July 14, 2011 Meeting

Welcome- Have any new members introduce themselves (sign-in sheet and email sheet updated)
Member Book- we will be handing them out in August/September
Facebook- check us out and join our group on face book (Magic Valley Modern Quilt Guild) we are really going to being utilizing this forum as well as bumping up our presence on the blog.
Birthdays- Happy Birthday to Trina!!!

Summer Scramble- what a great way to get rid of unwanted things and find fun new things!
Picnic- we are planning a potluck picnic at the Thompson park on Aug. 4th at 6:00. the guild will be providing chicken. So sides, drinks, and desserts would be needed.
Bunting Swap-  lets swap! Trina and Tara, both of your buntings turned out amazing! 
Charity Quilt project- We have already had a few quilt tops turned back in! Way to go members let's try and reach our goal of 50!

Visit Our Blog: (http://magicvalleymodernquiltguild.blogspot.com/) Check the blog for the latest happenings, calendar of events and a newly updated look.
Intermission- snacks & socialize
Block of the Month- Our Mystery Block of the Month is turning out great, Don't forget to make your next two blocks: a House and a Square
Don't forget sewing night is July 23rd at 7pm
Show &  Tell-
Details for August 11th meeting
    -Demo- Hoops
    -Bring things for Show & Tell
    -A new swap will be announced
    -Sewing Night is August 20th, 2011 7-Midnight
  

What is a Quiltalong?

Maybe you have heard KZ and I talking about online quilt-alongs. Sometimes it is hard to describe things that are going on out there on the internet so I thought I would show some that I know about.

The fun thing about quilt-alongs in that you get very detailed photo instructions and a group of other quilters going through it too, offering help and support. Often there will be a Flickr group for the participants to show their blocks and finished quilts. You get to see how the same quilt looks in different fabrics. On Flickr, too, there is a discussion forum so you can talk with the other quilters.

Even if a quilt-along is over the information is still there and you can still participate.

Single Girl Quilt Along (based on a pattern) from I'm a Ginger Monkey
Supernova (free pattern given) from Freshly Pieced
Farmers Wife Sampler (based on a book) from Fresh Cuts
Blogger's Block-a-palooza (free patterns) from Quilt Dad and other bloggers
Paintbox Quilt (free pattern) from Oh, Fransson
Quilt as You Go (free tutorial) from Sew Take a Hike

There are so many quilt-alongs. Try typing it in Google or Flickr and see if there is anything that inspires you.

Tara

July Meeting Reminders

Hello all,
our July meeting is coming up. It is this Thursday at 7 o'clock at the Quilt Barn in Kimberly.
We love new visitors too so if you are a new quilter or experienced we would love to have you join us.
Here are a few reminders for the July meeting.

Bring your Mystery Quilt blocks. All of them. Last month you were asked to lay out your blocks and see what needed to be tweaked. What needed to be edited, added, etc. We would like you to tell us what you changed (if anything).

If you are participating in our latest swap, Bunting, then bring that. The new swap will be announced.

Bring your nametag. Members are fined .25 for a missed nametag.

Dues are up for renewal. It is 15$ for the year. We are putting together a member book so if you have any changes in your info let us know.

July is also our Free Yard Sale.This is the time to de-stash and clean out. Bring in your unfinished projects, patterns, magazines, books, fabric, notions, etc. that you dont need anymore. Bring something, take home new to you stuff.

I had an idea regarding the patterns we bring in. How about we have a member's lending library of patterns? We would have a box of patterns that could be signed out and returned. I would like a volunteer to manage the box of patterns and the sign out sheet.

I hope to see you all there this Thursday. As usual, there will be a giveaway and treats.

Tara

June 9th Meeting Recap

in case you missed the meeting or need a little refresher, here's what went down:

                                             Welcome!!!
Name Tags- Don’t forget to make your name tag at least 3” x 3” with your name on it.  (at the june sewing night we will be providing some fun supplies to make one if you don’t have one already)
Member Book- we will be handing them out in August.
Facebook- check us out and join our group on face book (Magic Valley Modern Quilt Guild) we are really going to being utilizing this forum as well as bumping up our presence on the blog (Trina is our go to facebook lady)
Summer Scramble- quilting yard swap at the July meeting, bring something get somethings (bring anything sewing related- notions, books, fabric, unfinished projects, etc. that you don't want anymore)
Picnic- we are planning a potluck picnic at the twin falls city park on Aug. 2nd at 6:00. This will be in addition to our regular meeting and sewing night (more details at the July meeting)
Bunting Swap-  Introducing the new swap, they will be due at the July 14th meeting. Make any size bunting for any occasion.
Charity Quilt project- we are going to be making quilts for the local foster program (quilts for teenagers are in great need) and we will also be making some for the joplin tornado victims. Our goal is to complete 50 quilts (but lets try for 100)! I know we can do this and really give back to the community! Tara has also made kits that can be checked out.
Visit Our Blog: (http://magicvalleymodernquiltguild.blogspot.com/) Check the blog for the latest happenings, calendar of events and a newly updated look. We will be starting member profiles again. I will be posting the agenda on the blog instead of sending it out in an email.
Intermission- snacks & socialize
Block of the Month- Let’s share our fifth block and find out what our sixth and seventh block is, don’t forget to bring your block next month. How is everyone liking the BOM and what do you think the theme is?
Demo-Needle case
Show &  Tell- We saw some great quilts and lots of fun things
Details for July 14th meeting
    -Demo- Hoops
    -Bring things for Show & Tell
    -A new swap will be announced
    -Sewing Night is June 23rd, 2011 7-Midnight
    -Any suggestions please email me (magicvalleymqg(at)gmail(dot)com)

Next Swap Bunting

Our last swap, Mini Quilts, was a huge success. We may need to do another.

Our next swap is another fun one, bunting. What is bunting? I will have some examples but you can also go to sites like flickr and google and type in bunting for inspiration. Moda Bakeshop probable has free patterns.

Forth of July from Sugar Tot Designs
Hankie Bunting from The Craft begins
Triangle Bunting from Whipper Berry

Any season, size and technique allowed. It can be as simple or as complicated as you like. I know what I am making and I hope you join me in this swap.
Another great way to use up your old scraps or the new ones you got at our last meeting.

Needle Keepers

Great meeting everyone. The Scrap Scramble was a blast. I sorted through the leftovers and am going to see what I can come up with for a charity quilt..

Here is a link to the strawberry needle keep that I used as my inspiration for the demo. Happy Zombie. She has some other fun free patterns so check them out too. Monica is the designer of one of my favorite Christmas fabric lines. It came out last year and the Quilt Barn carries it. Anyone else make something with it?

Next month is our Summer Blast free yard sale. Bring your unfinished (and unwanted) UFO's, fabric, notions, books, patterns, whatever and go home with new to you stuff.

Thanks to everyone who took home a kit for our 50 Quilts Drive. I cant wait to start seeing them finished. I have put the basket of kits under the big ironing table in out meeting room. If you want one or need another help yourself. That area will also be the drop off location. Dont forget to sign out the kit and back in when the top is done.

One last thing, we are on facebook! Come join us. Look us up under Magic Valley Modern Quilt Guild.

One last, last thing. Dues are due next month.

Paper Piecing

Our last meeting I discussed a bit about paper piecing, hoping to demystify it a bit.

I want to share with you this Flickr group, Ringo Pie. It is a virtual quilting bee where that month's theme is paper pieced. Check out the other pages to see the great blocks. This month's theme is packages and mail.

While you are at Flickr type in 'paper piecing' and check out the amazing photos.

I was so inspired through this search I found a free pattern for my quilt swap quilt. I have my fingers crossed I can pull it off.

We now have a Facebook group where we can chat. If you are on facebook look us up, Magic Valley Modern Quilters.

One last thing, this month's meeting and sewing night are combined. Many of our members are taking off on our usual date to attend Quilt Market in Salt Lake City. I can't wait to hear about everything.
Our combined meeting is May 21. I will be doing a quick demo on cathedral window blocks. See you there.