Quiltcon Project Sew Evening

To work on our QuiltCon quilt!  Click the link if you need a reminder. 

Colors

 

WHAT:  Sew Evening to work on twin size QuiltCon quilt we are submitting as a guild.

"As a way of giving something back to QuiltCon’s host city of Austin, Texas, we’re going to use the blocks that aren’t selected for this quilt to make quilts for each of the 46 beds at the Austin Children’s Shelter. This will be MQG’s first large-scale charity project ...."  From the Modern Quilt Guild blog.

Come ready to measure, cut, press, piece, etc.   I would like to get as much of this top done this night as we can. 

WHEN:  Thursday, January 10, 2013, 4:00 pm.

WHERE:  Our Sewing Room

WHO:  Anyone from the guild who is willing to help! 

WHY:  It is due February 1, 2013

Thank you to those who donated money for shipping and the roll of batting, such a help, and the wonderful blocks that were also finished up were gorgeous! 

If you still would like to make a block be sure to bring it to the 1/10/2013 Sew Night. 

We also need to have a label on this quilt, if anyone is willing to make a label to be sew to the back leave a comment below or email me  at samhanmama@gmail.com  and I will give you the details of what is to be included.

Binding, if someone would like to make a roll of binding to match the quilt to donate.   It will be a twin size quilt, appx 70 x 88.   Email me or leave a comment.

If you have light gray or white solids to donate, bring them to the Sew Night also.  We have lots of space to fill in!

Backing is taken care of.

Hope you can make it!  If not, check back here or on FaceBook for a post about the evening to see our progress!

Miss Bee December ~ Kathleen

Paper Piecing is the name of the game this month.  Thanks to Kathleen we get to have fun with a method of piecing that some of us have never tried.  Thanks Kathleen for the vote of Confidence.  We will be making a Paper Pieced Star often referred to as Star Dance.

Kathleen – Quilt Bee December

Answers to questions

A) Quilting History:  My only sewing experience consisted of garment making for myself and my dolls starting in grade school.  After I retired in 2001, I volunteered at lots of different businesses and hospitals until I realized I needed a different “hobby”.  In 2005 I started working with Comforts For Children helping with making kits to be distributed.  Having absolutely no quilt skills at the time, it was a huge learning experience.  After a while, I started becoming possessive of the kits I put together and started bringing them home to put together.  I started taking classes offered at different quilt shops for beginners.  I joined Emerald Valley Quilters in 2007 which gave me more opportunities to learn different techniques about quilting. 

 B) Quilting means to me:   I love working with my hands and like to see a project go from pieces to a finished object.  I find it very meditative and enjoy the satisfaction that it gives me.  It lifts my spirit when I am depressed. 

 C) Why be a  part of the Bee:  I joined the Bee in order to get to know ladies in the quilt guild.  I opened myself up to try new things and it has really broadened my scope of knowledge from traditional quilting to improvisational quilting.   I didn’t know what to expect but have enjoyed the challenge it has brought me.

D)  Why this project?  Wanting to make something for someone, I asked my husband if there was a quilt he’d like to have using my quilting method of choice (Paper piecing).  After going through my quilt books, he picked Peggy Martin’s “Autumn Dance.”  Once the project was picked, he picked out all the fabrics for it.  I am asking each member of the Bee to making only four Star Dance blocks and make up two pairs (two 6” squares).  This method is called strip piecing and the instructions are included with the packet.  If you would rather not use this method, I believe there is enough fabric to make the four Star Dave blocks.  I would like any remaining fabric returned with your completed squares.  If you have troubles you can contact me through the comments section here and I will try to reply.  If you chose not to tackle the block, please give it back to me.

Websites:  www.patchpieces.com/files/demoFPP.pd

www.quilterscache.com/StartQuiltingPages/startquiltingthree.html

www.caroldoak.com/weblog/?p=928

www.youtube.com/watch?v=jloR6HX936U

The above link is Peggy giving instructions on the exact block (Star Dance) you will be doing.

Madrona Road-- For the new year!!! MQG Challenge!

Hey guys-- tonight is the night!  The lovely people at Michael Miller Fabrics have donated some fabric for us to create with!  Madrona Road debuted this July and is designed by Oregon's own Violet Craft.  I cut it and grouped it up for guild tonight and it is some LOVELY fabric-- lovely colors, lovely feel-- lovely.

At first I just wanted to keep it all for myself-- it is that beautiful... but that isn't really in tune with the holiday season, is it?  So we are going to have a little challenge (original post by MQG).... finished by February's guild meeting (13th).  The rules are:

1) Use the Madrona Road Fabric given-- additional Madrona Road OR additional solids may be added. (that is it... this is a hard and fast rule--)

2) Make something quilted-- at least 12"x12"-- it can be a pillow or a small quilt, but must be 3 layers-- you know-- quilted!

3) Post your process shots, finishes, if you like-- to the flickr group.

4) Bring your finished piece to guild on Feb. 13th-- for a good, good reveal!

5) Please take fabric only if you are going to complete the challenge. :)

See you tonight!!

--Jessica

Show and Tell (too many beautiful things) and QuiltCon Charity quilt update!

Oh, well lookie here... I almost forgot to post a picture of our November "leftovers" swap.  What a fun bunch of goodies!  As I was inserting the pictures from last months show and tell, I was struck by what a talented group of quilters we have amassed here in our group.  I am thrilled that the Eugene Modern Quilt Guild has representatives, not only from Eugene, but also from Creswell, Springfield, Veneta, and as far away as Roseburg!  What a fun mix of people!

Ann made a table runner and was especially tickled that the fabric had been bought in September and here it was... already used in a project!

Nelda took a class at Our Sewing Room on a double sided table runner.  Hers was a vibrant orange and yellow combo.

Phyliss took the same class and came up with a runner that is "fall colors" on one side with a "Christmas" theme on the other!

Wanda is off to Africa this month (you will be missed this week!) BUT the trip enabled us all to enjoy her holiday gifts a month early.  Wanda is getting those tops DONE!

Her latest epiphany has been that she CAN machine quilt it herself, but maybe she doesn't like it.  Most recently Wanda's favorite quilting method is "check" quilting, you know, that is the method where you give your top to a long arm quilter and write them a CHECK!

This has made Wanda so happy with all of her beautiful finishes!

This one is one of her tossed coin variations... just fun!  The quilting on this one features some lovely custom flowers and was quilted by Susan Miner from Trendy Threads.

One last quilt for a happy child in Africa... Wanda used some fun animal prints in this one.

Diane made a lovely quilt in bright spring colors-- are you waiting for the daffodils too? (I am!)

Kelly ate through her "golds" stash with this striking "quilt as you" go Monkey Wrench variation.

The watery blues of this triangle beauty inspire me to make a something monochromatic, what about you?  Kelly is teaching a class on making a triangle quilt at Piece By Piece Fabrics in February... should be a good one!

The stars on the back strike a very "modern" chord as well ;)

Crystal has been VERY busy as well.  She is recently moved here from LA and was part of the LAMQG.  I am so excited to see more of her pieces!  

This Christmasy one is so cute and it was also quilted by Susan Miner.

Crystal has been playing around with "technology" with her quilting.  This pillow front features some birds that she scanned in from a childhood book and then printed on to the background fabric.  Fun stuff!

Fantastic colorful diamonds

Crystal also used a fabric designing website, Spoonflower, to make this phenomenal fractured piece featuring an orchid photo that she took in Hawaii.

What a wonderful trip keepsake!

Denise busted out this great quilt during a previous Sew Day.  It is a variation of the "Honeymoon" quilt. 

Her quilting is really fun too!

Nancy had fun with some half circles! 

Kathleen finished this paper pieced block for her son.  WOWEE!

QuiltCon charity update:  We have a twin size batt donated by the lovely Jenny!  We are on our way!  Remember, bring your blocks and donations of $$, or white and light grey solids to the meeting on Wednesday.  Thanks Denise for getting us organized!

Our Sewing Room notice!  Are you a frequent sewer at Our Sewing Room? Do you know someone who is?  Get them the perfect gift, or one for yourself... a Frequent Sewer Gift Card with $25 of visits for $20.  

I am sure that something has slipped my mind... hmmm well, I guess I will have to post again if I remember it!

--Jessica

November 14th Meeting Notes-- short and sweet!

~ Be thinking of ideas and thoughts for an upcoming "changing of the guards".  The future of the quilt guild is in need of attention and motivation.

~  Please bring a finished block for our guilds QuiltCon donation quilt.  The first modern quilting conference located in Austin, TX.  46 modern quilt guilds have been invited to participate in a mass donation project for QuiltCon 2013.  Quilts will be donated to Austin Children's Shelter.  The Eugene Modern Quilt Guild will be making a Twin Size (68x88) Quilt. 
Deadlines:  completed and in the mail Feb. 1, 2013.  Block deadline is Dec 2012 meeting.   We are looking for donations of $$ for shipping, a twin size batting and Kona white and/or light grey for sashing/background.

~Big Thanks to Wanda for a wonderful demonstration of hand quilting.  You did a great job of providing a lot of information, samples, and notes for us.  Thank you for your time and energy!

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· Plan Ahead

1. If you know you are going to hand quilt your project, consider pressing your seams away from the area you will quilt. (Quilting through seams more difficult than quilting through non-seams.)

2. If your project is a table runner or wall hanging, AND you want to hand quilt it, consider using a polyester batting. (Cotton and cotton blend battings require more needle push than polyester battings.)

3. Pay attention to your fabrics. (Busy prints obscure hand quilting which is okay if you are a beginner and working on stitch consistency. Otherwise, your hand quilting gets lost in the project. Lots of work with little impact.)

· Tools

1. Big eye needles a must! The size of the needle impacts the size of your stitches. (I’ve included my favorite in the packet.)

2. Finger protectors. I prefer the self-adhesive leather dots by ThimblePad. Sometimes hard to find. My sources are Fabric Depot in Portland and on-line. (On-line says they are available at JoAnns but I’ve never seen them there.) New to the market are red jelly dots. (I’ve included one in the packet.) Unfortunately, they quickly lose their self-adhesion. Piece-by-Piece sells an oval shaped self-adhesive protector, which I find too large. I’ve cut it in half and shaped by own dots. They’ll work in a pinch. Spot bandages also work nicely.

· Thread

1. Use short (12-15”) thread lengths. (Longer lengths tend to tangle more and fray more than shorter lengths.)

2. Consider the “look” you want to achieve. Quilting cotton thread more visible than machine cotton thread. Pearl cotton thread very visible and ideal for larger stitches. Metallic thread is difficult to use—very important to keep thread lengths short.

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MENTIONS:
~   Richard and Hemmings milliners size 10 big eye needles
~   Where to get big eye/chenille needles size 24, Mindy's Needlepoint Factory  located in 5th Street Market
~   ThimblePads.  Self Adhesive leather dots for finger protection.  Available at Fabric Depot in Portland, or online.  Here are links to a few resources:   Amazon.com, Colonial Needle, and Connecting Threads.

~ Congratulations to the LEFTOVERS (strips and a good time!) game winners:  Table 1 winner was Ann and Table 2 winner was Kim.  You won a mess load of  2 1/2 inch strips and an opportunity to make a project for show and tell in the January meeting.  We cant wait to see what fun you had with your leftovers!!!

~December's demonstration:  Appalachian Quilt with Lela.

~ Please note the changes to the sew day for Dec.  December 15th @ Our Sewing Room from 10-5

~ 2012 Quilting Bee coming to an end.  Finishing up the year with Virginia and Kathleen's blocks.  We know there is increased interest for the coming year.  For 2013 there will be a new leader for the Bee and sign ups will be coming.  No worries, all who want to be involved will get a chance to join in soon.

~ Decembers SWAP THEME :  WINTER WONDERLAND

MENTIONS:
~   Some of our modern quilters mentioned these as good resources for reasonably priced jelly rolls:  Missouri Star Quilt Company was mentioned.  And the other was Green Fairy Quilts.

Note from the Pres:

Hi all-- Kesch took great notes (thanks so much!!) the tardiness in getting it out is all ME.  Show and tell shots will come out tomorrow-- life has been varied and maybe too up and down for my liking, but we all move forward right?!  Do not become fossilized!!  

We are meeting THIS coming Wednesday, December 12 @ Our Sewing room.  Please bring your dollar for the meeting kitty and any donations you have for our QuiltCon charity quilt.  I have a little baggy of money leftover from our last "love" offering to add to shipping fees and I bet I can dig out some white for sashing.  Cyndy donated a piece of backing a while back and I will bring that along to see if it works. 

I also received a surprise box of delicious from Michael Miller fabrics today, maybe if I get enough comments on this post I will let you in on a secret MQG challenge... Maybe...

See you Wednesday!  Bribe me with comments and I will tell you about a little place called Madrona Road.  Stay on the sunny side!

--Jessica