Highlights from the October 2018 Meeting

October brought a very special guest to Greenville MQG! Yvonne Fuchs from Quilting Jet Girl traveled from California to share her tips, tricks and designs for creating transparency in quilts.

We enjoyed a lecture and mini trunk show on Friday evening, followed by a workshop on Saturday. Twenty of our members participated in a fun, relaxed and inspirational class on making Yvonne's Triangle Transparency pattern.

We not only enjoyed the pleasure of sewing together, but found inspiration in each person's fabric choices and interpretation of the design. Some of the highlights of the weekend in pictures:

Announcements

• In case you missed it, this month's announcements can be found in the previous post.

2019 Survey

• If you haven't completed a survey yet, we would appreciate you taking a few minutes to do so. Your input will be a valuable tool in planning programs and activities for next year.
• GMQG 2019 Survey

November meeting

• Our speaker will be Mitzi Schafer from Jittery Wings.

Hope you can join us for our next meeting on November 10, 2018 from 1-3 pm at:

Bernina Sewing Center

2310 East North Street, Suite A

Greenville, SC 29607

October 2018 - Yvonne Fuchs and Important Information

We're excited and honored to have a special guest this month! Scroll down for all the details. We won't be having a regular business meeting in October, so first up, here are some important things you need to know:

2019 Slate of Officers

• The election of new officers will take place at our regular November meeting. The Nominating Committee has recommended the following members to serve on the Board in 2019:
• President - Elise Dunbar
• Vice president - Valorie Kasten
• Secretary - Cindy Lammon
• Treasurer - Paige Alexander
• Membership - Sandy Helsel and Dagmar Theodore

2019 Dues

• Your guild membership dues are due by the end of November. Please turn in your cash or check for $50 to Paige Alexander, our treasurer, at the October or November meetings. You can also mail your payment to Paige (you'll find her address in your directory).

November Workshop

• Cheryl Brickey will be conducting a free workshop, "Subtracting for Minimalism" on Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. The workshop is currently full, but if would like to be added to the Wait List, please contact Valorie at spydeeland@aol.com.

Junior membership

• The Board has approved a proposal to create a Junior Membership for our guild. This would be available to anyone 18 and under, and offer the full benefits of membership at half the cost. The membership will vote on this proposal at the November meeting and if passed, it will become effective immediately.

December Meeting Luncheon and Auction

• We are providing lunch and hope you can join us at Bernina on December 8 from 12 to 3 p.m. To get an idea of how much food we'll need, we ask that you RSVP at the November meeting or email Sandy Helsel at shelsel65@gmail.com by Nov. 24.
• In addition to lunch, we will also have our annual Lottery Auction (aka Chinese Auction). This is a great opportunity to go home with some wonderful items and is our guild's only fundraiser.
• How does the auction work? You can buy as few or as many tickets as you like for $1 each. Then use your tickets to bid on any item(s) you want to win by placing one or more tickets in the "hat" for that item.
• It's time to start looking for items you'd like to donate to the auction! Donations should be new or nearly new and can be quilt-related, holiday-related, educational, and decorative. Some suggestions are gift certificates, books, fat quarter bundles, Charm packs, quilted items or quilts, sewing tools, gift/snack baskets, artwork and centerpieces. Please bring your donations to the December meeting.

Block of the Month

• Our next Block of the Month is the Bulls Eye Block and will be due at the November meeting.
• In addition to our regular BOM, we will also be having an "Amnesty Block" collection. Blocks from previous months may be brought in (maybe blocks were started and not finished) or bring back blocks you brought home, but couldn't come up with a good idea for using them.

Show and Share

• Because of our Friday evening lecture with Yvonne Fuchs, there will be no regular Show and Share this month. Save your latest makes for our November meeting!
• Please do bring any quilts that you've made using Yvonne's patterns to Show and Share on Friday evening or Saturday.

2019 Guild Survey

• As the Board begins planning programs and activities for 2019, we'd love to have your input! We've created an online survey and ask that you complete it by November 10. We will also have paper copies at the November meeting if you prefer.
• Click on the link to be taken directly to the survey. And thank you!
• 2019 GMQG Survey

Yvonne Fuchs Lecture and Workshop

Yvonne Fuchs has been quilting for 20+ years. In her earlier career, Yvonne worked as an aerospace engineer until April 2014, when she radically redesigned her life to focus on her physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Her company name, Quilting Jetgirl, is a blend of her professional histories and the tagline "Sewing at the Speed of Sound" is a nod to her work on the second privately funded (non-government) vehicle to break the sound barrier. Yvonne is a Quilter, Designer, Tech Editor and Blogger with a love for monochromatic minimal quilts. She often explores transparency in her designs and considers being transparent as a life challenge: removing the sense of needing to live behind a veil of secrecy and living fully and authentically.

Find Yvonne on social media at:

Quilting Jetgirl 

Instagram 

Facebook 

Newsletter

Friday, Oct. 12 - Lecture, "Transparency Color Selection Tips and Tricks"

• Doors open at 6 p.m. and the lecture begins at 7 p.m.
• The lecture is free for GMQG members. This is a great opportunity to bring along a friend/guest! Guests will be charged $5.
• If you are taking Yvonne's Workshop on Saturday and would like her help with your fabric selection, feel free to bring your fabrics to the lecture for Yvonne's advice.

Saturday, Oct. 13 - Workshop, "Triangle Transparency"

• The workshop, for those that have signed up, is 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a half-hour break for lunch. Doors will open at 9:45 a.m. Feel free to drop your machine off at the front door before parking.
• Bring your lunch! Refrigeration is available.
• Please do not park in front of the shop. Extra parking is available behind the building and in the business lot to the left of the shop.
• Enjoy learning from one of the best!

We're super excited for this month's lecture and workshop! Hope to see you at:

Bernina Sewing Center

2310 East North Street, Suite A

Greenville, SC 29607

Highlights from the September 2018 meeting

Quilt As Desired

This month our very own Cheryl Brickey (an engineer by profession) shared her systematic  approach to choosing quilting designs. Cheryl began with her thought process for deciding between custom versus allover quilting. She considers such things as time, money, end use, texture versus highlighting and whether the fabrics are solids or prints. We enjoyed seeing her many quilts as she explained options and tips for both custom and allover quilting, including thread choice. We all left with some great guidelines on how to "quilt as desired"!

Find more of Cheryl's work on her website at: Meadow Mist Designs.

We also encouraged our members to design and make a new "modern" name tag this month!

It was so interesting to see each person's creative interpretation! Sandy's was unique with a name badge magnet. You can find the Exelmark Magnets on Amazon.

Attendance

• We had 31 members and 2 guests in attendance this month.
• Our members donated 5 quilts to our philanthropy efforts.

Shop News

• The shop is offering classes for the Jelly Roll Rug and One Block Wonder.
• An Aurifil Thread of the Month is starting. Sign up to get your first spool and a plastic storage box.
• Leslie shared some of the new fabric that has recently arrived.

Block of the Month

• We had a nice collection of Swirling Star blocks turned in! 

• Our next Block of the Month is the Bulls Eye Block from Simple Simon and Company. This block will be due in November, since we won't be having a regular business meeting in October.
• Use a 10" background square and cut your circles any size, as long as they fit on the background.
• Leave the blocks in one piece, so the person who takes them can do whatever they want.
• Please use bright, happy colors.

Business

• The membership overwhelmingly approved a dues increase to $50 for 2019.
• The nominees for the 2019 Board of Directors will be posted on our blog in early October. Voting will take place at the November meeting.

Upcoming Meetings and Activities

• October 12 and 13, 2018 - Lecture and Workshop with Yvonne Fuchs. Find the details here. There is one opening left, due to a cancellation. Please contact cindy@hyacinthquiltdesigns.com to sign up. We encourage you to support the Bernina Store when buying your supplies for the Workshop.
• November 2, 2018 - Sew-In from 2 to 10 p.m. at the Bernina Store.
• November 10, 2018 - program to be determined.
• November 17, 2018 - Workshop with Cheryl Brickey "Subtracting for Minimalism". This is a workshop that Cheryl will be presenting at QuiltCon 2019. She is offering it as a free workshop for our members at the Bernina Store from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The class is limited to 20 and as of our September meeting, there were 3 spots open. Email Valorie at spydeeland@aol.com to sign up.
• December 8, 2019 - Holiday Luncheon and Chinese Auction. The Chinese Auction is our only annual fundraiser and we ask our members to donate new or nearly new, desirable items for auction. Sandy Helsel is leading a team of volunteers to organize the luncheon and activities.
• Keep up to date with plans and get more information on our Meeting and Activities Tab.

Upcoming Shows and Events

• Quilt Shows and other local guild activities can be found on our new Events and Shows Tab.

Show and Share

Jean Gardiner - Charity Quilt

Michelle Blake

Cynthia Steward

Pat Davies

Elise Dunbar

Faye Jones - left Charity Quilt

Faye Jones - Charity Quilt

Travis Seward - published in Curated Quilts magazine

Darlene Sanford - Charity Quilt

Valorie Kasten - Charity Quilt

Cheryl Brickey - published in Quilter's Planner

In October, we will host our special guest, Yvonne Fuchs, for a lecture on Friday, October 12 at 7 p.m., with a "social hour" starting at 6 p.m. All members are welcome and guests will be $5. You don't want to miss it! Join us at:

Bernina Sewing Center

2310 East North Street, Suite A

Greenville, SC 29607

September 8, 2018 - Quilt As Desired

Those three words strike fear in many quilters. In this month's program, Cheryl Brickey will take us through a step by step process to help determine which quilt design to use on a quilt, whether we are quilting it ourselves or sending it out to a quilting professional. This process will help you decide between allover versus custom patterns, which designs to use and even quilting density and thread color.  Cheryl will be showing many of her own quilts and discussing how she decided on a quilting design for each.

Important Reminders:

• The Sew-In for our MQG Charity quilt is Friday, Sept. 7 from 1-3:30 pm and Saturday, Sept. 8 from 10-12:30 pm. We hope for as much participation as possible. The fabric and patterns will be provided and the sewing is easy! Bring your machine, neutral thread, mat and rotary cutter.
• Our Name Tag Challenge is this month. Make a name tag using modern design with your first name and you'll be eligible for a prize drawing!
• We have had 2 members who have cancelled for the October 13, 2018 Workshop on Triangle Transparency with Yvonne Fuchs. We are currently contacting those on the waiting list and should have an update at the September meeting. If you are interested in signing up contact cindy@hyacinthquiltdesigns.com or sign up at the September meeting.
• Those of you who have signed up for the above workshop should have received your supply list by email.
• We will be voting on a dues increase of $15 for 2019 at this month's meeting. Please review the discussion from our August minutes here. Per our Bylaws, the proposal requires a majority present at the meeting.
• This month's Block of the Month is Swirling Star in cool colors with light background. Find the free pattern at Wombat Quilts.
• A friendly reminder - please return all library books.
• We always look forward to seeing you Show and Share Projects!

Hope to see you on Saturday, September 8, 2018 from 1-3 pm at:

Bernina Sewing Center

2310 East North Street, Suite A

Greenville, SC 29607

Highlights from the August 2018 meeting

Our Annual Challenge

What a wonderful display of quilts we enjoyed this month! Our members were challenged to choose a traditional block whose name begins with one of the letters from their own name. We then had to make a small quilt in a modern style.

Many thanks to Nicole McLaughlin and Jill Allawos from the Palmetto MQG in Columbia, SC, who served as judges for our challenge. Also, thank you to Valorie Kasten who made the winners' ribbons.

1st Place: Cynthia Steward

Churndash

 2nd Place: Johnnie McKenzie

Feathered Star

3rd Place: Sheryl Sane

Star Pinwheel

Jill's Judge's Choice: Travis Seward

Tree of Life

Nicole's Judges Choice  and Viewer's Choice: Cheryl Brickey

Beggar's Block

Marcia Given:

Meandering Geese

Valorie Kasten:

Victory Block and Cartwheel

Nancy deJong:

Double Pinwheel

Dagmar Theodore:

Dutchman's Puzzle

Leslie White:

Log Cabin

Faye Jones:

Fancy Flowers

Sandy Helsel:

Shepard's Puzzle

Cindy Lammon:

Crown of Thorns

Christina Strickland:

Crosses and Losses and Sailboat

Announcements

• In addition to our 2 guest judges from Columbia, we had 41 members and 3 visitors in attendance at this month's meeting.
• We kept Robert Whitehead, the scissor sharpener, busy and many of our attendees went home with sharper scissors!

Shop News

• The shop is offering a Landscape Quilt Class and a 3-day One Block Wonder Retreat.
• New solids and Tula Pink fabrics are coming soon.
• Bernina is offering 25% off any machine with a trade-in machine during the month of August. The shop is also offering 0% financing.

Block of the Month

• This month's block is an 8" paper pieced Swirling Star. You'll find the free pattern from Wombat Quilts and the paper piecing pattern here (note: pattern does not include the 1/4" seam allowance). Please use cool colors with light background colors.

Future Meeting Location

• Susan announced that the Board has decided to initiate a search for a new location for our meetings due to our continued growth.
• A new meeting space would need to be centrally located (close to where we currently meet), have plenty of space and light, have sufficient parking and be within our budget as far as cost.
• Nancy deJong will chair a search committee, joined by Rita Sassone, Pat Davies, and Faye Jones. They will research, visit potential locations and report back to the board.
• Please contact anyone on the committee if you're aware of a space that will work for our needs.

2019 Dues

• The Board has proposed a dues increase for 2019 from $35 to $50 for the following reasons:
• The Modern Quilt Guild has announced a 20% increase in dues next year. At our current membership level our dues will increase from $1020 to $1380 or from $10.75/member to $17.25/member.
• Our guild has decided to purchase Liability Insurance.
• Potential cost of rent for a new location.
• The increased cost of outside speakers and the possibility of hosting 2 workshops in 2019.
• We would like to continue limiting fund raising activities to our December Chinese Auction.
• Per our Bylaws, we will vote on the increase at our September meeting. Members will have an opportunity to ask questions about the proposal prior to the vote. The proposal will need approval by a majority of members present to pass. 

Name Tag Challenge

• We'd love to see our members wearing name tags! To facilitate this, we're asking you to make a new name tag using modern design that includes your first name for the September Meeting.
• No judging, but all participants will be eligible for a drawing for prizes.

2019 Board of Directors

• Susan Rink, Sandy Helsel and Dagmar Theodore have volunteered to be on the Nominating Committee.
• Please contact one of them if you are interested in serving on the Board next year.

Upcoming meetings and Events

• Sew-In is August 24, 2018 at the Bernina Store from 2 pm until 10 pm. Bring whatever you'd like to work on. Admission is one half yard of fabric, purchased at the shop, which is used as a door prize for attendees.
• The MQG Charity Challenge Sew-Ins are Sept. 7, 1-3:30 pm and Sept. 8, 10 am - 12:30 pm at the Bernina Store. Bring your sewing machine, neutral thread, cutting mat and cutter. Fabrics and patterns will be supplied.
• September 8, 2018 - Cheryl Brickey will present "Quilt As Desired".
• October 12 was 13 - Lecture and Workshop with Yvonne Fuchs. Find the details here.

Additional Announcements

• Johnnie McKenzie will be offering free Beginner Classes in her home in Five Forks starting mid- September. Classes will be customized to your current skills and goals. Contact Johnnie at johnniemckenzie@att.net for further information.
• The Charleston MQG is hosting Victoria Findley Wolfe On Friday, October 12, 2018 at 7 pm. More information can be found at: Charleston Modern Quilt Guild.
• The Upcountry Quilt Guild, in Pickens, is hosting Patsy Thompson for her class, Intro to Ruler Work for the Sit Down Quilter, on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 from 9-4. Fee is $50. Contact Carol Clanton cwcstudios@hotmail.com to sign-up.

Show and Share

Cindy Lammon - Charity Quilts

Cindy Lammon - Intertwined from Modern Plus Sign Quilts

Christopher Brickey - Charity Quilt

Cheryl Brickey 

Valorie Kasten - Charity Quilt

Darlene Morse - Nimble Thimble's Raffle Quilt

Debbie Graves - new book from Victoria Findley Wolfe

Cynthia Stewart 

Faye Jones - right - Charity Quilt made from blocks by Johnnie McKenzie

Michele Blake - Charity Quilts from BOMs on left and blocks from Johnnie McKenzie on right

Carol Alperin - Charity Quilt

Carol Alperin - 2 One Block Wonder Quilts

Paige Alexander - Mini published in "Curated Quilts", bag made by Michele Blake, Mini from Modern Plus Sign Quilts

Paige Alexander - July Quilt of the Month for MQG

Tonya Maxwell - Charley Harper pillow

Tonya Maxwell - Charley Harper quilt, front and back

Nancy deJong -Twin boy baby quilts

Nancy deJong

As you can see, The Modern Quilt Guild is growing, and our guild is also growing! Although it requires us to look at changes for the future, it does mean more inspiration, excitement and opportunities to develop as Modern Quilters!

Hope you can join us next month, Saturday, September 8, 2018, from 1-3 pm at:

Bernina Sewing Center

2310 East North Street, Suite A

Greenville, SC 29607