In-Person Meetings: What to Expect

Friends. It's coming! Our first in-person meeting in 18 months (18 months!!) will be August 14, 2021! Are you ready? Yes, No, Maybe, Unsure? It's all good, we have you covered no matter your speed. Here is as much as we can think of to share with you about our meetings when you are ready to join us: 

What Happens to Zoom: Don't worry, for the remainder of 2021 we will still have a Zoom element to the meetings. It may not as interactive, but you will have a window into the action. 

COVID Precautions: We will be following whatever CDC guidelines are in place at the time of the meeting. These are fluid so be sure to check back often.

Meeting Locations and Times are located on the Meeting and Events Tab. Please note: in person meetings are 10:00am - 12:30pm which is an hour longer than when we were exclusively on Zoom. 

At the Meeting:

• General Format: 
• Arrive, Find a Seat, Get the Lay of the Land: This may include signing in, adding things to the free table, displaying blocks, etc. 
• Guild Business, Announcements, Reminders
• Break
• Main Activity
• Show and Share
• Attendance Prizes and Raffle Drawings
• Things to Do:
• Sign In! If you wore a homemade name tag you will also get to pick up a ticket for attendance prizes. 
• Purchase Fabric Raffle Tickets: pet the pretty fabric of the month and buy your tickets. 
• Check Out Library Books: The guild has a robust collection of pattern, design, and technique books. You are welcome to check one out and bring it back to the next meeting!
• Dig into the the Free Table: Add items you no longer need and take anything that looks interesting from the free table! 
• Display your bee blocks and skill builder examples on the wall!
• Bring something for Show and Share! At the end of the meeting anyone is welcome to come on stage and show off your latest make. 
• Meet someone new! Look for folks wearing stickers that let you know they are guests or new members and say hello.
• Things to Bring:
• Check the agenda posted on the blog each Tuesday before the meeting to see if anything from our activities is due.
• Your homemade nametag!
• Library books you checked out the previous month.
• Examples of your skill builder. 
• Projects for Show and Share.
• Items for the free table and a bag to take things home from the free table.
• Anything you need to exchange with fellow members: traveling quilts, bee blocks, longarm projects...
• A big ol' smile!
• A friend! Folks can attend 2 meetings to see if we are a good fit for them. See the How to Join tab for more info. 

Odds and Ends/Further Explanations:

• Name Tags: Make yourself a name tag and wear it to the meeting. When you check in you will be given a ticket and we will draw for attendance prizes at the end of the meeting. It can be embroidered, appliqued, written in fabric pen, sharpie, raspberry jam.... whatever you like! 
• Free Table: This is NOT A TRASH TABLE. Please don't bring anything you wouldn't offer to your neighbor. Feel free to save any really great items for the December raffle. 
• Monthly Fabric Raffle: We will have an online option to purchase tickets up until the evening before the meeting. Tickets will then be available for purchase at the meeting. (Potentially cash only, we are still working on this.)
• Skill Builder: Get an extra ticket to win the monthly prize by bringing your skill builder example to the meeting!!
• December Raffle: Each December our meeting is one big fund raiser/giveaway. In October and November you may start bringing nice items to donate to the raffle in exchange for tickets. You may also purchase tickets at the beginning of the December meeting. We then take time to put our tickets in the bag that corresponds to the items we hope to win. Once all tickets have been distributed, we start pulling out winning tickets!
• Member Announcements: Not on the board or on a committee but have something you want to share? Great! There is always a moment set aside for members to stand up and share announcements. 

Meeting #111 (July 10th, 2021)

Summer is in full swing here in St. Louis and as we prepare to start our in preson meetings back up we thought it would be awesome to use the unique format of Zoom one more time this month to connect up with some amazing ladies in the quilting community. 

If you are interested in joining - See the 'How to Join' tab if you're not a member but would like to join. 

This meeting will include:

- Welcome & Zoom Courtesy 101

- Special Guest Speakers - The Color of Connection Quilt Ladies

We are so pleased to welcome the creators of Color of Connection Quilt, Michelle (@meeshquilts), Porfiria (@mrsporfiria), and Keyana (@collectivequilts)! These three ladies have a goal to teach, empower, and connect the next generation of quilters, particularly in underprivileged populations, to share their stories through textile art. Their quilt a-long in February has brought hundreds of quilters across the world together to make connections, develop friendships, and bask in the glow of quilt creation while also supporting a truly lovely mission. We are so excited to hear from them!

- Guild Business:
  :: Membership Information
  :: Financial Information
  :: Quilting News

- Announcements/Reminders

  :: August In-person Meeting Return 

  :: Monthly Skill Builder July 

  :: July Fabric Bundle Raffle - See your email for more details and the link. 

  :: Committee Updates

  :: Member Updates

- June Skill Builder Prize Winner

- July Bundle Raffle Drawing

- Show & Share (time permitting)

-------------------------- Reminders/Items Due ------------------------------

:: Don't forget to post your pictures of your quilt backing skills using the new tips you learned on IG using the hashtag #stlmqgskillbuilder or email us at stlmqg@gmail.com to be entered to win this month's prize.

Meeting Recap (June 12th, 2021)

Our first informal gathering at the park last month was a smashing success even if it was a bit chilly and dreary! It was so much fun seeing everyone's faces and quilts! Be sure to check your member emails for the link to the photos of everyone's quilts!

Guild Business:

• Christine Boyd, our secretary, gave us a brief overview of our membership numbers.  We continue to grow and we couldn't be more excited to have new members - we are currently sitting at 149 strong! Not a member yet? Anyone interested should check out how to join.
  
  
• Our Vice President Em Komiskey covered some of the online happenings coming up, below is a list. 
  
  - The MQG is sewing this season to make a difference!  Tree theme to benefit Trees for the Future Submissions open July 1-21, MQG Member voiting August 4-9 MQG Make a Difference Challenge 
  - Spectacular Summer SAL with Quilted Connections June 14th - September 12th with monthly prize Drawings Check it out Here
  - Heyde Sewing Grand Re-opening Learn More Here June 19th 9am-4pm

Items Covered:

• Infromal Park Gathering- June 27th at Tower Grove Park 10am - Quilt Photographer, Free Table, Homeless Vet Quilt Collection Point, Swap/Challenge Switch Opportunity
  
  
  
  
  
  
• The Color of Connections Quilt Ladies @ the July Meeting will be speaking at our July Meeting as a reminder. These ladies are working to create a nonprofit that connects the modern quilting community, across all colors, ages, genders, and backgrounds. Through this non-profit they will be hosting quilting workshops with vulnerable youth of all colors to sew, foster relationships abd meaningful connection, and also teach self-efficacy and creativity. Learn more on their mission on their site.
  
  
• 4x5 Quarterly Bees - Quarterly Block Bees - Round 2 is underway - you should have chosen your block pattern and should be picking fabrics. Make sure to post progress pictures and tag #stlmqg4x5bee on IG
  
  
• 'Get to Know You'- Challenge and Swap - these are due June 27th - make sure to tag your photos online for a chance to win a prize - #stlmqgswapchallenge
  
  
• 2021 Remaining Monthly Events  
  July: Zoom w/ Color of Connection Quilt Ladies
  August: IN PERSON WELCOME BACK !!! Shrewsbury City Center 10-12:30
  (we will be following the CDC mask recommendations at that time)
  September: In Person - Quilt Photographer Shrewsbury City Center 10-12:30
  October: Working on informal sew-ins
  November: In Person - Shrewsbury City Center 10-12:30
  December: In Person Raffle Shrewsbury City Center 10-12:30
  
  
• Monthly Skill Builder June - Guild president Lilo Whitener-Fey will be helping teach members her tips for working on backing fabrics - matching up patterns and easy single seam piecing. Zoom with us Wednesday, June 23rd from 7-8pm. Look for your member email and zoom link reminders the night before.
  
  
• Guild Discounts
  - Jackman's - STLMQG members get 10% off at Jackmans on all non-sale items by showing their MQG membership card. Directions on how to get this card are on the member drive and the link will be in the member email.
  - Modish Quilter Annual Magazine - members get 20% off subscriptions - code in email.
  
  
• Quiltcon 2022 will be held in Phoenix, AZ Feb 16-20, 2022 Check their site for information and important dates. Members can check the Facebook group to chat about about meetups and room sharing. 
  
  
• 
  Guild Merch - we are so excited to be able to offer up T-shirts and Tote bags reminding folks to MAKE COOL STUFF - these shirts and totes sales are open to everyone and we think they would make some great gifts for the creatives in your life. Online shop will be open from June 15th - 29th. Check out the online store and buy yours now!
  
  
  
• Charity Committee Summer/ Fall Project - we will be making small quilts for the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (CG PICU). Our goal is 60 quilts - please check out the blog post for more information about sizes, color schemes and deadlines. Make sure to share your finished quilts on social using #stlmqg, #stlmqgcares, and #stlmqgPICUquilts!
  
  Vet Quilts - the deadline for these quilts has been pushed back to November so this will allow folks more time to work on these and help reach our goal. Read more here.
  
  
• Products Worth the Money
  We broke out into chat rooms with members to discuss quilting notions and items we thought were really helpful in the quilting process and total worth the money -
  
  Quilting Items with Cords
  - AccuQuilt GO! Big Electric Fabric Cutter Starter Set
  - Steamfast iron
  - Reliable irons / Reliable Velocity 230IR
  - Oliso Mini Project Iron
  - and many more check out the resource document in your email!
  

Rulers & Template

- Stripology XL
- Clearly Perfect Slotted Trimmer
- Bonnie K Hunter's Essential Triangle Tool
- Companion Angle Triangle Ruler

- and many more check out the resource document in your email! 

 

Kitchen Sink

- Hera Marker
- Supreme Slider Free Motion Quilting Supplies
- Wonder Clips
- Wool Pressing Mat

- and many more check out the resource document in your email!

• Hand Sew *Home* Happy Hour June 29th 6-9 - we would love to see you there!
  
  
  
  
  
• Fabric Raffle 
  Thanks to another very generous donation from our sponsor Cotton Cuts Barb Phelps & Marie Hill won fat quarter bundles of the new Tula Pink fabric!

Fall 2021 STLMQG Charity Project

The STLMQG Charity Committee is happy to announce a second charity project for 2021. We will be making small quilts for the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (CG PICU). The CG PICU provides respiratory and heart flow management for critically ill children as well as those recovering from complex heart procedures and organ transplants. These quilts are the sense of home most parents need in the most trying times while their child is recovering at Cardinal Glennon.

The CG PICU was brought to our attention by a member of the Charity Committee whose own daughter spent time there after having open-heart surgery when she was just 2.5 months old. Her daughter was lovingly given a quilt to use while she was there. When she reached out to see if the hospital needed more quilts since the one her daughter used looked a bit worn, they said YES!

Here's everything you need to know about the project: 

• Quilts must be new, handmade, and washable. They should be machine quilted (no ties) and preferably bound by machine for maximum durability. 
• Quilt Size: 36” x 36” (for babies and little kids) or 36" x 48" (for big kids). Please try to stay close to these dimensions. 
• Color Scheme and Fabrics: The quilts are for all kids, not just babies. Please pick fabrics that are appropriate for children, including but not limited to pastels, bright colors, and fun prints. Cotton and flannel are both okay. No rag quilts. 
• Deadline: December Meeting. Quilts can be dropped off at in-person meetings or coordinate with another STLMQG member. 
• Goal: 60 quilts 
• A small quilt should be quick to sew, and you can use any square pattern you have. Blocks that FINISH at 3” square (12 blocks x 12 blocks = 144 total), 4” square (9 blocks x 9 blocks = 81 total), 6” square (6 blocks x 6 blocks = 36 total), 9” square (4 blocks x 4 blocks = 16 total), 12” square (3 blocks x 3 blocks = 9 total), or 18” square (2 blocks x 2 blocks = 4 total) can all be easily used for this quilt. You could also try blocks that finish at odd sizes and add a border or even try some improv! With block-based quilts, you can make your assembly even faster by using web piecing (see January 2021 Monthly Skill Builder) to put the top together. Here are a few pattern ideas to get you started: 
https://www.coralandco.com/free-baby-quilt-patterns-to-sew.html 
https://wren-collective.com/free-pattern/free-baby-quilt-patterns-20-of-my-favorites/


Kitchen Table Quilting did a year's worth of free giant block patterns that finish at 36" square, perfect for the PICU quilts. You can find them all in her shop: https://kitchen-table-quilting.myshopify.com/collections/freebies.

Thank you for your efforts! We look forward to seeing (and receiving) your beautiful quilts. And be sure to share your finished quilts on social media using #stlmqg, #stlmqgcares, and #stlmqgPICUquilts. 

-Your 2021 STLMQG Charity Committee: Jessica Schunke (Chair), Gayle Larson, Kathy Mattingly, Krista Robbins, Gina Shelley, and Nichole Witushynsky

Meeting #110 (June 12th, 2021)

Quilting can definatly be an expensive hobby. So we're curious - what products have you bought over the years that you swear by and feel were worth every penny you paid? Want to see what our members have to say? See the 'How to Join' tab if you're not a member but would like to join. 

This meeting will include:

-Welcome & Zoom Courtesy 101

Scour those sewing rooms and be prepared with an item in each of the following categories and be prepared to chat in our breakout rooms about why you think it's worth the money:

1.    Quilting items with cords (machines, irons, cutters, bobbin winders, etc.)

2.    Rulers/templates

3.    Kitchen sink (books, notions, mats, threads, patterns, etc.)

- Guild Business:
  :: Membership Information
  :: Financial Information

- Announcements/Reminders

  :: Monthly Skill Builder June 

  :: June Fabric Bundle Raffle - See your email for more details and the link.

  :: Informal Park Gatherings - Sunday June 27th, Tower Grove 

  :: Color of Connections Quilters Presentation July

  :: Remaining 2021 Meeting Plans

  :: Guild T-shirts

  :: 4x5 Bee Updates

  :: Get to Know You Challenge & Swap  

  :: Committee Updates

  :: Member Updates

  :: STLMQG Quilt Show July 2022

  :: MQG Quiltcon

- May Skill Builder Prize Winner

- June Bundle Raffle Drawing

- Show & Share (time permitting)

-------------------------- Reminders/Items Due ------------------------------

:: Don't forget to be working on your Challenge and Swap 'Get to Know You" pieces they are due at the end of the month and post your pictures on IG using the hashtag #stlmqgswapchallenge or email us at stlmqg@gmail.com to be entered one of two prizes being drawn at the July meeting.

Meeting Recap (April 10th, 2021)

Spring with all it's bright happy colors is here! And what great timing to hear from a color master herself - Tara Faughnan. She joined our meeting this past Saturday to talk all about her quilting journey and some of the things that have brought her to where she is today. 

Tara Faughnan - From Cardboard to Instagram

Tara started out by showing us her first ever quilt - one that she created using cardboard templates to cut her fabric. After quickly chatting with her local quilt shop ladies (thank goodness for them) she was introduced to a rotary cutter, rulers and cutting mats and off to the races she went! She was mostly self taught from books and old quilting magazines her mother had given her and she really started out with a focus on design and technique. 

As she played she started to see how different colors and values could create different effects in her quilts - she would use binoculars backwards to stand and look at a quilt to see everything from 'afar' so she could see how the different pieces of the quilt were interacting. "Color gets all the credit, but value does all the work." She may not have known then the words for what she was exploring but she continued to try different things and explore in her quilts. 

While processing the loss of a dear friend and making a 'grief quilt' Tara says she was inspired by her late friend to use ALL THE COLOR, and found she could do so by pairing colors with neutrals and believes this was a turning point for her that changed everything.

As she continued to make quilts she played around with breaking 'rules' with value and color with interruptive patterning. She began to see that you could create visual points of calm with low contrast colors and sections and points of interest with sections of high contrast.

Tara likes to focus on scale and believes that often what really makes a quilt modern can simply be the scale at which a block is created. Often by taking a 'traditional block' and bumping up the scale once can create a very modern look. Also one color palette can look so different from one pattern block to the next and it's this area that Tara loves to play. 

And play it is. Solids can be serious so make sure to use color palettes that make you happy she suggested. She also stressed not to worry so much about making 'bad' quilts - just keep going, play and you will find your way. 

"Be fearless and make ugly quilts!" - Tara

Guild Items Covered:

• No May Meeting - Since we have Tara teaching Workshops in May - there will be no regular monthly meeting.
  
  
• Informal Park Gatherings - We have missed our members so much and we decided to start doing some informal Park Gatherings!
    - We will have a quilt photographer to help you get those beautiful quilt pics.
    - The free table will be back so bring some goodies and take some goodies
    - Chairty Vet Quilt turn in Spot
    - Swap Spot
    - Share Quilts, Stories & Fist Bumps (hugs have to stay virtual for now)
  
  Kirkwood Park Saturday May 8th, 10am - 12pm.
  Tower Grove Park Sunday June 27th at 10am - 12pm.
  
  It's come and go as you please but we look forward to seeing you!
  
  
• 4x5 Quarterly Bees Round 2- Our first round of Quarterly Block Bees is wrapping up and round two is now open! It's a great chance to get know your fellow guild members so don't hesitate to join the fun. Check your member email for the link to sign up.
  
  
• Monthly Skill Builder - We love the way that Zoom is allowing us to have some personal one-on-one time with folks and share our skills with each other. We announced that this month's new skill will be making digital quilt mockups. While not a technical 'sewing' skill making mockups can always help you plan for your quilts and making them digitally can be a fun way to explore lots of possibilities and try things you might not have thought of before. We will be learning from the guild secretary and graphic designer Christine Boyd on April 21st from 7-8pm. You can always read more on the Monthly Skill Builder blog. As always if you would be willing to teach a skill please let us know! We have a list of skills or if you have something special to share we would love to hear from you. We will also be recording the monthly sessions and sending them out within 48 hours. 
  
  
• Quilt Alongs - 
  - Fairy Garden Quilt @cozycolorquilts 
  - Nightingale Quilt  @loandbeholdstitchery
  - Connector Quilt   @homemadeemilyjane
  - Sunshowers Quilt   @megancollins_a
  - Pacific Sun Quilt   @xoxsew
  
  
• Save the Date for STLMQG Quilt Show 2022 - July 16 – 17, 2022 - Kirkwood Community Center, set up July 15
  
  
• Hand Sew *Home* Happy Hour April 27th 6-9PM come and go as you please - join us to sew or just to chat!
  
  
• Charity Quilt Due to COVID, the construction on the tiny homes is unfortunately running way behind, so we're going to move our deadline back to NOVEMBER. Hopefully, this will allow more people to join in to ensure we reach our goal. We are trying to make 30 Twin XLs and you can learn more on the blog post if you're interested in participating.

Fabric & Pattern Raffle

This month was an exciting giveway - Tara donated two of her patterns to go with two solid bundles provided by Cotton Cuts. Winners were Dottie Vaughn & Heather Dye. 

If you want to get beautiful fabric delivered to your door and support a local STLMQG member and fabric shop check out Cotton Cuts and sign up today!

Meeting #109 (April 10th, 2021)

The trees are in bloom, we are hearing those lawn mowers fire up and we are excited to see all the positive news about vaccines which can hopefully get us closer to meeting together back in person! Saturday we have the fabulous Tara Faughnan chatting with us - she's known for her use of solids in her modern quilts and the STLMQG is happy to have her. If you are interested in joining - See the 'How to Join' tab if you're not a member but would like to join. 

This meeting will include:

- Welcome & Zoom Courtesy 101

- Special Guest Speaker - Tara Faughnan - From Cardboard to Instagram

In place of a traditional trunk show Tara will be chatting with us in the meeting. Here is a little bit about Tara. 

"I draw inspiration from the simple bold geometry of antique quilts, the gorgeous bright colors from textiles around the world, and freedom and spontaneity found in unconventional and improvisationally pieced quilts.  When I look at my current work, I see all 3 of these aspects represented.  I like to use simple geometry, complex color interaction and find the line the exists somewhere between harmony and discordance."

- Guild Business:
  :: Membership Information
  :: Financial Information
  :: Quilting News

- Announcements/Reminders

  :: Infromal Park Gatherings 

  :: Monthly Skill Builder April 

  :: Tara Faughnan Workshops

  :: Get to Know You Challenge and Swap

  :: 4x5 Quarterly Bees

  :: April Fabric Bundle Raffle - See your email for more details and the link. 

  :: Committee Updates

  :: Member Updates

- March Skill Builder Prize Winner

- April Bundle Raffle Drawing

- Show & Share (time permitting)

-------------------------- Reminders/Items Due ------------------------------

:: Don't forget to post your pictures of your foundation paper piecing on IG using the hashtag #stlmqgskillbuilder or email us at stlmqg@gmail.com to be entered to win this month's prize.