#QuiltsforPeace and #OperationComfort

We wanted to update you on a call to action we have been answering in response to the Dallas shooting.  Two very worthy drives have been started started to support the families of the fallen police officers and the police officers who are living with the tragedies of the event. Here are some ways to help out:

#QuiltsforPeace
The Dallas Modern Quilt Guild along with the Fort Worth and McKinney Modern Quilt Guilds are collecting heart blocks for the #quiltsforpeace campaign.  See Instagram for more information here.  

We are collecting 10.5' (unfinished) quilt blocks of blue hearts with white backgrounds to make 50X60" quilts. These are similar to the rainbow blocks as we are still collecting for the #quiltsforpulse campaign and the tutorial can be found here.  Even if you have time to make just one heart it would be a huge help to the effort! You can drop your block(s) off at Stitched with Love or the FW MQG is accepting them in person (M-T 8:30AM-6:30PM) or by mail: Ann Revard C/O University Counseling Center, 1533 Merrimac Circle, Suite 101, Fort Worth, 76107

If you have the time and would like to sew with others, there are 3 Sew-In’s scheduled:
1. July 17th1-5pm at Dallas Downtown Library, 5th Floor in the Hamon Room. 1515 Young St, Dallas 75201
2. July 24th, 10am - ? at Urban Spools in Dallas.  Casa Linda Plaza, 1152 N. Buckner Blvd #121, Dallas 75218
3. July 30th, 10am-5pm at Sew Fabricated in Pantego / Arlington.  2899 W. Pioneer Parkway, Pantego 76013

You can also join McKMQG at our 5th Friday Community Sew Day on July 29th for 6:30 PM-9:00 PM at Stitched with Love. The evening plan will be to assemble the #quiltsforpulse and #quiltsforpeace blocks which have been generously donated.

If you cannot attend any of these events but want to contribute we will also need people to quilt and bind these creations!  Please contact us via our Facebook page & our Charity Quilts coordinator will get in touch.  

#OperationComfort
Operation Comfort is collecting quilts to be donated to the first-responders in our community.  Lynn explained it best on her Stitched with Love blog:  “It started with a simple phone call that has spread nation-wide.  We are gathering quilts to be given to those that have that special calling and took the oath to serve and protect.  Those especially that were targeted last Thursday in Dallas.  We are hoping to deliver the quilts the first week of August - so there is an urgency to the mission.  There are several drop off locations around the country, or you can send your quilt to us here at Stitched with Love, 500 N. Custer Rd. Ste 110, McKinney, TX  75071.  We also have an email set up - operationcomfortdallas@outlook.com for questions. To go to the official Facebook site, click here.  We would love it if you could help reach our goal.”  Lynn is sponsoring Sew-In Days for Operation Comfort July 12-25 from 10-4 at Stitched with Love in McKinney, TX.    


We understand life is busy for everyone so any little thing you can do to help out would be wonderful. If you have any questions or wish to volunteer for the quilting or binding of the quilts please feel free to contact us via our Facebook page and our Charity Quilts coordinator will get in touch!

July Meeting Minutes 2016

Pre-Meeting   

We had such fun socializing and putting all our blocks up, we didn't have any pre-meeting activities other than social hour!  

Call to Order  

Our July meeting was called to order at 6:31 by our President, Stephanie Schroer.  

Swap


We started off with a bang!  Our nametag swap had a ton of participation and once again, we got to see how talented all our members are.  We had so many different examples of how such a small project can be completed with so much creativity! 

Committee Reports   

Our committee reports will be posted online now.  We want plenty of time to interact, have fun, and show and tell our projects.  See the minutes every month to stay in the loop with the following information:  
Membership: We had 52 members in attendance and 11 guests.  
Treasurer: We started with $5050.91, expenses were $246.50 and income was $150.00.  We ended with $4954.41.  
Secretary: Minutes from July 2016 are posted to the website (in fact you're reading them right now).  June minutes were never posted, however they will be completed by the August meeting.  Apologies everyone!

Community Service   

Community Service Sew Days have commenced!  Join the McKMQG on fifth Fridays of the month from 6-9 pm at Stitched with Love.  We will learn a new modern sewing technique or pattern and create quilts for our charity, Alberta's Hope.  Future dates include: Jul 29, Sept 30, and Dec 30.  Join us on July 29th from 6-9 pm at Stitched with Love!  
Dusty also accepts donations of fat quarter's (FQ's) up to completed quilts for our charity at the start of each guild meeting.  At our charity sew days, we mostly use donated orphan fat quarters to make charity quilts - this is a great opportunity for your mystery (i.e. it's a mystery why I bought this) FQ's or half-yards sitting idle in your stash.  You'll be entered in a drawing for a prize with quilt, quilt topor FQ(+) fabric donations.    

We will also be collecting blocks for #QuiltsforPulse up until Charity Sew night.   

Business   

We now have a set-up and tear-down sign-up for individual meetings!  It's a great way to contribute to the guild and socialize without much responsibility.  See the sign-up form to volunteer.  If there's another way you'd like to be involved, there's space for you to enter your ideas as well!  
Our President, Stephanie, has created a questionnaire for us.  Your board members want to know what you most want out of guild so we can continue to have fun together while being inspired in our crafty lives.  The link was sent in an email.  Please take a few minutes to let us know how we can best serve you.    
We are in the middle of our a new monthly challenge called Modern Mystery Block of the Month, created by Alice Dutton.  Our goal as a modern guild is to create together and continue to learn more about modern quilting techniques -- this should help expand your arsenal of quilting skills!  Our Modern Mystery quilt will be revealed one block at a time.  You must attend the meetings (or pick up an extra paper copy at Stitched with Love) to participate.  We will not post pattern instructions online.  This month's block is "The Bird Has Flown the Coop" and measures 12.5" X 24.5."  Bring back your completed block next month and you will be entered into a drawing to win a PRIZE.  Leftover patterns not handed out at guild will be left at Stitched with Love, first come first serve.  Once they're gone, they're gone!  If you need help constructing the block, e-mail alicedutton at gmail dot com.   Tag your creations on social media with #modernmysterybom and #mckmqg.    
Retreat this summer will be held at Create-Away Cottagenear Collinsville, TX, about 40 miles/50 minutes north of Stitched with Love.  The price is $130 for July 22-24th (Friday-Sunday), food is not included in the price.  Attendance will be limited to 14 participants – we chose this location based on guild participation at last year's summer retreat - we can have a great small gathering to really get to know everyone.  All monies are now due.
Our quilting bee queens collected blocks.  If you want to participate in or join a bee, we have a sign up sheet at the check-in desk.  This month, Allyson's group took a month off and Ellyn's group made Joellen faux cathedral window quilt blocks.   
Triad Modern Quilt Guild and McKinney Modern Quilt Guild will both host a Triad meets McKinney Mini Quilt Swap! If you haven't started your quilt, get going!  Quilts are due at next meeting.  Bring your completed mini to the August 2nd meeting and guild will ship to guild so NO EXTRAS for this swap, and we will receive quilts at the September 5th meeting.  If you do not send a quilt, you will not receive a quilt.   

Program  

This month we discussed labeling techniques.  We discussed information to put on the label including unique things, like the name of the longarmer, a saying or quote, number of pieces in the quilt, size of the quilt, hashtag for a social media sharing, recipient name, photo of the maker, or name of a guild/swap the quilt was made for.  You could also include a message to encourage quilts to be used, list washing instructions, or use special QR code for a story quilt label from "Story Patch Quilts."  You can also make labels out of a lot of different things - put selvedges in the quilt, embroider on twill tape, pre-printed labels, print your own label at home, print your own label via Spoonflower, or use rubber stamps to ink a label.  You can apply labels prior to quilting or stitch labels into binding for more permanent labels.  

Upcoming programs - Next month Martha Wolf will discuss Quilt Shows with us - come listen and learn how you too, can enter a show and become a winner!    

End of Meeting Fun  

Show & tell!  As we grow we will continue to ask our members to show their best finishes for the month and discuss why their creation is modern.  Several birthday certificates were handed out.  Door prizes were drawn!  Join us for our next meeting!  

Next Meeting: August 2 @ 6:30, 6:00 social hour

July Newsletter

MCKMQG July Announcements & Meeting Reminders
Our next meeting is Tuesday, July 5, 6:30pm at Stitched with Love. Social time will be from 6-6:30. We can’t wait to see you!

July Program: Labeling Quilts
Bring your ideas and examples of fun and creative ways to label quilts. We’ll share in small groups!

Nametag Swap
Last month we drew names, this month you’ll bring name tags! Can’t wait to see your fun creations.

Retreat
4 spots are still available for the summer retreat. Sign up now for summer retreat at Create-away Cottage  $130 for Fri July 22- Sunday July 24 (food not included- to be determined by retreat-goers at a later time). Remember to bring final payments for the retreat with you to the meeting this month.

Quilts for Pulse
Join us in supporting the Orlando Modern Quilt guild by making one or two heart blocks for a guild donation quilt. We’re asking members to make 10” heart blocks using this Cluck Cluck Sew tutorial. Please use low-volume fabrics for the background and a print  that reads as mostly one color for the heart. Use vibrant rainbow-like colors - Pick one: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue or Purple. Hearts will be arranged in rainbow order when we assemble the quilt during our Community Sew on July 29.

Modern Mystery Block of the Month
As announced last month, we are doing a new monthly challenge. Everyone who finishes their block this month is invited to put them on the front design wall so we can see all the fun variations- a fabulous prize will go to one lucky participant! If you need directions for the block, copies are available at the front register at Stitched with Love.  Tag your finished block from May on instagram with the guild tag: #mckmqg and #modernmysterybom

Bee Blocks
Can’t wait to see what our bee groups are creating. Check out the bee hashtags on instagram: #sewbeeit and #mckmqgb3

Show & Tell
Bring & share your finishes from this month.

McKinney Meets Triad Mini Quilt Swap
How’s your swap quilt coming? Remember they are due at the August meeting! #triadmeetsmckswap


Mark your Calendars!
Friday July 22- Sun July 24: Summer Retreat at Create-away Cottage  $130 (food not included- to be determined by retreat-goers at a later time). Bring cash or check to meeting and use this form to sign up.
Friday July 29: 6-9pm  Community Sew
Tuesday, August 2: Guild Meeting and Triad Swap Mini Quilts Due

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