Hello, quilty friends!

We had a lovely meeting with 26 members, including our newest, Laura! Welcome! We will try and pair you up for a name badge soon!

Our official membership roster has been updated, and at last count it was 68 members. This month our meeting fell during Quiltcon and we had quite a few members down in Nashville taking it all in (including our very own Melanie, who won 3rd place in improv!!), but we’ll hear more about all that next month.

Let’s talk about what’s happening!

Lenny took a class on ruler work at Gotham. Melanie’s class on walking foot/quilting and Amy’s clear pouch classes were a hit. You can check out some pics here. Sallie has seen the newest exhibit at MAM and highly recommends it (through June) There’s a new exhibit at the Newark Museum on Wendy Red Star, and we should all check out the Frida Kahlo exhibit at the Brooklyn museum through May 12. If you are able to make an appointment for pretty specific hours, there’s an exhibit called She Persists at Gracie Mansion.

March 16 is National Quilting Day, and in honor of that we want to get together and quilt! We have some members generously opening up there homes for some fun sewing time. We have Clifton, Woodcliff Lake and Morris Plains locations in the works. (If someone around the Maplewood area would perhaps like to play host, hit us up through email.) More about that to come.

Our charity efforts have been growing. We all loved the ease of the pattern and kits with the New Wave quilt, but had a request to change it up. Our newest pattern will be Shoreline by Tula Pink. There are 10 kits that are ready to go, so far, so let’s get sewing!

We are also trying to beat our record of 127 pillowcases that were donated in 2017. They are easy and quick to make. Let’s get sewing!

We are also encouraging everyone to participate in our block drive. There’s even a chance to win prizes! Due next month, we want as many 12 1/2″ x 12 1/2″ scrappy log cabin blocks you can make (in order for some consistency we are asking for there to be some white in them) and we also are collecting Quilts of Valor blocks in red, white and blue.

This Saturday, February 23, we are having a missing Quiltcon open sew. Perfect time to work on some charity stuff, or whatever you want. 10-4 at the Cedar Grove location. Bring lunch or cash to order.

We are introducing a little tech update with some fancy schmancy use of projection!Woah! We ARE modern! Crista is helping us all see a little easier with the help of a phone and a screen. There’s some cords and other stuff involved, but the main thing is that we don’t have to be all up in each other’s space and it will make things better in the long run. We also will have the ability to share pictures of things, for ask the guild or a quilt that needs to be sent before the meeting. If you can get a picture to programs@ njmqg.com by the Thursday before that month’s meeting, you’ll still have an opportunity to show off!

We also got a nice update on the upcoming program schedule. It will be emailed and posted soon, for those of you that couldn’t make the meeting. For example, though, on March 30, you will have the chance to take a ruler class with Betsy and/or make a fun Reuse-Recycle-Repurpose apron with Kathy. Signups will be out soon.

For our raffle, we wanted to know who had been quilting for the shortest time…and our winner was Lenny. Only about a year and a half, although you’d never know it, with how amazing she is!

We are also reintroducing our Instaintros. If you interested in sharing a little about yourself to our members and followers on our Instagram, send an email to vicepresident@ njmqg.com.

Then our favorite time…

Show/Sew and Tell

Emily showing a charity quilt I believe Terri finished?

Dawn-Working through some UFO’s. Circa 2003 Renae Merril workshop? (and it’s machine quilted

Jen- Bonnie K Hunter mystery quilt

MaryJane- charity quilt

Debby S- flannel baby quilt

JoAnn- Star quilt

Blooming 9 patch

Samantha- machine quilting samples

Aubrey- gift quilt

Terri- recently took a cruise and in supported some local artists in Haiti. Peace Quilts and a book Patience to Raise the Sun

We had someone bring up the topic of the modern aspect of the modern in our guild. One thing I’ve personally loved about this guild is the huge breadth of knowledge and experience and kindness. We welcome everyone regardless of experience, skill, age, race, sex and even though we are a modern guild, you will not be shunned for bringing something that might be considered traditional. I know when I joined as a beginner quilter I was encouraged by everyone to continue to do what we were ALL there to do…quilt. Plain and simple, we all join together because we have a simple common bond. We love to make. Not every quilt is everyone’s style and that’s what makes the world go round. Never apologize.

So let’s continue to raise each other up and enjoy what we do and share with each other! I suppose I’ll get off my soap box now. I hope I haven’t taken too much advantage here.

Until next time! Ciao and happy quilting!

-A