Meeting Recap (April 13th, 2013)

We want to thank everyone for a great meeting yesterday.  Here's a recap in case you missed any of it.

• We now have 70 due-paying members, as a few "new to us" visitors joined yesterday...WELCOME!
• If you missed the Sew In Saturday that was a few weekends ago, you have another opportunity to get together with you fellow quilters this coming Saturday, April 20th in a much smaller and low-key event held at the Webster Groves Library.  Space is limited, so if you would like more info or want to sign up, please visit our Flickr page.
• The Photography 101 presentation is on hold until further notice.
• The Batting 101 discussion was a jolly good time and we hope that you learned alot about the options that are available to quilters.  Thanks to Quilter's Dream Batting and The Warm Company for providing samples for today's events, and a big Thanks to our members who kept the discussion lively, informative and even brought samples of their own.
• The Member's Swap/Challenge committee announced it's first swap which is called "Room by Room".  All items are due at the May Meeting and we encourage you to create an inspiration mosaic using BigHugeLabs, add some items to your Flickr Favs, etc.
• We made our first big speaker announcement at the meeting and will do an Official Blog Post here later in the week in case you missed it...stay tuned.

Here are some links to things that were discussed during the meeting:

• Are you up for the challenge?  Consider participating in the Modern Quilt Challenge sponsored by AQS (American Quilter's Society).  There are $6000 worth of cash and prizes up for grabs.  Check out this link for more information and the deadline is August 2nd.
• It's not too late to enter the HMQS Modern Quilt Contest either.  The deadline has been "secretly" extended to April 20th, as they are trying to seek out lots of wonderful modern quilts.  To learn more, check out this link on the Modern Quilt Guild homepage. 

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Finally, our last bit of housekeeping for this month's recap is a final reminder that each member who wants to participate in the monthly Door Prize raffle needs to have a uniquely handmade nametag.  We have been lenient for way too long allowing work namebadges, other quilt guild badges or even random scraps of paper pinned to one's shoulder now and again.  This will no longer be the case.  You will hear the words "Sorry, try again next month" if you wear any of the above.

While you might be questioning why something so trivial matters, it actually matters quite alot.  It shows pride in our guild, and friendship with your fellow member.  It's about being part of the community and being excited each and every month when you walk through those doors. 

We want you to be an active member, the kind that would be missed...

not just another name on the list.

There are no restrictions on the size or shape of your namebadge, and we definately encourage creativity.  Your name can be embroidered, cross-stitched, stamped, paper-pieced, or cleverly made using all sorts of things.  Just keep it fresh, funky and uniquely you. 

Meeting #32 - April 13th, 2013

Hello Modern Quilters,

It looks like Spring is finally here to stay and while that generally means less time inside your house quilting, we hope that you'll still continue to find time to visit us each and every month as our calendar just keeps getting better. 

New to our group, Welcome! Bring a friend, the more the merrier.

Date: April 13th, 2013
Time: 10am - 12:30pm
Location: The Heights

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Agenda:

-Welcome & Guild Business
   :: Membership #s for 2013
   :: Financial Information
   :: Special Announcements/Quilting News
-Monthly Fabric Raffle
-SewInSaturday FQ Winners to be chosen
-Photography 101 Presentation
-Member's Swap/Challenge Committee (Swap Announcement)
-Batting 101 Discussion
-Lecture/Workshop Announcement
-Show & Tell
-Next Meeting Date (May 11th)
-Remaining Questions/Comments
-Mix & Mingle

***Please be sure to bring a few extra $$ if you want to take a chance at winning this month's Fabric Raffle.  This is what is up for grabs:

10 piece FQ bundle of Color Me Retro by Jeni Baker

***Make sure that you wear your modern quilting nametag each and every month.  Not only does it show your appreciation for your fellow member and the guild; but it's a simple way to enter yourself into our monthly DoorPrize drawing.

***We want to see your modern Show & Tell projects, fabric, books, etc. Let's limit this to 3 pieces/items a member please.

See you Saturday!!

Meeting Recap (March 9th, 2013)

Thanks to everyone for braving the miserable rainy conditions to visit our meeting yesterday, we were glad to see that by the time our meeting was over the skies cleared and the sun was shining.

Second, we want to Thank You for an AMAZING meeting.  While we create the programming, it's not the same without audience participation and you all definately made this one a great one. 

Now onto the day's events, things you may have missed, links and dates you need to know:

• We now have 67 due-paying members, as 4 "new to us" members joined yesterday...WELCOME! 
• All due-paying members should have received an email from Kelly, our Secretary, about our 1st Sew-In Saturday (March 30th, 9am-9pm).  This is now "Sold Out" and there is a waitlist already.  Please mark your calendars for the other Sew-In Saturday dates (June 29th, August 31st and November 30th)...all of which will have corresponding workshops as well.
• The Thimble & Thread bi-annual Quilt Show is next weekend (March 16th-17th) in Queeny Park.  Check out this link for more information.
• The Modern Quilt Guild Call for Quilts is now open.  If you have ever considered entering one of your modern quilts in a show, now's a great time to do it.  You have until April 26th to enter.
• The STLMQG Charity Committee is looking for feedback from the membership.  Head on over to Flickr if you haven't already done so and leave your thoughts/comments.  Link Here.

• Big round of applause for our VP, Lynne, who created the Name This (*) game; which showed how classic traditional blocks can be "modernized" thanks to fabric, color and placement choices.  Remember folks, it's not all about Improv and Wonky Blocks...sometimes it's the little choices one makes that determines whether or not a quilt is Modern, Contemporary or Traditional.  If you would like to see ALOT of really inspiring modern quilts, head on over to Fresh Modern Quilts for a dose of inspiration.
• We hope you enjoyed the QuiltCon Recap led by Casey York and Kristy Daum.  To watch the Craftsy's QuiltCon Lecture Series just click on the previous link.

• Have you seen the Modern Quilt Guild's brand new website which launched a few weeks ago, it's super clean, easy to navigate and includes lots of information including the dates and venues for the SewDowns (all inclusive weekends) if you are interested in learning more about them.

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Finally, just a few words about our programming, as many of you know we are in our 3rd year here in the STLMQG.  We continue to listen to our members who told us that in Year One we did way too much, in Year Two we overcompensated and did too little; now that we are in Year Three, we have a great assortment of activities which include; but are not limited to the following:

• Members Swap/Challenge Committee (2 Swaps and 1 Challenge)
• Discussions & Presentations (Batting 101, All About Binding, Modern Handwork and much more)
• Speaker & Corresponding Workshop (Dates and More Info to Come)
• Quarterly Sew-In Saturdays w/Workshops, along with smaller and more intimate sewing opporunitites throughout the year
• Bigger & Better Ticket Raffle
• And Much Much More

 

Don't forget that the fun doesn't have to end once you leave our meetings, you can keep the conversations going and inspiration streaming by visiting us on social media.

Meeting #31 - March 9th, 2013

Hello Modern Quilters,

I don't know about you; but I cannot wait for Saturday.  Not only is it our March meeting; but the weather is supposed to be in the 50s...WooHoo!!!

New to our group, Welcome! Bring a friend, the more the merrier.

Date: March 9th, 2013
Time: 10am - 12:30pm
Location: The Heights

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Agenda:

-Welcome & Guild Business
  :: Membership #s for 2013
  :: Financial Information
  :: Special Announcements/Quilting News
-Monthly Fabric Raffle
-QuiltCon Recap and some prizes
-MQG Big Announcement
-2013 Activities/Demos/Presentations
-Show & Tell
-Next Meeting Date (April 13th)
-Remaining Questions/Comments
-Mix & Mingle

***Please be sure to bring a few extra $$ if you want to take a chance at winning this month's Fabric Raffle. This is what is up for grabs:

Fat Eighth Bundle of Constellations by Lizzy House

***Have you made your nametag yet? Have you been wearing it to the meetings? Let's not forget that a nametag enters you into the DoorPrize drawing.

 

***We want to see your modern Show & Tell projects, fabric, books, etc.  Let's limit this to 3 pieces/items a member please.

 

See you Saturday!!

Meeting Recap (February 9th, 2013)

It was great seeing everyone on Saturday, new faces and old friends.  We have lots to cover, so let us get right to it.

• As of Saturday, we have 56 dues-paying active members.  If you are a returning member and haven't paid your 2013 dues yet, March will be the last month you can do so before you are removed from all Rosters, Directories, etc.  For those who are active, keep a lookout in your mailbox this month for your Membership Roster.
• The STLMQG is being spotlighted in the Spring issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited magazine.  Thanks to everyone who participated in the photo shoot at the end of the meeting.
• We are so impressed with the level of excellency and "modern-ness" during the Madrona Road/Michael Miller Challenge reveal.  Make sure that if you are a member of our Flickr page and haven't uploaded a photo of your work yet, that you do so.
• We discussed bringing in Jacquie Gering of TallGrass Prairie Studio, and co-author of Quilting Modern, to present a lecture and workshop this year.  Thanks to everyone who participated in the question/answer session...more info coming soon.
• To celebrate Mardi Gras and the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday, we did a quick Seek & Find activity, Congrats to the winners.  You all are an enthusiastic bunch and we love you for that. 

Here's a few links to things that were discussed during the meeting.

• Jamie Mueller is looking for quilt donations that will be auctioned off to help support Women's Cancer Research.  To learn more, check out her blog. 
• Chrissy O. discussed a story by Mary Fons about getting a quilt into the White House.  If you would like to read her story and sign the petition, check out these links.  Story  Petition . No matter your political views, you have to agree that it would be lovely to see a quilt draped over a chair in the highest office in this country?
• If you are interested in making a zippered pouch similiar to the one that Mary Claire showed during Show & Tell, head on over to our Pinterest page to find the link, or just click here.

Additionally, Drea, our Charity Committee Chairperson, posted a question on our Flickr page about what our group should do for the Spring Charity Project, make sure you head over there and check it out and leave your feedback. 

Looking forward to seeing you in March, until then make sure to check out what's happening on Facebook and Pinterest.

Meeting #30 - February 9th, 2013

Hello Modern Quilters,

Don't forget that we are back to our normal 2nd Saturday meetings.  There is lots of stuff to share and discuss with you all, so we hope to see you this weekend.

New to our group, Welcome! Bring a friend, the more the merrier.

Date: February 9th, 2013
Time: 10am - 12:30pm
Location: The Heights

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Agenda:

-Welcome & Guild Business
   :: Membership #s for 2012/2013
   :: Financial Information
   :: Special Announcements/Quilting News
-Monthly Fabric Raffle
-Madrona Road Challenge Reveal & Prizes
   ---Break---
-Speaker Discussion (When? Workshop?)
-Show & Tell
-Next Meeting Date (March 9th)
-Remaining Questions/Comments
-Mix & Mingle

***Please be sure to bring a few extra $$ if you want to take a chance at winning this month's Fabric Raffle.  This is what is up for grabs:

Timber & Leaf FQ Bundle

***Our very own STLMQG will be featured in Modern Quilts Unlimited magazine this Spring...YAY!  We'll be taking a group photo, so show us your pearly whites.

***Have you made your nametag yet? Have you been wearing it to the meetings? Let's not forget that a nametag enters you into the DoorPrize drawing.

***We'll be collecting 2013 dues this month if you haven't already paid them.  If you want to be included and receive a Membership Roster, you must pay by this month.  Yearly dues are $30, checks made payable to the STLMQG are accepted as is cash. 

***Don't forget to bring your modern books, fabrics, projects for Show & Tell.   We all love seeing what you are up to.

 

See you Saturday

 

 

 

Randomness #8

Grab your paper and pencil, we have some announcements to make and things to share with you that are happening around the web.

• While our Madrona Road Challenge deadline is Feb. 9th, it was announced today by the MQG that there is an additional element to the national challenge.  If you finish and upload your project to the Challenge Flickr pool by January 31st, you not only have the opportunity for your item to be reviewed and possibly selected by Michael Miller Fabrics to show in their QuiltCon booth; but Violet Craft herself will select her personal favorite and send that winner a "care package". 

• Have you heard about the ScrappyTripAlong?  It all started in late December when some quilting gals got together and decided to start making a quilt using their scraps and this tutorial.  Mania struck and practically overnight blocks started popping up all over.  A Flickr group was formed which now has over 780 members. 

• Looking for a quick charitable activity?  Val from PinkPlease! is looking for volunteers to make one 14 1/2" x 14 1/2" block by the end of January.  The resulting charity quilt will be donated to a silent auction for The Heroes Foundation, which is a cancer philanthropy located in Indianapolis, IN.  The quilt that was made last year (as pictured below) raised $1000.  It's not too late to get involved.  Head on over to her blog to sign up.

Photo borrowed from Val at PinkPlease!

 

 

 

• The official Sew-In Saturday dates have been confirmed...WooHoo!!!  If you haven't been to a Sew-In Saturday, you are missing out as it's a solid 12 hours (or 6 if you choose a 1/2 day) of sewing, friends, food and fun.  This year we are upping the excitement and offering an optional workshop at each of our Sew-Ins.  While you do have to be at the Sew-In to participate in the workshop, it's not a requirement that you do participate. 

 

March 30th

June 29th

August 31st

November 30th

 

  **Cindy Lammon will be hosting the first workshop on March 30th; where she will be showing

us her techniques for Machine Quilting.  More info coming in early March.

 

 

• Finally, just wanted to remind everyone that we are back to our normal second Saturday meetings.  We hope to see you on February 9th, where we'll be revealing our Madrona Road Challenge projects.