Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Unruly Workshop

Don't forget this Saturday is our workshop with Tonya Ricucci (FOR REGISTERED PARTICIPANTS) from 10am to 4:30pm at the Dr. Phillips/Southwest branch of the Orlando public library.  There will not be a Sew Day this day.  An email went out to all registered participants with last minute details and reminders.  If you registered for the workshop, but did not receive an email, please let me know.



Remember to email the group with the shared items (food, drink, cutting mat, iron, etc.) you plan to bring. Can't wait for this workshop!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

First Evening Sew Day

OMQG held our first ever evening time Sew Day.  I think I got almost as much done in one evening as I usually do in a longer daytime sew day. As always it is great to have a chance to consult and laugh with other quilters as we work on our projects.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Sew Evening

Don't forget we are having a Sew Evening this month, and it is tomorrow!!!!  

As with our Sew Days, we will meet at the Southwest/Dr. Phillips branch of the Orlando Public Library.  However, this time we will meet from 6pm to 9pm.  

Hope to see you there!  Leave a comment or email if you plan to be there, and let us know if you can bring an iron and/or ironing board.  Sure hope I'm not sewing alone ;-)

Mug Rug Swap

As discussed during the April meeting, we are having our very first swap!  
If you want to participate, make and bring a mug rug to the May 4th meeting wrapped in a brown paper bag, and you will take home a mug rug created and made by a fellow OMQG member!  Easy and fun!

Mug Rug Mosaic
1. a drink & a snack, 2. Selvedge Mug Rug, 3. camp 1, 4. IMG_4935, 5. After 5 Mug Rug, 6. Ticker tape mug rug, 7. Mini Quadrilateral Quilt Mug Rug, 8. My Mug Rug Collection - Sue made me this one, 9. Tweethearts_2

What is a mug rug you ask?  Basically it is an oversize coaster.....a cute spot to set your beverage of choice and a snack.  As you can see from the above pictures, mug rugs are not just for coffee ;-)  The mug rug I brought in as a sample was about  6" by 10", but they can range in size anywhere from 4"x6" to 6"x10".  You can make your mug rug square, rectangular, round, heart shaped, egg shaped, etc.;  you can sew a binding on it or use the pillowcase method; you can machine quilt or hand stitch it.  Whatever you choose to do, enjoy the creative process!

The mosaic above is just a sampling of some of the great mug rugs showing up on Flickr.   While browsing for mug rug pictures to share, I noticed a blog that hosted a week of Mug Rug Madness.  This would be a good place to visit for tutorials, questions about mug rugs, or if you want more inspiration.

I can't wait to see what our members create!!!!

Saturday, April 9, 2011

May Block of the Month

Please note:  This post has been edited to correct the block size.


May's block of the month is a red and white offset stacked strip block.  (Suggestions for a shorter, more clever name are welcome.)  Lately, combinations of red and white quilts have shown up everywhere!  I am sure the recent Infinite Variety exhibit has something to do with that.  If you have not seen these gorgeous quilts, I encourage you to visit this link.  They are incredible!  There is also a free app available for iPod and iPad.  

May Block of the Month
This month's block is 10" 9 1/2" square unfinished and made with red and white fabrics.
In keeping with our fun, easy, and can be made with scraps on hand approach, here is how I made my block:


From your stash, pull out strips/scraps of red fabrics and solid white fabric.  Cut strips of red fabric 6 1/2" by 2".  Your white fabric should also be 2 inches wide and can vary in length from 4 -6 inches long.  
For each block you will need six strips of red fabric and two sets of six white strips.


Using a SCANT 1/4" seam, sew a white strip and red strip together along the 2" end.  You will do this for all six red strips. It goes faster, if you chain piece the strips.  


Sew the other set of six white strips to the other 2" end of the red strips.  The above picture has been cropped, but you will have six sets of strips with the red fabric in between two strips of solid white fabric.


Arrange your six strips in a way that is visually pleasing.  You want the red strips to be offset somewhat, keeping in mind that the red fabric should be mainly centered and there is enough white on either side to make the block ten inches when trimmed.


Once you have decided on your layout, sew the six strips together along the long edge and trim to a 10" 9 1/2" square.  Use a SCANT 1/4" seam for this block or you may run into trouble ;-)
Note you will have more to trim from the sides (depending on how you centered your red strips and the length of the white strips) but not the top and bottom.

Participation in the Block of the Month program is optional.  You can choose to make one block, two or more blocks or no blocks.  Participating members, bring your block(s) to the May 4th meeting.  Each block you bring gives you a chance at the drawing for all the blocks.

Please feel free to email or comment with any questions you may have.


Thursday, April 7, 2011

Just one Star block QOV

Moda is participating in "just one star", to make blocks for QOV.  This is great way to contribute, without having to make an entire quilt.  Here is the link for their pattern and info.
http://modafabrics.blogspot.com/2011/03/just-one-star.html
on April 07, 2011 by Anonymous | 1 comment 

April 6, 2011 Meeting Minutes

15 people were present for the April Meeting at the Sewing Studio in Maitland. The Meeting was held from 10 am until 12 noon.

I.     Welcome
       -Since the treasurer could not attend the meeting, there was no treasurer's report this month.
       -The minutes from the March meeting were posted online, and there were no questions or comments about them.
       -The Block of the Month drawing was held for the green and white mosaic blocks, and they were won by LInda Mullins.

II.     Rene presented the Block of the Month for the May Meeting.  The strip block is to be completed in red and white, and the instructions will be posted on the OMQG web site.

III.   We will have a Mug Rug swap at the May Meeting.  There are no specific requirements for this.  If you want to participate bring one with you to the May Meeting in a brown paper bag. Make them larger than a coaster and smaller than a placemat.  The sample Rene showed was roughly around 8 by 10 inches.


IV.    Favorite Quilting tool or notion discussion.  
       -There were so many interesting favorite tools, notions, and tips on how to do things easier that we have added a page to the web for you to comment about your favorite tools. Please add to the comments if you shared something at the meeting. Even if you were not at the meeting we welcome you to add to the discussion.

V.     Other Guild Business
       -The workshop with Tonya Ricucci will be held on April 30th in lieu of our regular Saturday Sew Day.  The workshop, in which she will cover several techniques, will run from 10:00 am until 4:30 pm at the South West Branch Library (Dr. Phillips) of the Orange County Library System. The cost for members is $15.00 and the cost for non-members is $30.00. Attendees are not required to purchase Tonya's Book, Word Play, to attend the class, however if you are interested it is currently available through Amazon. You can read more about Tonya and her work here. If you plan to attend you must notify Michele and get payment to her no later than April 20th.
       -We have the library meeting room at South West (Dr. Phillips) booked for OMQG for April 11 from 6 pm until 9 pm.  Our president, Rene, asked if we would like to hold an alternate sew evening on this date and time. Since a number of people indicated that they would attend, that will be our first ever Sew Evening. 
       -During Show and Tell Beth showed everyone the OMQG's long arm quilted patriotic donation quilt.  Alejandrina will add the label and then it will be ready to go. We decided that we would utilize a personal contact from the Veterans Hospital in Tampa to select an injured military person to receive the quilt in conjunction with Memorial Day. 
       -Beth requests that if any guild member decides to make a donation block for Quilts of Valor take a photo of it and contact Beth who would like to show the blocks made by OMQG members.
       -The door prize was won by Sonia Kennedy.

V.     Show and Tell







Post our favorite tools.

We had some really great tools presented at the guild meeting. Lets post them here, and we'll have a central place to look for them.

Mine is: my small, blunt tipped scissors, on a retractable holder, clipped to my shirt.
My second is:  my stackable tool/thread holder to carry my sewing/quilting stuff around.
on April 07, 2011 by Anonymous | 6 comments 

Monday, April 4, 2011

April Guild Meeting

Here are the details for April's meeting:

Sample Mug Rug
When:  Wednesday, April 6, 2011 10am-12pm
Where:  The Sewing Studio, Maitland, Florida
What to Bring:  If participating in the Block of the Month, your mosaic block(s) Info here
                          Your favorite/can't live without quilting tool/notion
                          Cash or check for renewing membership if haven't already
                          Cash or check for April 30th workshop-more details at meeting
                          Copy of Agenda (sent via email)
                          Show and Tell

Agenda:
-April Block of the Month turn in and drawing
-May Block of the Month sample 
-Mug Rug Swap for May
-Favorite quilting tool/notion discussion
-Discuss upcoming workshop with Tonya Ricucci/Unruly Quilter
-Other guild business
-Show and Tell

Please help us out by leaving a comment or emailing if you plan to attend so we will know how many chairs to set up.  Looking forward to seeing you Wednesday!