Thursday, March 6, 2014

Meeting Minutes for March 5, 2014

ORLANDO MODERN QUILT GUILD
MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 5, 2014
MAITLAND, FLORIDA

1.  WELCOME-NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS AND GUESTS
There were 29 members and guests in attendance.
The meeting was lead by the new President, Yanick.
2.  TREASURER REPORT
The Treasurer's Report was given by Marge.
Dues were collected for the new year and membership pins and cards were distributed.

3.  NEW THIS YEAR
A Q & A period will be added prior to the meetings starting in April.  Members who arrive to the meeting at 9:45 can participate in discussions and information sharing on various topics.  This is optional and the official meeting time will continue to be 10 am.

There will be a UFO challenge which will be announced at a future meeting when Cara is in attendance to discuss it.

Debra introduced some changes to Show and Tell.  There is a brief form to use to indicate you want to share some items at Show and Tell time.  This makes it possible to gauge how much time can be allotted to each of the participants. There is also a place to post an item you want to display but do not particularly want to discuss.

4.  RAFFLE BASKET
The March basket was provided by Kathryn who won the basket last month.  The March winner was Zonetta.

5.  GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR
Social Media-Encouraging the use of Social Media tools especially the MGQ site and the OMQG site.
Education Opportunities such as demos, mini workshops and the classes in December with V. Findlay-Wolfe.
Mentoring opportunities-Be a mentor, Find a mentor.
Leadership Development of future officers.

6.  INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL MEDIA
Rene provided handouts and discussed the basics of using the Modern Quilt Guild site including the both the community site and the OMQG public guild page.

 7.  INTRODUCTION TO BEES
Jodi introduced the idea of the OMQG having hives that would make and share 6 blocks each quarter.  So far 21 members have expressed interest in participating which would be enough people for 3 hives.

Jodi shared examples of blocks that she has received in Bees she has participated in outside of OMQG.
 8.  DOOR PRIZE
Jodi won the door prize
 9.  BOM

 The March Blocks of the Month were won by Debbe.
A sample of the April BOM to be made in orange, yellow and red on a grey background was shown by Jodi.  The tutorial is already available online. Please note this is a two for one opportunity.  See the tutorial for more information.

10.  FESTIVAL OF THE TREES
Debbe lead a discussion on the various member ideas for the Festival of the Trees quilt. The committee will meet soon to discuss.

11.  SWEETWATER EPISCOPAL ACADEMY VOLUNTEERS
Yanick discussed the project and reviewed some of the information she had shared previously by email.  Volunteers are needed to help at the school on Fridays.

12.  SHOW AND TELL











 Sharlene won a door prize for having won "Wish I Had Made That."





Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Block of the Month plus a bonus

April's of the month is the Origami Star Block by Amy Newbold.  Amy blogs at Suki, Don't You Know Who I Am? and is also the treasurer of our mother ship, The Modern Quilt Guild.

She has a wonderful tutorial for the Origami Star block at Origami Star Block.  It is a cute and easy block that finishes at 8" and 8.5" unfinished.  The tutorial is very easy to understand and my only tips are to use a scant 1/4 inch seam and to be careful with your finished blocks because they do end up with bias edges so can be prone to some stretching and distortions.

These blocks should be made with red, orange and yellow stripes with a gray background. Here is my sample block.



Now for the bonus!

When you add the gray squares to the corners of the striped squares you will trim off two triangles.  I just hate to see those corners get wasted so I sewed each pair together to make half square triangles and then created little 3.25 inch pinwheels.  I thought we could have a second drawing for the pinwheel blocks too.  So we can have two winners this month!  Yay for winners!!


And here is a picture with them all together.  I think the little pinwheels would be fun in the same quilt as the Origami Star.  Maybe one lucky person can win both sets!