WOW (War on WIP)

Many quilters have a Love/Hate relationship with their Works in Progress.  We stuff them into plastic bags or tubs, hide them in drawers or behind our fabric stashes so we don't have to look at them.

This year the St. Louis MQG is challenging it's members to participate in the War, the War on Works in Progress that is...cleverly named WOW; by our friends in the Austin MQG, who came up with this idea. So, how can you participate...it's fairly easy; but involves a painful first step.

You have to take inventory of your Works in Progress...so take a deep breath and let's begin

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February Meeting

• Each member is encouraged to bring 1-3 WIP to show to the group
• Group discussion - How many do we have?  What's our oldest? Is there a strategy we have used in the past to complete those WIP? Etc?
• Members take an index card, write their name (First & Last) at top, followed by the WIP they expect to finish by December.  Kristy, Guild President, collects the cards and will bring them back each meeting, thru September.

Throughout the Year

• Each WIP you have listed on the card, finish and show to the group at a meeting enters you into the WOW drawing in December. 
• Update your card as needed, thru September, removing items you have given up hope on, adding items you want to tackle instead.  
• Bring a WIP to a meeting and ask that question which is keeping you from finishing.
• Encourage and support one another on social media.  If you are a Blogger, consider writing a post about your WIP and show your readers your progress throughout the year.  If you are on Instagram, use the hashtag  #stlmqgwow to ask questions, get feedback on layout ideas, etc.  

WIP Definition:  We really want to encourage our members to finish those quilts (we are a quilt guild) and complex projects that have been sitting around, so for the purposes of this challenge, the following applies.

• Must be a quilt larger then 24" x 24", and should not be something that you just have to put a binding on...that's just cheating.
• Can also be a complex non-quilt item like a Weekender Bag, etc.
• Please keep napkins, pajama pants, curtains, etc off of your WOW index card, as they won't count towards your chance at a prize come December.

So whose ready to play ?  

Meeting Recap (January 11th, 2014)

Excitement...is about the best word that wraps-up this past Saturday's meeting.  We are confident that it was a great way to kick-off 2014, so stay tuned as there is so much more to come.

Here are some things that you may have missed, or want to know about:

• The numbers are in, and we are excited (see there is that word again) to report that we have 88 members for 2014...YAY!!  Welcome back friends!  Everyone who is a member should now have access to The MQG community site; which is a great way to learn about things happening in The MQG itself, participate in the forums, meet other MQG members from across the country/world, etc. 

• Our Ticket Raffle was an enormous success, of course most of that is due to those members' who donated such amazing prizes, and those that bought chances to win.  We raised $1164; all of which has been deposited into our STLMQG account and will go towards paying for our room rental, future activities, etc.  

 

• So, how is your Riley Blake Challenge quilt coming along?  The big reveal is next month, February 8th.  While we will have a few prizes within our guild, if you want to be entered into the larger MQG prize opportunity, you must upload a photo of your finished piece onto the community site (Finished Forum) by February 17th or earlier.  Ten finalists will be announced on February 19th, and the final winners announced on February 24th.  Also, don't forget that if you are on Instagram or Twitter, you can use hashtag #mqgrileyblakechallenge to tag and find other's in-progress and finished photos. Check your MQG Newsletter for more information.

• Speaking of The MQG Newsletter, did you see that members will now be receiving a PoM (Pattern of the Month) in your newsletter this year, designed by 12 different MQG members...including two St. Louis MQG members.  The first quilt pattern is called Broken Bars, and was created by Austin MQG Member Rebecca Roach.  Please note that the newsletter, and now free patterns are just some of the benefits of MQG membership, as was the pin members received at this month's meeting.  

• Anyone fancy participating in the 2014 Pantone Quilt Challenge?  If you haven't heard, Pantone's color of the year is Radiant Orchid.  There is a challenge going on, co-hosted by Adrianne and Anne. You can learn more on their blogs.  

• Did you all have fun with the Fat Quarter Swap?  A big thanks to the Member's Swap/Challenge committee for that activity.  We hope that you all have a few more new-to-you fabrics to add to that stash.

• For those who signed up to participate in a Committee for 2014, emails went out today.

 

• Our Pillow-Bomb project is going strong; but we have a ways to go.  Thanks to everyone who brought in pillow forms, and made pillow-covers over the Holidays, your commitment to our project is very appreciated.  As Lynne mentioned during the meeting, our deadline for pillow-cover collection is our February meeting, so let's all give one last push and see how many we can collect.

• It looks like we have a hit on our hands with the upcoming WOW (War on WIP) event that will run throughout 2014.  We will be writing up a separate blog post detailing the directions on how you can participate in this activity.  In the mean-time, I know it's scary; but take a deep breath and consider taking stock of what WIP (Works in Progress) you do have.  

We can't wait to see what adventures are in store for everyone in 2014.  

Thank You!

Meeting #41 - January 11th, 2014

Hello Modern Quilters,

Okay, let us try this again shall we? 
We hope that you will join us on Saturday to help ring in the new year.  It is sure to be a fun-filled day, so don't miss out.  

Date: January 11th, 2013
Time: 10am - 12:30pm 
Location: The Heights

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Agenda:

-Welcome & Guild Business
   :: Membership #s
   :: Financial Information
   :: Special Announcements/Quilting News
-Charity Committee Update
-Member's Swap/Challenge Committee (Fat Quarter Swap)
-Volunteer Opportunities
-Ticket Raffle
-Show & Tell
-Mix & Mingle

***Don't forget to pay your 2014 Membership Dues, as renewal memberships absolutely must be completed this month.  There are lots of perks including Sew-Ins, sponsored fabric challenges, etc.  All members will also receive a pretty cool MQG membership pin.  $40 gets you all that and more...cash and check are accepted. 

***This month's BIG event is the Ticket Raffle; where you can buy tickets or use the ones provided in exchange for your donation back in November.  There are lots of amazing items up for grabs including books, fabric, notions and more.  Want to know more about how this works, check out this link.

***Did you take a name at November's meeting for the Fat Quarter Swap?  Don't forget to bring your Fat Quarters for your Secret Swap Partner, we will be exchanging those at the meeting. 

 ***It is likely we will not have much time to do Show & Tell; but if you have something and want to put it up on the wall anyway, that is fine.  Should we have time, we will open the floor accordingly.

***We will be collecting finished pillow covers, and new pillow forms for our STLMQG Cares "Pillow-Bomb" project.  Please remember that we are nearing the end of our project (February), so it is important that we put forth our best effort to help those at the Siteman Cancer Center.

 

See you Saturday!!