Saturday, July 6, 2019

July 3rd, General Meeting Minutes

Vice President Yanick ran today’s meeting in the absence of President Ede. She welcomed one new member, Suzanne, attending today for the first time, and one visitor, Sue.

Beth is still collecting favorite recipes and would like everyone to submit one. If you haven’t yet, please text or email your recipe to her. She is putting together a collection of them.

The August meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 14th, instead of August 7th, because of an event at the Sewing Studio – so mark your calendars.

Treasurer’s Report 
Zonetta reported that the guild had expenses exceeding income in June, because of the Juice Juice class costs, but that our finances are still in good shape.

Outreach Report 
Kelly reminded everyone that we are making our first drop off of twin quilts to the Zebra Coalition in October, as part of our major project for the year. She said teams making quilts are already meeting but asked anyone wanting to join a team to contact her and she will get you into a team.

Kate reported that the Meals on Wheels placemat project continues; we have given them 62 so far this year and a total of 446 over the last two years.

Kathy is having a meeting of the QuiltCon Charity quilt committee after the meeting today.

Kate reported that the Festival of Trees committee has a prototype of a quilt with snowflakes and trees of blue, silver, and green, and they’ll be buying fabric tomorrow.

Call for Blocks
We are making Road to Tennessee blocks to send as blocks or quilts for future Calls for Blocks from elsewhere. Instructions are on the Blog, and anyone with blocks should get them to Connie, Julie, or Laurie.


Education
Yanick reported that the Guicy Guice class in June was a success, and showed her 1st completed Moonstone block. A number of members spoke about what they learned and how interesting they found this EPP project – seeing many options in Guicy Guice’s pictures and finished blocks, learning the lingerie knot, sewing this project in public and discovering that many people will be curious about what you’re doing.

Yanick mentioned that the Sun Printing class with Claudia has taken place, and those who attended said they will show their results at the August meeting.


Sister Guild Project – PinPals Swap
Debby announced a pin cushion swap of our guild with a sister guild, the South Sarasota Modern Quilt Guild. She passed around a signup sheet, and Yanick said you can find a form for it HERE. Sign up is due by the August meeting (8/14/19) with pin cushions due at the September meeting.

There will be a road trip later in September to deliver the pin cushions to the S2MQG.

Debby gave a brief history of pin cushions, beginning in the Middle Ages, when pins and needles were handmade and costly, and she showed several classic examples.


Block of the Month 
In Debra’s absence, Yanick reviewed the 10th anniversary theme for BOMs this year, that each should be made with either white or gray as one of the fabrics, and that makers should make two – one to turn in for BOM Lotto and one to keep for making into their own quilt of all of this year’s blocks.

Yanick reported that there will be special prizes in August, to increase participation in BOM, and encouraged everyone to make the block for August – a Curved Log Cabin. Instructions are on the blog and should be made with white or gray solid in the narrow log part of the block and bright colored solids in the other part. She advised anyone making Curved Log Cabin blocks to cut the strips first and that using a precise ¼” seam is crucial (not a scant ¼” seam), because if the seam allowance is not right, it won’t fit together right – if it fits, it’s right.



Name Tag Challenge
We are all challenged to make a name tag and wear it to the August meeting. There will be a special prize drawing for name tags, too.


Fall Fiber Festival – September 29 – 1-5 pm
The guild has been invited back to the Orlando Public Library’s Fall Fiber Festival, where we had sewing machines and demonstrations last year. Those who took part said it was very busy, many visitors asked questions and enjoyed the demonstrations, and that it was also a great way to see what other fiber arts organizations there are and what they do, such as the Orlando Costume Guild.
The guild needs someone to lead this project and volunteers to fill slots of any length. If interested in leading or volunteering, email orlandomodernquiltguild@gmail.com by July 25th; we have to tell them “yes” or “no” by July 31st.


Library Spotlight
Aradria showed several new books and said 20 books were donated last month. She reminded everyone that you must be a member to check one out for a month and you must return it at the next meeting.


Quilty Basket Raffle
Marge, who won last time, showed the items in her basket, including several red, white and blue items, a book of baby quilts, a new magazine, chocolate and other great items. Debbe won the basket.



Photographing Quilts with Paula Kennedy
Paula gave a great program on photographing quilts, starting with a description of photographing the 1804 quilts of the guild’s Pulse project, which are now part of the Regional History Center’s collection on that horrific shooting in 2016. Her background includes interest since childhood in cameras and starting her photography business in 2006. While she has mostly worked in portraits, she has been working recently with guild member Lisa Ruble taking photographs for a quilting magazine that Lisa produces.
Paula's full presentation will be post on the blog very soon.

Door Prizes
Door prizes were won by Shelley and Debbe.


August Program: Made by Hand
Members are asked to volunteer to share their tips on EPP, applique, Sashiko, and hand quilting by emailing the guild (Yanick).

Show and Tell


Wednesday, July 3, 2019

July BOM -Curvy Log Cabin


Grab your solids and let's make a classic Log Cabin block with a curve!


You'll need a least 7 different solid bright colors. (Avoid browns, grays, and low volume fabrics.)

Cut the following (one from each color):
        2.5 x 2.5
        2.5 x 3.5
        2.5 x 5.5
        2.5 x 6.5
        2.5 x 8.5
        2.5 x 9.5
        2.5 x 11.5



You'll also need solid white fabric. A fat quarter is more than enough! (Avoid creams, beiges, and low volume.)

Cut the following:
        1.5 x 2.5
        1.5 x 3.5
        1.5 x 5.5
        1.5 x 6.5
        1.5 x 8.5
        1.5 x 9.5
        1.5 x 11.5
        1.5 x 12.5


If you're a little familiar with this block, here's a quick recap video*:
Curvy Log Cabin -Short Tutorial

If you're new to making this block and would like an in-depth explanation, here's a more detailed video*:
Curvy Log Cabin -Full Tutorial

*Both videos are smaller than 12.5 inches so I added two extra white strips to make it work.



Some tips from my seam ripper and me:

  • Practice sewing a 1/4 inch seam and use a guide foot if your machine has one. (A scant 1/4 inch will not work for this block.)
  • Starch fabrics and cut out all of the strips ahead of sewing. (When adding the next strip, if it doesn't line up, your seam is off.)
  • Sew in a clockwise fashion to make sure the colors are on one side and the whites are on the other.
  • Press all seams to the colored fabric side and not the white side for a neater appearance.
  • Use pins for the longer strips to make sure you sew them evenly. (I had a few that were off until I fixed them.)

Bring as many blocks as you would like to make to our August meeting.
(Remember the date was changed to August 14th!)

Monday, July 1, 2019

Interest Groups meeting around Orlando


Our guild is now rich with more than 100 members.  We had such a growth since our first meeting!  We have recognised that it might feel intimidating for new (and not so new) members. A couple of years ago, the Board has launched the 'Interests groups' initiative.  Since then, small gatherings have been held in various parts of Orlando, focusing on different techniques and interests.

The EPPSewcial group lead by RenĂ© has met twice recently.  Once downtown at The Sanctum, and then more recently at The Little Thimble Craft room in Kissimmee.  Looking at the happy faces and witnessing the discussions around the table, you understand how valuable these groups are for getting to know each other, getting inspired and finding more local gems.





Recently, Claudia animated a class on Sun printing.  Look at those beautiful samples, they just make you want to try it, don't they?  Then you are in luck, Beth and Claudia are going to host another session, probably in September.  Put your name of the list.



The Improv group had a meeting too, organised by Sarah.  Lots of discussions around the table about inspiration, letting go of the rules while working with a limited number of parameters, using the Black and White setting of one's camera to understand and balance values, starting the Improv journey under the guidance of Sherri Lynn Wood's book, The Improv Handbook for Modern Quilters (available in our library).