I don’t know which was more exciting: The close arrival of Spring or our March Meeting!  It’s always wonderful to see each of you and I leave inspired to make 20 new projects.  (If they’re only made in my head!)  As we all prepare to thaw out – here is what’s coming our way this Spring!

Quilting Retreat

March 21st – March 23rd many members will enjoy a weekend of quilting!  We hope everyone enjoyed their time together – and we expect fantastic projects for the April Meeting!  Get sewing!

Michael Miller Fabric Challenge

The fabric is in the mail, and at the April meeting you will receive a fat eighth of each of the fabrics if you signed up at the start of the challenge.  The deadline for entries will be in June, and the only requirement is that it’s quilted.  We’re excited to see what our guild contributes to the challenge.  It sure would be nice if someone won a year of free fabric!

Guild Quilt

After seeing Central Jersey’s guild quilt at Quilt Fest, it was even more exciting to see all of the blocks created by our members over the past few months.  It was incredible to see the variety of designs used and I know everyone will be thrilled to see the final project.  Even more exciting, we now have guest judges to award gift cards to members for their blocks.  Be on the lookout for verdicts from Mark Lipinski, Alison Glass and even fabric goodies from Robert Kaufman!

Warwick Valley Quilt Show

The 2014 Qults of the Valley Show is May 17 & 18, 2014. We’d love to see some of the fabulous quilts we’ve made since 2010 featured in the show!  Members and non-members alike are invited to submit their quilts. Registration forms are available under the 2014 Show

Heather Grant Webinar

Check your email for information about a modern quilt webinar from the MQG’s Heather Grant! The cost to the public is $10, but with the coupon code in your email it’s free. March 26th, 9PM.  The webinar will cover the History of Modern Quilting – and it will be archived to be viewed later if you can’t make it Wednesday.

Sew Down Nashville

By the April Meeting 7 of our guild members will have returned from Sew Down Nashville, with plenty of tales and lots of inspiration to share.  We’re excited to have such a great showing at the last Sew Down event and we’re all looking forward to hearing the report of their boot stompin’ good time!

Quilters Take Manhattan

Be sure to check out their website, as events are already selling out for the September celebration!

March Madness

Finally, we hope everyone is currently “training” and “preparing” for our first ever March Madness event on March 29th, 2014!  You can read more about the event here or find answers to FAQ here!  We can wait to spend a day of “friendly” competition with each of you as we work to complete quilts for Shelter Our Sisters and Quilts for Kids!

And, finally, the reason we all come together – inspiration and celebration of our creativity as quilters!

Show and Tell

NOTE: We didn’t include pictures of the guild quilt blocks. They will have their own photo session and blog post next week.

Another fabulous meeting full of inspiration and laughter is over, and most excitedly we have passed the dues for next year.  Our proposed dues of $45.00 were presented by the fabulous treasurer, Jessica (self proclaimed Penny Pincher) and they were unanimously passed by the guild.  These dues will be due by the December meeting so that we can pay the National Dues in January.  If you know that you won’t be able to make the December meeting, feel free to bring your dues to the November meeting.  You can make the checks out to NJMQG, and of course you can still pay with cash.  We are looking forward to a new year with exciting events, speakers, and trips!

Holiday Gift Exchange

You should have received an email inviting you to the holiday gift exchange for our meeting on December 19th.  Signup will close on Thursday and names will be sent out, so please follow the link in the email and respond Yes or No.  If you didn’t receive the email, be sure to contact Melanie so that she can send you the invitation before the partners are assigned.  For the exchange, the spending cap is $15.00 for a small handmade gift or fabric goodie.  The wonderful thing about the exchange is that it gives us a chance to get to know someone better and research what they might like!  Of course, if Show and Tell is any indication, we will all ooohhhh and ahhhh over anything!  There is a place to add your own preferences– click on Add to Wishlist and select the Text tab at the top. Then mention anything you’ve been coveting.

Again, email Melanie or njmqginfo@gmail.com before October 25th if you haven’t received the email from Elfster!

Oh, and – the Holiday Party will be white wine friendly.  (You know, to protect the fabrics!) Bring a favorite holiday treat.

Victoria Findlay Wolfe

On November 11, 2013 we will be joining the Garden State Quilters for their event with Victoria Findlay Wolfe.  They are hosting us for FREE at the Chatham United Methodist Church in Chatham, NJ. Hospitality will begin at 6:45 and the Meeting will start at 7:00.  Since they are waiving our fee as members of NJMQG, be sure to bring identification as other guest will be charged $10.00.  We hope to see you there!

Open Sew

After such a success for the first open sew, we can’t wait to see everyone for the next open sew on November 7th.  We will be meeting once again at the Church of Latter Day Saints in North Caldwell at 209 Mountain Ave.  We are so thankful to Stephanie’s church and her efforts in spearheading our charity quilts.  Let us know if you would like to volunteer in those efforts!  We’ll post another blog post before this and you can RSVP in the comments.  Don’t forget to bring an extension cord with your machine if you are planning to sew.  Otherwise there is plenty of table space.

Guild Quilt

Next month we will be passing out fabric in our new logo’s color scheme to create a guild quilt.  Be on the lookout for more information as we create something special that represents us as a whole!  After the fabric is passed out, we’ll be sure to give a 2 month deadline for this project – of course, it will be hard to wait that long to see what everyone comes us with!

Cloud 9 Block Challenge

How exciting to see the winning blocks – (Way to go Jessica, Aubrey, and Josie!).  Next up – the finished quilt!

Block Party Bee

The newest Block Party will be kicking off next month and continue for the next 13 months.  It will be so wonderful to see these talented ladies contribute to 13 unique quilts over the next year.  I know I’m already looking to next August when it’s my turn to be Queen!

Quilting Retreat

Be on the lookout for more information on the retreat.  We will post an announcement soon with final details for this trip hosted March 21-23.  Don’t let “camping” fool you – there will be double beds and wonderful food.

And here it is, what you all came to relive – Show and Tell!