Charleston Modern Quilt Guild: May 2015 General Session Minutes

Welcome

President, Kelly, called meeting to order. Our two guests, Mary Beth and Mary Kate introduced themselves. Mary Beth just learned to quilt and was taught by member, Geri, and has already completed two quilts. Mary Kate has been quilting for 10-15 years.

Business

A 2015 calendar of guild dates was sent out to membership via email to help with planning, but there will be updates from time to time. The next updated calendar will be sent out next week.
The July and August Sew Days are cancelled because of Modern Quilt Camp and Lizzy House visiting.
In lieu of the October Sew Day, the group will meet in Marion Square on October 17^thfor the Farmer’s Market for breakfast and to hang out and get to know each other better. Phoebe will bring her quilt frame so that anyone that would like to photograph their quilts can do that also. Please bring your quilts to picnic on, if you'd like. Family and friends are welcome to join!
Kelly asked for a show of hands to see if everyone was receiving the emails from the national MQG and everyone was.
Kelly announced that the next Quiltcon agenda has been released with many great classes and instructors/lecturers. So far, Phoebe, Sandy and Lynn plan on going in 2016. Kelly reminded the group that even if you do not go, you can still submit a quilt to the show.
QuiltCon registration will begin on June 25^th.
Reminder that the MQG will hold a webinar on June 11^th on the in's-and-out's of juried quilt shows.
A quilt guild in Columbia needs a speaker next July on modern quilting and asked if anyone from our guild would be interested in doing this.
Door prizes: Natalie Barnes donated a copy of her new book, A Modern Twist, and we gave away 1 fat quarter from The Cloth Pocket. Congrats to the winners!

Programming

Lizzy House will be here teaching her Meadow Quilt on two days and . This is a pattern that you cannot buy—you can only get it by taking Lizzy's class. Kelly shared the Meadow Quilt she made after going to Lizzy’s workshop at Quiltcon. Kelly started a Pinterest board for the group to help with inspiration and planning for this project.
See the "Upcoming Classes" page on this site for more info on the classes and how to sign up. Supplies lists and driving directions to come.

Sew Day

Geri talked about the next sew day, scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2015, and passed out instructions and fabric for the project. This will be a day to sew charity quilts in small groups based on a score from Sherry Lynn Woods' new book. There will be four teams and the guild is providing some of the fabric. Between now and then, you will pull fabric to add to this. Bring your own sashing in two different colors. Two examples are below.
If you would like to participate, but didn't sign up at the meeting, email charlestonmodernquiltguild@gmail.com and as to be assigned to a team. Your team-mates will catch you up before the sew day.

Swap

Alice and Kim distributed the rainbow charms that the group swapped. Swappers are asked to make something with their rainbow charms and bring the finished project to the September meeting. Participants are eligible for prizes.
Carol introduced the June/Holiday Gift swap. To participate, bring a Ziploc bag of fabric and embellishments to swap at the June meeting. The person who receives your bag will use it to make a mini quilt, which you will get back at the Holiday party.

Tips and Tricks

Kelly shared a pixel quilt she made of Ron Swanson which is a free pattern by Happy Zombie. Kelly used a leave-in stabilizer for this, but noted that it makes for a stiff quilt. She will be using it for a wall hanging, but if you intend to use the quilt keep this in mind. The leave in stabilizer has a grid which makes the project easier.
There are several websites that will help you pixelate an image.

Show and Tell

Debbie shared a sew together bag she made, as well as her "ugly fabric challenge" project— two fabric buckets. She also shared a crab quilt she made in a pineapple style pattern. Then she showed a bag she made with blue strips of fabric.
Cathy shared a tip in Bob Harper's book, Skinny Habits. He says that quilting helps put anxiety into a different perspective.
Linda Ambrose mentioned the Quilters of South Carolina retreat in October which is available to all quilt guilds in SC. There is a $20 membership fee with a meeting in Spring (March) and the retreat in October at the White Oak Convention Center outside of Columbia. The cost for the retreat is $210-270 for room, board and classes Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday morning. Sunday July 17 at 2 pm is electronic registration. If you register, let Kelly know.
Susan Clark shared an improv quilt that she called “slightly out of my box.” She asked for ideas on how to quilt it. Group suggested varying width lines. This quilt was made in Geri’s class.
Carol shared a sew together bag she made with robot fabric, as well as her "ugly fabric challenge" project— a fabric bowl. She also shared a work in progress from the book The New Hexagon. She is on the first of 12 rosettes and is doing it as a quilt along. It is English paper pieced.
Keri found a paper cut of a tree and decided that she will make a quilt to mimic it. She will use low volume for background and the tree will be dark. She also shared a crochet project that she is doing as a crochet-along, stitched in a medallion style.
Kim shared her ugly fabric challenge—the openwide pouch by Noodlehead (medium size).
Mary Beth (guest) showed her Trip Around the World quilt she made with Kaffe fabrics and a baby quilt she made for her nephew.
Geri showed a baby quilt she made using Heather Ross and linen fabrics and also her WIP, an Alabama Chanin tee shirt.
Amy shared a quilt top she made as a pattern tester for Crafty Planner, the Rainbow Cross, using Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander. She also shared what she started in the Jen Kingwell workshop she just attended.
Kelly shared her queen-size Color Dive quilt, a pattern by Anna Maria Horner. She also shared a new pattern release from Rebel Craft Media - The Modern Flag Quilt. She also showed a cell phone mini that she made and that is in the latest issue of The WhipperCrafter. Finally, she shared her quilt top using Lori Holt’s pattern Quilty Fun.
Phoebe shared two zipper bags she made for the ugly fabric challenge using the dumpling pattern. Then she shared the Preppy the Whale quilt she made for her nephew and a stuffed Whale (Wallace the Whale pattern). Finally, she shared two fold overclutches she made using leather.
Sandy made a tool apron for the ugly fabric challenge and added thrifted jeans to complete it.
Jennifer shared a tree quilt she made up on her own.
Lynn was not there, but her pillow for the ugly fabric challenge was!
Alice showed off her Trip Around the World quilt and also her Green Tea and Butter Beans quilt designed by Jen Kingwell. Her ugly fabric challenge was a Japanese knot bag.