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.