Monday, May 30, 2016

Meet Marge Cree


Hi, My name is Marge and I’ve been a member of the guild for around 6 years.  I guess I was at the right place at the right time when I discovered the guild one Saturday at the Dr. Phillips Library Sew Day.  Yes, I was one of those people that walked in but I didn’t have my little girl with me who wanted to learn how to sew or I didn’t have any pants to mend.    Michele gave me a card and it was love at first sight!  I was still working then so I only attended the monthly Sew Days but now that I’m one of the lucky ones, I’m retired and enjoy every aspect of the group.  One retreat some of the members talked me into running for treasurer and I kept that office for 2 years.  I would encourage anyone to join the leadership team, it was great fun.  I’ve also made some great friends along the way.





My greatest achievements are my two girls and my husband of 47 years.  Along with that came the best 2 grandsons in the world!  I have sewed all my life and used to make clothes, back when it was cheaper to sew clothes then buy them.  My girls are still tramatized with some of the things I used to make them wear.  My oldest still talks about the orange gingham blouse that matched her bedroom curtains; what can I say, I had leftover fabric.  I started quilting about 16 years ago when a fellow Disney cast member organized a group to make quilts for Salvation Army for Christmas.  We used to get together and hand quilt around patterns on the fabric.  I knew there was more to it so I brought a baby quilt pattern book by Ursula Reikes and made every quilt in the book many times over.   That year I made 39 quilts for charity and realized that there was more than just baby quilt patterns out there, the rest is history.    

I think I’m more of a contemporary quilter, I love bright colors that have pretty patterns to them.  Although there are so many designers that I’ve not learned about yet, Allison Glass, Kaffe Fassett  and Anna Marie Horner are three of my favorites.   I always seem to like what Free Spirit comes out with.   There are so many beautiful fabrics out there, it’s hard to choose specific ones.  My latest addiction is hexies and can’t wait to explore the possibilities!  As other guild members have said before, the guild has really opened my 
eyes to new opportunities to create beautiful things.  I just love learning from the group and will continue to do so for many more years. 



Sunday, May 22, 2016

Sew Day
Dr. Phillips Public Library
May 21, 2016

Monday, May 16, 2016

Thank You Mandy!

http://www.amazon.com/Wanderlust-Quilts-Projects-Inspired-Architecture/dp/1617450596/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463400985&sr=8-1&keywords=wanderlust+quilts

We were fortunate to host Amanda Leins on May 7th at the Bernina Sewing Centre. Mandy is the author of, "Wanderlust Quilts." What a great book! I love seeing her insight to her own creativity as well as learning a few things along the way! She has some wonderful ideas and stories. Her career in archaeology must have been fascinating! The book image above is linked to the book on Amazon, should you be interested in buying it. I picked one up from her at the class. Now that I think about it, I should have had her sign it!

The class we took was amazing. I learned a lot and it was just great to see an example and see how everyone in class worked to get their own images made into something tangible.

Abstract Quilt from a photograph
Each student will bring in a photo that we will then break down into its main component shapes.  I will teach how to enlarge the design using simple tools, and then show how to create and sew the piece from freezer paper templates.

Here are a few photos from class, again.... just look at the talen in the group! Y'all rock it every single time!







It really was a fun time. I am very much looking forward to our next class. I feel like as if there is always something new to learn from someone. Even if you know the technique, a new perspective on it can really enlighten and inspire you! As of right now our next class is in Sept and we hope to see you there! Also a special thank you to Bernina Sewing Centre for allowing us to use their class space and giving us a great class discount as well!

Monday, May 9, 2016

Our Guild is the Best.

I had to pop on, after today's sew day, and share some pictures and love. We had our Maitland Library Sew Day today. When I first went to this sew day I believe there were about 5 or 6 people there. It was cozy, quiet, and quaint. Well, that is a thing of the past! I mean, it is still cozy but quiet and tiny we are not! lol



There were 17 of us in attendance today. There were some people I did not even know! I did try to say hello to everybody though. It is a great place to make some new "quilties" as Alexis would say! Most people were working on the charity project for the month, making the mastectomy pillows. What a great project and cause. They are quick and easy and so very worthwhile.


Sharleen set a goal of 70 for the month and I hope we blow it out of the water! Our guild has grown quite a bit recently and I think it might be time for us to set our goals a bit higher now!


I am honestly, so very proud of our guild and it's members. I have never seen anything but amazing people, with amazing talent no less, come together and help every chance given to them. I really have found a home among our guild and I just wanted to say thanks.


Thanks for the stitching, the laughs, the friendship, and giving spirit that you all share with each other every meeting, sew day, and event that we have.


So, until next time... keep stitching! I can't wait to see what is in store for us next.


-Tanyia

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Meeting Minutes


MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Maitland, FL

President Alissa called the meeting to order; 50 members and 6 guests were present.
ICEBREAKER
Alissa asked those present to line up in birth date (month and day) order.
 TREASURER’S REPORT

Mary, acting for Joan, who is out of town, gave the treasurer’s report, received membership forms and dues for 4 renewals and 1 new membership, and payment of class fees for 1 person attending this Saturday’s Mandy Leins class.

EDUCATION


Education Coordinator Ede reviewed upcoming classes, including Mandy Leins this Saturday May 7th, Christa Watson on September 24th, our member Mary So. in November, Frank’s fabric dyeing class possibly in January, and Jacquie Gering next March 17-19. She led a discussion on frequency of classes and asked the guild whether a class every other month would be too many. She mentioned that we might be able to get Shannon Brinkley to teach on scrappy appliqué in August, unless the guild felt that was too much; there was interest expressed in the class. It was suggested to let other guilds know about openings and charge extra for non-members to further hold down costs to members. 

There was concern that Sew Days at Dr. Phillips Public Library not turn into paid classes, losing Sew Days, and Rene said that she requests space from the library for two days each month that there will be a class, but cannot always get another day there, and space is an issue; so far we’ve been able to, but may not always, find free space. While there is room at the Maitland Public Library, apparently there is not sufficient power. Ede noted that we do not have a space for the Christa Watson class in September, and she will be looking; Sewing Studio and the Seminole County Public Library in Casselberry were suggested as places to ask. Someone suggested that if anyone had access to a community room in their apartment or condo complex that could be used to let Ede know.

Ede noted that getting more teachers and classes is one of the main purposes of of the guild in raising money, and members agreed. Ede noted that the guild likes to subsidize what it can afford to keep classes affordable and asked what the maximum class fee should be. While someone said $50, others mentioned the much higher cost of classes at QuiltCon at $90 minimum. Ede noted that Frank’s class will cost more, because it will include his costs for supplies.

Ede noted that we do not currently have a space for the Christa Watson class in September, and she is looking; someone suggested that we ask the Sewing Studio, others suggested the Seminole County Public Library in Casselberry. Someone suggested if anyone had access to a community room in their living complex that could be used to let Ede know.

RAFFLE BASKET

Debra, who won the basket last month was absent but had returned the Raffle Basket filled with new items, including a double-bed sized Warm & Natural batt. The basket brought in $30 for raffle tickets and was won by Linda Mullins.


LAS VEGAS MINI QUILT SWAP  -   #vegasmeetsorlandoswap

Tanyia reminded those in the mini quilt swap with the Las Vegas Modern Quilt Guild that their minis are due to her June 1st, so should be brought to the June 1st meeting or mailed to her; she will mail them to Las Vegas as a group. Those who brought their mini today had a Show and Tell so the guild could see what they are sending.
 UFO LOG

UFO Coordinator Kelly explained the UFO log to new members and guests; members receive one entry per finished UFO in a drawing for prizes at the December holiday party. She said anyone can give her their list of UFOs to add to the Log or can add them at the website.

GUILD LIBRARY           

Yanick brings the guild library of quilting books to each meeting. See her to see what is available and to check out books, which must be returned at the following month’s guild meeting.

DEMO #1

Diana demonstrated her machine binding method using a 1” bias tape maker with 2” strips of binding fabric to make the binding, pinning with mini binder clips to the quilt edges, and sewing the binding to both sides at once by machine. She noted that there are two videos on YouTube showing Bill Kerr of Modern Quilt Studio demonstrating the process. She will post the links on the OMQG Facebook page, and they are also here.
Binding videos:

BLOCK OF THE MONTH

May’s Blocks of the Month were won by Jodi.

Alexis presented the Block of the Month for May. Directions are available on the guild blog.

DEMO #2

Love demonstrated her method of hanging quilts using Ace yardsticks. She makes the sleeve ½” or so deeper than where she stitches it to the back of the quilt to accommodate the yardstick, cuts the yardstick to the right width with a mitre saw, using lattice strips if the quilt is wider than 36”, she sands all of the yardstick edges lightly, uses brads or wire nails and the tiniest drill bit to leave the smallest possible holes in the wall. She taps in the nails just a bit, using a level, pulls one end loose, puts the quilt the quilt on the yardstick and then hammers in the nails. She provided a handout of instructions.

GIVEAWAYS
There were two random giveaways of two fat quarters won by Leandra and Marilene.

 COLOR CHALLENGE 

Tanyia presented a challenge offering two coloring sheets, with permission of Diane Bohn, who designed them for her Celestial Star pattern. Tanyia asked guild members to color the sheets trying different arrangements of color than they otherwise might to see the great differences it makes in the appearance of the blocks. Two of those who bring the sheets to the next meeting will be in a random drawing for one of Diane Bohn’s patterns.

CHARITY PROJECTS

Charity Coordinator Sharleen presented a one-month challenge to the guild. This small project includes kits to make a Heart of Hope; the guild provided the fabric and labels and Fairfield donated the stuffing. The kits make a heart on a fabric strap used to cushion breast cancer patients and others after chest surgery to cushion them from their seatbelt when in a car. The kits have all of the fabric for strap handle and backing; guild members provide the top of the small pillow, quilted or embroidered or whatever they choose, including a guild label somewhere in a seam or on the strap. Members could take one or more kits and more will be available at the month’s Sew Days; she needs 70 for University of Florida Cancer Center at Orlando Health. They are due at the June 1st meeting; representatives will receive them at the July meeting. Instructions will be on the blog.

MEMBER TRUNK SHOW – TANYIA DESKINS
Tanyia has started a new every-other-month member trunk show in which a member, Tanyia this month, shows a number of her (or his) quilts. She mentioned that, with many new members, this is a way for them, and all of us, to see each other’s work. If interested in providing the trunk show in the future, email her, or she will choose someone to ask.





SHOW AND TELL

Diana showed the quilt above made, with her help, by a 5th grade class at her son's school.
REMINDERS

Remember to return membership forms and dues for this year to Joan, if you haven’t already. If you are taking part, remember to have your Las Vegas Mini Quilt Swap mini to Tanyia by June 1st (you can bring it to the June 1st meeting).

The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 pm.

UPCOMING EVENTS

·      May 7 – Mandy Leins class, “Improv on a Photo,” 10-4, Bernina Sewing Center, Lake Mary
·      May 9 – Sew Day, 10-4, Maitland Public Library
·      May 21 – Sew Day, 10-4, Dr. Phillips Public Library
·      May 31 – Riley Blake Challenge deadline
·      June 1 – OMQG Guild Meeting
·      June 1 – OMQG Board Meeting, after the guild meeting
·      QuiltCon East 2017, in Savannah, GA, Feb. 23-27, 2017. The Modern Quilt Guild will post a course catalog online on June 1st; member registration begins June 25th.  Quilt Entry runs July 1 – Nov. 30.
·      March 17-19, 2017 – Jacquie Gering trunk show and 2 days of classes