Saturday, October 14, 2017

Quirky Scrap Quilt Along - The End!

Happy Fall, Y'all!!  

I am such a slacker!!  I am so sorry I am well over a month late on getting this final blog post out.  Originally, it was because of hurricane Irma, but I have no good excuse past that.  I honestly just kept forgetting and when I did remember, I wasn't at a place where I could send the email or post on the blog.  Woe is me and my working life.  

:-D  

If you haven't figured it out by now, the final step in the quilt along is to baste, quilt and bind your quilt.  It's that simple!  I know, simple doesn't equate easy as most people I know dread at least one of these steps the most.  

If you aren't ready to finish up, don't worry about it.  You can always add it to next year's UFO list, right??  

Thank you all for participating, whether you finished or not.  I know I had a lot of fun and hope we can do another quilt along next year.  I have a second Quilt Along in my head but I have no idea if I am going to be able to make it happen, time wise.  I am working on getting my life in order so that I can.  In the meantime I will stay in touch with Paula about the concept.  

Be sure to bring your finished quilt to the December meeting where free gifts from Rifle Paper Company will be distributed to everyone who finished.  

I also want to thank Leila for letting us use her fabulous and truly scrap-busting tutorial!!  I had a great time making mine (I have a second in the works!) and am thinking that I will be making at least one more.  Please be sure to check Leila out on Instagram and follow her to see what other amazing things she will be doing!



Wednesday, October 4, 2017


MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Maitland, FL


WELCOME


President Sarah opened the meeting requesting that anyone who would like to have a quilt in the guild’s special display, “Challenge Accepted” at the Mancuso World Quilt Florida quilt show in January, to please email her with the quilt name, dimensions, and their blurb about the quilt, including comment about how it was a challenge.


PROGRAM


Sarah introduced Pamela Schwartz, Chief Curator/Program Manager at the Orange County Regional History Center, to present a very interesting special program on the One Orlando Collection at the History Center, which includes one of our Quilts for Pulse (QFP). Our guild has given a QFP to everyone on the history center staff. She noted that the center has become a resource for other cities’ history museums dealing with similar situations, most recently Las Vegas.

She noted that it is unusual to create a collection when time hasn’t passed to give perspective on what is, or may be, important over time, but they worked to collect more than 10,000 preservable items left in memorials following the Pulse shootings on June 12, 2016, that make up the One Orlando Collection. She said 4-6 staff members, including 3 new staff funded by the county for this Pulse-related project, worked 31-days straight outdoors in Florida summer heat and rain, collecting items, making decisions about what to take, what to leave, reorganizing the display each night, and then cleaning to preserve the items left at the 4 memorial sites: Lake Eola, Dr. Phillips Performance Center, Orlando Regional Medical Center, and the Pulse nightclub building. They left signs at the sites to let those leaving items know that they might be collected if wouldn’t last in the elements or when it was decided to preserve them. Much of their work involved cleaning to remove mold, mildew, smoke, and spilled wax. They worked to gather the stories for items they could trace, and they have created a digital archive so people everywhere can access the collection online and find information about items associated with each of the victims or the shooting in general.

She told several stories to explain museum issues. IKEA gave a white couch signed by its employees and then was signed by many more people; it is part of the collection but had to be deeply cleaned because full of mold after time outside. A man in Ohio made 49 white wooden crosses painted white, one for each victim, and the history center had special boxes made to hold each individual cross with items left for the individual each represented, not just to preserve the crosses but also to protect other items in the collection from decomposition of the wood and house paint in them. Each item had to be conserved, catalogued, digitally archived, and stored.

She mentioned how much the our QFP quilts mean to many recipients, who have told her so, including the history center staff. The task force on how to create a memorial on the Pulse nightclub site is looking for input, which you can participate in by going to One Pulse Foundation online and creating an account with password (required so everyone’s voice is counted only once).

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Modern Quilt Guild (MQG) Update


Debra J reported on the MQG, noting that all members should have received the MQG monthly email yesterday. It includes a lot of information, including signup for the QuiltCon swaps (you do not need to be present at QuiltCon to participate), upcoming webinars, supply lists for QuiltCon 2018, and how to make submissions to be considered for publication. There is also a link to a demographic survey all members are invited to complete.

November Special Program

Sarah, reporting for Vice President, who was absent, reported that Jen Lee of Red Thread Studio is going to be giving a special program at the next meeting demonstrating and lecturing on Big Stitch and Sashiko styles of hand stitching. It will take the entire meeting, and there will be kits for everyone who has signed up to sew along at the meeting. There will be NO SHOW AND TELL IN NOVEMBER, though we will have Block of the Month and the Education Basket.

Challenge Quilts – Bring to the December Meeting

Please bring all guild challenge quilts to the December meeting, whether you have shown them already or not, so all of the quilts made in the Quirky Scrappy Quiltalong, the Unmodern Made Modern challenge, and the Creactive Club challenge can all be shown by group.

Block of the Month (BOM)


The autumn leaf Blocks of the Month were won by Sharleen. Diana showed the Block of the Month for November, Spools. The tutorial has been posted on the guild blog. Diana said the spool ends should be dark and to angle the strips of colored fabric representing thread, but NOT to add the frame around the block as shown in the tutorial link.




TREASURER’S REPORT


Marge reported on income and expenses for the month and explained how guild money is used to subsidize the cost of classes when we bring in teachers from out of town. She also explained that the guild is paying for the teacher at the November program, including kits provided for those wanting to sew along, so all members can benefit.

Retreat

Marge noted that signup for the retreat is now closed and that, if someone wants to cancel, they need to do it very soon – cancelling just involves cancelling their room with the Wyndham Ocean Walk. She noted that each room has a kitchen and they are time shares, so she believes all will have pots and pans, utensils for cooking,  dishes and silverware.

Each room has just one free parking space in a garage next to the building, so if roommates have more than one vehicle, there will be a charge for parking there or across the street in another parking garage. Alissa warned people parking across the street to opt for “all day” parking or they will be charged each time they leave and return.

Marge said those attending will receive a lot of communication from her in the coming month. Everyone reserving a room has paid a security deposit, which is refundable if there is no damage.

Ocean Walk is providing 6-7 ironing boards for the sewing room, so you do not need to bring your big boards, but do bring your irons and extension cords. There will be 50 people sharing the sewing space. Marge, Beth, and Alejandrina are going to visit Wyndham Ocean Walk to check out the layout, and Marge will let us know anything we need to know about that.

They are looking for people to give demos at the retreat, so please let Marge know if you are interested in giving one. Jeff said he will give one on sewing machine cleaning. Alissa is going to present a Mystery Block with instructions twice a day, to be done Sunday morning, large enough to be a mini, or a number could be assembled together to make a quilt; she will provide information in advance about materials needed. There will be games and giveaways. We can have wine and other beverages in the sewing room but must be discreet about it in the hallways.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Quilts for Pulse Legacy

Mary W is collecting information on QFP. Betty pointed out that Quilting Arts has an article about QFP in its current issue in an article on craftivism, which includes the many statistics from QFP that were part of our Pulse booth at QuiltCon in February this year.

Legal Aid Society

Quilts are still being made for young adults aging out of foster care for a Legal Aid Society project. Four kits are available which need quilting; those who take a kit to quilt, please let Sarah know if you take one.

Festival of Trees Quilt


Wendy showed the finished Festival of Trees quilt, which needs binding; Judy S volunteered to do the binding.

Calls for Blocks


Beth said in the recent past, when we find out about a Call for Blocks, it takes several months to announce it to the guild, collect blocks, assemble them into quilts and have them quilted and bound. She would like the guild to be proactive instead of always behind the requests, so we are going to continue making the large Half Square Triangle (HST) blocks, now of 2 - 12” squares. We will ask members to make them and bring them to meetings as we build up a supply, so when there is a call for blocks, they can be assembled quickly into one or more quilts. The first blocks in this effort, requested for this meeting were 10” squares made into blue and white blocks. Beth asked that blocks now be made of 2 - 12” squares and made of one white or gray square and one low volume fabric in any color.


Beth reported that she has received 5-6 quilts to be taken to Texas for those recovering from Hurricane Harvey. Beth will take and store any donation quilts anyone wishes to give her for needs as they arise. She says she will add plain white or gray blocks to the HST blocks for assembling quilts quickly with plain squares (negative space), and she showed several examples during Show N Tell, quilts that were made of orphan blocks at extra Sew Days at Caroline’s house.

When specific blocks are requested, such as the bee blocks for Manchester, Beth will let us know about the Call for Blocks, and it will be up to individual members if they wish to make special blocks. The guild will focus on sending completed quilts instead of blocks. She also reported that she has not heard anything about a call for Puerto Rico yet, but there will be no way to get them quilts for awhile.

Beth announced that she is going to have white fabric and various items for adding 2 red Xs to each for Project 70273 at Sew Days and the Retreat. She hopes to have blocks made by as many members of the guild as possible, which will be assembled into a guild quilt when there are enough, so please give any Project 70273 blocks to Beth. The 70273 project is only 35% completed, so lots more blocks are needed.

EDUCATION

Classes


Education Coordinator Anne reported, and Alissa confirmed, that the recent Amanda Jean Nyberg “Spin” class was a success. Anne reported on 3 exciting teachers the guild has scheduled to teach classes next year:
January 20, 2018 – Sarah Sharp on paper piecing

April 21, 2018 – Jen Carlton Bailey on curved piecing 
October 20, 2018 – Melissa Averinos on people faces or cat faces

Education Basket

 Zonetta returned the Education Basket filled with 2 Amanda Jean Nyberg pouches, patterns, wine, chocolate, bobbin holder, starch, note cards, fabric bundles, and more. The basket was won by Susan F.


MEMBER AT LARGE


Jane announced that the guild is going to post a list of members’ professional services on the blog, so if you want your business to be listed – quilting-related or not – please get the information to Jane.

DOOR PRIZES


Door prize winners, chosen by random number generator from their number on the sign up sheet, were visitor Barbara and members Dorothy, and Janet. The prizes included a 12-1/2” square ruler and pattern provided by Accuquilt, acrylic templates and 7 yards of fabric provided by Marcus Brothers and Wilton Brands.


SHOW AND TELL



Donation Quilts of Orphan Blocks


GUILD LIBRARY


Librarian Yanick said that several members have had books out of the library for more than a month and asked that anyone who has an overdue book to please mail it back to her at “book rate” or “media mail,” which is very inexpensive (include the book only, no note with it, for the low price), so they are available for other members.

LUNCH

Members going to lunch together met at Blaze Pizza in Winter Park.


UPCOMING EVENTS

·      October 9, 2017 – Maitland Public Library Sew Day, 10-4
·      October 21, 2017 – Dr. Phillips Public Library Sew Day, 10-4
·      October 31, 2017 – email Sarah by this date to have a quilt in the guild display at Mancuso World Quilt Florida in January, 2018 – send her your name, the quilt name, dimensions, and a blurb describing the quilt and use the word “challenge” [for the display, “Challenge Accepted”]
·      November 1, 2017 – OMQG Meeting, the Sewing Studio, Maitland, 10 am,
Special Demonstration of Sashiko and Big Stitch Quilting by Jennifer Lee of Red Thread Studio, with sew along kits
·      November 2-5, 2017 – Retreat, Wyndham Ocean Walk, Daytona Beach
·      January 18-20, 2018 - Mancuso World Quilt Florida, Orange County Convention Center
·      January 20, 2018 – Sarah Sharp class, Dr. Phillips Public Library, 10-4
·      February 22-25, 2018 - QuiltCon 2018, Pasadena, CA
·      April 21, 2018 – Jen Carlton Bailey class, Dr. Phillips Public Library, 10-4
·      October 20, 2018 – Melissa Averinos class, Dr. Phillips Public Library, 10-4

Block of the Month - Thread Spools!

For the month of October, we could make the typical blocks for the upcoming holiday season but I thought we could go a different route and make blocks to brighten up our sewing rooms - Thread Spools!


I think what gives them a modern look are the dark gray or black spool. The full tutorial can be found Moose on the Porch Quilts blog, but here are the highlights:
  • Grab some scraps in your favorite color and sew them together in strips until you can cut them into a 5.5" x 8.5" rectangle. I really liked the look of angling the fabrics a bit.

  • Sew a white 2.5" x 8.5" rectangle along each side of your block like this:
  • Now it's time to make the spool tops. Cut 2 pieces of fabric that read black or gray 2.5" x 9.5" and snowball the corners, as shown with (4) 2.5" squares:
  • Lastly, you will sew your spool tops onto your colored rectangle so that it measures 9.5" x 12.5":
 

Again, you will find the complete tutorial here. I can't wait to see all the pretty thread spools that you make this month!




Monday, October 2, 2017

Meet Gail Peck


I'm Gail Peck and I'm a newbie with this whole quilt guild thing. Although I've been sewing since I was 13, having learned the basics in Home Ec class, for many years my main focus was on garments for myself and my brood of four sons. Along the way home decorator sewing was added to my repertoire. Although I have no photographic proof of it, I began making quilts more than 30 years ago; mostly one or so, every few years, as our needs dictated.


I heard about the Linus project from someone and made about three for them including the pinwheel quilt.

A gift quilt


A remake of a quilt pattern I made for my youngest son when he went to FSU 14 years ago

As a published photographer it pains me to admit that my vast photo library is crazy out of order, so most of the very recent work is nowhere to be found. Yikes!! For nearly ten years I sold art photography at markets and art festivals, however, I needed my husband's help setting up so when his job became just too demanding, I shut down my business and began looking for something new to occupy my time. A notice in the Orlando Sentinel caught my eye: Days for Girls was looking for people that sew. Although I'd never heard of it before it seemed like a charity where I might fit in and I did. Meeting Sharleen, Sarah, Beth, Leslie and others really changed my life as far as sewing is concerned. They told me about the guild and eventually I went to a meeting and was hooked. 


Bruce and Baxter - quilt made with half square triangles
The back with Baxie

Prior to meeting them, I only did hand quilting. Not because I am a glutton for punishment but because I found it both relaxing and easier than machine quilting which I'd tried years and years ago. Now, however, I've got the hang of it, not free motion just yet, but I'm fairly decent with a straight line.

here is my last hand quilted project for a former co worker who had tried to have a baby for more than ten years

Hand quilted seven years ago...I remember being so proud of this bold quilt in the zig zag pattern. I made if for my son in London and gave it to him when he came home for Christmas. Could not wait for him to open it!! 

I had the honor of helping Pam Paisley learn to put a quilt together in November 2015 which she worked on in my then sewing/photography space. Her husband got hooked as well! 

Pam learning

Because we have made some crazy life changes in the last four or so months, I've not begun any new projects, however, I finally completed, albeit not that great, the quilt I'd brought to Vancouver half quilted. I do love a seriously scrappy quilt and this one is just that, lending a little bit of funkiness to our new surroundings. It is so great having all these pieces to remind me of home and all of the quilts I've made for loved ones as well as charity. My plan was to hook up with other quilters during our year in Vancouver, however, two months later that is yet to happen. Fabric is crazy expensive here. Try $17.99 per meter which I've now learned is 3 inches more than a yard. I'm talking ordinary cottons my friends.

The scrappy quilt I brought with us to Vancouver

I pretty much like graphic, simple quilts, with bold color. I'm also a lover of using estate sale fabrics when I can find them. Nothing like making new with something old. Speaking of which we are having a new year with old folks!

Charity quilt for OrlandoMQG
Another gray one with solids and spiral quilting

You can follow Gail on her blog Camera Crazy. It's nice to still get our "Gail fix" until she returns to Orlando.