Hello quilty friends and happy spring! We had an absolutely fabulous meeting at our new space. Thank you to the 38 members and 3 guests we had join us! We want to give a special shout out to those who introduced themselves: Blake (new to quilting but prolific!), Janet (From Colonia), Arlene (a traditional friend), Paula (quilting since 1987), Cecelia (quilting for 30 years), Sue (makes clothing and quilts) and Bonnie (who works with clay). So nice meeting you all and hope to see you again!
We started our meeting off with a little Quitcon recap. We are always so proud to be a guild that has many members who have quilts hanging in the show. Betsy V, had 3 hanging, with 1 winning first prize, for her Windham Fabric challenge quilt, Overprint. Lenny (3), Miguel (2), Melanie, Liz (2), and Juandamarie also had quilts hanging in the show. Congratulations to all! Aleeda metioned this year had the biggest attendance on record for Quiltcon, with 15,000 people attending! Amazing! While some of us were away at Quiltcon, others of us at home took part in an open sew. Quilting friends and sewing, what can be better?
The latest issue of Quiltfolk Magazine was all about NJ. We have a copy of it in our library if you’d like to check it out. Congrats to Krishma, Juandamarie and Aleeda!
Kelly shared with us a charity block we can work on for 2024. Use your stash, those precuts you no longer like or get some fabric from the charity bin and get to sewing! Using 5″ squares, make a 9 block (3×3) and add a 3″ strip to two sides of the block. The finished block should be 16.25″ square. Bring your finished blocks to the April meeting, and there might just be a prize for the person who brings the most in…
Lucky Raffle winners Rebecca, Carolyn, and Tracy
Just some reminders. Caroline Hayes is our librarian and our library cart is always accessible during our in person meetings to borrow books, magazines, patterns and templates. The free table is also always out for our meetings. REMINDER, if you bring something that doesn’t get taken, please bring it back home with you or it will be thrown away!
Besides all the snacks (our “tea party” themed meeting is always one of my faves) Show and Tell is our favorite part of getting together. It’s been a long time and you all did not disappoint!
Casey- Alison Glass Trinket Quilt along- foundation piecedBlake- offcuts from snowballs“Disappearing Couch”TV Cover- “Kill your television”Oh So Scrappy- Quilt as you go “The same also different”- applique“Home Love Fabric Color” wall hangingMerry Ugly Sweater StarWelcome to the world of HSTBased on a painting- Memory of Lambertville“Sam and the Hep Cats”Pretty Little Circles- a studyCarolyn M-“Mom Jeans”Holly- first time paper piecingLenny- leftover Nancy Crowe strip setspracticing complex piecingKaren Fricke- Quilt Arts magazine articleRachel- Libs Elliott class- will be a cushion covercoasters with scrapsJacquie Gering class panel turned Open Wide pouchArlene- Ordination StoleWIPMJ- baby quilt for neighborAnn M- swap received from MQG swapSally Tomato Connie backpack with selvagesstart of raw edge reverse appliqueBetsy V- one of the MANY fanny packs madeQuiltcon mag cover girl!based on Carmen Herrara paintingFirst place!Jenny Haynes Mystery quilt Modern Quilt StudioAND handmade shoes!!Paula F- Bonnie Hunter scrap busterRochelle- Wonky weaves Robin- handpiecedKim Beale floating stars
Remember all those things you brought in to donate to Kelly’s request for the members of the Lakota Tribe? Well, we received the nicest thank you!
After the break we had a skills lab where some of our members showed us some tips and tricks. Thanks to Carol P/quilt sandwich, Margy/flanged binding, Betsy V/hanging sleeve, and Karen F/quilt labels. I sadly did not get any pictures…
Some upcoming things to keep in mind. If you are a new member and need a nametag (or are an old member and want to have a new one) we are doing another nametag swap. The MQG is doing a sew along that starts on April 18. Check it out here. Our next meeting is 1 week later than normal, on April 27 (which just so happens to be my birthday, gifts not necessary, but will be accepted ;P) Betsy will hold a workshop after our meeting to make the Frost Fanny Pack, which you must be signed up for (and paid) to participate in. Sign up here! And as always, the board is planning ahead, so keep and eye out for more great opportunities to participate in!
Hello and welcome to the October recap. This month we met over Zoom. We had 41 people joining us, including some new friends, Cecila, Arlene and Nina. Thanks for joining us, and hope to see you soon!
This month we started our meeting off with our usual guild business. Annette gave us a treasurer’s report, which as always, can be found in the member’s only section of the website.
Last month we hosted our very first Quilt Showcase, and it was just so wonderful! We had about 200 people come to see the show and we sold our MQG charity quilt! The money from that sale will be donated to Oasis Haven and Rachel Coalition. We want to thank everyone who helped pull it together, with a special thanks to the showcase committee and and extra special shout out to our president Ann, who took the reigns and totally went for it. We are looking forward to our next one, in 2025.
Some announcements were next. We took a poll about our 2024 meeting schedule. Based off the results, we will have 8 meetings in person and 4 virtually. When meeting in person we will also be going to a new location. We will be letting everyone know all those details soon!
Mid Atlantic Mod Retreat will be April 18-21 and our 10 lucky early registrants have gotten in. Regular registration has also opened and there is a waitlist if you’d like to get on it.
We have some committee updates. Did you know we have a library? Books and rulers are available for borrowing. Caroline Hayes will be our new guild librarian. We are also looking for a new head to our charity committee. Please reach out if you are interested in helping out.
At our September meeting we started working on our MQG Community Quilt. Since then we have the top and back completed and Carol M will be quilting it. Looking forward to seeing that come together!
Programs is working hard behind the scenes to bring us some fun and exciting things in the new year. Before the new year starts, though, we had a field trip to Cultured Expressions for a workshop with Lisa Shepard Stewart.
November 4, we are celebrating International Scrap Sorting Day with the MQG. Let’s get organized!!
In November we have our meeting on the 16th , at 7, over Zoom. December we will have our holiday party on December 2 from 11-3 at the Community Church of Cedar Grove. Jeanine is leading the planning on this, but any help is welcome, reach out to her at vicepresident at njmqg dot com. For January we have a lecture and workshop scheduled with Libs Elliot. If you don’t know her, you should really check her stuff out. Libs will be joining our January 18 meeting over Zoom to give us a lecture. Then keep your calendar open for January 20, for a workshop over Zoom for the Bloem quilt.
We have some other things in the works and are looking forward to sharing more with you soon!
Hello quilty friends! We had our May meeting over Zoom and 36 people joined.
First things first, we had a bit of guild business to attend to. We have board elections coming up in June. There are two spots opening up and we had two people step up to run for the positions. Thank you to Annette A (for treasurer) and Betsy F (for programs position). If anyone else is interested in helping out the board, we are always looking for people to help. Reach out to any of the current board members and let us know.
Keep an eye out for an update on the Ukraine benefit destash!
The MQG Quiltcon Community Outreach quilt info was sent out, and boy does it look like a fun one! (you can check out the info here) I was inspired to start playing around with some ideas already. For this year’s Community Outreach Challenge, the MQG is asking members to make quilts that show a color shift, or gradient, in the piecing.
From the MQG: There are two gradients for your group to choose from for the 2023 QuiltCon Community Outreach Challenge. We’ve shown many color stops along the way from one end to the other. Choose your starting point and be sure to use a total of at least three color stops on your gradient. You do not have to use all of the color stops shown, nor are you required to use solids for this project. Get creative with your use of solids and prints. Make it scrappy, or reuse bits from older projects. We can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Option 1: Cool colors from Dark Teal to Lime GreenOption 2: Warm Colors from Eggplant Purple to Pink
We are excited to start getting ideas from the guild. We also need someone to be the point person for this committee. Please start thinking about it and reach out if you are inspired or are interested in helping!
There are some fabulous things happening that we are sharing that may be of interest…
Needles & Bolts, A modern quilt shop & haberdashery
Soft opening Memorial Day Weekend, Grand Opening Weekend of June 10-12
NJMQG members are highly encouraged to enter quilts. Forms will be available June 1. Registration starts June 15. Any questions, reach out to Penny (info found in members only section)
We had, self-proclaimed bling/sequin lover, Mel Beach join our meeting. She talked to us about how she uses Fun & Games in Quilting. Like one of her teachers said, “If you had fun, you won” – Mr Aurora. It really was facinating seeing how she incorporates using dice, cards, word/grid/target games, scratch board and even Lego for literal and abstract interpretation and inspiration. Mel challenges herself to a lot of 100 day projects to keep the creativity flowing and to help get ideas to used for larger projects. If you have a chance you should check out her blog, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest for more. And we rescheduled our class with Mel for October, so you want to keep an eye out for that! More about the class from her website…
Modern Free Motion Fillers & Fun!
Do you love the look of modern quilts but unsure how best to quilt all that negative space? In this workshop, I’ll share my favorite mark-free, modern quilting motifs involving C-curves, loop de loops, zig zags, and door beads. We’ll explore how simple changes to each of the designs will yield all new filler designs! This is a low-stress and super fun workshop that is perfect for quilters who are new to free-motion quilting, as well as those looking to add new modern designs to their quilting repertoire. You’ll leave with new design ideas, tips and tricks for free motion quilting success, and the confidence to add beautiful, modern quilted texture to your modern quilt tops!
After the lecture we had a programs update…
We got a lovely thank you note from all the fabulous Kennel Quilts you generously made and donated.
Elinore also let us know that we donated another 19 quilts and 8 pillowcases at the end of April! Great work everyone!
This month we only had a few WIP’s submitted. Julia has been working on her blocks from our workshop with Cotton and Bourbon, and Pam C made a beautiful birch tree wall hanging and a very cool quilt for her nephew who graduated from high school. Funny enough, Pam won last month’s prize and this month Julia won!
Our Show and Tell this month was also small. Is everyone saving up to show at next month’s in person meeting?
SJSA banner she quilted
Runner for friend’s daughter’s wedding gift to match plates on registry
Jackie shared a great quilt she had been working on since Mid Atlantic Mod, but were asked not to share.
A quick reminder that Julia B is inviting people to visit her while she’s recuperating from her accidents. She’s offered up use of her extra sewing machines and hot tub! There was talk of donuts, too? 😛 You can find her info in the members only section.
Our June meeting will be in person and we are excited to be seeing people in person and to celebrate a very special anniversary for our guild. We’ve come a long way since we used to cram ourselves into Rock Paper Scissors, but we are so glad to be here and able to celebrate with you! If you signed up for the Persimmon pouch swap, I hope you are working on it to be ready to swap! (If you can’t make it to the meeting, you can mail it, or try to figure out a way to get it to your partner)
In an effort to be have a little face to face, we have picked some dates that we would like to meet in person. We are mixing it up in hopes to have as many people join us, so we are sticking with our zoom meeting for the third Thursday of the month and in person on Saturdays. Of course we will keep in mind the recommendations of what is going on at the time and realize everyone has a different comfort level, but we are hoping to continue to be able to see each other more in the “real” world. We have some more great lectures planned for some of the zoom meetings.
Hope to see you at our IN PERSON anniversary meeting on June 25 at the Community Church of Cedar Grove, starting at noon. More details to come soon, but be prepared to come with a cup/mug, a fat quarter to play a game with, your pouch swap (if you signed up), and any show and tell you’d like to share with us! As always we hope you are getting your craft on and staying well!
njmqg 