Kerry Bevers, President, called the meeting to order at 06:32 PM with 31 members and 3 guests in attendance.
Program: Lynn Crymes presented a refresher course on “What is Modern?” The presentation covered the history, characteristics, and examples of modern quilting. Lynn shared the following, source unknown: “Modern quilts are utilitarian art. They tell stories. They are graphic, improvisational, or minimalist. They break the rules. They make a statement. Modern quilts are creative expressions made with needle and thread, fabric, and time, expressing today’s aesthetic through a generations-old traditional craft.”
Modern quilting started in 1998 and was advanced by technologies, then instructional books in 2005, and propelled by social media. The Modern Quilt Guild (MQG) formed in 2009 and held the first MQG QuiltCon in Austin in 2013 with 1350 attending. Currently, MQG has 18,000+ members with 29,000+ attendees at the Feb 2026 conference in Raleigh. Characteristics that help define modern quilting include bold use of color; high contrast; graphic areas of color; minimalism; maximalism; improvisational piecing; use of negative space; alternate grid work; modern traditional; social commentary; and use of recycled/upcycled materials. Our Chas MQG will reinstitute the use of a “modern quilt characteristics” checklist for Show and Tell for members to complete and share when describing their quilts.
Business / Announcements:
● Rick Sanchez announced that he is leading an effort to encourage and support members who want to enter a quilt into QuiltCon next year. Contact Rick if interested in contributing to this effort.
Committee Updates:
● Swaps/Challenges: Members swapped large flower blocks supporting the 2026 guild block swap challenge. It was a lively swap and we will continue to build our quilts each month and conduct another block swap in the fall.
● Elaine Woodward initiated a fabric postcard swap in celebration of America’s 250th birthday. Elaine provided a detailed handout. Each participant makes a postcard and mails it to a fellow member, thus all are senders and recipients. Members signed up for the swap and the cards are due by the end of June for delivery by July. Note that extra postage is due if >1 ounce. Demos will be conducted at the May 16 Sew Day.
Members shared their quilts at Show and Tell. Kate Weston and Molly Piepenburg showed several quilts they made for foster kids. Molly reported that more quilts are needed for 12-23 years old and she has a large fabric stash that can be used for charity quilts. Contact Molly to coordinate delivery of the fabric and/or batting to support our foster children donations.
The meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM.
Events & Dates to remember - Check the “2026 Calendar” in the right hand column.
Next meeting - May 26
Sew Day at Five Eighth Seams - May 16
Camp Quilt Along - August 27-30, 2026
