Meeting Recap (March 14th, 2015)

As always, thank you for spending your Saturday with us.  Here is a recap of what happened in case you could not attend, or you missed something.

• Several members who attended QuiltCon shared their experiences with us...what they saw, what they loved, what they bought, etc.  If you were inspired by what you heard, and would like more information about upcoming conferences, be sure to visit the QuiltCon 2016 and 2017 pages. It's never too early to book your room.

• Julie from the Charity Committee announced our projects for this year; which can be found on our Charitable Activities page.  If you are a dues-paying member be sure to check your email later today for more detailed information.

• Casey from the Swap/Challenge Committee led the "Focal Fabric Swap"; which had us learning a bit about curating a collection of fabric.  If you participated, be sure to purchase and bring with you to the April meeting, 4 quilt-shop quality modern fat quarters which are inspired by the focal fabric you borrowed. 
• Kristy went over the MQG State of the Union, including global membership levels reached in 2014, new initiatives and improvements. Here are some highlights (as of Feb 2015):

           ::Globally the MQG has 8161 members, of which 2785 are individual members

           ::There are 139 guilds spread out across all 50 US states, 32 countries, and 6 continents

• Finally, thanks to all the members who brought Show & Tell.  Your work always inspires us.

Here are some quick announcements you might want to check out.

• The MQG announced a Call for Entries a few months back, as the Texas Quilt Museum is hosting a juried exhibition and is looking for modern quilts.  All the info you need can be found here.
• Thimble & Thread's Bi-Annual Quilt Show is Saturday/Sunday March 21st-22nd at the Greensfelder Rec Center at Queeny Park.  Details can be found here.
• Janie Lou is hosting Carolyn Friedlander for two workshops and a trunk show this September. Details can be found here, and reservations are required.

See you in April !

2015 Charitable Projects

The Charity Committee announced today two opportunities for our members to give back to the St. Louis community. Members are encouraged to participate in one or both of the projects as their time and interest permits. If you are a dues-paying member of the STLMQG, you will receive an email with much more detailed information that you need to read prior to participating; but here's a quick overview.

Project #1: 
Totes for residents of a local shelter for victims of sex trafficking

We will be making nice, large, sturdy totes to be given to new residents of the shelter. They will be able to take their tote with them when they leave the shelter.


To provide some uniformity, we ask that you use one of the following four patterns/tutorials:
(1) http://www.dontcallmebetsy.com/2011/10/12-gifts-of-christmas-scraptastic-tote.html
(2) http://www.cloverandviolet.com/2015/02/the-pepper-tote-free-pattern.html
(3) http://www.abrightcorner.com/2013/11/scrappy-quilted-tote-bag.html
(4) http://ohfransson.bigcartel.com/product/perfect-quilted-totes-pdf-sewing-pattern

• Feel free to make small modifications to the patterns, such as adding a pocket, quilting the bag, or changing the design of the "patchwork section"; but please largely stick to the patterns as written. 
• Please follow all pattern recommendations for interfacing and bag construction to ensure a sturdy final product.

The shelter has housed girls as young as 13, but the median age is 22, so keep those ages in mind when choosing fabrics. Fabrics should be modern and quilt-store quality. We want these totes to be something the girls will cherish and be proud to use.

We’ll also be collecting items to fill the bags; more information about this will be provided as we get
closer to the final collection date.

Due Date:  We will begin accepting finished totes immediately; but the final deadline will be our August meeting.

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Project #2: 
Children’s quilts for Project Linus

We will also be collecting both finished quilts and unfinished quilt blocks and tops (which we will finish) to donate to the local chapter of Project Linus, which gifts quilts to seriously ill and traumatized children, ages 0-18, through local agencies and hospitals in the St. Louis area.

Project Linus has very few stipulations on the kinds of quilts that can be donated, but it’s important that they meet the following guidelines:

• Quilts must be new, handmade, and washable and come from smoke-free environments due to allergy reasons.
• Project Linus accepts blankets of all sizes and styles (including quilts, tied comforters, fleece blankets, crocheted or knitted afghans, and receiving blankets in child-friendly colors). Since we are a quilt guild, we’d like to focus our gifting on quilts, but if you have other types of blankets you’d like to donate, we will accept them.
• Depending on the number of unfinished blocks/tops we receive, we may also look for volunteers who would be interested in helping to baste, quilt, and/or bind them.

Due date: We will begin accepting quilts and quilt blocks/tops immediately, but the final deadline will be our November meeting.

Meeting #54 - March 14th, 2015

Hello Modern Quilters,

We have much to share this month and hope to see you at our meeting. 

Date: March 14th, 2015
Time: 10am - 12:30pm 
Location: The Heights

   =================================================================
Agenda:

-Welcome & Guild Business
   :: Membership Information
   :: Financial Information
   :: Special Announcements/Quilting News
-QuiltCon Recap
-Charity Committee Announcement
-Swap/Challenge Committee "Focal Fabric" (Fabric Swap)
-Show & Tell
-Mix & Mingle

 

-------------------------- FYI ------------------------------

:: Hopefully you have been playing around on Instagram since learning the "Ins & Outs" at February's meeting. Don't forget to use the hashtag #stlmqg when uploading your images, so we can see all of the modern things that you are doing.

:: Interested in participating in the "Focal Fabric" (Fabric Swap) hosted by our very own Member's Swap/Challenge committee.  All those who want to join in the fun should bring a 5" x 5" or larger piece of focal fabric to this month's meeting.  Before the April meeting, participants will purchase 4 coordinating FQs, building a small bundle.  In April, the focal fabric and coordinating bundle will be given to it's original owner.   

:: Don't forget to bring your modern Show & Tell projects, new modern fabric or book purchases, etc.  Let's keep it to a limit of 3 though, so everyone has a chance to participate.

:: Finally, don't forget to wear your nametag.  We gathered lots of little goodies from QuiltCon to share with the guild and will be randomly chosing winners from amongst those who wear their nametag.  Are you a member without a nametag, what are you waiting for?  Create a unique one using fabric, embroidery, etc.  It can be any size, any shape...just not a generic paper one pinned to your shirt, or a sticker with your name on it...that's not fun, no matter how you might decorate it.

See You Saturday!!