Let's Make Badge Holders

For those away members who did not attend our August 13 meeting, we announced our October 13 Sew-In/Save-the-Date project.

We will be making Badge Holders!

This project was selected in anticipation of attending the February 21-23, 2019 QuiltCon in Nashville, and wanting a handy place to keep important valuables. For anyone not attending QuiltCon, you too will have a handy place to keep important valuables whenever you attend any quilt show!

This sample badge holder, made by Linda H., uses our Central Florida MQG fabric available through Spoonflower.

Your name badge is inserted behind the vinyl window.

On the inside (lift the tab to open) are zippered pockets for cash, charge cards and other valuables.

The back (which lays against your chest) has a pocket for a cell phone.

Linda used magnetic buttons to close her name badge holder, but you can use Velcro or a regular button.

Karen E. made her name badge holder with our Central Florida logo. All our logo prints are available here, through Spoonflower. 

NOTE: If you ever need to search Spoonflower to find our fabrics, use the designer's business name: "etmcreative" or "Emma Thomas-mcginnis."

This is the inside of Karen's holder. She used invisible zippers. 

When worn, the holder measures approximately 5" wide by 7" high, with a strap that’s 27½” linear. When opened, the holder measures approximately 5" wide by 12½" long. As desired, the neck strap may be made to match the exterior fabric, or use ribbon, cording, or bias tape.

Because we know you'll want to begin gathering supplies, here's what's needed for this name badge holder project. 

Supplies

⅓ yard for exterior

1 fat quarter, or less, for interior

1 fat quarter for pocket linings (white, or light solid)

2 - 4" zippers Note that any length zipper can be cut down to 4".

snap, magnet, button, or Velcro for closure tab Velcro will be provided at the workshop.

5" X 4½" clear vinyl - medium- to heavy-weight This will be provided at the workshop.

6" X 6" tear-away stabilizer, or a piece of tissue paper or cheap toilet paper This will be provided at the workshop.

1" X 1" medium-weight stabilizer or template plastic, to give stability to snap or button closure This will be provided at the workshop.
thread

If you'd like to participate in this Sew-In workshop on Saturday, October 13, please sign up!

Email your name here to be added to the list.

Payment of $8 for the pattern (a discount to Central Florida MQG members) may be given to our Workshop Sew-In Coordinator Ardie. Monies will also be accepted at the September 10 and October 8 meetings.

Anyone NOT participating in the workshop is welcome to attend the Sew-In too! No need to miss out on the fun and socializing! Come and work on whatever you wish.

Let's Make a QuiltCon Charity Quilt

Our chapter decided to participate in the 2019 QuiltCon Charity Quilt Challenge. The quilt we make will appear during QuiltCon 2019 (February 21-24) at the Music City Convention Center in Nashville. It will be displayed along with other chapters' quilts. At the conclusion of QuiltCon, the quilt will be returned to us to be donated to the charity of our choice 

We're off to a great start under the direction of Jane, Beth, Bette, and Dee S. who volunteered to coordinate the project.

Following the challenge theme set forth by the MQG (read all about it here), our quilt will include: 

Small Piecing

Small piecing must be an integral part of the design. Small means "smaller than 1" in either width or length." 

Color Palette

Use any or all of these. 

Dimensions 

Twin size: 65" X 88", and no larger than 72" X 92".

Inspired by Elizabeth Hartman's "Xylophone Quilt"... 

 

...Beth used EQ8 to design a wonky, improv wedge quilt top...

... and quilt back.

Fabric selections were made from among these Painter's Palette Solids (made by Paintbrush Studios).

Linda H. made the request for a fabric donation, and Paintbrush Studio Fabrics generously responded! 

A full 21 yards of solids were sent to make the quilt front and back! We're huge fans of Painter's Palette Solids - the texture, the hand, and the stability of the dye are reasons to use it to make quilts.

We really appreciate Paintbrush Studio's generosity! Follow them on Instagram @pbsfabrics

Jane tested the block, piecing it from her stash. 

Then, during the August 11 Sew-In, Jane, Beth, and Dee cut fabrics to make kits for 12 blocks.

Jane

Beth

Dee

To compliment solid colors, several members donated additional tone-on-tone and monochromatic prints.

Kits!

Kits were distributed to members attending our August 13 meeting. Completed blocks should be returned by the September 10 meeting. Please give your completed block to Dee.

If you have any questions about block-making instructions, contact Jane or Beth. 

We appreciate everyone who volunteered to piece a block. Thank you!

For members who haven't yet participated, please consider how you might help. With.... quilting? binding? a sleeve? Thank you!

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!