Upcoming November Meeting and Sew In

Hi,

It is getting close to our next guild meeting so here's the info.

Our meeting will be held Saturday November 23 at http://www.berninakalamazoo.com/   from 10:00 to 12:00  at 4205 Portage Road Kalamazoo, MI 49001.  Our meeting is open to anyone who would like to come.

Our leader Stephanie will be doing a demo of the quick curve ruler designed by Jenny Pedigo. Jenny's blog is http://sewkindofwonderful.blogspot.com/.  She has a video tutorial if you want to get a head start on the demo.  Jenny has a number of great patterns that use the ruler.  Karen at Bernina has ordered the rulers and some patterns so they will be available.  I am really looking forward to the demo.

Jenny is also a long arm quilter and is quilting this one that Stephanie made using the quick curve ruler.

Urban Nine Patch

After the meeting we will be taking a break for lunch until 1pm.   We ask that everyone leave  sewing supplies in cars until after lunch.

We will start the Sew In at 1pm and go until 4pm.  The Sew In is open only to members of the great lakes modern quilt guild .

Karen has cutting mats, two irons and ironing boards for use during the Sew In.  

I am planning to be very productive :).  Hope to see everyone on Saturday the 23.  Let me know if there are questions/comments.  Remember to post your blocks and bring them to the meeting for a chance to win them all.

October Online Guild Activity

Our October activity will be a "virtual meeting" instead of an actual gathering. We'll each take the month to create a quilt block (or more than one!) display them all online together. Any participant posting online or bringing blocks to the November meeting will be entered in a drawing to win the all blocks!

Paper Pieced Kaleidoscope Block

I demonstrated this block in the September meeting. If you did not attend, no worries! I'm attaching the step-by-step instructions here.

Make one or more blocks, finished size 6' (6.5") using the paper pattern I passed out at the meeting, also downloadable here.

Make sure you use white and a bright modern print for the main sections, and light-to-medium grey for the corner pieces. I used Kona "Iron" in these blocks, please make sure your grey is no darker than that. Grey or white patterns that "read" solid grey or white are acceptable.

Notice how my blocks alternate which section is next to the grey: in the first photo, the colorful fabric does; in the second, the white fabric does. If you make more than one block please alternate in this way.  This is how we will get a wonderful kaleidoscope effect when all the blocks are put together!

Submission/Winning:

• Submit a photo of the completed block by November  22.  We want this to be fun and easy, not stressful, so we have several options for submitting your photo.
• If you have a Flickr account, please post the photo to Flickr, add it to the Great Lakes Modern Quilt Guild group pool, and tag it GLMQG-Oct13
• If you have a Facebook account, you may post the picture to the Great Lakes Modern Quilt Guild Facebook page. 
• You may email your photo to glmodernquilter@gmail.com 
• If you do not have access to a digital camera, contact me (Carolyn) and I will arrange to photograph your block.
• How to win all the blocks:
• We are going to draw for a winner of all the blocks at our next live meeting, which is November 23.  You do not need to be present to win.
• You get your name in the drawing each time you enter a block.  So, if you submit two blocks, your name goes in the drawing twice!
• Please bring your completed block to the November meeting so all the blocks can be delivered to the winner.  If the winner is not at the meeting, we will mail them to him/her.
• We'll post the name of the winner here on the blog.  So, if we don't have your email address, check the blog so you can see if you won and can send us your contact information.  (If you are at the meeting, you'll get your blocks on the spot!)
• If you will not be at the meeting, either
• Give the block to a friend to bring it for you, or
• Mail it in.  E-mail us at glmodernquilter@gmail.com, and we'll send you the mailing address where you can send your blocks.

• That winner must assemble the blocks into a finished quilt before being eligible to win again. Fair enough?

Any questions? Leave a comment below. See you at our November meeting!

Meet A Member: Pam Boner

Hi,
I guess my few days turned into a few weeks.  I really enjoyed our September meeting and the demo by Carolyn.  I am really looking forward to seeing all the paper pieced blocks for our next challenge.

A little about me:
By day I am a research scientist. Our household currently consists of the quilt design consultant (aka husband), exchange student from Belgium and our dog Kyra.  Evenings and weekends I swim, bike, run and SEW.  I  Pr'ed (personal record for those of you not into running) at the park to park 1/2 marathon just last weekend.  I was pretty excited that I could still go faster.  Enough about sports and on to sewing.

I have been sewing since I was 9.  I learned to sew in 4-H.  I mostly sewed clothing and home dec stuff until recently. I started quilting in 2010.  My husband was asked to be the godfather for his best friend's son.  In my mind a quilt was needed for the baptism.  So I channeled my grandmother (an awesome quilter) and set out to make a quilt.

I followed this tutorial from teaginnydesigns.  I never imagined that I would enjoy cutting apart and sewing back together fabric.  This was the beginning of my quilt and blog addictions.

Here are a few of my quilts.

I am still totally a newbie but am really glad I found the great lakes modern quilt guild.  I get so much inspiration.  I did finish my quilt for our exchange student on time for her birthday.

My next project is going to be a one block wonder quilt that quilter in the closet is hosting as a quilt along.  I plan to post my fabric selection on my blog soon.

Before I go here is a picture of our dog.


She's not spoiled at all

Glad you let me introduce myself.  I am looking forward to November.

Pam

Minutes from the September, 2013 GLMQG Meeting

We had another just wonderful meeting of the guild!  Below are minutes and photos from the meeting.

Old Business:

Everyone brought their blocks from our block challenge we did last month.  Check out all the beautiful blocks!

We drew a winner...and  Lisa won! What a beautiful quilt this will make!  Thanks to all who participated in the challenge! 

Judy had completed her quilt top with the pieces she won at the July meeting. She was able to make a queen sized quilt and plans to use it as a summer quilt.  Looking good, Judy!  Love the piano key border!

New Business:

a. Presentation by Carolyn

Paper Piecing—Kaleidoscope Block by Alex Anderson

Carolyn gave us a wonderful demonstration of paper piecing using a kaleidoscope block. 

Carolyn showed us now to place the fabrics and sew....

She suggested we then use an Add-a-Quarter ruler to trim things up.  (Might be a tool you want to get for our October challenge!)

We'll be doing this block for our October challenge.  Stay tuned for instructions. We will be doing the Kaleidoscope Block with grey, white and brights.

b. Logo—We reviewed some ideas that Holly’s son, Dylan, developed. We had a few suggestions for changes but really appreciated his general ideas.

c. Need for Program Committee Members—Elaine offered to help Pam.

d. Please make a nametag for our next meeting, if you haven’t already.

e. Donations for door prizes. If anyone has things to donate, please let Pam know. Stephanie, Pam and Evelyn donated today’s prizes. Thank you!

f. We are looking for a location to meet nearer to Kalamazoo, since most of our members seem to be from that area. We checked with members present and everyone agreed that this was a good plan. Holly will be checking into possible venues.

Finally, we had show and tell!  Ready for a quilt parade?  :-)

One member showed her quilt, which was published in Generation Q magazine!   You can even download the pattern and instructions for this quilt at the magazine's website.  Click on the link that says Baubles and Bangles.

One member brought this quilt she had made.  Great Granny Squares!  Loved the backing fabric, too!

 A miniature quilt that was paper pieced....after all, that was the theme for the day!

 A member brought this modern art quilt she had made.  The title of the quilt was Ova, I believe.

 A lovely chevron quilt!

 A lovely oriental style quilt.  You should see the quilting!  It had koi fish on it!

 A member brought this pillow she had made using some scraps from a bedspread she had previoiusly made.  Just beautiful.

 Great Ikea fabric on the back of the pillow.

 A very striking and colorful quilt top here!

 One member liked our challenge block from a couple months ago that she is making her own quilt out of it.  Love the use of the gray fabrics with the bright colors.  This will be wonderful!

 That same member was recently traveling to Ireland and took a long plane ride. She put together all these hexies on her trip.  Wow!

 Another member brought these cute wool mug rugs...

 And this cute wall hanging.

 She also worked on these wonky partial log cabins....

 And this table runner.

We had tons of fun.  Another inspiring meeting!

Next meeting: Our next meeting will be on November 23^rd at Bernina’s on Portage Road in Portage, MI. We will begin with a 10 am, then members are encouraged to stay for a sew-in that will last until about 5 pm. Please bring your own machine, supplies and rotary cutter. Mats and ironing supplies are provided. You can bring your own project to work on and/or try some curved piecing after Stephanie’s tutorial.

Respectfully Submitted,

Mary Baggerman, secretary

Stephanie Peterson, adequate photographer

Meeting Reminder! This Saturday!

We have a meeting coming up this Saturday, September 21!

We'll meet at 10:00 am at the Plainwell library. There will be news, updates, a paper piecing demonstration, show and tell, and door prizes.  We'll also draw for the winner of the Improv Herringbone block(s) from last month's online activity.

Don't forget your home-made name tag. See you there!

Upcoming Guild Meeting Sept 21

Hi,

I always get so excited when the guild meeting is near.  I hope to see everyone next Saturday the 21st at the Plainwell library.

Our very own Carolyn Zinn will be teaching us about paper piecing.  In order to get to know a little more about Carolyn I asked her a few questions.

1.  When did you begin quilting?

I began quilting in 1979. My first project was a sampler of classic blocks that I hung on my college dorm room wall. I made it without a pattern, out of scrap fabric (I have been sewing since 1968!). I loved the geometry, the patterns within the patterns, and the puzzle of it all.

2.  Why do you quilt?

These days I quilt to create functional, tactile art.  My walls are covered with art quilts! I don't make bed covers for myself anymore, but I love to make usable quilts as gifts.

3.  What new technique are you hoping to learn this year?

As a member of the Art Quilt small group of the Log Cabin Quilters, I am awestruck and inspired by the work of my fellow art quilters.  I want to learn everything there is to know about surface design and mixed-media techniques.

4.  Why modern quilting?

I like the bold colors and the idea of interpreting traditional blocks in fun new ways.

5..  What is your favorite sewing tool?

My rotary cutter wins out for sheer usefulness, but my prized possession is my grandmother's 1936 Singer Featherweight.

Wow.  I am jealous.  I would like to see the how the stiches come out on the Featherweight.

Now what we have all been waiting for drum roll please . . . . . . . . .

6   Can you give us a sneak peek of the paper piecing project?  

We will be updating the paper-pieced kaleidoscope pattern featured on the cover of Paper Piecing with Alex Anderson 12 years ago. We will make it modern simply by swapping out the fabric choices. It's a fun skill to learn and easier to learn by seeing it demonstrated. I will bring enough paper pattern pieces for everyone to take home and make a few blocks for the October activity.  (I've enlarged the block size by 50% so it will be easier and we'll get more mileage out of the blocks toward a finished quilt.) The real magic of this pattern is when the blocks are combined to form the illusion of overlapping circles in shadow and light.
 

I know I can hardy wait until the 21st.

I will be back with another post in a few days as this is my month to introduce myself to the rest of the members.  I did finish my herringbone challenge block and I must say it was hairy and gave me a hard time.  It took me 4 tries to get the hang of it.  Perhaps I will have a giveaway at the meeting using my "mistakes".  You know what they say about lemons.

See you all soon.

Pam

The details:

Saturday, Sept. 21 10 am

Plainwell Library

180 S Sherwood Ave. Plainwell, MI 49080 (269) 685-8024