Christina Was Here!

Friday evening, September 6

We were thrilled to welcome Christina Cameli @afewscraps to our Central Florida MQG chapter meeting at North Lake Presbyterian Church. Christina traveled all day, from Portland, Oregon, to arrive in Orlando and be delivered to Lady Lake in time for the 6:30 meeting.

Based on her book by the same name, this was Christina's program topic - Texture.

 She shared many beautiful, up-close examples of quilting designs.

Her trunk show was also evidence of her skill at domestic machine quilting. 

Saturday, September 7

Our workshop was at a new-to-us venue, The Art Workshop in Summerfield. Fantastic lighting made colors pop, and quilting easy to see. 

At intervals, Christina explained how to stitch different designs...

...inviting students to come up and watch her hand-drawn demonstrations on a flip chart, and see examples quilted into fabric.

In between demonstrations, students tackled each assignment with enthusiasm.

Sherry @otterbeequilting who came from Boca Raton and the South Florida MQG

Foreground: Rosemary @daisys_driver
Background: Laurel from Lake County Quilters Guild

Patti @pattil712 from the Orlando MQG

Patty's friend, Linda @lblakley818

Christina giving Pat a little guidance

L: Dee A.; R: Linda L. 

Barb

Without exception, everyone praised Christina's teaching style; what they learned and their excitement about quilting in a gridwork; and the wonderful facility. 

Christina and Carole 

Hooray for a special day!

Dinner afterward was relaxing, and a great occasion to share new quilt-y friendships. 

Many thanks to our executive committee members, and program assistants for making Christina's visit go smoothly! L-R: Treasurer Kathy; President Karen; Media Coordinator and Program Assistant Linda; Membership and Program Assistant Gwen; Guest Christina Cameli; Librarian Cindy; and Program Assistant Missy. 

She's a Go!

Some of you were holding your breath, wondering if Christina Cameli's visit to Florida would be cancelled due to Hurricane Dorian. We're happy to say that the hurricane blew out...

and Christina is blowing in! Just as planned.

We're excited to welcome Christina all the way from Portland, Oregon. 

Christina 

• is the author of several quilting books about free motion quilting, and how to make a wedge quilt
• presented an MQG webinar on wedge quilts
• has classes available on Craftsy/Bluprint, and
• appeared on several episodes of Fresh Quilting TV. 

People, this is a great opportunity! And you won't want to miss her visit! Bring your friends too!

6:30 pm

Friday, September 6

North Lake Presbyterian Church

975 Rolling Acres Road

Lady Lake

Christina will be telling us about "Texture Quilting" from her new book by the same name, and showing us quilts. 

Admission is free to Central Florida MQG members, and only $5 for guests. 

Did we already say? This is a great opportunity!

Read more about her:  AFewScraps website; and @afewscraps on Instagram

Saturday, September 7 - 9 am to 3:30 pm

We still have openings in Christina's Saturday workshop on Texture Quilting. If you're a quilter who wants to learn more about quilting on a domestic sewing machine, this is the class for you.

$75 for Central Florida MQG members

$95 for non-members 

EMAIL right now, and we'll get you all the information.

SPECIALTY RULERS August Meeting Part II

We enjoyed a separate Show and Tell during our August meeting to showcase member's work using   specialty rulers, which are available in our library.

The following quilts were made with Jaybird Quilts rulers. See http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/ for more information on rulers and patterns.

Beth used both the Super Sidekick and the Hex N More rulers to make this "Gravity Quilt " pattern.

Cindy named this quilt "Diamonds", and it is her own layout version of the "Gravity" Quilt.                       She quilted herself on her domestic machine.

This mysterious maker used the Hex N More ruler to create this stunning
"Science Fair" pattern

Nancy used the Sidekick ruler to make this colorful and fun "Giggles" pattern.

Karen dug into her scraps to make the "Disco" pattern with the Hex N More ruler.

This is one of many blocks Debbie showed us from the "Park Bench" pattern using Hex N More and Sidekick rulers.  She even created mini Park Bench blocks!  We look forward to seeing this project when all of the blocks are put together.

The following quilts were made using the Quick Curve ruler (QCR) or Mini Quick Curve ruler.  For further information, see www.sewkindofwonderful.com

Karen E. used the Mini QCR to make this "Mini Metro Rings."

Debbie began this "Chic Diamonds" pattern at retreat, and here it is beautifully finished!

Linda H. used the "Urban Abacus" pattern to create this colorful version

Karen T. made this "Urban Candy" pattern.  

That leftover fabric was put to good use in making this creative backing!

Karen E. used one of the 12 blocks available in the "Curve It Up" patterns, and modified it some to create this quilt, which was made for one of our past challenges.

Debbie showed us many blocks made using the "Curve It Up" pattern.

Linda H. made this version of  "Spring Fling," which is a FREE pattern on the website!

Using the mini QCR, Debbie made this "Mini Pumpkins" pattern, and it is almost that time of year to keep it out and display it!

We also have a "Classic Curves" ruler, which was developed by Sharon of www.colorgirlquilts.com

The incredible aspect of this ruler is the number of sizes of curves you can make with this one ruler!

Although much of this is Beth's own design, she used the Classic Curves ruler to create those wonderful curves that add so much movement to this quilt.  Beth designed this for our recent Color Challenge.

Members are welcome to check out any of our specialty rulers and make their own version of many amazing patterns available on the above three website links.  You may see rulers that we have accessible in our library by clicking on the library link on our blog home page.

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!