Guild Logo Fabric

GLMQG logo fabric is available for purchase from the Spoonflower Marketplace. The collection include three designs, each of which can be ordered in various lengths and fabric weights - even gift wrap paper! Get some today and display your guild pride in your next project!

Color Theory

At the March 28 meeting, our member Mark DeVries presented on Color Theory. The presentation included color schemes, the definition of color, color interactions and a brief history of color theory as a field of study. If you missed the presentation or want a reference, please download his excellent summary

Mark at a recent meeting

Here is what Mark shared about himself with our Program Chairperson Pam:

I am 34 years old, I am 6'5" tall, I have been married to my lovely wife Samantha for going on 6 years, and we have a 3 year old named Asher and another one on the way in August.  I am currently a student at Grand Valley State University, where I am studying Art education.  I hold a degree in Animation and Character design, and I have worked as a graphic designer, pressman, and substitute teacher.  I have taken multiple classes on color theory, design and art history.  

When did you begin quilting?

I began quilting when Samantha and I were first dating, sometime around 2008.  My first foray into quilting was a log cabin quilt Samantha and I made for my mother for Christmas.

Why do I Quilt?

I quilt because I enjoy beautiful things, and I enjoy creating beautiful things.  Quilting is just another outlet for my creativity, and the thing I really love about it is the endless possibilities.

What new technique are you hoping to learn this year?

I have never paper pieced in my life, so I am hoping to figure that out because I see the value in such a technique.

Why Modern Quilting?

The thing I love about modern quilting is how it defies all the traditional rules.  It appeals to the rule breaker in my soul, and allows for more controversy, and free form creativity.  I enjoy taking a design from my head and working out how to make that design into a quilt.

What is your favorite sewing or quilting tool?

Lately, my seam ripper is my most used tool, but I like the quick curve ruler, and the equilateral triangle ruler currently.

Why did I join the GLMQG?

I joined GLMQG because I was looking for like minded people in regards to quilting.  All the other groups I found were very traditional in their quilting methods, while these groups have value, they were not for me.  In perfect honesty I needed a group that would not look at me in a funny way for being a male quilter.  You would be surprised how many jeers I get from men when I wear my "Real Men Quilt" shirt around town.

What random fun fact about yourself can you share?

By fun fact I am assuming utterly embarrassing...well I give you a few.  I read fantasy novels almost exclusively, I was 10lbs 5oz and 24" long when I was born, I was voted class clown in high school, I played college basketball, and I can blow spit bubbles. 

January 2015 Meeting (not quite as belated)

Our January meeting focused on paper piecing, with a detailed and incredibly informative presentation by Jill. 

She made quite a few samples to show us, including GLMQG blocks--how cool are they!?!

Each attendee left with a 2-page handout detailing type of foundation, paper piecing hints, and resources for more information.

She even made a sample of our next planned online activity--this very cool star. However, due to printing issues with the pattern, this block has temporarily been placed on hold.

Thank you to Jill for a great lesson on paper piecing! Whether you were a novice or an experienced PPer, I think everyone learned something from her presentation.

On to the block raffle! The online activity for this meeting was to make a version of a framed niniepatch. We had so much variety! There were more than 35 blocks--what a turnout!

Sandy is the lucky lady who took these blocks home. We can't wait to see how she assembles them!

The meeting concluded with show and tell.
Stephanie shared two pouches she made--this curved bottom zipper pouch:

And a second pouch with a sweet label.

Jackie shared an adorable hedgehog wearing glasses. After seeing it, I think many guild members are planning to purchase the pattern and make their own!

She also shared her "teal conundrum"--a beautiful quilt top she'd made and was looking for quilting advice. We can't wait to see how what she does with it.

Joanne shared this modern quilt she'd stitched and straight line quilted. Great design!

Pam shared an apron she'd made (love the stripes!):

Terri shared a sweet little set she made for her grand niece's doll: a little diaper bag with diapers and a changing pad. So adorable!

Susan shared a quilt she'd made--such great colors!

Claire shared two color study pieces she made in a Nancy Crow workshop. Such tiny pieces!

Lisa shared a small piece she'd made for a "word of the year" challenge:

And a drawstring camera bag:

What a great meeting! See you all in March, when we'll learn about color theory! Be sure to bring some show and tell!

September Meeting Summary (much belated)

We had 20 members at the September meeting, including two new members,  Jeanine and Patty. Welcome!

Ed Orloff, physical therapist, gave us a presentation on how to prevent injuries and keep on quilting. He is a very informative and entertaining speaker. We appreciate all the helpful suggestions he shared with us. Ed is a member of the Borgess Spine Therapy Team and has this alphabet soup after his name: PT, DPT, CSCS, Dip.MDT!

Susan won 20 spider web blocks in our drawing. Congratulations!

We had a wonderful show and tell. Thanks to everyone for sharing.

A cutting mat and a fabric bundle were given to two luck door prize winners. Congratulations!

A sew-in followed our meeting.

And now, the show and tell portion of the blog post:

Susan shared a row quilt made out of such fun fabrics:

With a pieced back!

Joanne shared a pencil pouch with a clear laminate pocket:

And a sweet little duffle made out of laminated fabric:

 Jackie shared her finished improv medallion top from the Gwen Marston workshop. Beautiful!

And her gorgeous rainbow kaleidoscope quilt:

And an iPad holder:

Jane shared a tote bag she made--love the fabric and the pattern! 

Pam shared a Jacquie Gehring quilt that she won--wow!

Stephanie shared her curved nine-patch quilt that had been quilted and bound. Love the quilting! Wow again!

And her new favorite pouch to make--the pouch of many zippers! :)

with a patchwork exterior

Love the roller skating fabric on Jill's new purse!

And now, a few unlabeled show and tell pics (this is what I get for posting the pics from the September meeting in March!!! Sorry about that...) I can't remember who made what or the stories behind them--if you made them or know who did, please let me know and I'll add in the info. (lisaeruble (at) gmail.com).

A completed online activity quilt top!

Simple = beautiful in this quilt:

Stars and hexagons (Jackie?)

February/March Online Block!

If you were at our January meeting, you may recall seeing a neat-looking paper-pieced hexagon star block that Jill made, which we'd planned on using as our online block activity. However, due to challenges with the template, we've changed gears for this month. 

Inspired by the back of the quilt Pam shared at our February social meeting, we're doing a scrappy Log Cabin block and cutting it in quarters.

These quarter Log Cabin blocks have so many possibilities--I got excited just searching through Google images tonight, so I put together a quick Pinterest board of quilts made from Log Cabin quarter blocks. Check it out here.

The details:

• Make a 17" square Log Cabin block using whatever color fabrics you like.
• I recommend starting with a center square that is 4"-6", which will give you more wiggle room when it comes to cutting the completed block into quarters. 
• The logs can be different widths (even within a round!), but please keep all logs in the same round in the same color family. I made some rounds where all four logs were the same fabric, some where three were one fabric and one a different fabric, and some that were two of one fabric and two of another. 
• Continue adding logs until your block measures at least 17" square. (Don't worry about making your block 17" square exactly--make it larger and trim down!) 
• As you add different width rows, pay attention to your middle square and try to keep it somewhat centered. This will ensure that you have some of this middle square in all four of your quarter blocks. If you look at my samples below, two of the quarter blocks have very small sections of the middle square, even with me trying to keep the square centered. That's why I recommend starting with a larger center square!
• Trim your block to measure 17" square and then cut in half both directions to make four 8.5" blocks. 
• If you need a refresher on how to make a Log Cabin block, here's a tutorial. Just make sure to use our measurements (17" block!)--only use her method. 

Here are my two sample blocks, shown both whole and cut into quarters:

One additional tip: When I'm making scrappy Log Cabin blocks, I sometimes lose track of which side of the block I should be adding the next strip to so I can keep the "in the round" order going (don't look too closely at the block with the yellow outer strips, as I screwed up the order partway though that block!). Your next strip always goes on the side that already has two seams, as shown here:

I also found some fantastic Log Cabin block construction tips here. Since ours our scrappy, these tips don't necessarily apply, but I've filed them away for use in future Log Cabin projects. 

Just for fun, I quickly arranged my quarter blocks in two different layouts:

I'm partial to the Bento Box style above, but I've seen so many neat quilts using the layout below as well.

Can't wait to see your blocks! And be sure to check out the Pinterest board I made (with sashing! with only solids! alternating lights and darks in each round!)--you might, like me, seriously consider making nothing but Log Cabin blocks for the rest of your quilting life! :)

Now for the details on how to win the blocks:

Submission/Winning:

• Submit a photo of the completed block by March 28.  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 GLMQG032015. *Adding the tag is key, because it allows the photo to get into the slideshow on our blog.*
• 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 (Lisa) 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 March 28.  You do not need to be present to win.
• IMPORTANT: If you want to be entered in the drawing but will not be at the meeting with your block, please make sure to let another attendee know. We try our best to make sure everyone who submits a photo of their block gets entered in the drawing, but making sure a friend puts your name in the hat will guarantee you have a chance 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 March 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?

As always, leave a comment if you have a question and I'll try to answer it!
Thanks!
Lisa