Pillow scrap swap

If you were at our April meeting, you heard talk about swapping scraps for pillow toppers. I hope you have been collecting some of your scraps for the swap. I have! Bet you can't guess what colors are going in my bag (yes, there's some aqua in there for sure). But enough about me. I thought I'd share some details and ideas with you here in case you are confused.
disclaimer: all photos are of pillows I have made over the last few years. 

Here's how the swap will work. You bring a bag  (a gallon zip loc bag is perfect) of your own scraps to our next meeting, on May 5. When you arrive, there will be a form for you to fill out and tuck in with your scraps. Later in the meeting, we will all swap bags. You will take home the bag you receive and make a 16" removable pillow cover. At our June 2 meeting you will present the original scrap owner with her new pillow cover! You don't need to provide the pillow form for inside.


Some guidance on gathering scraps:

Keep in mind that we are a Modern Quilt Guild! At least some of your scraps should lean toward the modern tradition, perhaps some solids, text prints or low volume.

You may want to provide a piece big enough for the pillow back (a half yard would be ample).

send scraps that you will be happy to display in your home.
english paper piecing? Why not!

For reference, here is how the Modern Quilt Guild website describes modern quilting:

Modern quilts are primarily functional and inspired by modern design. Modern quilters work in different styles and define modern quilting in different ways, but several characteristics often appear which may help identify a modern quilt. These include, but are not limited to: the use of bold colors and prints, high contrast and graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piecing, minimalism, expansive negative space, and alternate grid work. "Modern traditionalism" or the updating of classic quilt designs is also often seen in modern quilting.



Some guidance on making a pillow cover from the scraps you receive:

You can make any style pillow you wish, with an envelope back, a zipper, or whatever your preferred method of closure is.

Make sure to incorporate at least 2 elements of modern quilting, as described above. If quilting in the modern style is "not your thing", a small project like this is perfect for trying something new! You might find that you enjoy it after all.

Make something you would love to receive. Put your best work into this, knowing that another member is doing the same for you.

You may add ONE fabric of your own to the scraps provided, if you feel you need a background (solid, reads solid, tone on tone) but please don't change the tone or color way of what you have been given.

Need some ideas? There are oodles of fabulous pillows out there on the web, some with great tutorials. Here is a link to my pinterest board full of pillows I love. This Flickr group has some terrific examples too. Be careful not to blatantly copy another quilters work. Be inspired by them and do your own thing.


Some basic swap etiquette:

Follow through! Nobody wants to be left hanging without a pillow in the end. If you cannot complete your swap item due to unforeseen circumstances, let me know as soon as possible so someone else can step in and help you out.

Often swap partners provide extra goodies with their swap. That is not required or expected this time around.

Most of all, have fun! I can't wait to see what we all come up with.


RETREAT

Super exciting message from Lisa Hauth:

Hi Everyone.  At the last meeting we talked about doing a couple of Quilt retreats at Sunset Retreat in Sunset Texas.  The official dates are as follows:  June 11 - 14 and September 17 - 20.  Please email me at sewmodernquilts@gmail.com if you are interested in attending either or both retreats.  I will send you a form to fill out and send directly to Sunset Retreat.  Or feel free to email me with any questions.

Here's a link to their website:
Sunset Retreat

I hope you can join us!


March 2015 Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes of the meeting of 3th of March 2015

The meeting was called to order by President Sarah Huechteman on time.
 33 members and 9 guests were in attendance.

Committee Reports
Welcomed and performed introductions of guests.  Advised that last month’s minutes have been not posted on the blog yet, but will be after the meeting. 

Treasury report was given by Chris.

Stephanie discussed charity blocks were collected. Goal of 10 charity quilts for the year.  Charity quilt kits were made and offered up for people to take home to complete.  Charity sew day is March 29th here at Stitched With Love from 1 pm to 5 pm.  Mary won the charity drawing.

New Business
Catherine is running the bi-monthly member spot light.  If you want to be spotlighted, go to http://bit.ly/mckmqg People will be randomly selected and spot lighted twice a month.

Discussed the new bee blocks.  See Ellyn or Sara if you are interested in joining a bee.

Spring Challenge fabric has not been received yet from Riley Blake.  
Bettepat will be selling fat eighth bundles of the MQG challenge fabrics in case you missed the sign up.  Ten fat eigths for $15.

Tshirts are available for purchase.  $20 per shirt.

One Yard Rip off occurred.  Make whatever you want with the fabric that you received during the rip off. There will be a prize drawing for those that make something.

Lee Monroe of May Chappell presented her trunk show and presentation.

Low volume fat quarters were collected. Three drawings occurred.  Paula, Alice, Lynn won. Each month we will have a theme for fat quarters.  Anyone who wants to participate brings a fat quarter for the lot and receives a ticket.  Drawings are held to win the lot of fat quarters.  Next month’s theme is modern pastel.

No new name tags. 

Show and tell occurred.

Door Prize drawings occurred.

Birthday certificates were handed out.

Pay your dues. $50 cash or check.

QuiltCon presentation and review next month.

Next Meeting at 6:30 on April 7th.

Meeting was adjourned timely.

Things to bring to February’s Meeting:
·      Any fabric to be donated to community service
·      Community Service blocks. 
·      Finished community service quilt
·      Bee Blocks
·      Modern Pastel quarter(s) lottery
·      Your One Yard Rip-Off Project
·      2015 dues ($50, cash or check accepted only)


February 2015 Meeting Minutes

Meeting Minutes of the meeting of 3th of February 2015

The meeting was called to order by President Sarah Huechteman on time.
 33 members and 4 guests were in attendance.

Committee Reports
Welcomed and performed introductions of guests.  Advised that last month’s minutes have been not posted on the blog yet, but will be after the meeting. 

Treasury report was given by Chris.

Stephanie discussed charity blocks were collected. Goal of 10 charity quilts for the year.  Charity quilt kits were made and offered up for people to take home to complete.  Charity sew day is March 29th here at Stitched With Love from 1 pm to 5 pm.  Kristy Pratt won the charity drawing.

New Business
Discussed the new bee blocks.  See Ellyn or Sara if you are interested in joining a bee.

Lee Monroe will be our speaker next month doing a trunk show.  She will have a trunk show and discuss pattern designing.  There will also be a workshop with her on Feb 28th, a week before her presentation at our guild.  The workshop is organized through Stitches with Love.  Pattern for All Sewn Up.  Workshop is 10:30 to 4:30 and costs $50 and 14 people is the limit.  Guild members get priority seats.

Bettepat will be selling fat eighth bundles of the MQG challenge fabrics in case you missed the sign up.

We are going to pick our own color of the year since we don’t like the Pantone color of the year.  We will be doing a one yard rip off of the color of the year color next month. Horizon Blue from Bella Solids was chosen. 

Red and Pink fat quarters were collected. Three drawings occurred.  Paula, Alice, Lynn won. Each month we will have a theme for fat quarters.  Anyone who wants to participate brings a fat quarter for the lot and receives a ticket.  Drawings are held to win the lot of fat quarters.  Next month’s theme is Pink and Red.

 No new name tags. 

QuiltCon tshirts will be distributed after the meeting.

Mug Rug Swap occurred.

Next month’s fat quarter lottery them is low volume.

Program was longarm quilters discussing their trade.

Show and tell occurred.

Door Prize drawings occurred.

Download the app for quiltcon on your phone.

Chris still has some availability for her apartment.  Contact her for details.


Quiltcon will be annually going forward.

Membership spotlight will begin next month.  Members will be highlighted on the blog.

Birthday certificated were handed out.

Door prize drawings occurred.

Next Meeting at 6:30 on March 3rd.

Meeting was adjourned timely.



Things to bring to March’s Meeting:
·      Any fabric to be donated to community service
·      Community Service block
·      Finished community service quilt
·      Bee Blocks
·      Low Volume fat quarter(s) lottery
·      1 Yard of fabric for One Yard Rip-Off (Horizon Blue by Bella Solids)
·      2015 dues ($50, cash or check accepted only)


Items, Blogs, and other interesting items mentioned:
N/A

Join us for our April Meeting!

There are many reasons to join us this Tuesday, April 7 @ 6:30pm for our April Meeting at Stitched with Love, but we thought we'd point out the top 5:
5. Chance to win a TON of fat quarters (bring modern pastels)
4. Show & Tell
3. Hear all about QuiltCon from members who attended
2. Show off your 1 yard ripoff item
1. Friends, Fun and FABRIC!!


See you on Tuesday!!