Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Quilty Podcasts

With summer here many of us are taking trips, either on the road or in the air, which means time away from our sewing machines.  Many times my daughter has her headphones in listening to her music and my husband will have his music blaring on the car radio - this is usually my signal to put my OWN headphones in since my taste in music is not theirs!  To get my quilting fix, I will tune in to a quilty themed podcast.

Here are a few of my favorites:


While searching "Crafty Podcasts" I ran across this blog post which provides suggestions and links to other podcasts.  

Do you regularly listen to podcasts?  If not, I suggest you giving it a try.  It helps pass the time while driving, or even sewing for that matter.  If so, what is your favorite podcast?  Leave a comment on this post (by the evening of August 4th) for a chance to win a door prize at next Wednesday's meeting.

Thursday, July 2, 2015

MEETING MINUTES - JULY 1, 2015

MEETING MINUTES
JULY 1, 2015
MAITLAND, FL

The meeting was called to order by Vice-President Debra.  28 members and 3 guests (and one very adorable baby, courtesy of Cara) were present.
TREASURER'S REPORT
 Our current balance is $7061.50.

RAFFLE BASKET
..... was won by Ede.  (No picture.....forgot my selfie stick.)

MAKER FAIRE ORLANDO
Our guild has been accepted to have a booth at this year's event, Sept 12-13 at the Orlando Science Center.  This is a wonderful chance to gain exposure for the guild, and share our love of quilting.  Michele L. has agreed to chair; volunteers are needed for set-up, demos, breakdown, etc.  Please email Michele to join in on the fun.

UPCOMING EDUCATION EVENTS
Carol Lyles Shaw will be conducting a workshop based on her "Fibonacci sequence" work, and "improvising with intent."  (The latter technique will be utilized in designing and executing our charity quilt for Quiltcon 2016.)  Workshop will take place Oct 3 at the Dr Phillips Library.  Cost and registration information to come ASAP.  NOTE:  This is different date from the one that was announced at the meeting.

MQG EZ QUILTING TRIANGLE CHALLENGE
The "mother ship" has announced a new challenge for Quiltcon 2016.  Details can be found here.  Note that, in order to get free templates, you need to look for the email from MQG on July 7 at 10 am EST.  (If you are not getting email from MQG, contact Marge immediately so that she can update your contact information.)  Templates may also be purchased from simplicity.com.

CHALLENGES
Beth announced another round of our postcard swap.  This one will take place just within our guild membership, and those who follow us on Facebook and who express an interest in participating.  Remember to make your cards just slightly smaller than 4x6 (standard postcard size.)   If you were not present at the July meeting, please email Beth if you'd like to participate.  Check out the OMQG Pinterest page for ideas!

Our newest challenge will be a UFO swap!  This is your chance to clear out those projects that you know, for whatever reason, you are never going to finish.  Your UFO could be someone else's inspiration!  Bring in as many UFO's as you're willing and eager to part with to the September meeting.   Winners of each project will be selected via a ticket raffle.  Now take that newly acquired UFO home and finish it in whatever way you want!  Bring the completed projects to our December meeting.

Due to the number of ongoing and new projects scheduled for the fall, it was decided that we would postpone our fabric auction until sometime in the spring.

CHARLESTON MODERN QUILT GUILD EMANUEL AME CHURCH PROJECT
The Charleston Modern Quilt Guild is collecting blocks to be assembled into a quilt for the Emanuel AME church, to show the widespread love and support that exists for their members.  This is a no-sew project.  Complete instructions can be found here.  Please note that the deadline for the receipt of the blocks is August 1.  Beth volunteered to collect blocks at both July sew days, and mail them altogether (or you may send one on your own.)

DOOR PRIZES
......were won by Jodi and Ede.

 CHARITY PROJECTS
Linda reported that she has collected 12 Alzheimer activity quilts so far.  Our wheelchair art quilt project is still ongoing; Linda will collect these at least through Sept or Oct. Click on "charity projects" above for instructions, and scroll down to our May meeting minutes to see some wonderful examples.

Sharleen put together supplies to make drawstring bags at the last Maitland Sew Day.  Completed bags will be donated to local homeless shelters for children.  Pictures of this project can be found on the OMQG Facebook page.

DEMONSTRATION
Vice-President Debra gave us some great techniques and ideas for some quick (no more than 8 hours from start to finish) stash-buster projects.



The completed project..........hard to believe this beauty took less than 8 hours!

MAITLAND LIBRARY EXHIBIT
Our guild's quilts will be featured at the Maitland Library exhibit through the month of October.  Start thinking about quilts you'd like to show.  Due to space considerations, smaller size quilts are preferred.  These do NOT have to be something new made specifically for this exhibit.  Original designs and those from published patterns are both acceptable, as long as attribution is made to the pattern designer. The theme for this exhibit is "What Modern Quilting Means To Me."  Submissions must be made in September.  A committee has been formed to coordinate the exhibit, but more volunteers will be needed to help hang the quilts.

SHOW AND TELL













BLOCK OF THE MONTH
This month's blocks......

.....were won by Sharleen (Leslie picked them up for her!)
Instructions for August's BOM will be on the blog shortly.

UFO COMPLETION PROJECT
Remember to email Kelly E when you complete one of the UFOs on the list you submitted to her.  New members (and procrastinators)--it's not too late to get your UFOs on the list!  Any project that you had "started" (meaning at some stage of completion, or had at least selected a pattern and fabric for--"ideas only" don't count!) is eligible to be completed.  A prize will be awarded at our December holiday party for the person completing the most UFOs and all participants will be eligible for other prizes.  Click HERE to add your name and list of projects you want to complete. You can view the items you've submitted to the list HERE.

SALON
Due to lack of attendance, all future Modern Salon dates have been cancelled.

FESTIVAL OF TREES 2015
Our guild will once again be making a holiday quilt to be displayed and sold at the Orlando Museum of Art's Festival of Trees.  The guild will once again supply the fabric, and members will make individual blocks that will then be assembled into a "wreath quilt".

Meeting adjourned at 11:45, followed by lunch at Miller's Ale House.










August BOM

We just did a paper pieced block a couple of months ago, and I don't want you all to forget how to do it, so.........I have been in love with "Flying Geese" in circles or waves for a long time now.  While pinning some blocks to Pinterest last week, I came across this free paper pieced pattern for a "Circle of Flying Geese" and knew I wanted to do it for the BOM when it was my turn.
Well, it is my turn. I made this block a couple of years ago, and I admit to getting confused about which piece was the Geese, and which was the background. (I may have ripped out a few pieces because of putting the geese fabric in the background place or vice versa).
Christina Lane has a very good tutorial for paper piecing this block here .   If you know how to paper piece and don't need the tutorial, just print the template here. (From Piecebynumber.com). Be sure to print the top or first template, (clockwise spin), and at 100%, (not "fit to page" on your printer settings). Hint: (You can set your printer to print in B&W so you don't waste any color ink). After printing, measure the line at the bottom right under the block. (It should measure 1 inch).
Each template will make 1 unit for the block. It takes 4 units to make a 12" block. You can put your name in once for each unit you make, but for each 4 units you make, you can put your name in one extra time. Hence: 5 times for each 4 units made.
These units should be made with a solid gray background, and a contrasting solid or tone on tone fabric. The "geese" may be all the same color or different colors.
When your unit is made, Leave the paper on the back. It is easier to stitch the units together with the paper on.  Have fun with these units. I can't wait to see what they all look like next month.