) to make this "Flying Fibonacci" quilt that includes Fibonacci principles in the piecing and quilting. Karen quilted this on a sit-down mid arm machine.

Ardie (on Instagram @fatquarteraddict) modified a quilt pattern to make this quilt with variances of scale in a modern layout. She quilted it on her longarm and named it "Diminishing Returns/Greater Gain."

Lora (on Instagram @loradouglas) used a photo of an Italian kitchen floor to design this "Modern Tumbler Blocks" quilt. She quilted it on a home sewing machine.

Jane (on Instagram @gonequiltinginflorida) admires the tiny piecing called "Leftovers," as taught by Debra Jalbert (on Instagram @madeofhonorquilts), and piece this beauty. It was quilted on a home sewing machine.

Tambry (on Instagram @iquiltalot) made a "Tribute to Kate" quilt since the death of Kate Spade. Both the quilt front and back are trademarks of Kate Spade, so see two photos.

"Tribute to Kate" front

"Tribute to Kate" back

Mel (on Instagram @snomelt) calls this quilt "Meter Box," because it was inspired by the meters found flat on the ground, in yards around here. You might guess that Mel mows lawns on a part-time basis. She quilted it on a home sewing machine.

Beth (on Instagram @blue_dragonfly5) used ties collected from family members to make this fractured Dresden Plate design. It's home machine quilted. She calls the quilt "Family Ties."

Linda (Instagram @flourishingpalms) made this quilt based on her seven year-old grandson's crayon-resist/watercolor artwork of owl feathers. "Owl Always Love You" was quilted on a home sewing machine.

The next Central Florida MQG challenge will be introduced later this year, and will be led by Debbie B. We hope all our members will participate!

Survey
Members, don't forget to respond to the "Future Planning Survey" you received as a Survey Monkey link in email. Responses are due by Wednesday, July 18. We need every member's input to make plans for 2019 and 2020 guest presenters!

July 9 Meeting - Part 1

We had a great turnout for Monday's meeting, with a total of 26 quilters. Four attendees were first-time visitors. We hope they all come back!

With ten new modern book titles added to our library, we expect our members to enjoy their options. Karen T. (pictured here), along with Cindy, are our two librarians who are happy to help you choose and check out books. Do take advantage of this great opportunity to learn more about modern quiltmaking, and make modern quilts!

For a complete list of titles and authors, click the "Library Titles" tab above.

Two of our visitors are a mother/daughter combo - Adriana and Bea - who are launching a Kickstarter program for their new ruler business. They explained their new ruler, which has two pins that are depressed to "lock" fabric to the rotary mat for no-slip cutting. Members were invited to give it a try, and did!

Member Ardie, and Bea

Beehive Rulers will be released first in 6" X 12" and 6" X 24" sizes, with plans to add more sizes to the line. For more information visit their website, and follow them on Instagram.

Dee (QuilterDee) has been a busy quilter and shared four finishes. This is her "Florida" quilt. The pattern is by member Linda (FlourishingPalms); and made from a DragonflyQuiltWorks kit from member Lora (LoraDouglas).

"Pacific Life" is a kit from Sew Sampler.

"Modern X" is a Christa Watson (ChristaQuilts) pattern.

"Chuckles" is another Sew Sampler kit. Dee quilted all her quilts on her home sewing machine, a Bernina.

Beth made and received hundreds of nine-patch blocks, and pieced them into this modern layout quilt she calls "Nine Patch Exchange." She has more nine-patch blocks left too!

Beth made this "Improv Sampler" as she was sharing/teaching various improv techniques to another quilting group.

This is Beth's entry for Curated Quilts upcoming magazine issue with the theme "Connections," using improv. Though Beth's mini wasn't accept for publication, two of her improv quilts will be featured in that issue! Congratulations, Beth!

Beth quilted all her quilts on a home sewing machine.

Ardie's quilt is a pattern from Mod Blocks, a Missouri Star publication.

"Rainbow Path" is a foundation paper-pieced pattern by FreshlyPieced.

"Midnight Stars" is a Villa Rosa pattern that Ardie made using all Kaffe Fassett fabrics. All of Ardie's quilts were quilted on her longarm.

Marie showed a journal cover she made using the appliqué shapes she made since learning Selina's technique for appliqué curves/circles, taught at last month's meeting.

Marie made a jelly roll rug from one jelly roll and 2-1/2" batting strips.

The remainder of the meeting was given to:

1) sharing quilts made for the Inspiration Challenge led by Beth. Look to the next blog post to see the many wonderful creations, and the creative variety of inspiration behind them!

2) a member discussion about future guest presenters. All members should expect a mid-July opportunity to provide input through Survey Monkey. Your input is valuable and needed!

Saturday Sew-In

Our monthly Saturday Sew-In is this coming Saturday, July 14 at Belleview Public Library. Come from 10-6, stay as long as you wish, and work on whatever you want. It's a fantastic way to get to know each other better! If you plan to stay all day, pack a lunch, or visit the nearby Subway.