Friday, October 30, 2015

Did You Know?....From The MQG

Members, did you see the MQG survey link emailed to you?  Please take a quick moment to participate.  It doesn't take long to complete the survey, and Orlando is being considered as an option for future QuiltCon East location.


Don't forget the deadline is approaching to submit your quilt entry for 2016 QuiltCon.  I have seen some fabulous quilts at Show and Tell so take those quilt photographs and fill out the entry form!


Did you know one of the benefits of OrlandoMQG membership is a free quilt pattern each month from The MQG?  These quilt patterns are designed by MQG members and are unique.  You can find October's and past months on the Community site.


Don't forget to leave a comment on this post to be entered into our monthly door prize drawing.  A winner will be selected midnight Tuesday, November 3rd.


Thursday, October 8, 2015

MEETING MINUTES
October 7, 2015
Maitland, FL

President Yanick called the meeting to order.  3 guests were present, along with about 30 members.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Marge reported that our balance as of the end of September is $8052.04.

RAFFLE BASKET
.....was won by Beth.

BLOG POST WINNER
......was Caroline!

ONGOING UFO PROJECTS
Remember to email Kelly if you have completed any of the projects on the UFO list you submitted to her.  Final deadline for the year coming soon!

PAST, CURRENT AND FUTURE EVENTS
Maker Faire Orlando was a huge success.  Over 300 signed blocks were made at our OMQG booth. These will all be used to make pet quilts for shelters; Beth suggested we send them to shelters in South Carolina, for pets of flood victims.  Over 10,000 people attended Maker Faire--great publicity for OMQG!

Deposits are due NOW for our November quilt retreat at Kenilworth Lodge in Sebring.  More than 20 members have currently signed up; if you are a newer member, and feel that you don't know a lot of people in the guild, this is a great way to establish some new friendships. If you weren't at the meeting but plan to go, please contact Marge ASAP as our deposit is due now.  Emails will follow about carpooling, food and supplies to bring, etc. Attendees may arrive in Sebring starting at noon on Friday, Nov 6.

Don't forget to visit the ongoing (until Oct 31) exhibit of OMQG quilts at the Maitland Library. Many thanks to Karol and her team for hanging all the quilts; the librarian told Karol they have never had such an enthusiastic response to an art display before.

DEMOS
Karol gave a demonstration of how to make your own extra-large ironing board, using plywood covered with batting and denim weight fabric.  (Marge mentioned that her husband would be happy to make these for members for a fee.)
Karol also showed how to make your own foam core display wall for your home.
Sharleen demonstrated how to make pillowcases using the "burrito" method.  This will be the next charity Sew Day project in Maitland, on October 12.  We will be making masculine themed pillowcases for an Army National Guard battalion that is awaiting deployment orders.  Please note that Sharleen will not be providing supplies for this project.  You will need to bring prewashed fabric cut as follows: 

main fabric - 27" by WOF
Cuff - 9" by WOF
Optional flange - 2.5" by WOF

Sharleen challenged guild members who are not attending the Maitland Sew Day to also make pillowcases.  She will accept them through our December meeting.  Some tutorials can be found here and here, and the "burrito method" is explained here.

CHARITY AND CHALLENGE PROJECTS
Linda announced that the wheelchair cover challenge is now ended.  If you have completed covers that you have not turned in, please contact her immediately.

This will be our last charity project of the year, due to our other ongoing projects.

All Festival of Trees blocks are due now.  If you have not turned yours in, please get them to Alissa immediately so that she can begin piecing.

Fabrics were distributed for our "Improv With Intent" quilt for the Quiltcon 2016 charity challenge.  These must be completed and returned by our November meeting.  We are making "sticks and stones" (see the blog post below for extensive directions and suggestions.) Fabric may still be available for use at our quilt retreat if you would like to make blocks there.

BLOCK OF THE MONTH
....was won by Kate!
Instructions for November's blocks are shown in the blog post below.

UPCOMING OFFICER ELECTIONS
All current officers will be stepping down when their terms end.  A nominating committee will be formed soon, so start thinking about volunteering to be an officer for the guild.

SHOW AND TELL
The first quilt shown was made for our dear friend Leandra, who is coping with the tragic death of her daughter.  It was given to her in hope that she might find comfort in wrapping herself in the love and best wishes of her fellow OMQG members.



The last quilt shown was one that a member picked up at a yard sale, and is made largely from double-knit polyester.  It's a real "find"!

The meeting ended with a UFO challenge swap.  All of the uncompleted projects brought in by our members found new homes--now we can't wait to see what becomes of them.  Remember to bring your finished projects to our December meeting!

Meeting adjourned at 11:45, followed by lunch at Orlando Ale House.






Wednesday, October 7, 2015

November Block of the Month

November's choice for block lotto is this cute little raspberry kiss block.  The blocks measure 4.25" (unfinished) and are quite addicting once you get to making them.


Rachel at Wooden Spoon Quilts has a wonderful tutorial for making these blocks.  She even has instructions for making other sizes, but for our block lotto follow the 4.25" size directions.


Bright modern fabrics make up the crosses; use white, cream, neutral, low volume for the background areas.

For fun, here are some links to projects made using these adorable blocks.




Have fun!

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Sticks and Stones

For QuiltCon 2016, we were challenged with making a modern improv charity quilt. The theme was "improv with purpose" and we were given a bright color palette to select our colors. We purchased all of the colors below since they play really well together.


Our design for this quilt will be called "Sticks and Stone" which gives members the option of making one of two different improv blocks to be included in the quilt. Members will be provided with a paper containing the only fabrics to be used in the quilt block. (Please do not add any additional fabrics so the quilt will remain cohesive.) Since we are improvising the design there isn't a uniform way each block needs to look when complete. Unfinished blocks must measure 6.5 inches square.

"Sticks"


The sticks will be made using the slash and insert method used to create a fun block with straight lines.

Check out these tutorials:
Empire's BOM
City House Studio

1. Choose a color you wish to have a background. (Any color except black that measures at least 6.5 inches square can be selected.) The remaining colors will be use to create the sticks you will insert into the block.

2. Cut strips of the various remaining colors. Piece together a variety of colors to create a long string that will be inserted into your background.

3. Cut background at any angle. (Avoid cutting too close to any one corner to avoid bulk at the seams.) Sew strip into both cut background pieces.

4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 at least two or three times to make an interesting set of "sticks".

5. Square up the final design of your block to measure 6.5 inches by 6.5 inches.


"Stones"


The stones will be made up of your choice of a circular design. You can piece or applique your stones together to create a 6.5 inch block.

Use this TUTORIAL to create one quarter of the block shown above. (You'll need 4 of them to make your finished block.)

Check out these tutorials for more circle improv block ideas:
Reverse Applique
Tallgrass Prairie Studios Pieced circles
Pile o' Fabric Improv Circles
More circle improv ideas!




You can choose to make one or both blocks depending on the amount of fabrics you use from your bag. Blocks will be due at the November guild meeting.

Let me know if you have any questions!