National Modern Quilt Guild Board Additions

The Modern Quilt movement has been growing.  The Modern Quilt board of Directors has added new board members.  Check out the newest members on the board:  http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=ad720d3000b9f0d672a97470f&id=621310dab8&e=530588a046

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Everyone !

Where has the time gone ?  And it is still not slowing down.  I hope everyone had a healthy and safe start to the New Year. 

I am excited to begin our New Year.  Your board has lots of things planned for the upcoming months:  

• Fat quarter swaps  - the swap each month will focus on a specific fabric or theme.   You will be able to swap as many fat quarters as you choose each month. Themes for swapping include:  ugly fabric, batiks, stripes, solids, polka-dots, yellows, greens, novelty fabrics, reds, blues, ....  If you have an idea for a certain fat quarter swap - post it here or come to the meeting and let us know what you'd like to swap.
• Self Row-Round Robin with a focus on modern blocks.  This round robin will be focused for the beginning modern quilter.  The blocks chosen will be based on patterns by Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr.  
• Bull's Eye Creation and Swap based on Dianna Swim Wessel's work - a quilter from my neck on the woods in Wisconsin.  This round robin takes a team approach.  Each team member must be an experienced quilter.  Each team will need four quilters - so start getting your team together.
• What's Old is New Again Block Challenge.  Each month a traditional pattern will be chosen-decided by the membership.  The challenge will be to take the traditional block and make it "modern".  The new and improved variations will then be "voted" upon at each meeting for a Viewers Choice Award.  And of course the winner will receive a "prize".  
• Pin Cushion Swap - start those juices flowing for a small project that shows off your creativity side.  Details will be following in the coming months.
• A Field Trip - Start looking at your calendars now.  The field trip will NOT take place on a usual Quilt Guild meeting day.
• Get to Know Your Wilmington Quilting Friends - We will be going out to lunch after the guild meetings several times this year.  This activity is only to get to know one another.  Part of the fun of a guild is getting to know new people in and around the area.  We all grow from one another's experiences in our lives.  We have members who do not belong to the local area quilting guild, as well as those who only drive during the daytime, as well as those from outside the Wilmington area.  We'll decide ahead of time when and where we'd like to go out to lunch. And of course everyone is responsible for their own meals and wheels.
• Part of getting to know our members is the newest guild program spot entitled "Member Spotlight".  It is a way for the guild members to get to know everyone a little more in depth.  And the story will be about their personal quilts and journeys along the way.  Sign up for a spot - it is easy to make new friends and acquaintences.
• Start thinking about a Quilt Retreat and how you would like to proceed.  Think about the focus and where you'd like to start.  

Whew !  That is about all for now.  I look forward to seeing each of you in January.

Kathy Lyman

The Sanford Quilt Show - 1/11-12

The Quilting and Fiber Art Marketplace

Friday, Jan. 11, 2013

Saturday. Jan. 12, 2013

9 am – 5 pm

Dennis Wicker Civic Center

1801 Nash St.

Sanford, NC 27330

$5.00 admission

http://quiltersgallery.net/the-quilting-and-fiber-art-marketplace-directions-vendors-from-2010-and-hotel-info/ 

CFMQG - November 19th Meeting Minutes

Nov. 19, 2012 Meeting Notes:

Kathy Lyman called the meeting to order.

Minutes and Treasurer’s report were read.

Ornament exchange for December’s holiday party.  Use 2 colors: purple and white.  Be sure to put a hanger on your ornament.  Get creative and have fun. 

Holiday party (no regular meeting in December): on Sunday, Dec. 16 from 2 - 5 PM at Donna and Mary’s house in Leland, NC. Remember to RSVP to cfmq.guild@gmail.com

 More information about the party is on the blog.

The Cape Fear MQG wall hanging continues to be passed around to be finished.  Thank you to all the members who have helped with this project.

November educational demo: improvisational piecing using curves.   Directions will be posted on the blog if you missed the meeting.  Be sure to check out the 2 websites included on the direction sheet for the curved piecing. 

Bring your block to the January meeting.

SELF sampler technique Directions:  Bring your first square to the January meeting.  There will be a total of 3 sampler blocks.  Select a favorite color. Then choose the OPPOSITE color on the color wheel. (http://colorschemedesigner.com).  

Also choose a neutral solid or tone on tone fabric.  This neutral fabric will be used with all 3 sampler blocks. Sampler blocks should be Finished at 12” square.

Using the 3 colors/fabrics you have chosen, make a sampler block using the September educational directions (posted on the blog).

Show and tell your first block at the January meeting.

Quilting retreats: Sherry Ward has been researching quilting retreats in NC.  Most of the retreat locations can host 10 to 12 people.  Members were interested in going on a quilt retreat.  More discussion at the January meeting.

Here are the quilt retreats: Ponderosa Quilt Retreat, Quilters Quarters, Creative Crafters, Summit Sew and Quilt Retreat Center.

Check out these quilt retreat websites if you are interested in going on a retreat.

Hurricane Sandy quilts - Equilters.com (check out their blog for more information).  Penny, Mary and Donna have made hurricane quilts to send to New Jersey.

Future Program ideas: 

Member Spotlight - to share your quilting experience with your quilts (if interested in sharing your quilts, email Kathy Lyman).

Spoonflower now has classes and tours.

Pincushion exchange

Round Robin projects (more information at the January meeting)

Show and Tell:  Educational blocks were shared and members shared their latest quilting projects.   See images of our S&T here ==> https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.480401348668182.100321.200809193294067&type=1

Penny shared information about a quilt show in Martinsville, VA through Jan. 12.  If you would like to see the show with Penny, let her know. 

Donna (CF Modern Quilt Guild, Secretary)

November Educational Directions - Improvisational Piecing using Curves

November Educational Directions - Improvisational Piecing using Curves

** Check out the 2 websites below before starting this project.  They are very helpful.

Use 2 or 3 colors that have a high contrast to make your square.  Your choice of fabrics - can use prints or solids.  

Make a 12” square. 

You can make smaller sections using curves and then join them together to make the larger block.  Or you can start with 2 pieces of fabric that are at least 14” square and then start cutting your curves with your rotary cutter.  Sew the curved seams together.  Square up your square to a 12” block.  

Some tips for sewing curves without pins:

Lay your 2 fabrics (right side up) and make gentle curves with your rotary cutter. 

• ensure you are sewing with an accurate 1/4" seam. Using a 1/4” foot is helpful
• if your sewing machine has a needle down setting, use it, otherwise just lower the needle into the fabric if you need to stop and adjust the fabric
• reduce your stitch length to smaller than usual. This will give you a nice smooth curve (I used about a 2 on my sewing machine)
• (optional) have tweezers handy for holding the fabric together at the end of the curve
• go slowly
• don't pull the fabric, just ease and guide it through the machine

Curved Piecing without templates - sewing without pins - check out these 2 sites which are very helpful.  No applique for this month’s block.

http://www.sewn.eu/en-us/tipstools/tutorials/curvedpiecing.aspx

http://www.quilt-video.com/2009/02/27/curved-piecing-for-art-quilts-part-one-of-three/

Have fun with the curved piecing.  Bring your block to our next regular meeting in January.

     Donna