Monday, July 31, 2017

Meet Ede Nault

Hi, I’m Ede.  I’ve been a member of the guild since about 2012, and have served as the guild Secretary, and as the Education Coordinator.  I’ve been married to the same great guy for almost 27 years and have two adult children.



I started quilting in about 1992.  I’ve always done a lot of needlework, especially crewel embroidery (remember that?) and cross-stitch.  One day, I was in a store and I saw a pattern for something called the “Country Bride Quilt” and I thought, “I’m going to make that for my friend Kennedy as a wedding present!”  Ignorance being bliss in this case, I then proceeded to hand applique and hand quilt the queen-sized quilt you see below, which fortunately I finished one month before my first child was born because if I hadn’t it would still be in my UFO stash today.  (Yes, this is a photo of a photo.  This was back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and digital cameras had yet to be invented.)



My first pieced project was a throw I made for my Dad.  As you can see, I managed to chop the points off most of the triangles.  I remember thinking then that was a problem, but just forged ahead anyway.  Hey, at least I finished it!!


Then I went through a Debbie Mumm phase.  These patterns are a bit dated now, but I have to say her books and patterns were really easy for a beginning quilter to figure out.  Note that my triangles are now no longer point-less. (Sewing pun.)






And then I took a 15 year break from quilting. No particular reason—just busy with lots of other things.  Also, my sewing space at the time was a tiny windowless grotto wedged in between the master bedroom closet and the master bath—can’t imagine why I didn’t want to spend any time THERE! When I joined the guild and started sewing again, it was as if I’d never quilted before.  I was dazzled by the fabrics, the designers, the tools, etc. And I was a bit intimidated by the gorgeous work shown by the rest of the guild members, but my intimidation quickly turned into inspiration from all our warm and wonderful members.

Recently, I seem to have been on a bit of a baby quilt run:



I’ve also made a couple pillows:





Being in the guild has brought so much to my life—new friends, new knowledge, lots of laughs, and, of course, LOTS and LOTS of fabric!!

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Socia Media Hashtags

HASHTAGS (aka the pound sign #)



With so many new guild programs introduced, a review of our Hashtags (and links to new programs) might be helpful.  This is a general list of the hashtags we use on Instagram and Facebook for categorizing posts to aid in search ability.


#OrlandoMQG - use for ALL your guild related posts (Note #OMQG is used by another guild...make sure you use #OrlandoMQG)

#OrlandoMQGSewDay - use when posting pictures from Maitland and Dr. Phillips Sew Days

#OrlandoMQGBlockLotto - for posting pictures of your blocks of the month

#CreactiveClub - use for posts involving the Cre-active Club Challenge 

#QuirkyScrapQuiltAlong - follow along with other members participating in @SewnbyLeila's scrap busting quilt along

#OMQGunmodern - for progress on your Un-Modern Made Modern Challenge

#ModernPrinciplesChallenge - for our bi-monthly modern series challenges.


#showusyourmqg - the MQG likes to see what guilds are up to

#mqgsewday - once a month the MQG hosts virtual sew days...it's nice to see what other modern quilters are creating


#QuiltsforPulse - hashtag used by many for posting their progress, completed quilts, photographing of quilts, and receiving of Quilts for Pulse

#OrlandoMQGatQC2017 - used by members who attended QuiltCon in Savannah



Thursday, July 27, 2017

September Block of the Month

For September we are doing a very simple block in white/low volume/beigy background with 1" red strips. The blocks should be 9.5" square after trimming.


Instructions for the block are here, in a post from A Quilter's Table blog. The post assumes you are making many blocks, but you are only required to make one. As usual, more blocks mean more chances to win!

That's it.

The rest of the post suggests a quilt layout using these blocks; of course only the winner will do this!

The clever idea is to assemble the blocks (here I just show one row, but you would have many):


The sewn blocks are now your fabric; cut it into smaller squares (the author used a 6.5" square) , arrange them in a pleasing way and sew them together. You get something like this:


Modern and easy.  Also, check out how she quilted the binding with a decorative thread!


Sunday, July 9, 2017

Call for blocks - Project 70273


At our last Guild meeting, Jeanne Hewell-Chambers, writer, stitcher, storyteller and founder of The 70273 Project has introduced the Project 70273 and why she has started it. See more on her Blog, The Bare Foot Heart.

Between January 1940 and August 1941 (before the Holocaust began), 70,273 physically and mentally disabled people – men, women, teens, boys, and girls – were murdered by the Nazis.
Though they never even laid eyes on the disabled person they were evaluating, the Nazi doctors read the medical files and, if from the words on the page, the person was deemed “unfit” or an “economic burden on society”, the doctor placed a red X at the bottom of the form. Three doctors were to read each medical file, and when two of them made a red X on the page, the disabled person’s fate was sealed.

I will commemorate these 70,273 voiceless, powerless people who were so callously and casually murdered by gathering 70,273 blocks of white fabric (representing innocence and the paper the doctors read), each bearing two red X’s (representing the Dr's marks for one person), and I will stitch them together into quilts. 


Our Call For Blocks, for July is focusing on providing blocks and Middlings to the Project.
1. Blocks
The blocks need to be:
  • rectangles of white fabric (white represents the paper of the medical records)
  • embellished with 2 red XThe red X’s can be made from a variety of red textile-related materials using a variety of techniques.  
  • the blocks should either be 3.5″x 6.5″, 6.5″x 9.5″ or 9.5″x12.5".

Important note: please leave a margin of 1/4″ – 1/2″ margin on all sides so your red X’s don’t get lost when we’re stitching the blocks together.
Middlings are finished quilts measuring 18x22" following the same criteria as the blocks:
  • Background fabric must be white/white on white/off white, (representing the medical records, the only information assessing physicians used to make their life and death decisions).
  • Red X’s MUST be presented as easily recognizable pairs because each pair of red X’s represents one person.
  • Binding or facings (finished edges) must be white.
  • Backing must be white with an official 70273 Project label. When you’ve completed your Middling, contact Jeanne, and she'll create a label and send it digitally. You’ll simply print and stitch.
  • A hanging sleeve needs to be attached to the back of the quilt.
Get as creative as you like and put as many red X’s as desired on the Middling, just remember to place the red X’s so that they are easily identifiable as pairs.
All blocks and Middlings must be accompanied by a Provenance Form which can be found here.
You may turn your blocks and/or Middlings in to Beth Schmidt at any meeting, or send them to Jeanne yourself. If you send them to Jeanne, please email Beth Schmidt with the number or blocks or Middlings you sent. Post your contributions on social media with pictures, or ask us to do it for you.
You’ve cleared your space – your physical, mental, emotional, and digital space – making way for something new, for possibility. You’ve pondered, journaled, and meditated . . . you know…
THEBAREFOOTHEART.COM

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Quirky Scrap Quilt Along Part 4 and Roll Call!

I think it is time for a check in.  Please post or respond to the email letting us all know your status in our Quilt Along.  Are you still having fun?  Is this a good pace that holds your interest but doesn't make you feel pressured or overwhelmed to keep up?  Please be honest as I promise my feelings aren't hurt if you have suggestions.  The reason I am asking is that I am already pondering the idea of another Scrappy Quilt Along as I still have a TON of scraps to use up!

So, onto this month's instructions....

We will finish up all our blocks this month.  We will make the same number of blocks as last month but there are two different ones.

First you will need to pair up all your 5 inch squares and make 32 Half Square Triangles (HST) out of them.  Leila does a great job showing you how to do it here.


I always make my HSTs a little large and trim them down since I haven't yet been able to sew them accurately otherwise.  Leila's measurements make it so you can trim them.



Next, you will take the 5.5 inch squares and pair them up to make 20 Quarter Square Triangles (QST).  They are a lot like HST.  These will also need to be trimmed.  Here is the link to the instructions.


We are in the homestretch after this month.  If you are feeling a little behind, please don't worry at all. Our goal is for everyone to have finished by the end of the calendar year so just take a deep breath and do what you can, when you can.  Who cares if you end up adding this to next
year's UFO list??  We have all been there before.  

Before you go I have four things to remind you to do:

1. Check out Leila's progress on her Quirky Scrap Quilt.  You can find her her blog here and her Instagram feed.

2. Stop in at Rifle Paper Company to thank that for the small gift they have given us for everyone that completes their quilt by the end of the year.  Their shop is filled with beautiful things.

3. Share your photos and progress on social media using #QuirkyScrapQuiltAlong and tagging @SewnbyLeila and @OrlandoMQG.

4. Don't forget to comment below or email in your status.


Next month we will piece the top!





Thursday, July 6, 2017

MEETING MINUTES - Wednesday, July 5, 2017

MEETING MINUTES
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Maitland, FL

ICEBREAKER


There were 52 present including 1 guest and 3 new members. Jane, our Member at Large, introduced the 3 new members, including 2 former members renewing now, and 1 guest, Paula’s mother. Then she divided everyone into 3 groups for a 5-minute Icebreaker scavenger hunt in purses and other bags, thanking everyone for not claiming someone in their group to be a “seam ripper,” since we are all that at times.

PRESIDENT


President Sarah reported that the board has developed a new spending policy limiting board members from spending over $50 without approval by the board. She also said that the guild would like to send cards to members when they should receive our congratulations, sympathy, get well wishes or other message, and she asked that members email the Secretary (Mary Sm) to let her know of the circumstances when cards should be sent from the guild to any of our members for any reason.

Sarah reported that the Makers Faire will be at the Orange County Fairgrounds on October 21-22 this year. We have participated twice, but did not last year, and she asked if there are volunteers who would be willing to man the OMQG booth, if we apply to have one this year, to which 6-7 raised their hands. If the board decides to proceed, a formal signup will be available online for volunteers. It’s a nice opportunity to include quilters among the makers in the community and a fun event for those who man the booth.


Sarah showed us the catalog for the UCF exhibit commemorating the Pulse shootings, “Resilience: Remembering Pulse,” June 8-30, 2017 at UCF Art Gallery. The catalog includes a thoughtful description of the Quilts for Pulse project written by members and  UCF assistant professors of digital media Anne Sullivan and Anastasia Salter, “Quilting for Pulse: A Crafted Community Response to Tragedy,” as well as a number of photographs of Pulse quilts throughout. Anne has provided a number of catalogs for members to take today, and, if more are requested, she can get us more.

VICE PRESIDENT


Vice President Paula announced that we will have a program on Tools, Tips & Gadgets in the future, with each participating member taking about a minute to describe the tool, tip, or gadget they want to share with the guild, because she hopes we will have a lot of them. She asked members to fill out a form with their name and email address and what they plan to contribute, and asked anyone who wants to participate to email her if you didn’t give her a form for that today.

CRE-ACTIVE CLUB


Caroline, who is in charge of the Cre-Active Club, is out of town, but this meeting is when those participating show their finished #2 UFO, so they 13 members came to the front with their finished project and spoke a bit about their now-finished UFO. There was a drawing for a prize for someone who had their #2 project today, a book, which was won by Dar.

 #4 was drawn as the number of the next project to finish on your list of 6 UFOs, if you are taking part. That finished UFO #4 is due at the September meeting.

BLOCK OF THE MONTH


This month’s Block of the Month is a tree block made of two half rectangles. They were won by Alejandrina. 
 The Block of the Month for August is a hashtag block shown by Paula. She said that the members who attended the 1st Facebook Community Summit recently in Chicago  (Rene, Michele, and Mary W) came back with plans for the guild to use more social media, and the hashtag block was chosen to encourage and expand our use of hashtags.


The challenge for members is not just to make one or more hashtag blocks for the August meeting, but to also take a selfie with you and a block and post it on Instragam or the members-only Facebook page with your name, one fact about yourself, 

AND include the hashtag “#OrlandoMQG.”

The hashtag blocks should have a white or low volume background and modern bright print or solid for the hashtag itself. Instructions for the hashtag block will be posted on the blog today. Those using the guild hashtag correctly on social media will be eligible for a prize. Someone asked whether members not on social medica could email their picture with their block to someone, and that will be considered. Paula pointed out that there is a button at the bottom of an Instragram posting allowing it to be posted on Instagram and Facebook at the same time.

TREASURER’S REPORT


Marge reported that income in June included membership fees, the Education Basket and a check for a fabric auction IOU. Expenses included fabric for the QuiltCon 2018 charity quilt.

Marge asked for several non-board members to volunteer to audit the guild books, as now required by our bylaws annually. Zonetta and Beth volunteered.

RETREAT

Marge reported that there have been some issues for members trying to make reservations at Wyndham Ocean Walk in Daytona Beach for the retreat, Nov. 2-5, 2017, but she thinks they have been resolved. There are still 1- and 2-bedroom rooms available; the 1-bedrooms have 2 queen beds; the 2-bedroom has 1 king and 2 queens. You can stay 2 or 3 nights, but there is a 2-night minimum for our group’s discounted rate. When making reservations, let them know it’s for the “Orlando Modern Quilt Guild Convention” to get that rate. To receive a refund of your deposit from Wyndham, you must cancel 2 weeks before Nov. 2.

She said we have the ballroom for our sewing space from 2 pm Thursday through noon Sunday; though we may be able to stay longer, most have left by then at previous retreats. October is the deadline for reservations, but Marge would like to have a head count of everyone intending to go by September; she needs the total number so the guild can plan for swag and giveaways for everyone. She noted that Beth and Alejandrina are the committee trying to get swag donated by quilting vendors, with Debbie K’s help, so please let them know if you have ideas or contacts.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH


Wendy presented samples of the wonky tree and star blocks members who volunteer will be making for this quilt, and she has the fabric packets for those wanting to make the blocks to take today. Finished blocks due at the August meeting, so the quilt can be assembled, quilted, and bound by the end of October. Both blocks were Block of the Month blocks in the past year, and there is a link to the instructions for both on the blog.

Legal Aid Society Project

Mary W was not present, so Beth filled in for her. She reported that there are several groups working together on this project for the Orange County Bar Association's Legal Aid Society, to complete twin bed quilts for young adults aging out of foster care. She said eight are done with two ready for quilting. She also reported that there are ShareBears that are sewn that just need stuffing and finished bears were collected.

EDUCATION

Sarah reported for Anne, who was not present, that Debra J is generously offering the guild a free Leftovers Quilt class on August 19, 10 am, at the Dr. Phillips Public Library [there will be no Dr. Phillips Sew Day in August]. The class will be limited to 20 students, so there will be a lottery if more than 20 sign up. Email the guild to sign up at orlandomodernquiltguilt@gmail.com. Debra showed a quilt in the style of the class and described some of what will be covered – sewing tiny pieces, how to keep it flat, how to avoid birdsnests on the back, etc. If you get into the class, a supply list will be emailed to you. Those getting into the class should take food to share.

EDUCATION BASKET

Paula returned the Raffle Basket filled special needles, a needle threader, Frixion pen, charm squares, and a quilter’s cookbook by Amy Gibson. The basket was won by Ede.


MEMBER AT LARGE

Survey

Jane reported on the survey results which show that most guild members consider themselves intermediate quilters, so she believes we are ready to learn. She listed the top topics people are interested in learning more about: curved piecing, ruler work, FMQ (free motion quilting), big stitches and Sashiko stitching, and geometry in quilting designs. Our members are very active, and active in community service projects, and equal numbers are interested in our two Sew Days, at Maitland Public Library and Dr. Phillips Public Library.

Mentors

Jane described a new Mentor program. She is hoping to get 10 experienced non-board members to mentor newer members, to help them stay on top of our many activities and feel a part of the guild. Sign up with Jane to be a mentor or if you would like to have one.

ADVERTISING ON THE BLOG

The board has decided we should have a space on the blog where members can advertise their businesses, whether quilt-related or not (longarm quilting, binding, photography, CPA, etc.). If you are interested in being listed on the blog with your business information, email the information to the guild at orlandomodernquiltguild@gmail.com.

GUILD LIBRARY           


Guild librarian Yanick brings the guild’s library of modern quilting books to meetings. The book list is available at the guild website. Books may be checked out for a month and must be returned at the following month’s meeting.



DOOR PRIZES

Our guest won the first prize and donated it back to the guild. Four members won then won the bright colored door prizes provided by various vendors, including Marcus Fabrics (which gave us 2 yards of a lovely batik), selected by random number generator. The prizes were fat quarters with thread, the batik yardage, and a book with several templates.  Winning door prizes were: Mary Sm, Dar, Debbie H, and Joy.





PROGRAM – PROJECT 70,273 – JEANNE HEWETT-CHAMBERS

New member of our guild Jeanne Hewett-Chambers gave a moving program about her 70,273 Project to commemorate the 70,273 physically and mentally disabled people murdered by the Nazis over a 21-month period in 1940-41. They were victims of the Nazis’ practicing efficient mass murder before they began the genocide of the Holocaust.


Jeanne is an engaging speaker, who told us about this project through the personal stories about her sister Nancy, which made this project especially important to her, as well as the horrific history of mass murder by the Nazis, while also being a charming and inspiring speaker.
 

When she learned this history of systematic Nazi murder of so many disabled people from a WWII documentary on TV, she decided she had to make sure that every one of those lives is commemorated, so she put out a call for blocks and quilts and other needlework with white background and two red X’s, each set of Xs representing one murdered disabled victim. They were put to death when their files, reviewed by 3 doctors who never saw them in person and did not know what was going to happen to the them, were marked with red Xs by 2 doctors, indicating that they were “unfit”; the Nazis called them, “useless eaters.” 


 3 worked on by our guild members

Jeanne showed a number of the quilts and other needlework pieces that people have contributed to this project, and accepted 3 pieces our members participated in creating. She told us about her recent trip to France, where the quilts hung in a cathedral and 1,272 of the murdered were commemorated. Next year two cathedrals in England will also hang many of the quilts in special commemorative events. She is hoping to finish the project within 21 months, to match the 21 months of the killings in 1940-41. She launched the project on Valentine’s Day 2016.

The nonprofit to commemorate the 70,273 has goals of helping people learn to communicate about what happened and educating everyone who will listen. She wants everyone to know what happened, so it won’t ever happen again. To participate, members can mail blocks to her, ask her to send blocks to be assembled and quilted – piecing or quilting or both, or embroidery or any other method for adding sets of 2 red Xs [the pieces will not be washed].
 
 Beth said our Call for Blocks at this time will be for the 70,273 Project, and the information for making blocks is on our blog. Blocks must be sent with a provenance form (not per item but per mailing). The link to the form will also be on our blog. See Jeanne’s blog for more information: the70273project.org or the Facebook page.

Anyone making blocks for the Grenfell Towers fire victims in England should get them to Wendy, who will be taking them to England.

SHOW AND TELL


 Marge
Mary So
 Ashley
 Connie

 Beth

 Joy
Wendy
Linda
Sheryl
Susan

The meeting was adjourned at 12:00.  

LUNCH

Members going to lunch together met at Spoleto on 17-92 in Winter Park.

UPCOMING EVENTS

·       July 10, 2017 – Sew Day, Maitland Public Library, 10-4
·       July 22, 2017 – Sew Day, Dr. Phillips Public Library, 10-4
·       August 2, 2017 – OMQG meeting, Sewing Studio, 10 am
·       August 7, 2017 – Sew Day, Maitland Public Library, 10-4
·       August 19, 2017 – Debra J’s Leftovers class –Dr.Phillips Public Library, 10-4                                 
            (no Sew Day at Dr.Phillips Library in August)
·       September 30, 2017 – Amanda Jean Nyberg’s class
·       November 2-5, 207 – RETREAT – Wynham’s Ocean Walk, Daytona Beach