May 2023 meeting minutes

Business/Announcements

Jean talked about the exhibit we have coming up at the Kiawah Eye Convention at the Sanctuary Hotel.  She received 29 quilts and we were able to display our new (!) logo quilt as part of the display. Thank you to Jean, Irene and Elaine for getting this set up so beautifully. 

We also had our potholder and oven mitt swap with many members participating.  Great work!

Kate discussed our charity project for 2023 which will be focusing on local area children in foster care.  She has put together quilt kits which include completed blocks waiting to be sewn into a top, backing fabric and binding fabric all tucked into a tote bag which will go with the completed quilt.  Those who wish to participate can collect one of these bags from her and complete the enclosed quilt.  She will have more kits for the sew day in July.  Each quilt will measure approximately 40x60.  If you’d rather make one from your own fabric, feel free to do so.  There was discussion about potentially including a pillowcase to go with the quilt and bag.  Those would be made with coordinating fabric from each quilter’s own stash. Target for delivery is January but they can be completed and delivered sooner. 

A few quilt exhibition shows going on in our area – 

·       Sister Girl Friends (and Brothers, too)

16^th Annual African American Fiber Art Exhibition

North Charleston City Hall

May 3 – June 18 

·       Celebrating Black Mermaids: From Africa to America

City Gallery, Charleston

May 26 – July 9^th

·       Herstory – Stefanie Nuener

South Gallery Exhibition, Public Works Art Center, Summerville

May 12 – July 8

Since it was so much fun this year, early plans are being made to visit Artfields show in 2024.  Stay tuned for details. 

Barn quilts challenge is due at our September meeting.  Size is 36” square. 

 

Upcoming Sew Days:       June 17

 

Program

Rick gave tips on how to prepare your quilt before sending to a long-arm quilter.  He discussed:

·       fabric and batting selection

·       the proper size of batting and backing to go with your quilt top

·       correct sizing of batting and backing to be sent with  your top

·       maintaining 1/4seam allowances to that your quilt top remains pieced properly and does not come apart on the longarm machine

·       how to reduce bulk

·       how to handle multi-layer tops

·       labeling the top and bottom of both your quilt top and backing to insure the correct directional placement in your finished quilt

·       pressing and trimming of your quilt top and back

·       the dangers of adding embellishments (beads, crystals, yoyos, buttons, etc) to your quilt top

·       choosing quiltinq patterns and thread colors

Big thanks to Rick for all of the excellent advice!

Show and Tell

Next meeting:       June 27

 

Minutes

Charleston Modern Quilt Guild, April 2023

Business/Announcements

Amy opened the meeting by sharing a slide show and talked about the recent field trip taken by several members to the Artfields show in Lake City, SC. Congratulations to Cathy Beemer on her submitted quilt, “Sweet Tea Summer.”

 A new member was introduced.  Cathy will return Saturday for the closing reception and welcomes guild members to join her.

Cookie Washington will be featured in another fiber arts show, “Black Mermaid Goddesses” opening May 27- July 9 at the Gallery at Joe Riley Waterfront Park. Amy will organize a group trip to see the exhibit.

Thanks to Kate Weston, who has agreed to take on chairwoman for the Guild Charity committee & will report back at the May meeting on suggested projects.

Amy has selected an app and website to use as a Lending Library where members would post books and equipment, that they would be willing to loan out or borrow per month to other members.

Challenge/Swaps                                         Eyes, Potholders due May 23.

Several more “Eye” entries were submitted to Jean, which she showed to the guild.

Upcoming Sew Days:       May 20

Program

Kerry led a presentation and showed a video on “Batting” with handouts & batting sample books per Quilter’s Dream and Hobbs batting fabric options and what best to use depending on the What, How, Who, What finish, and How Quilted of your quilt project. Recommendations included such advice as 80/20 should be used for most machine-sewn “everyday” and charity quilts and 100% wool or silk for hand quilting. Show quilts should have 2 layers of batting – wool and cotton.

Below are 2 suggestions for future guild programs. It was determined these might be good demonstrations at a future sew day:

·         how to best prepare your quilt top and back to a long-arm quilter,

·         how to square off a quilt top

·         a mini sewing yard sale of items we want to donate from our stash, etc.

Show & Tell

Next Meeting is May 23.

 

March 2023 Meeting Minutes

 

Charleston Modern Quilt Guild

March 2023 Minutes

Business

In Amy’s absence, Jean ran this month’s meeting.  Jean sent around 2 Get Well cards for all to sign. Jean talked about carpooling to the April 21 road trip to the Lake City Art Fields show and passed around sign up sheets for those who are going and can drive or be passengers. She also reviewed the status of the committees and appealed to the attendees for a Charity committee chair. There was some discussion about past projects and various ideas for future charity projects but no one volunteered in the meeting – the position is still open.

Challenge/Swaps

Eyes, Potholders due May 23

Jean talked about the Eye Contact mini quilt challenge and has arranged for the quilts to be shown at in an Optometrist Convention in Kiawah in June. More entries are needed; the deadline is hand in at the May meeting. She’ll resend the requirements.  We continue to work on the Series challenge, due Jan 2024. 

Connie went into more detail about proposed new challenge ideas: Barn Quilt – 36x36 or 12x12 due Sept. 24? and Red & White “unleashed” quilts 36x36 or 12x12 due March 2024. “Unleashed” = interpretations allowed;  all shades and prints of red and white.

A Potholder/ Oven Mitt swap, made from leftover blocks or scraps, are due in May.

Sew Day:     April 15

Cathy reminded that the next Sew Day is April 15 and encouraged members to work on their series challenge.

Program

“Sharing tips and tricks from QuiltCon” Amy, Connie, and others shared tips from classes or lectures they attended at this year’s Quilt Con.  Amy shared using bottle caps and face razors, etc. as alternative tools. Suzy presented about the Curvelet kit for mini circles. Connie discussed piecing and seaming scraps and about how various thread weights work for quilting.

Show & Tell

Geri, Karen, Rick, Michelle, Corinne and others presented Show and Tell. Suzy took photos.

Next Meeting:  April 25