March Meeting

We enjoyed a super turn-out at our March 14 meeting. With 42 quilters in attendance - 11 of them visitors! - we nearly packed the small room. 

President Debbie led our meeting, welcoming guests who stood to introduce themselves.

Sharon A. presented the program, giving us good verbal explanations of designs that enhance a quilt's negative space; and showing numerous visual examples of marketing designs. Beth followed Sharon, showing pictures of modern quilts with negative space.

Sandy M. - quilted herself

Jill - made from Sandy's scraps (see above); and domestic machine quilted.

Diane's blocks from "Advanced Piecing" workshop with Lee Heinrich

Lora's blocks from "Advanced Piecing" workshop with Lee Heinrich

Frances - combination "Urban Abacus and Metro Medallion" quilt; 72" X 84"; quilted on her domestic machine.

Becky - zentangle quilt

Jamie -Butterfly doll quilt made with a Quick Curve Rule; domestic machine quilted

Jamie's "Swoon" block; domestic machine quilted. Pattern by Camille Roskelly.

Karen T. - "Candy Stripe" made using a Quick Curve Ruler; 60" X 80"; domestic machine quilted

Beth - (L) "Wings"; 9" X 12". "Opposites"; 9" X 12"; raw edge appliqué.

Don't forget to RSVP for our April 9 Sew-In at the Belleview Public Library. Send your email here. 

Our first 2016 chapter challenge is Make it Modern. Members are invited to choose a traditional 9" X 9" (finished) quilt block, and using modern fabrics , reinterpret it as modern.  Colors may be your choice, but if a light color is needed, use white.

Resources for Modern Traditionalism inspiration include:

Jacquie Gering's 57-minute video "Make it Modern!" on The Quilt Show, #1202

42 Quilts

Craftsy here and Craftsy here and Craftsy here

Please bring your Make it Modern Challenge block(s) to our June 13 meeting.

Next Meeting
April 11, 6:30 pm, North Lake Presbyterian Church
Program: "American Made Products"
Timm from Sew Mini-Things in Mount Dora talks about quilting and sewing related products made in America, and the meaning of the phrase "Made in America."

Coming Up Monday

Hello Quilters!

We have lots of activities coming up for members, and guests!

1. Monday, March 14 - Executive Committee meeting at 5 pm at North Lake Presbyterian Church. As always, this meeting is open to all our members.

2. Following the Executive Committee meeting is the 6:30 Central Florida MQG meeting. Visitors are always welcome! Our March program is being led by member Sharon Ashley:

"Positive Thinking About Negative Space"How does a quilter incorporate negative space into modern quilt design? Sharon will give a media presentation that shows effective quilting methods for negative space, along with tips and hand-outs. Everyone is invited to bring a quilt that shows quilting in negative space.

Beth Shutty

3. Members who registered for the Spring 2016 Riley Blake Fabric Challenge may pick up their fabric bundles at the meeting.

4. Members who are participating in monthly Mighty Lucky Quilt Club activities are invited to bring their projects to share.

5. Members who attended either of Lee Heinrich's workshops are invited to bring their projects to share.

6. Members who wish to attend the May 5-8 Central Florida MQG Retreat to Luther Springs in Hawthorne, Florida, should bring monies to make payment. As well, be ready to complete a registration form, with your roommate preference; and a health information form.

7. Reminder: We DO NOT have a Sew-In in March due to the need for polling in our usual meeting space. Our next Sew-In is Saturday, April 9 at the Belleview Public Library.

See you Monday evening! Don't forget to wear your self-made name tag! If you need to make one, here's the link to the tutorial to make the name tag shown above.

Lee Was Here

Saturday morning, February 13 saw a great turn-out for Lee Heinrich's (FreshlyPieced) program at Eisenhower Recreation Center in The Villages.

Lee had shipped 22 books - "Vintage Quilt Revival" - and stacks of patterns that she did a brisk business of selling and autographing.

Her presentation was information-packed (of note was seeing Lee's various walking foot domestic machine quilting designs), informal, and eye-pleasing.

Four quilt holders volunteered to show each of Lee's 20 or so quilts, walking them down aisles so everyone could closely view them, and take photos.

A number of the quilts shown were from her book.

Saturday afternoon, 18 quilters took Lee's "Advanced Piecing" workshop. This photo of some of the completed blocks was shared on Instagram.com/CentralFloridaMQG.

On Sunday (Valentine's Day) from 9-3 at Laurel Manor Recreation Center, nine students participated in the "Off the Grid" workshop. After viewing Lee's presentation on modern layouts, as a group we looked at each quilter's blocks to suggest and share ideas for possible layouts. Karen E's blocks are shown in this photo.

Most of the "Off the Grid" attendees posed for a group picture at the end of class. Lora's blocks are on the design wall in the background.

L-R: Linda H;  Karen E; Joan M; Lora D; Susan Si; Lee; and Carole S.

Missing from this photo were members of Central Florida MQG and Quilting Guild of The Villages: Beth S; Joanne H; and Susan Sm. Thanks to QGOTVer Suzanne for being our angel and photographer!

February Meeting Review

Thirty-one quilters attended the February 8 meeting of the Central Florida MQG. Of those 31, two were first-time visitors, and four joined our chapter! Welcome to everyone!

After the business meeting, quilters who are participating in the Mighty Lucky Quilting Club showed their projects. Susan, Beth, Karen E. and Karen T. show their January projects using bias tape.

Susan (What does that expression mean?!) and Beth show their February improv blocks.

Susan's recent finish was begun during a curved piecing workshop. It was longarm quilted by President Debbie.

Kathy shares an almost-finished table runner for her daughter. How 'bout that Clover Wonder Clips "binding!"

Kathy and her tumbler template baby quilt.

Mary showed two unnamed quilts that she designed and quilted herself.

This one generated conversation about what was modern and not modern.

Karen E.'s 33" X 44" "Mini Rings" was made using the mini quick curve ruler. Karen quilts all her quilts on her Tiara.

Becky's two show and tell quilts were made as a result of quilt-as-you-go classes with Gudrun Erla. 

"Sunburst"

Becky quilts on a domestic machine.

Beth's 20" X 20" Hawaiian pillow is an original design. It's machine appliquéd, and spiral quilted using a walking foot.

Dee, a brand new member, shows her 36" X 48" "Spinner" quilt, recently finished in a five-week First Time Quiltmaking class at the Lifelong Learning College. Spinner is walking foot quilted.

Another new member, Monique, shares her 30" X 30" "Modern Logs" quilt.

President Debbie was unable to attend our meeting due to being called away, a little early, to become a first-time grandma! Congratulations to Debbie, and her family on the safe arrival of Taylor. In absentia, Debbie shares her recent finishes, both of which are for Taylor. 

Following show and tell, our program was led by mother-daughter team Janice and Mel. They distributed squares of cotton batting with instructions to use our fabric scraps (brought along) and their fabrics scraps, and scissors, to create non-sewn improv quilt blocks.

As a suggestion, we could begin with a log cabin or courthouse steps design. Or, "be creative, and have fun!"

At the completion of our cutting and designing time, we saw a range of block designs. Looking at each table, where two to six quilters sat together, their designs fell into somewhat similar patterns! Some "influencing" occurred at a few tables.

It was a good exercise. And if desired, each quilter can actually sew her piece into a mug rug or hot pad.

Chapter Events
Our next chapter event is this weekend's (February 13-14) visit by Lee Heinrich (FreshlyPieced), co-author of "Vintage Quilt Revival," pattern designer, and Bernina representative. Refer to this blog post and below for more information about her Saturday and Sunday activities in The Villages.

Openings remain in:

"Traditional Block with a Fresh Start" Lecture and Trunk Show - Free with a Villager ID
Saturday, February 13, 9 am, Eisenhower Rec Center, The Villages

"Advanced Piecing" Class - $50 guild members ($60 non-guild members)
Saturday, February 13, 12:30-4 pm, Eisenhower Rec Center, The Villages

"Off the Grid" Workshop - $80 guild members ($90 non-guild members)
Sunday, February 14, 9am-3pm, Laurel Manor Rec Center, The Villages

It's not too late to join in these great opportunities! Email here if interested!

Sew-In
Saturday, February 27 is our monthly Sew-In at the Belleview Public Library. Members and guests are welcome, but please RSVP to Karen E., or here. Thank you! Note: There is no Sew-In in March due to a library conflict.

Next Meeting
Monday, March 14, 6:30 pm, North Lake Presbyterian Church
A program has not yet been determined.