During our April guild meeting, Cara gave an awesome presentation of "What does it mean that we are The Orlando Modern Quilt Guild" and reiterated that the guild's focus, when it comes to education and programming, will be on Modern Traditionalism and Improv. With that in mind, we would like to challenge members to make a quilt (any size, including a mini quilt) in the Modern Traditionalism aesthetic. Rene' also gave a brief description of the challenge along with resources on Modern Traditionalism.
Here is an overview of the challenge:
The Modern Quilt Guild has a short video on Modern Traditionalism presented by Holly Clarke that I recommend watching. The following graphic was taken from the webinar and is a good starting point when designing a Modern Traditionalism quilt. Simply select an item from the Traditional column and then one from the Modern column and go for it!
Below are examples of how you can take a traditional block (in this case the churn dash block) and by applying one of the methods under the Modern column you have a traditional-made-modern quilt.
Welcome and Happy New Year to all our members and guests.
Ice breaker - Beth
Beth divides the audience in 3 groups: Members who were in the Guild before the Pulse tragedy, Members who joined at the time of the Quilts for Pulse drive, Members who joined in the last 2 years. Each groups got to answer to 5 questions.
President - Ede
Ede gives an update on Sew Days:
Dr Philips Sew Day - the library has lots of groups requesting the room and the schedule is established 6 month at a time, which means that we haven't been able to secure the room for the first semester of 2020. We are looking at other potential locations in the area, and at week days;
Maitland Sew Day - all the dates for the first semester of 2020 are on the blog;
Casselbery Sew Day - the blog will be updated with 2020 dates once they are confirmed.
Wendy is presenting January Block of the Month. The instructions are on the blog. Wendy shows how the blocks could make a secondary pattern.
New Year - New Challenge
If you’ve lost your sojo, been busy with other things and want to find your way back to your sewing machine, we have a challenge for you: choose one project from a book or a pattern you've got very excited about but never done or finished, and start working on it. Project from library books are accepted too.
Rules:
Anything goes;
Bring the project, finished or not, to our March meeting for Show'n'Tell;
A prize will be drawn at the meeting.
Sewing room virtual tours
Yanick invites members to create a short video (1 to 2 minutes, no sound) of their sewing space. Starting in February, we will show some videos and the owners will be invited to comment on their space. There's a sign in sheet circulating. If you haven't sign up at the meeting, you can still email us your video to the guild email. And please, do not clean up your Sewing Room for the occasion!
Treasure - Zonetta
Financial report Last month Income was generated by the sale of tickets from Quilty basket, expenses for charity project.
Membership renewal Membership renewal will be starting in February, and we hope that most members will have renewed by the end of March which is when we have to send our dues to the MQG. The renewal form will be send very shortly.
The pictorial directory will be updated, if you want to have your picture refreshed, bring your best smile to the meeting. However, if you like your current picture, you can keep it.
Beth - Sunshine
Beth reminds members that we have a Sunshine person. Her role is to send out a friendly card to members who are going through special life event. We want to create a tight knit community, so if you know someone in the Guild in need of some sunshine, please let us know.
Community outreach - Kelly
Quiltcon Kathy and Mary present the QuiltCon Charity Quilt which will be sent to Austin for QuiltCon in February. The theme this year was TEXT and the color palette shades of gray. Inspired by our Community Outreach drive for this year, our quilt has been designed around the word HOME, using log cabin blocks, and HOME written in different languages. Once the quilt is back, it will be donated to the Zebra Coalition.
Thanks to Kathy for leading the committee, Jeff and Carla for the research and all the others who participated in creating this quilt.
Call for Blocks Thank you for the blocks, and keep them coming. A couple of quilts have been completed during the Retreat in November.
Also we are looking into what we can do to help for Australia. Update - the Wollongong MQG is collecting Tree blocks (see details HERE). Connie, Julie and Connie will be collecting blocks at our February meeting. There is also going to be a collection point at QuiltCon.
Zebra Coalition It is the last push for the year Community Outreach drive. We will have a Show'n'Tell for the remaining of the Quilts in February.
Placemats Thank you very much for all your donations, they are great and always welcome.
Education
Ede announces that Timna Tarr is coming to teach on April 25th (location to be determined). You can check her website to see her work.
Ede presents the different class options: Making Map with Fabric, Stitched Mosaic (technique based class), Strung Along (color theory and placement), O Happy Day.
Signs up will start in February. As usual, your check will hold your spot.
Election committee - Mary & Leslie (Aradria excused)
Here are the candidates by positions:
President - Ede
Vice President - Debra
Secretary - Paula
Treasure - Kathy
Education - Marge
Committee Outreach - Sue
Member at large - Love
Love, Sue, Marge, Katy, Debra, Ede
All candidates are running unopposed. Absentee absentee ballot: if you can't be present to the February meeting, in order to vote, you will need to send an email to one of the Election Committee members by Sunday, February 2nd, mid-night.
There are some Committee positions that will need to be filled, you can indicate your interest either on the Membership Renewal form, or by email to orlandomodernquiltguild@gmail.com.
Quilty Basket
Betty won last month and brings the basket back with some books, rulers, water spray bottle, sewing machine needles, scissors, compression gloves…. And the winner is Debbie.
Side note: Betty informs the assistance that Missouri Star will be at The Villages in March.
Sustainability challenge Following December's Sustainability challenge, Yanick draws a prize amongst all the participants. Karol is the winner.
Ice dying with Tonny Nichol Thank you to Tonny for welcoming us in her home and sharing her knowledge and techniques. Also, thank you to Paula for filming, producing this video. The video can be watch on our brand new YouTube channel.
We would love to have more demos from our members. Members are encouraged to contact the Programming team if they are interested in sharing skills, techniques.
Interest Groups - Wrap up
In February, we will wrap up our Interest Groups' activities with a special Show'n'Tell. Finished or not, we would love to see what you've been working on. Our February meeting will also be the occasion for a Members' Speed Trunk Show': bring a project to show if you want to participate.
Update on the Bags for youth getting out of the Foster system Jan reports that 110 large bags and 125 quarter bags for younger kids have been donated. She will keep sewing bags and invites you to do so too. You can also donate fabric. There is a need for 200 big bags per year and 125 small bags twice a year. You can find the instructions for the bags HERE, under the Section "Helping Hands". Show'n'Tell
Beth welcomes guests, and asks members who joined within the last 6 months to stand.
She reminds members that the Maitland SewDay, on December 9th is the holiday party. There won't be any gift exchange but Beth will bring a main dish and asks members who will participate to bring some food to share. The Casselberry Holiday Party will be on December 28, and Judy is in charge of the main dish.
Ede asks attendees to sign the presence sheet, grab a Bingo sheet for the game, and reminds members that the Quilt & More has an appreciation day for the Orlando MQG members on December 14th. Lastly, for those who have participated in the pincushion exchange and haven't received one yet you may want to have a chat with Ede.
Block of the Month
Instructions for the BOM are on the blog, we hope that members are keeping one block each month and will make a full quilt with them. Beth wins last month's BOM.
Diana presents the next block, Icky Thump Block by Julie Hirt. It is a paid pattern but Diana has received the authorization from the designer to use it for our Guild. Diana has made copies of the paper-piecing block. If you haven't got one, please contact her via email. For this block, the background is white and a solid color for for the rest: using solid on paper-piecing will make it easier as there is no wrong side or right side. Diana has some tips on the construction, see her blogpost HERE.
Other matters Lake Mary Museum Annual Quilting and Art Exhibit - we have been invited to take part in this event again. There's a sign up sheet for this. Quilts will have to be dropped off between December 19 and 21. Jeanne A. is the point of contact. The exhibition will be open from January 12th to February 9th.
Debra is offering a free class on January 25. She can host 7 people. Contact her if you are interested, priority is given to Board members, former Board members, and then committee members.
Retreat Everyone had a superb time. THANK YOU to Marge and the retreat committee for a great organization. A second retreat in the Spring will possible, however we need a committee to take the lead.
Election committee - Leslie, Aradria, Mary The deadline to send your application to any position on the Board is December 20th. You can contact any of the Election committee members in person, email, or phone. Being a Board member is a great opportunity to take part in the development of our Guild.
Library Aradria presents 2 new books that have just been added to the Library: Why we quilt and English Paper Piecing.
Quilty basket A few of the goodies which were in the basket: Ikea fabric, books, charms packs, chocolate, Flamingo decoration, 505 spray... Betty is the lucky winner.
Community outreach
The first round of quilts were dropped at the Zebra Coalition. We will have another drop off in February/March and we are only 12 quilts away from our promise of 25.
Festival of trees - it was beautifully displayed at the Orlando Museum of Art. We don’t know yet how much money it has helped to raise.
So far we have delivered 450 placemats to Meals on Wheels.
Call for block - Connie, Julie and Laurie report that 2 whole quilts were sewn together during the retreat, 6 quilts are ready for biding. There's a bundle of leftover HSTs to pick up to make more placemats. Please keep making blocks (instructions on the blog). They are also looking for people to quilt tops. So far the Guild has sent quilts to El Paso, Australia, New Zealand...
Financial report - Zonetta
Last month, we generated income from the Quilty Basket. And our expenses were related to the Retreat and the acquisition of books.
Zonetta reminds members that it will soon be time to renew their membership and that it could be a nice gift idea.
Upcycling gift exchange
This year we challenge members to create a gift out of upcycling material to keep up with our sustainability theme. Here are a few of the gifts which were exchanged. #Orlandomqgmembershavetalent.
And finally, after some Bingo, memory game, scavenger challenge, it is time for our last Show'n'Tell of 2019. Click on the rectangle at the bottom right of the image below for a wide screen video.
Beth’s ice breaker was all about the newsletter - who reads it, what information is included, who was last member featured (Pamela Edwards).
Next Casselberry Sew Day is August 24th at 1:15.
In September, we will celebrate our 10th year - you don’t want to miss it. Please send pictures and/or stories to Caroline ASAP for a slideshow down memory lane.
Guild member accolades: Debra and Jeanne featured in Curated Quilts; Sarah’s award winning Excellence in Quilting quilt, Waterfall now on exhibit in Wisconsin.
Debby discussed details of our upcoming Pin Pals pin cushion swap with South Sarasota MQG. You should include a note with sewing “bio” and bring in small paper bag to September meeting. There will be a pinnie parade and then packed up for swapping.
Treasurer Report
Zonetta presented treasurer report.
Community Outreach
Kelly presented Community Outreach update:
Zebra Coalition quilts all going well and coming in. We will have an October Show and Tell with delivery in October and again in February.
Meals on Wheels still going strong (Kelly read note from Seniors First who really appreciates his placemat), keep them coming, over 300 to date delivered.
Please keep bringing your Road to Tennessee blocks for our stash of comfort quilts.
Field trip and Sun Printing
Beth asked members about interest in day field trip to other quilt shops/eating places. Members are to email her if they have specific days or locations and if they are willing to drive.
She also talked about the first Sun Painting class with Claudia and said there was
interested in having one or two more. Members showed off their dyed fabrics.
Retreat
Marge talked about the guild retreat. October deadline to register is fast approaching. Dates for the retreat are November 7-11, at Wyndham Ocean Walk. All the details can be checked HERE and link for booking is HERE.
Library
Aradria’s Library Spotlight was Sew Organized for the Busy Girl by Heidi Staples; ties in with upcoming pin cushion swap
Debbe King won last month’s Quilty basket - Ede won Debbe’s returned basket
Paper Pieces donated some great prizes patterns and templates (Hex on the Beach, Tula Nova, and Tula Bloomers)- won by Carla, Rene' and Diane - also Ede handed out small EPP kits for all members in attendance. A big thanks to Paper Pieces!
Melissa demonstrated the Knicker Knot (lingerie knot) for EPP. Mentioned the Sue Daley video tutorial on Missouri Star and also the Sew Tite magnets as being extremely helpful.
The third Modern Principles Challenge is all about Negative Space. Mary Sorensen gave an informative and fun power point presentation at Wednesday's guild meeting. For those who were unable to make the meeting, Mary created a PDF version of her presentation. This is a great resource!
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
Paula selected the hashtag block as this month's Block Lotto block, and we are incorporating the finished block with a fun challenge.
Directions on how to make the blocks can be found on Sew Can She's blog. The instructions are straight forward, and the block comes together quickly. For the background fabrics, we are going with low volume (or white or cream if you don't have any low volume in your stash); use bright modern fabrics for the hashtag prints; square your block to 12.5" for a finished 12" size. There you go! As usual, every block made and brought to the August meeting gives you a ticket in the drawing for ALL the blocks; the more blocks you make, the better your chances for winning!
Now for the challenge part. After you have made your hashtag block, take a selfie (or better yet, have someone take a picture of you) holding the block and post on Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter with the caption "I am #OrlandoMQG" and a brief introduction and/or fun fact about yourself. Fun and easy, right?! The best part is you get a chance to win a door prize (oh, did I forget to mention prizes were involved?!) even if you don't win the Block Lotto or can't make the meeting.
Here is a brief recap of the challenge:
Make the Hashtag block of the month
Take a selfie (or have someone snap a pic) holding your block
Post on Instagram, Twitter and/or Facebook with the sentence: "I am #OrlandoMQG"
Make sure you include the hashtag #OrlandoMQG
Introduce yourself and share a fun fact in the post description
Doing all of the above qualifies as an entry for a prize drawing
Here is an overview of the challenge:
Resources you may find helpful:
