Quilt Quark Gallery - Joan Manfre

 

A WOMAN’S DREAM SHOWER, is 38” X 45” It was created for our GMQG challenge this year using repurposed material.  The fabric was upholstery on my rattan set and had all women’s hats, shoes, gloves and handbags on a black background.  I cut out the shoes and hats and used Fray Check around each piece.  The slanted rain was created from metallic silver thread and  ruler work and tape helped to keep the slant straight.  Bugle beads and glass crystal beads formed the rain drops.  Grunge fabric was used for creating the umbrella and background area.  

It was truly a labor of love sewing on all the beads!

~ Joan Manfre

October Meeting Highlights - October 3, 2020

 
Thanks to the Modern Quilt Guild for allowing us to use their Zoom account for this month’s and the remainder of 2020 meetings.  If you would like a recording of today's meeting, please contact greenvillemqg@gmail.com within 14 days and we will email it to you.
 
FUTURE 2020 PROGRAMS:  All programs are set to be presented via Zoom, but should the opportunity arise to assemble outside, they are all adaptable to be done so.
 
The Saturday, November 7th meeting will be open from 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. to give members a half-hour prior to, and a half-hour after the standard (1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.) meeting time for socializing.  To attend, sign on using the link and passcode provided by email a few days before.
 
LESSONS IN ZOOM:  How to use the Zoom Chat Function (on a PC) during a Zoom meeting:  Run your cursor over the open screen.  At the bottom of the screen, a ribbon should appear where you will find video and audio controls, and see the word Chat.  Click on Chat, and a secondary window will open. Towards the bottom of that window, there is a drop-down window that allows you to send a personal message to one person or a message to everyone. Conversely, if you have received a personal message, there should be an alert to click on at the bottom of the window.
 
OCTOBER - MEMBER PARTICIPATION:  Members participated in the October program by speaking about the quilting muses who inspire and influence their quilting personalities.  
 
Linda Cassell says her greatest influence did not come from anyone famous but, rather, from four of her quilting friends.  She started quilting in 2001 through a class given in her Sunday School class and fell in love with both quilting and spending time talking to her friends there.  Through joining the Upcountry Quilt Guild, she met Gayle Sexton, Pat Kirko and Paige Alexander, the latter, her best friend.  All these women do outstanding and amazing work, and each has had a hand in bestowing their generosity, kindness, gentle teaching and inspiration on Linda.  Through her quilting life, the women she has met, the friends she has made, and the camaraderie she has with them mean everything.  Lastly, she also admits to her guilty pleasure of surfing Pinterest for inspiration.  (You’re not alone Linda!)
 
Sandy Helsel sent an email since she could not attend and said, “Cheryl Brickey is My Favorite Quilt Designer.  Cheryl Brickey, a friend since I moved to Greenville over eight years ago, first at Foothills Piecemakers Quilt Guild and now in Greenville Modern Quilt Guild, will always be my favorite quilt designer. Her designs are fresh in color, interesting in pattern and design, and explicit with detailed instructions. Her enthusiasm for expression in quilt designing is contagious and carries with it adventure in capturing new ideas that spawn creativity in all of us. Cheryl is an excellent teacher and focuses each of her patterns to specific levels of sewing and quilting abilities. She energizes her workshops with excitement making all of us feel, “oh, yes, I can do this!” and what looks impossible, ‘a walk in the park!’  She can make a pattern that looks abstract seem much more practical in technique. For me, Cheryl has taken the strict concepts and rules of Modern Quilt Design and softened the edges to make it come alive.  I have shared her patterns with quilting friends in other locations across the U.S. by presenting them with her patterns and books as gifts…, one of which she co-wrote with Paige Alexander named, ‘Modern Plus Sign Quilts’.” 
Faye Jones’ greatest influence overall are the Gees Bend quilters.  Descendants of slaves who worked and lived in a geographically isolated area of Alabama, these self-taught women became world famous having created numerous classically designed quilts reminiscent of modern quilts with absolutely no formal training.  Even before Faye discovered them, she knew when she started quilting, abstract and improv design appealed to her nature.  Faye shared the first quilt she made and the first quilt book she ever bought, “Create Your Own Free-Form Quilts,” by Rayna Gillman.  Gillman not only teaches and creates improv quilts, but also explains how to add something extra with surface-design techniques.  She teaches techniques rather than providing traditional patterns, and it is these techniques that allow you to produce something entirely unique.
 
Sheryl Sane’s greatest influencer is Dagmar Theodore, who was originally a friend of her sister-in-law’s, then became and has been her friend for years.  Sheryl met Dagmar now and then over the years, having knitting in common, and she eventually saw some of Dagmar’s quilts.  Originally a member of the Traveler’s Rest Quilt Guild, Dagmar convinced Sheryl to attend the Foothills guild.  She went and enjoyed it and eventually, along with Dagmar, moved on to Modern.  She agrees with Linda, “It’s the people [who inspire].”
 
Valorie Kasten has been working on improving the quality of her finished product, the craft, the putting it together and found Harriet Hargrave to be the most helpful.  Hargrave is an extremely traditional quilter, but she and her daughter have published a series of books called, “The Quilters Academy,” which are all about achieving exceptional quality.  The series contains superior illustrations and is filled with “all those little tips that help make a great quilt.”  Valorie feels Hargrave can’t be beat when it comes to her instructions for a better final product.
 
Susan Rink’s great influencer is Eleanor Burns, famous for her “Quilt in a Day” series.  Susan’s first quilt was a Log Cabin from a Burns book, one of many that teaches everything from straight grain of fabric to how to strip piece.  Susan took a fantastic class from Nancy Johnson-Srebro in Lancaster County when rotary cutters and rulers first came out.  If you can find one of her old books and are new to rotary cutting, Susan recommends it.  Later, when she saw an exhibit of Australian quilts with all the many bright, saturated colors, and wild fauna and flora, she was hooked and never looked back.  She naturally came to appreciate Kaffe Fassett’s work and as one of his biggest fans, follows his Collective on FB.  Additionally, she is inspired by a variety of non-quilter artists posting on Instagram, e.g., National Geographic photographers, and through her travels to Italy and Paris.  Susan found the colors and color combinations in Brian Cook’s “Landscapes of Britain” illustrations to be fascinating and inspiring.  She is continually motivated by fellow quilters in guild meetings, seeing the quilts in Quilt Quark and social media, and learning from others as to how they translate their ideas.
 
Darleen Sanford used to be a very traditional quilter, using a lot of browns and other earth tones in her classical quilts.  Then while the GMQG was still in its infancy and being held at Bernina, Marilyn Hagopian invited Darleen to attend.  As the guild grew, simply attending the meetings and observing other members’ work fired her imagination.  She left the traditional behind and gradually got more modern, using less browns, a lot more color, and more improvisational methods.  Darleen has made several quilts inspired by Jaccquie Gering and Katie Pedersen’s “Quilting Modern: Techniques and Projects for Improvisational Quilts,” which provides the fundamental principles from which quilts may be created without patterns per se.
 
Elise Dunbar similarly shared Gering and Pedersen’s ‘Quilting Modern’ book with a focus on Katie Pedersen.  Elise made her daughter’s college quilt from this ‘fabulous’ book then took a class from Pedersen in Seattle, subsequently producing the two orange and blue quilts she shared in Quilt Quark.  The guild itself, along with classes, and seeing what everyone is doing has also been amazingly inspirational.  Elise shared the old “Quilt in a Day – Log Cabin Pattern” book by Eleanor Burns referenced above by Susan Rink.  Elise said it’s the best book, from which she got started making baby quilts. From there she moved on to more fun colors and modern style.  Heather Jones has influenced Elise with her wonky patterning based on the art of Josef and Anni Albers.  Josef’s work both in Europe and the U.S. formed the basis of modern art education programs of the 20^th century (albersfoundation.org).  The Modern Quilt Guild’s QuiltCon, Pinterest and Instagram are continually inspiring; see dailyoverview on Instagram for photos taken from satellite where potential-quilt inspiration abounds.  Other influencers include Melanie Tuazon, a quilter and fiber artist whose process includes a spectrum of improvisation, and Timna Tarr who does map quilts and otherwise “sees each block in a quilt as its own element independent of the other blocks.  After constructing all the blocks, she arranges the small compositions to play off each other… to create a larger whole.”
 
Travis Seward is influenced and inspired to distraction by so many things, he never knows what he will want to design and make next.  It’s been a process of figuring out who he is, what his quilting style is, and what he enjoys making.  He says it’s also about giving himself permission not to judge his work or himself by others’ standards and not being intimidated by other people, because we’re all valid and deserve to be happy and make things that make us happy.  He was struggling earlier in the year with these things and fearing his work might become derivative if he continued working on things that have been done before such as the Log Cabin when Cindy suggested he read, “Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative,” by Austin Kleon.  The book is a tiny inexpensive ‘quick read’ that presents ten transformative principles designed to help you discover your artistic side and build a more creative life.  Kleon says nothing is original, so embrace influence, school yourself through the work of others, remix and reimagine to discover your own path, and don’t wait until you know who you are to get started - just go do it.  Kleon goes on to say side projects and hobbies are important and you should draw on those things.  Be nice (which we happily do well in our Guild), and it’s ok to be boring.  This and Kleon’s follow-up books will help to ground you and get your thoughts together if you’re at loose ends.  Another enlightening book in this genre is, “Your Inner Critic is a Big Jerk,” by Danielle Krysa.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, the International Quilt Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska, has a beautiful Instagram feed of outstanding historical quilts.  Travis is greatly drawn to people who came before us, the work they’ve done, the world they created, and this collection that exists.
 
Lynne Harrill said Michael James has long been a muse of hers; his use of color and design speak to her.  An American artist, educator, author, and lecturer, he is best known as a leader of the art quilt movement that began in the 1970s.  She took a class from him and learned you need to know the language of art and incorporate it in your work; think about what you’re doing and talk to yourself.  Lynne is also influenced by non-quilting American artists such as Frank Stella, a painter, sculptor and printmaker noted for his work in the areas of minimalism and post-painterly abstraction; Esteban Vicente, Spanish American painter who was one of the first generation of NY School abstract expressionists; and Jasper Johns*, a painter, sculptor and printmaker from SC whose work is associated with abstract expressionism, Neo-Dada, and pop art, and is well known for his depictions of the American flag and other U.S.-related topics.  The Greenville County Museum of Art has one of the ten largest institutional collections of his works.  Painter Morris Louis is considered one of the earliest exponents of Color Field painting where "color is freed from objective context and becomes the subject in itself," and was one of the Washington (D.C.) painters who formed the Washington Color School.
 
 
*Speaking of Jasper Johns, he once said something that might help us tackle the dilemma Travis described above:  “Using the design of the American flag took care of a great deal for me because I didn’t have to design it.  So, I went on to similar things like the targets – things the mind already knows.  That gave me room to work on other levels.”
 
Brooke Stambersky is drawn to many different types of quilting. She loves quilts with geometric shapes and bright colors, so you will see her quilts falling into those categories.  A friend of Brooke’s who has been quilting for several years got her started.  Her first quilt was done by taking a block-of-the-month class at a local quilt shop in Asheville.  She is also gravitating toward collage quilts which she really enjoys.  She also loves the inspiration she derives from the people she follows on Instagram.  During quarantine, she has been incorporating embroidery machine quilting-in-the-hoop into a Kimberbell quilt-as-you-go quilt.
 
Kerry Steck’s quilt beginnings echo those who made an Eleanor Burns Log Cabin, having made her second quilt with Burns’ pattern.  She has been influenced by many different styles and has always been drawn to pictorial quilts whether made by collage, appliqué or piecing techniques.  She is most definitely inspired by color - the colors in nature, lots of blues and greens.  Whether it’s seeing everyone’s sewing rooms during our Zoom meetings, quilts during Show and Share, or going to quilt shows, Kerry finds lots of inspiration everywhere she looks.
 
Dagmar Theodore may not have grown up with the tradition of quilting in her family, but when she moved from Germany to America over 20 years ago, she landed in Simpsonville across the street from Debbie Graves, a quilter and fabric collector. When she was unpacking her garment fabric, Debbie’s daughter said, “My mom has way more fabric than you,” a hint of things to come.  Debbie eventually took Dagmar to her first quilting class where she would make her first quilt - a King-sized ‘Trip Around the World,’ using traditional fabrics.  Later, she read an article about Denyse Schmidt and it was a wake-up call for her.  She is a big fan of the painter, Paul Klee, and was struck when for the first time she saw a quilt that looked like a painting.  To Dagmar, Schmidt’s quilts and designs were more art than craft.  She bought her book, “Denyse Schmidt Quilts,” which includes a lot of small projects, e.g., how to make sewn notecards, potholders, how to embellish a notebook cover, etc., several of which Dagmar made for Christmas gifts.  She has since participated in two of Schmidt’s quilt-alongs, which started her move towards the modern way.  Dagmar shared her Schmidt quilts, ‘Proverbial’ with color and improv all in one piece and ‘Freewheeling Single Girl,’ Schmidt’s interpretation of a Double Wedding Ring quilt.  Since then, Dagmar has found many more inspiring quilters to follow on Instagram, finds all the quilters around her inspiring, and stretches her creativity in everyday life, for example, by seeing a magnificent quilt in such a benign thing as a building.
 
Cindy Lange said when there was a rediscovery of Amish quilts in the late 80s and 90s, it led her to fall in love with the strong, solid graphic presentation used in their work.  In that vein, her most current and beautifully executed project emulates the Amish-inspired medallion pattern using deeply hued solid colors.  Years ago, she bought, “Amish Quilts:  30 Traditional Patterns,” by Kenneth and Rachel Pellman but had to “sit on it” until she retired and had the time to pursue quilting.  She just loved the idea of these quiet farm ladies making these big pieces of pop art, and she wanted to get in on that. The inspiration that struck her so many years ago finally came to fruition when, as a retired empty nester, she “took up the needle.”
 
Rita Sassone lived in Tucson, Arizona, for 15 years and when she returned to AZ recently, was shocked to learn there were eight quilt shops in her city alone.  She loves color, but finds following a pattern very tough for her because she becomes bored.  Last March, she had an opportunity to go to Gees Bend, and fell in love with those women.  The freedom manifested in their practice to just “wack it” and go on, “wack it” and sew it, was eye opening.  When she asked them if they could give her some guidance, she recalls being told by one woman, “you don’t need no help!  You know what you’re doing!”  It was that door-opening encouragement to go forward and trust herself that inspired Rita.  Also, in her circle, Johnnie McKenzie has been a huge influence and challenger, is a talented artist and has a lot of ideas.  It was a revelation to Rita when her friend, Barbara, challenged her to look at a pattern she likes, to make one up on her own, and that she could do that.  Joining the guilds and learning from other people inspires her.  Every time she comes to this guild’s meeting, she is inspired to go home and do something, and try something different.  She’s greatly appreciative of this group and loves everyone in it.
 
Cynthia Steward lived in a very remote, rural community in upper Michigan when she started quilting.  She didn’t have much contact with other quilters, but found great inspiration by watching Nancy Zieman’s, “Sewing with Nancy,” produced by PBS Wisconsin for 35 years and easily accessible today at nancyzieman.com.  Although not all the content applied to Cynthia, she did find the show to be very helpful, solidifying many of her skills.  Cynthia had sewn since she was young, but bought Zieman’s book, “Sewing A to Z,” as a refresher.  Zieman did a lot of work on landscape quilts, something in which Cynthia was very interested at the time.  She shared a splendid landscape piece she did based on a photo her husband took of Mont Blanc, in the Swiss Alps.  Cynthia was next inspired by Jean Wells.  She had always liked the artistic side of quilting and bought Wells’ book, “Intuitive Color and Design:  Adventures in Art Quilting,” in which Wells does a lot of improv strip piecing.  Cynthia shared a terrific “combined inspiration” piece she made based on Wells’ approach as well as by the fine art of 17^th-century Dutch painter Jan Vermeer van Delft, who specialized in domestic interior scenes of middle class life and is particularly renowned for his masterly treatment and use of light in his work.  Cynthia has taken a lot of inspiration from many fine artists and likes abstract and early modern artists as well.
 
Dana Blasi was unable to attend the meeting, but since she is writing these minutes, she would like to share the following.  Her original muse was her Aunt Frances who made all sorts of wonderful things with fabric, from wedding dresses to quilts.  Some of her earliest quilting inspiration came from watching Alex Anderson’s show, “Simply Quilts,” that gradually convinced her that she, too, could make a quilt.  In 2002 she designed and made her first two quilts in anticipation of her twin grandchildren’s births.  Dana gravitates toward appliqué and bright colors, and early on was inspired by the wonderfully colorful art and quilts of Laurel Burch, quilters Robbi Joy Eklow and Jane Sassaman, British quilter Phillipa Naylor, and Australian artist and quilter Pam Holland.  In 2015 she joined the GMQG and found inspiration and encouragement from every member there.  Non-quilter artists she looks to include French painter Henri Matisse, British/Finnish artist Sanna Annukka whose colorful Scandinavian printed images have morphed into fabric design; “Atomic Art” such as that of El Gato Gomez; and French modernist artist, Louis Toffoli’s post-cubist transparent paintings.
 
Thanks to all those members who participated in this enlightening program!  Thanks to you, our wealth of inspirational sources and resources has no doubt increased tenfold.
 
NOVEMBER – COPYRIGHT ISSUES:  CINDY LAMMON AND PAIGE ALEXANDER, both published authors, will give a presentation on the use of printed and public materials, copyright considerations, what you can use, how you can use it, and if it is copyrighted, how to obtain permission to use it from the author of the material. 
 
DECEMBER – MYSTERY HOLIDAY ELF SWAP:
Sign up to make an item for the Mystery Holiday Elf Swap!   Email Faye Jones at birdie1345<AT>AOL<DOT>com  to register for the swap, briefly identifying your preference for a religious, secular (e.g., HO HO HO, reindeer, ornamental things), traditional or modern item so that you can get something you will want and can use.  Faye will make the Elf assignments, then let you know who your recipient will be.  There are no parameters or rules for the items you wish to make.  For hints as to what your assignee likes, you may want to look at past work they’ve done in previous meeting minutes on the blog.  During the December 5^th Zoom meeting, you will show your piece, talk about it a little, and then reveal for whom the object was made.  It will be left to you to coordinate your swaps.
 
GMQG 2020 BLOCK OF THE MONTH:  LATIFAH SAAFIR:
Cynthia Seward’s October BOM modern influencer is Latifah Saafir.  In a recently published book, when asked ‘why do you quilt,’ Latifah responded simply by saying, “I quilt because I have to.”  This appealed to Cynthia and the membership alike.  Latifah and Alissa Haight Carlton are Co-Founders of the Modern Quilt Guild who, using early social media sites, connected with other quilters employing fresher and more modern styles in their quilt designs.  Both were disappointed with the lack of modern style quilts represented in traditional quilt shows so they decided to start a modern quilting group.  The first ever MQG chapter met in October 2009 in Los Angeles and with the help of the internet, the guild quickly took off and spread worldwide.
 
Latifah has a versatile and distinctive creative voice and uses many elements of modern quilting in her designs including:  Clean lines; Negative space; Modern traditionalism; Bold graphics; and Minimalism.  A lot of her quilts tend to be more whole quilt designs as opposed to being comprised of blocks.  Blue Maize is one of her earlier, and probably the most traditional of her quilts.  Some of her earlier quilts include Up in the Air, Pickled Beets, Neon & Neutral (using clamshells, for which she is well-known), and Airshow made with bias tape. Along with her Porthole baby quilt you will find the helpful guidance: “One stitch.  One Seam.  One quilt at a time.”  Good advice for the novice (if not for us all) who may be overwhelmed in the beginning.
 
Designer.  Teacher.  Maker.  Muse.  Latifah is one of modern quilting’s most recognizable ambassadors, and she is committed to promoting her love of quilting and helping others on their own journey of self-discovery.  Her website is full of modern patterns and useful tools, and she teaches workshops, hosts online tutorials, and publishes in magazines and books.
 
What may well be the most unique thing about her is that in addition to reaching the adult market, she has also developed Quilt Cadets for younger people.  Not unlike the Scouts programs, it is a merit-badge based program tailored to teach kids and teens sewing and quilting skills using fun projects.  She seems to have found a terrific way to get that next generation interested and hooked, which is never easy.
 

One of the things for which Latifah is well known is curves.  Curves don’t have to be difficult; it just takes practice.  Plan sizes – bigger is easier; Carefully cut fabric; Sew slowly; and Press very well.  So, this month’s BOM is the Half-Circle Block (in any size you choose to make).  Cynthia chose this block because it is a little less common, as well as a little easier than the quarter circle because it has one less seam to match up and piece together.  An important tip to use when sewing curves is to use a walking, dual-feed, or Curve Master presser foot that will move both pieces of fabric together at the same rate.
 
Instructions for making a curved template may be found in the PDF block instruction.  For more help on sewing curved pieces, go to Latifah Saafir Studios on YouTube at https: // www.youtube.com/ c/ latifahsaafirstudios (without the spaces).
 
Email Cynthia at belleekster<AT>gmail<DOT>com with any questions.  Please email photos of your completed BOMs for the Quilt Quark Gallery (“QQG”) to greenvillemqg@gmail.com to be shared in our virtual gallery and at the following meeting.  We’d love to see your work!
 
SEW-IN:  There will be no Sew-ins until February 2021.
 
WILDACRES RETREAT – 2021:  Sandy said we are awaiting our assigned dates expected late October/early November, and registration begins in January 2021.
 
MEMBERSHIP:  We welcomed 22 members in our Zoom meeting this month.
 
PHILANTHROPY:  Faye has received several more charity quilts and is holding them since the Julie Valentine Center is not seeing many kids onsite at this time.  If you have a quilt to donate, you may hold on to it for now or coordinate with Faye to pass it on to her.  She thanked the people who have been sharing their work on the QQG beforehand.  Questions concerning the program and drop off/pickup may be directed to Faye at birdie1345<AT>aol<DOT>com.
 
NOMINATING COMMITTEE:  The nominees for the 2021 Board and extended positions will be voted on during the November 7^th meeting.  If you cannot attend the Zoom meeting next month, please respond to the voting email which will be sent out prior to the meeting. We are still looking for someone to head up Block of the Month as well as Facility Coordinator.  The nominees are as follows:
 
Board of Directors:

•  President – Brooke Stambersky
•  Vice President, Programs – Rita Sassone
•  Membership Chair – Jill Erickson

Committee Chairs

• Outside Speaker Coordinator – Dagmar Theodore
  
• Block of the Month Coordinator - **OPEN**
• Facility Coordinator – **OPEN**
  

The following members will remain in their current positions: 
Board:  Treasurer Cindy Lange; Co-Secretaries Dana Blasi and Emily Pitman.
Committee Chairs: Philanthropy Chair Faye Jones; Spring Retreat Co-Chair and Sew-In Chair Sandy Helsel; Library Chair Darleen Sanford; St. Giles Liaison Nancy deJong; Holiday Luncheon Fundraiser Chair Dana Blasi.
 
QUILT QUARK GALLERY / SHOW AND SHARE:  Show and Share quilts included:

• Susan Rink’s blue printed sashiko, charm-square quilt; pattern by Australian quilter, Susan-Claire Mayfield.
• Susan’s second charm pack, navy and coral quilt; pattern “Bright Windows.”
• Susan’s blue, “Jelly Roll Race Quilt” (also known as a Lasagna Quilt), quilted by Rita Sassone.
• Susan’s Fall table runner, a gift for her best friend in Erie, PA.
• Nancy deJong’s “Postcards from Sweden.”
• Nancy deJong’s French icons tote bag.
• Diane Wiggins’ “Bolt” quilt.
• Cindy Lange’s “Scrap Top” quilt made with Kona solids.
• Cindy Lange’s “Club Noir” quilt from “Colorful Quilts for Fabric Lovers” by Walsh and Burke backed with a Dutch Vlisco wax printed fabric.  Cindy washed the fabric first and found it be pliable enough for quilting.
• Cynthia Steward’s 16” x 16” quilt made for and accepted by Curated Quilts for their Plus Mini Quilt Challenge Gallery.  Congratulations Cynthia!

Please share photos of your quilts (including Quilts for Kids), BOMs and other projects to the QQG page of our blog at greenvillemodernquiltquild.com.  We will share them during the following month’s meeting.
 
OTHER NEWS & REMINDERS: 
 
·       Kudos to Valorie Kasten for taking First Place in the Hoffman 2019/2020 Challenge in the Piecing category!  Go to hoffmanchallengegallery dot com/awards-recipients to see her outstanding work.
·       Lynne Harrill was interviewed by the Hendersonville, NC, magazine, “Bold Life.”  Go to boldlife dot com/ leaving-the-log-cabin-far-behind to read Lynne’s story.  Congratulations Lynne!
·       Pat Davies provided a link to a group of women who are teaching live online classes to guilds.  She received this information from one of her favorite quilters, Sarah Ann Smith in Maine.  Go to http://www.globalquiltconnection.com.
·       Carolina Shop Hop has been rescheduled for July 9-24, 2021.
·       We have a Facebook page for sharing photos, links, and information open solely to GMQG members to share pics of quilts and links to quilting sites.  No official business will be conducted, since not every member subscribes to FB. 
·       The Modern Quilt Guild website has a plethora of free webinars and patterns available to all its members. 
·       If members come across a link they would like to share, they may forward it to Dagmar via email at dagmar_theodore<at>yahoo<dot>com to be shared at the next meeting.

MQG 2021 CHALLENGES:

 
1.     MQG Mini Swap 2020-21:  From October 2020 to February 2021, the MQG is holding its 5^th International MQG swap, and all active MQG members are invited to participate.  Members will make a mini quilt (no larger than 24” x 24”) for a partner.  A swap is a chance for you to make a surprise present for another MQG member and receive one in return.  Spots are limited according to the number of volunteer helpers they have, but they are accommodating as many people as possible. 
  
        Valorie Kasten - 2019 QuiltCon Mini Quilt top
 
2.     The Wedge Quilting Challenge:  American Patchwork & Quilting and the MQG are challenging MQG members to take the classic quilt element of a wedge and make a fresh, modern design.
 

3.     The MQG Modern Classics Challenge -The MQG is re-releasing some of its favorite patterns of the month and are inviting you to join in for a chance to have a quilt included in a special exhibit for QuiltCon Together in 2021.  In honor of the MQG’s tenth anniversary, they’ve decided to dust off a few of their favorite patterns and relaunch them in an all-new color palette.  Over the course of the year, they will share twelve quilts previously released as Quilt of the Month patterns.    Choose any MQG pattern in the Resources section and make it using their 2020 color palette. Follow along using the hashtag #mqgmodernclassic and enter your quilt to be a part of a special MQG Modern Classics exhibit at QuiltCon Together 2021.  To be eligible for the exhibit, a quilt must be made from an MQG Quilt of the Month released prior to 2020 and in the 2020 color palette pictured below.  While you do not have to use all seven colors, the colors must be from this palette alone.

4.     The QuiltCon Together Fabric Challenge includes a large floral with a few blenders to challenge members to create a modern quilt and are calling it Floral & Vine.  Fabric colors include Apricot Ash Rose Garden (29101-19 large floral), Apricot Ash Coral Dotty (29106-12 coral blender), Apricot Ash Ash (29105-19 gingham), and Abby Rose Greenery (48676-11 vines). 
For further details, go to themodernquiltguild.com.

Quilt Quark Gallery - Valorie Kasten

 

While COVID-19 certainly turned my goal of entering more quilt shows/contest in 2020 topsy-turvy, it did not completely stop me!!

Behind the Fence, is a 36" X 36" quilt that I created especially for Hoffman California Fabrics' Hoffman First Stitch Challenge 2019/20.  

The original design is 100% pieced.  The successful fussy cutting of the text from the fabrics was really assisted by the tips from Kitty Wilkins' lecture/workshop. 

The quilting is a combination of custom robotic-assited motifs and ruler work (below is a detail photo). I ended by using 6 different threads ranging from 40-100 weight.

Like many other organizations, Hoffman Fabrics pivoted with style. They extended the entry deadline and went from the usual year long traveling show of juried challenge entries to a virtual show.  Please check out the winners (including mine) under the Award Recipients tab and all of the accepted entries under the Gallery tab at https://www.hoffmanchallengegallery.com/awards-receipients .  

Yes, you read that right -- Behind the Fence received the first place ribbon in the Pieced Category.

Happy Quiting, 

Valorie Kasten

Upcoming Meeting - October 3, 1-3 (Zoom)

We look forward to seeing you this month on Saturday, October 3,  from 1-3 (Zoom access to start early at 12:30 if you want to socialize before the meeting that begins at 1:00).  Please join us for:

OCTOBER - MEMBER PARTICIPATION:  Who Inspires you?!  

Please plan to participate in our October program by sharing your quilting muse with us. 

From Faye Jones , 

“I think we all really enjoyed last month's program when we all shared a little of ourselves with the group.  In a continuation of the ‘getting to know you’ spirit, I am asking you to speak to us about what quilter or quilters shaped your quilting personality.  I would love for you to show books or other materials from this/these person(s) and some of your work resulting from that influence.  This is our guild and your contribution is what keeps us going during this challenging time!  Looking forward to seeing new ideas and learning of new inspirational sources.”

Please bring your stories, your resources, and be prepared to add titles or internet links into the chat during zoom so that we can catalog all the goodness we share. 

 

A Few Reminders and Bits of Information

• September's Block of the Month was a Friendship Block inspired by Mary Fons. We look forward to seeing your block during our meeting. 

• Our meetings for the rest of the year will be on Zoom and there will not be any more sew-ins for the rest of the year (but don't let that keep you from visiting your favorite local quilt shops). November (November 7) will be a program about copyright and quilting. And December (December 5) will be a Mystery Holiday Elf Swap. 

• Upcoming Elections - Are you interested in becoming more involved with the Greenville Modern Quilt Guild?  It is nominating and electing season (more details about that will come during the meeting).  Positions available are President, Vice President, Outside Speaker Coordinator, Block of the Month, and Facilities Coordinator.  For more detailed descriptions of these roles see the notes under Nominating Committee from last month's meeting minutes.  Contact Dagmar or Faye, or email Greenvillemqg@gmail.com to let us know you would like to join the team. 

• A Mystery Holiday Elf Swap:  In keeping with social distancing, in lieu of our annual Holiday Auction Luncheon there will be a Mystery Holiday Elf Swap for which we will secretly make items to swap.  Sign up/register for swapping handmade items by emailing Faye Jones (birdie1345<at>aol<dot>com), briefly identifying your preference for a religious, secular (e.g., HO HO HO, reindeer, etc.), traditional or modern item so that you can get something you will want and can use. 

• Have you found yourself wondering about someone you used to see at in-person meetings?  Take a minute to email or call someone to say hi and invite them to the meeting this weekend. 

• Here is our zoom meeting login information (the password will be mailed separately on Friday): 

MQG Guilds is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Greenville MQG October meeting

Time: Oct 3, 2020 12:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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Quilt Quark Gallery - Cindy Lange

Scrap top, Kona Solids, 48” x 62”, quilted in walking foot waves and bound in black. Already on its way to a friend in the Michigan U.P. where it’s needed more than here. 

The last time I squared up a non-traditional quilt top I kept cutting off a little bit, a little bit, until I’d cut off A LOT, and I still ended up binding a janky trapezoid. I really like this top and I didn’t want to amputate. What to do? I remembered back when Paige Alexander demonstrated her blocking technique for us. I‘d enjoyed seeing how a sewist of her caliber goes about her craft, but didn’t think it had any application for the basic stuff I do. But as my Mother used to say, “Learning is never wasted.”

Here’s my entire rig, not nearly as elaborate as Paige’s: a cheap tiling perpendicular laser and my biggest ruler, deployed on my fuzzy thread covered floor. It helped enormously and I’m sure I’ll use it again.

************

Pattern is “Club Noir” from the book Colorful Quilts for Fabric Lovers by Walsh and Burke. It measures 54” x 72”.

Top fabrics are solids from RJR Kona and Connecting Threads.

Back is a Vlisco wax print. I found a steal online for a six yard piece. Probably crazy to use as a backing fabric but this quilt is for my son-in-law and he’s worth it.

September Meeting Highlights

GMQG MEETING MINUTES                                     

Date:  September 5, 2020

Thanks to the Modern Quilt Guild for allowing us to use their Zoom account for this month’s and the remainder of 2020 meetings.  If you would like a recording of today's meeting, please contact greenvillemqg@gmail.com within 14 days and we will email it to you.

FUTURE 2020 PROGRAMS:  All programs are set to be presented via Zoom, but should the opportunity arise to assemble outside, they are all adaptable to be done so.

OCTOBER - MEMBER PARTICIPATION:  Who Inspires you?!  

Please plan to participate in our October program by sharing your quilting muse with us.  Faye Jones said, “I think we all really enjoyed last month's program when we all shared a little of ourselves with the group.  In a continuation of the ‘getting to know you’ spirit, I am asking you to speak to us about what quilter or quilters shaped your quilting personality.  I would love for you to show books or other materials from this/these person(s) and some of your work resulting from that influence.  This is our guild and your contribution is what keeps us going during this challenging time!  Looking forward to seeing new ideas and learning of new inspirational sources.”

The October 3rd meeting will be open from 12:30 p.m.– 3:30 p.m. to give members a half-hour prior to, and a half-hour after the standard (1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.) meeting time for socializing.  To attend, sign on using the link and passcode provided by email a few days before.

NOVEMBER – COPYRIGHT ISSUES:  

CINDY LAMMON AND PAIGE ALEXANDER will give a presentation on the use of printed and public materials, copyright considerations, what you can use, how you can use it, and if it is copyrighted, how to obtain permission to use it from the author of the material.  

DECEMBER – MYSTERY HOLIDAY ELF SWAP:  

In keeping with social distancing, in lieu of our annual Holiday Auction Luncheon there will be a Mystery Holiday Elf Swap for which we will secretly make items to swap.  Sign up/register for swapping handmade items by emailing Faye Jones (birdie1345@aol.com), briefly identifying your preference for a religious, secular (e.g., HO HO HO, reindeer, etc.), traditional or modern item so that you can get something you will want and can use.  There will be no parameters or rules for the items you wish to make.  Once she receives all the sign-up emails, Faye will match people up with one another.  If you don’t know already, in order to get a feel for what your assigned person would like, you may want to take a look at past work they’ve done in previous meeting minutes on the blog.  Note that people have loved the “Christmas-y” things donated at the Holiday Auction.  On the day of the meeting, you will show your piece on Zoom, talk about it a little, and then reveal for whom the object was made.  It will be left to you to coordinate your swaps.

SEPTEMBER PROGRAM - OUR ACTIVITIES DURING QUARANTINE:  

Due to illness, Travis Seward was unable to give his planned presentation, Men in Quilting.  Meeting attendees did a “round robin" taking turns to talk about what they have been doing during the Covid 19 quarantine.  

Faye Jones is dealing with the many significant issues we are all currently facing by keeping busy.  She has done some painting and made hundreds of masks.  She has donated some of them in exchange for a food bank donation and distributed some of them in her neighborhood.  Outside of the neighborhood, she has a woman who is very well connected in those circles that distribute masks and quilts to sometimes help parlay them into other forms of donations.  She also has a group of things going to a Women’s Shelter housing abused women and 25 children.  Faye made a couple of kids’ quilts and one for herself.  She feels better when she makes things that have a special meaning.   Faye also made a quilt for the GMQG “Repurpose” challenge, “Yankee Thrift,” which took third place. 

Susan Rink has done an abundance of sewing this year.  Last year was her “Year of Finishing,” and 2020 is her “Year of Finishing, Part Two.”  She has made numerous masks, in fact assisted an engineer whose wife works in a local pulmonary unit that was running short of masks.  She sewed over 100 prototypes of masks for him made by found things including reusable fabric grocery bags, the latter of which ultimately proved to be much better than just cloth or paper masks.  They now have a supply in storage in case there ever comes another time of shortages. Susan provided six charity quilts to Faye, is almost done with three more, and recently finished a 75” x 99” commissioned quilt top she then passed on to Rita Sassone for long-arm quilting.  She highly recommends the spectacularly beautiful, safe-social-distancing retreat in Jonesboro, TN, she attended, whose affiliated store is Tennessee Quilts.  The house-cum-retreat built c. 1820 is owned by a woman named Linda who can accommodate a small group of ten and is dutifully vigilant about social distancing.  Susan also spent her time constructively when she completely dismantled, thoroughly cleaned, repaired, reassembled and polished one of two old, beaten-up 1941 Featherweights she found in Cowpens to give to a friend. 

Sandy Helsel learned through her daughter in California they were unable to get any masks at all out there and so made and sent her several.  She also made some for Project Host through Newcomers and for various hospice nurses.  Sandy made a quilt for Cheryl’s book, a baby quilt, a charity quilt, and is now working on one with fabric she got in Alaska five years ago.  She made a beautiful table linen set featured in Quilt Quark based on a quilting magazine photo for her granddaughter’s wedding shower, which she attended in St. Louis, Missouri.  Some attendees wore masks and some didn’t, and everyone from the group is well.  Sandy said getting out and away doing something for a weekend was wonderful.  Among other things, Sandy has a background in Flora Culture and is making silk head pieces for the two five-year-old flower girls.

While Valorie Kasten continued working from home answering a good deal of technical questions, she managed to carve out a little time every day to spend in her sewing room even if it was just to play on EQ8 to design quilts.  She has been running and biking near her home and working out with some home gym equipment.  Valorie made a quilt to go into Cheryl Brickey’s upcoming quilt book, a quilt for the Repurposed challenge, and among the masks she made, some were adapted to fit over specialized head gear worn by her male co-workers (probably upping her popularity quotient among the boys in the process).  She even spent some time cleaning her sewing space.

Cynthia Steward has been quilting daily and succeeded in finishing a baby quilt, a couple of charity quilts, finished quilting some on her long arm, and is making a mini quilt for Curated Quilts due shortly (not to mention administering the Block of the Month for us).  She made a quilt for the GMQG “Repurpose” challenge, “Up Till Now,” which took second place.  In addition to a building project and family things, she has undertaken the time-consuming chore of cherry picking things from her old computer to transfer to a newly acquired computer.

Lynne Harrill has made some quilt-like things, but mostly has spent her time gardening.  The abundance of rain in her area has wreaked havoc on her tomatoes, yet she still managed to make some tasty sauce.  Lynne shared a beautiful quilt top she made using a pattern she designed and with fabric given to her many years ago.  She needed a little more of the green to complete the quilt and after several unsuccessful attempts to dye her own, discovered the perfect fabric in her stash.  Go to Quilt Quark to see this lovely tessellated quilt top.

Emily Pitman not only managed quarantine with a husband and three children (one in college, one just graduated from high school and one sophomore), but she did it with a sprained ankle requiring six weeks of recovery during which she was unable to sew.  She had been home schooling, but is retired now since her youngest is attending Wade Hampton.  Being grounded allowed her the time to sort through a multitude of photos to make baby books for each of her children.  She made numerous masks and then worked with her quite particular 18-year-old daughter to help her make her own custom mask.  Emily showed us the pebble and flower quilted squares she intends to put together (very good Emily).  She also shared an in-progress paper-pieced dragonfly she’s excited about, paper piecing being something she is particularly fond of.  Additionally, Emily spent a good deal of time working with Dana on communicating with the Guild as Co-Secretary.

Pat Davies’ Canadian friends visiting with her in Myrtle Beach had to pack up and go when Covid hit, and as her family lives in Canada, she had to cancel her plans to visit them pending the border reopening.  She misses her kid and grandkids and like many others has been riding the Corona virus roller coaster.  Pat has made some masks and is making a quilt for her granddaughter, which she had planned to give her in person this summer but for now must hold in abeyance.  She has been exercising like a fiend and has happily lost weight (kudos Pat!).  She is doing an embroidery class at Viking, a little bit of socializing at a distance, and has been buying quantities of fabric.

Along with Emily, Dana Blasi has been working with the Board, communicating with the Guild, and unintentionally ended up helping her HOA by running a fine-toothed comb through its Bylaws for errant commas, never thinking her “fun” quotient would be measured by editing grammar.  Seeing everyone on Zoom has been one of the highlights of the season for her.  She really enjoyed having her stepson come down from NJ with his border collie (Leo) and stay for the better part of 3 months.  He recently headed back north, and rather than take the dog back to languish in his typically tiny NJ condo, ceded Leo would be better off with an actual yard in which to run and play (not to mention provide much needed distraction in SC).  Dana made a quilt for Cheryl’s book, several masks for friends and family, and is almost finished with a quilt that, but for pressing family matters, intended to submit for the Repurpose challenge.  Her original idea of using antique doilies proved a little too “sweet” to qualify as modern, so she had to change course at the last minute.  She says she’ll have her new one, “Machination,” done by October’s meeting.

Jackie Callis has spent her time house hunting with a sister visiting from Georgia and finding out how much work is required to both buy and sell a home. She did a Block of the Month from the year 2000 called Turn of the Century (which is not modern at all) that has taken a great deal of time, has made masks, and finished two Hawaiian pillows.  When asked if she has done anything on her new mid-arm, Jackie said she quilted one thing for the Landrum Quilting Guild’s philanthropy group for the Ronald McDonald House.  Otherwise she is spending a good deal of time on yard work or doing jigsaw puzzles.

In addition to an increase in reading, Darleen Sanford made a quilt for Cheryl’s book.  She then turned her attention to a basket full of coordinating fabric packs purchased at quilt shows over the years.  She made a quilt from some of it to take to her sister-in-law in Rochester, NY, but of course will be unable to deliver it until next year.  She also made a quilt for her great niece who was graduating from high school with high honors.  When she offered to make a memory quilt for her friend whose husband died in January, expecting to be given button down shirts with which to work, she instead was given many of his T-shirts and ended up making a T-shirt quilt.  Darleen said Landrum Quilters were planning to meet outside for their next meeting if it didn’t rain.

Cheryl Brickey has kept busy with two children in fifth and eighth grade, respectively, now attending virtual school.  Cheryl works at home and after some cuts at her business, more work came her way, which has kept her quite busy.  Cheryl made a quilt for the Repurposed challenge and completed several quilts for her upcoming book, “Just One Charm Pack Quilts,” while coordinating several quilters from the guild to make duplicates in other color ways.  Unlike her previous book publisher, the publisher for this book involved Cheryl in the process every step of the way.  The book, pictured here, is now available on Amazon for pre-sale and should be out late spring/early summer (congratulations Cheryl!).

Nancy deJong has been very busy with her vegetable garden, and writing a curriculum for vacation bible school.  She has sewn a considerable number of masks, some of which went to her friend in Chicago to give to a friend of hers employed in a hospital, and some she put in a box on her porch, followed by an invitation to her neighbors to take what they wanted.  She has completed some quilts including the Postcards from Sweden quilt she started at the 2019 Retreat.  She participated in two MQG tutorials, Yoga for Healthy Hands and the Scrappy Triangles quilt taught by Sarah Bond, which she just dropped off at Faye’s with two other quilts.  Using fabric found on the “free-to-a-good- home” table consisting of lightweight canvas fabric with French script and scenery along with coordinating fabric, she made a market bag used recently for the first time at the Downtown Market.  She is now putting together some charm and UFO squares that have been patiently waiting for her.

Paige Alexander continued her accounting work full time throughout quarantine and has resumed working out at her recently reopened gym.  She made one mini quilt for the Modern Design Lab Exhibit at the Greenville Creative Arts Center, and made a quilt for the GMQG “Repurpose” challenge, “Metropolis,” which took first place.  A quilt by Paige also appears on the cover of Quiltfolk, a 180-page, quarterly print, ad-free journal that focuses on the quilters of one state at a time that, “…celebrates the people and stories behind the stitches.”  Now that the MQG has announced its two challenges (see below), Paige has gotten excited.  She ordered the Fabric Challenge fabrics by Moda online before hearing that Bernina is carrying them.  Paige said in honor of its 10th Anniversary, the MQG is having yet another challenge called Classic Quilts (see below).  Your quilt will be in their special exhibit at QuiltCon 2021 if you get in.

One of Paige’s quilts made the cover of Quiltfolk quarterly journal, Issue 14 (congratulations Paige!)

“Lifelong Southerner Paige Alexander describes herself as ‘a traditional quilter who loves modern quilting.’  In her sunny studio, ribbons from local, regional, and national quilting shows line the walls.  Alexander’s meticulous attention to detail and solid technique take her quilts to the next level, but it all starts with a challenge:  Alexander found her inspiration by taking on challenges issued by guilds. The results are winning, indeed.”

GMQG 2020 BLOCK OF THE MONTH:  MARY FONS – INFLUENCER ON MEDIA

Cynthia Seward’s September BOM modern influencer is Mary Fons.  She has influenced a great many areas of media since the middle 2000s including online work, TV, and print, and was one of the first to do online tutorials. Being the daughter of Mary Ann Fons gave her built-in name recognition and she appealed to the young as well as older quilters. Now a mostly modern traditionalist, she did not know how to quilt and learned how from her mom on air, so was teaching as she learned, greatly appealing to novice quilters.  This month’s BOM is a 10” Friendship Block or Greek Cross used in Ms. Fons’ Blonde Redhead quilt. It’s great for using up scraps with 2.5” squares in a 10” square pattern and some 2.5” x 6.5” background rectangles.  It is easy to scale up or down in multiples of five and works nicely in a Horizontal layout or on point.  

The PDF instructions are online and there is a link to them on the blog.  Cynthia also made a companion block for more interesting options for a quilt that moves the darker corner squares to the outside and gives you a big single center.  She also had examples of an alternate design with solids and another with some of the elements of the blocks removed to create a more modern quilt, which she called Falling Leaves.  

Email Cynthia at belleekster<at>gmail<sot>com with any questions.  Please email photos of your completed BOMs for the Quilt Quark Gallery (“QQG”) to greenvillemqg@gmail.com to be shared at the following meeting.  We’d love to see your work!

Dagmar Theodore and Sandy Helsel shared their beautiful Yoshiko Jinzenji BOMs from last month.  

SEW-IN:  

Sandy reported there will be no Sew-ins until February 2021.

WILDACRES RETREAT – 2021:  

Sandy said we are awaiting our assigned dates expected late in October/early November, and registration begins in January 2021.  Reportedly, the Writers group is scheduled to hold their retreat there soon while observing social distancing.  

MEMBERSHIP:  

We welcomed 23 members in our Zoom meeting this month.

PHILANTHROPY:  

Faye has received some charity quilts and is holding them since the Julie Valentine Center is not seeing many kids onsite at this time.  If you have a quilt to donate, you may hold on to it for now or coordinate with Faye to pass it on to her.  She thanked the people who have been sharing their work on the QQG beforehand.  She has invited Laurel Wanner of the Valentine Center to come get three Halloween quilts since they are seasonal.  Questions concerning the program and drop off/pickup may be directed to Faye at birdie1345<at>aol<dot>com.

Faye passed along an item in a recent MQG email regarding the Social Justice Sewing Academy who have made a call for blocks memorializing victims of violent crimes.  For those interested in making a 20” x 24” block, they are taking brief applications asking you to write a little about yourself and will select a victim of violence for each applicant.  There is a comment space where you can indicate that you prefer a child victim if you so desire. You can use standard or iron-on appliqué, and these will be assembled into a quilt or a banner to be shown at community or awareness-raising events.  Go to sjsacademy.com for more information on the Remembrance Project and to apply.

MQG CHARITY QUILT CHALLENGE 2021: 

The Board has decided to take a pass on participating in the 2021 MQG Quilt Challenge as a guild, but if you are interested in participating yourself, Bernina has the fabrics.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE:  

We have several Board positions opening up for 2021.  Please take a moment to consider whether you would like to contribute something more than quilts.  You may receive a call asking you to consider assuming one of the positions, or instead of waiting for the call, go ahead and email anyone on the Board to volunteer.  Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone!  The members who have been serving in these positions will most assuredly be there to usher you along.

 President – (Dagmar Theodore) coordinate with other Board members to prepare and send out agendas and invitations for board meetings, and MC membership meetings (help to represent the group as a whole while keeping the meetings on schedule).

 Vice President, Programs – (Faye Jones - discontinuing after 3 years) select and arrange monthly programs (Jan. – Nov.; Dec. is the Holiday Luncheon & Auction); you don’t have to go it alone when deciding on programs – finding out what members would like is as easy as asking.  Board members serve as a great sounding board, Faye will serve as a resource (much of the groundwork has been laid for this position), and one month will already be covered when Travis can present Men in Quilting.

 Outside Speaker (Cheryl Brickey - discontinuing after 3 years); select and arrange one annual program and workshop by a nationally known quilting teacher - Debbie Grifka likely will be available to come next year; Cheryl will serve as a resource.

 Block of the Month (Cynthia Steward) – choose or design quilt blocks (possibly incorporating information on known quilters or movements) that reflect elements of modern quilting, and present them during the monthly meeting to promote participation in guild activities, inspire creativity, and encourage members to try different or new techniques.

 Facility Coordinator (Nancy deJong) - coordinate with St. Giles Church to reserve the room for meetings and workshops, open and prep the room for meetings, and return the room to its original order before closing and locking up afterwards.

QUILT QUARK GALLERY / SHOW AND SHARE:  

Show and Share quilts included (click here to view the slide show)

 Cindy Lange’s Covid quilt punctuated by hot reds and oranges to represent the virus trying to invade the healthy, cool blue space. 

 Linen Scarf by Elise Dunbar made for a birthday gift. 

 A 2019 BOM Baby Quilt made by Cynthia Steward. 

 Sandy Helsel’s Quilted Table Linens starting with a runner based on a photo of a quilting magazine advertisement, complimented by her own designed placemats and napkins for eight (the deceptively cream background fabric is actually light gray). 

 Elise’s Intersection Block Quilt created with the help of Travis Seward using his first block of the month in 2019. 

 Dagmar Theodore’s No One Fights Alone based on a pixilated photo of a Lego version of boxing gloves made by request for a leukemia and lymphoma charity auction, and another Charity Quilt by her made with a prior year’s BOMs. 

 Psychedelic Baby Quilt by Elise based on a Katie Pederson of Sew Katie Did class. 

 Darleen Sanford’s Zaria quilt for her great niece made with her fav colors and quilted on Darleen’s Brother machine.

 Two Philanthropy quilts by Nancy deJong (Love Pattern by Moda with Kaffe Fassett fabrics and Off Center Squares, pattern from Pinterest) made with charm packs, a Red White and Blue quilt made with leftover squares for Didi Salvatierra for a Quilts of Valor quilt, and a Scrappy Triangles by Sara Bond quilt made with her many scraps of blue and yellow from her stash.

Please email photos of your quilts (including Quilts for Kids), BOMs and other projects to greenvillemqg@gmail.com for the QQG page of our blog at greenvillemodernquiltquild.com.  We will share them during the following month’s meeting.

OTHER NEWS/REMINDERS:  

We have a Facebook page for sharing photos, links, and information open solely to GMQG members.  No official business will be conducted, since not every member subscribes to FB.  

The Modern Quilt Guild website has a plethora of free webinars and patterns available to all its members.  

If members come across a link they would like to share, they may forward it to Dagmar via email at dagmar_theodore<at>yahoo<dot>com to be shared at the next meeting.

Carolina Shop Hop has been rescheduled for July 9-24, 2021.

MQG 2021 CHALLENGES: 

1. The Wedge Quilting Challenge:  American Patchwork & Quilting and the MQG are challenging MQG members to take the classic quilt element of a wedge and make a fresh, modern design.  Log in to  themodernquiltguild.com for details.

2. The QuiltCon Together Fabric Challenge sponsored by the MQG includes a large floral with a few blenders to challenge members to create a modern quilt and are calling it Floral & Vine.  Fabric colors include 29106-12 Apricot Ash Coral Dotty (coral blender), 29101-19 Apricot Ash Rose Garden (large floral), 29105-19 Apricot Ash Ash (gingham), 48676-11 Abby Rose Greenery (vines).  Log in to themodernquiltguild.com for details.

3. The MQG Modern Classics Challenge -The MQG is re-releasing some of its favorite patterns of the month and are inviting you to join in for a chance to have a quilt included in a special exhibit for QuiltCon Together in 2021.  In honor of the MQG’s tenth anniversary, they’ve decided to dust off a few of their favorite patterns and relaunch them in an all-new color palette.  During the course of the year, they will share twelve quilts previously released as Quilt of the Month patterns.  

Choose any MQG pattern in the Resources section and make it using their 2020 color palette. Follow along using the hashtag #mqgmodernclassic and enter your quilt to be a part of a special MQG Modern Classics exhibit at QuiltCon Together 2021.  To be eligible for the exhibit, a quilt must be made from an MQG Quilt of the Month released prior to 2020 and in the 2020 color palette.  While you do not have to use all seven colors, the colors must be from this palette alone.  See themodernquiltguild.com for details.

The MQG Modern Classics Color Palette:  Moda Bella Solids

Nautical Blue (9900-236) 

Natural (9900-12)

 Dusk (9900-116)

Mustard (9900-213)

   Violet (9900-224) 

Capri (9900-225)  

 Petunia (9900-301)