Tuesday, January 29, 2019

GMQG 2019 QuiltCon Charity Quilt

"Art lives from constraints and dies from freedom"  --- Leonardo da Vinci

The QuiltCon 2019 Charity Challenge, issued by the Modern Quilt Guild, was to create a twin size quilt that used the color palette featured above and small piecing in the design. Elise Dunbar and Cindy Lammon formed a planning committee and came up with the idea to create a child's quilt that would be similar to a play mat. The quilt would be built with roads, buildings, trees, and a river that would be loosely modeled after a map of our city, Greenville, SC. How much fun would it be for a kid to play imaginary town with his/her bed quilt?

Fabrics were purchased from our local quilt shops and blocks were designed. We cut the fabrics into small pieces and provided our members with simple guidelines for piecing houses, buildings, roads, trees and mountains. We encouraged everyone to use the patterns/guidelines to precision or improv piece all the elements we needed for our town. Two "sew days" were scheduled at our local shop, Bernina, We're In Stitches for community sewing.

Sandy Helsel piecing roads

Valorie Kasten piecing mountains

Didi Salvatierre piecing trees

Dana Blasi piecing background

Our members busy at work!
The results of our "Sew Day"


Once all the blocks and elements for the quilt were completed, our team, consisting of Paige Alexander, Didi Salvatierre, Cindy Lammon and Elise Dunbar, went to work to put them all together. The quilt was designed from the top down, and constructed using both improvisational and precision piecing.

Assembly Team - Didi Salvatierre, Cindy Lammon, Elise Dunbar and Paige Alexander
Three of our guild members, Cindy Lammon, Faye Jones and Cheryl Brickey, machine quilted the quilt using straight lines and free motion quilting. Straight lines echo the roads, large free motion swirls are featured at the top and the river/park area has smaller swirls for texture. Paige Alexander finished the quilt up by adding the binding. Be sure to notice the detail in the binding, where the blue of the river continues into the binding!


Playing off the name of our city, Greenville, and the design that created roads for toy cars, we decided to name the quilt, "Zoomville".


The quilt hanging in our beautiful downtown!


One of our city's taglines is "#Yeah That Greenville" and we chose to improv piece the letters and add it to the back of the quilt.


We're super proud and happy that we took the challenge this year! Many thanks to our members who supported the project and helped bring it to completion.

After hanging at QuiltCon in February 2019, "Zoomville" will be donated to a local children's charity.

Friday, January 25, 2019

February 2, 2019 - Negative Space in Modern Quilting




One of the characteristics of modern quilt design is the expansive use of negative space. We know that negative space is the empty space or background that surrounds the design elements, but do we know how to incorporate it into our own quilts? Sometimes the best way to learn is to see it used visually. So this month, for our program, we'd like to show multiple quilts that incorporate various amounts of negative space.

And that's where YOU come in! Please bring any quilts you've made or own that use negative space in a modern way. Even if you've shown the quilt during our regular Show and Share - we'd like to see it again! Hopefully, we'll all go home inspired and ready to use expansive negative space in our own quilt designs!



Reminders

  • Sign-ups continue for our Spring Retreat at Wildacres, April 25-28. Cost is $235, cash or check.
  • You can still sign up at the early-bird prices for our Spring workshops with Kitty Wilken. Cash or check, please.
  • We can't wait to see your January Block of the Month, Intersection.
  • In addition to your quilts with negative space, please bring any recent creations for our monthly Show and Share.
  • Don't forget to return any books that have been checked out from our library.

We hope to see you at our February 2nd meeting, from 1-3pm at St. Giles Church, 1021 Hudson Rd., Greenville, SC.

Monday, January 7, 2019

Highlights from the January 2019 Meeting

How to have a successful experience working with a longarm quilter.

Carol Alperin, Fannie Wengerd, and Johellen George



Sending your quilt top to be quilted by a longarm quilter is a partnership. Whether they are doing custom or edge-to-edge quilting, the most important lesson we learned this month is that communication is critical.  Let your quilter know what you expect and listen to her suggestions.

Our expert longarm quilters shared many of their recommendations in this month's program. Batting choice, thread choice, backing size, and border application were some of the important things to consider before turning your quilt top over to a quilter. Looking for quilting ideas? Carol suggested the book,  Listen to Your Quilt.

Thank you so much Carol, Fannie and Johellen!







Announcements

  • We're excited to be meeting in a new and larger location at St Giles Church. We need to set up and take down the room each month for the meetings. If you can volunteer one or two months, please contact Nancy de Jong.
  • We welcomed 48 members, 7 new members and 1 guest this month, for a total attendance of 56.
  • Thanks to everyone who completed the 2019 Member Survey. The Board is using the information as we plan this year's programs.
  • Reminder that January 31st is the last day to pay your membership dues of $50.
  • Since Paige Alexander has been our treasurer for several years, we are looking for a volunteer who would like to work and train with her this year, with the possibility of taking the position next year.
  • We presented Susan Rink with a "Thank You" quilt for serving as the 2018 GMQG President. The blocks were made by the Board Members, quilted and bound by Valorie Kasten and signed by our members.
Susan Rink - 2018 GMQG President

Sew-In Day


  • Our first Sew-In day for 2019 is Friday, January 11th, from 10am-4pm. The Sew-Ins are held at Bernina We're In Stitches, 2310 East North St, Greenville, SC. You are welcome at any time during the open hours and bring anything you'd like to work on.
  • We ask that you purchase a half yard of fabric from the shop. All the half yards will be raffled off at the end of the day to one lucky participant!
  • This year, Faye Jones will bring a charity block project that you can make if you choose. This project is completely optional. January's block will feature easy curved piecing. Please bring primary solids and juvenile prints to make the block.

Spring Retreat

  • The 2019 retreat is scheduled for April 25-28 at Wildacres Retreat. Cost is $235 and includes lodging, meals, gratuity and use of the sewing room.
  • As of January's meeting, there were 3 spots left. Contact Sandy Helsel (shelsel65 at gmail dot com) to register or be added to a waiting list.
  • This year 2 participants may split a spot (one staying 2 nights  the second one night). We ask that you pay for the retreat with one payment.
  • A fun time for all, this year's retreat will include a project and several mini demos!

2019 Workshop

  • We're excited to announce that Kitty Wilkin from Night Quilter is coming to Greenville to present a lecture and 3 workshops!
  • All the information for the classes can be found here: 2019 Workshop Announcement
  • Sign-ups have begun and there are currently spots left for all the workshops. Reserve your spot by sending your check to Cheryl Brickey or contact her by email (cheryljbrickey at gmail dot com).

Block of the Month

  • This year's BOM is designed by Travis Seward and called Licensed to Quilt - Permit(ssion) to Test.
  • There will be 1 block released at each meeting from January to October, for a total of 10 blocks. Travis has designed 2 possible settings for the blocks to create a finished quilt. 
  • You're encouraged to play and create using the blocks each month. Travis will be adding more quilt designs for each block on social media to spark new ideas.
  • If you post your blocks on social media, please use the hashtag #licensedtoquilt and be sure to follow Travis on Instagram @travlis and our guild @GreenvilleMQG.
  • The pattern for each monthly block and layout options can be found on Travis' website here: 2019 Block of the Month.
  • January's block is Intersection.

Upcoming Programs

  • February - Negative Space We're asking you to participate. Please bring any quilts you've made that incorporate negative space (even if you've brought them for Show and Share previously) as we explore different ways to create modern quilts with negative space.
  • March - Color Theory
  • April - Choosing Fabric for Your Quilt

Philanthropy

  • Many thanks to those of you who are able to donate quilts for our Quilt 4 Kids Program!
  • Wanting to learn more about where your quilts go? We've updated the Charity Program information on the About Our Guild Page.

Library

  • We have a number of modern quilt books in our library that you are free to check out for a month or two at the most.
  • Donations of modern quilt books for the library are welcome!

QuiltCon

  • QuiltCon is next month and four of our members will have quilts in the show! Congratulations to Cheryl Brickey, Paige Alexander, Mitzi Schafer, and Cynthia Steward.

QuiltCon Charity Quilt

  • We were excited to reveal our 2019 QuiltCon Charity quilt at this month's meeting. It was truly a group effort! Thanks to all out members who pieced blocks, Elise Dunbar and Cindy Lammon who co-chaired the design committee, Paige Alexander and Didi Salvatierra who helped design and assemble the blocks, Cheryl Brickey, Cindy Lammon and Faye Jones who did the machine quilting and Paige Alexander for finishing it up with binding.




Show and Share


Lynn Harrill

Didi Salvatierra

Cynthia Steward - Michael Miller Challenge going to QuiltCon

Delia Dorn

Susan Sinclair

Dagmar Theodore

Jackie Callis
made by Cheryl Brickey's son, Christopher - going to QuiltCon

Cheryl Brickey - Two Color Challenge, going to QuiltCon, Michael Miller Challenge

Cindy Lammon, Charity quilt on left

Faye Jones - Charity quilt left

Michelle Blake - bag made with waxed canvas
Travis Seward - Michael Miller Challenge

Travis Seward - Curve Challenge for Curated Quilts
Valorie Kasten - Charity Quilt

Valorie Kasten - Michael Miller Challenge on right
Quilts donated for Charity
Paige Alexander - Michael Miller Challenge going to QuiltCon
We started the year with a new and bigger space and found that we filled it with friendship and a mutual love of quilting. We hope you can join us next month, February 2nd, from 1-3pm at St. Giles Church, 1021 Hudson Rd., Greenville, SC.

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

2019 Workshop Announcement

Greenville Modern Quilt Guild is excited to announce a lecture and workshops with Kitty Wilkin from Night Quilter this Spring!


Kitty Wilkin is a stay at home mom of three littles, wife, sewist of quilts and other beautiful things, knitter, gardener, yogi and all in all lover of life. With three little children, her only sewing time is after bedtime, thus the name of her business and blog, The Night Quilter.

Kitty is a national instructor, lecturing and teaching at QuiltCon 2018 and the upcoming QuiltCon 2019.  Her quilts have been featured in international magazines such as Love Patchwork & Quilting, Make Modern, and the Quilter's Planner.  Kitty has produced professional photography for the Quilter's Planner, Aurifil, and Amy Butler's magazine.

Learn more about Kitty on her blog, Night Quilter and on Instagram @NightQuilter




Friday, May 31, 2019 
Photography Workshop, 9am - 12pm
  • You’ve spent countless hours planning, cutting, sewing, trimming, basting, quilting, and binding your quilt, now how do you document your masterpiece!? Whether you have a point and shoot, a fancy DSLR but simply don't know how to use it, or even a smartphone, Kitty will teach you how to make the most of the tools you have to get great quilt photos for your blog and Instagram. Kitty will discuss photography basics, lighting, composition, and staging, and will share a few inexpensive tools that you can find around your house to take your photos from good to great! Complete with hands on practice, you will leave feeling confident that you, too, can take great quilt photos without buying any fancy equipment. Please bring your camera or smart phone, and a finished quilt (optional—and if time permits)!

Lecture: Meticulous Magic: The Many Faces of Fussy Cutting, 6-7pm Social Hour, 7-8pm Lecture
  • Explore the world of fussy cutting and see the many ways you can apply it to your projects to take your quilting to another level. Fussy cutting, or the practice of intentionally cutting a specific motif from a fabric design, is a fun technique that can be applied to any project. There are many different ways to add a touch of meticulous to your quilting projects, whether traditionally pieced, foundation paper pieced, or English paper pieced. Kitty will show examples of the many ways fussy cutting can be applied to quilting, will show ideas on how to make your own planning templates, and will share tips and tricks on successfully cutting, basting (if applicable), and accurately stitching your carefully cut fabrics so that you can use some meticulous magic to transform your next project.

Saturday, June 1, 2019

English paper Piecing Workshop, 9am - 12pm
  • In this workshop suitable for all skill levels, you will learn all about English Paper Piecing. The class will cover everything you need to know to get you started piecing, including how to choose fabrics, the basics of English Paper Piecing, and tips for how to use fussy cutting to create stunning secondary designs within a quilt. Kitty will share different methods of basting and stitching, tips and tricks for success in EPP, and will share examples of the diversity of designs that can be emphasized through fabric choices and placement. 

Tiny Piecing Workshop, 1 - 4pm
  • Come sew tiny with Kitty! Explore the world of tiny piecing in this playful class where we’ll experiment with sewing blocks that finish at a whopping 1 1/4” square! Kitty will share tips and tricks for sewing tiny so that you can set yourself up for success in your future tiny stitching endeavors. Beginning with traditionally pieced and improv blocks, and moving to more intricate and precise foundation paper pieced blocks, you’ll leave this class giggling at the absurdity and marveling in amazement at your teeny tiny sampler-style quilt blocks.

Sign-ups begin at our regular meeting on Saturday, January 5, 2019

  • The Friday night lecture will be in place of our regular Saturday meeting in June and is free to all Greenville MQG members and non-members.
  • Early Bird pricing for Greenville MQG members is $25 for each of the 3-hour workshops until February 15th. After the 15th the cost goes to $30. No refunds.
  • The workshops will open to non-members on February 4th, if there are any spaces available, at a cost of $35.
  • The lecture and workshops will be held at St. Giles Fellowship Hall, our regular meeting location.
  • Sign-ups will continue at our regular meetings or you may contact Cheryl Brickey (cheryljbrickey at gmail dot com) for sign-up information.
This is a great opportunity to learn from a talented modern quilter and photographer. You don't want to miss it!

Supply Lists for the Workshops can be found by clicking on the links below: