Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Meeting Minutes from August 28, 2013

Our next meeting is September 25.  Our next sew-in is September 8. 
  • Next Month's Swap is the Super Stalker Mini Quilts.  More details here and also below in the minutes.
Old Business

- Spoonflower quilts update: Both quilts Sold!  We raised $517 for the Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley!
New Business

Riley Blake basics modern quilt guild challenge! Any quilted thing can enter (a quilt, a bag) using Riley Blake fabrics (those who choose to participate will, receive free fabrics from the Modern Quilt Guild) and solids.

At our next meeting we will decide if we want to have a guild specific challenge, perhaps with prizes.

- We're having a One Day Sewing Retreat: Sunday, October 6, 9 am to 9 pm at Pink Castle Fabrics
  • Cost:  $20 includes lunch (pizza and salad); dinner is on your own.
  • Sign up here.  Space limits us to 18 people so sign up soon :)


Member Spotlight - Rossie! Visit her blog HERE.
- Next meeting: Rossie will interview Laura!


Skill School - Jenna’s Trapezoid Tutorial. Find the tutorial on her blog HERE.
At our next meeting we will learn the Six minute circle technique from Mary. 

Swaps: We had a Fat Quarter swap.   Next month's swap is the Super Stalker Mini Quilts.  More details Here.   Those who wish to participate randomly drew a name from a hat and will search the Internet, or go from the notes provided for inspiration.

Make a mini quilt that is less than 24" on each side, finished, for the September meeting for the guild member you are stalking.

Round Robin

Show and Share

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Weekly Round-Up - Late August 2013

Let's check in with how everyone has been doing, wrapping up their summer projects...

Amy has changed her blog to www.blotchandthrum.com and has a nice tutorial up about making a triangles quilt! 


She also posted about her lovely Drunkard's Daisies quilt!  Love this:


Check out Sarah's awesome paper piecing project!  


I blogged about my Mountain's quilt!  I have another one of these in my future...


Pam shares this lovely butterfly quilt that she made with friends.  There's another post about the finished quilt here.



Look at Lynn's stunning commission quilt for Jennifer Paganelli called "Lucky Girl"! 


Rossie's been a busy bee setting up a new newsletter and classes and redesigning her site, but she's also cranked out another quilt, which I love almost as I love the doggies in this photo:


I really adore this post from Dorie doing an Appliqué Methods Test - must read if you're looking to dive into the world of appliqué.

Ronit keeps churning out the baby quilts while her friends churn out the babies!  Check out this brilliant Sunspots project:

Okay - I've survived the Summer and am ready to get back to normal levels of business!  How about you?

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Meeting on Wednesday, Aug 28

There will be a meeting of the A2MQG on Wednesday, Aug 28 at 6:30pm at Pink Castle Fabrics.  

Please use the "Special Events" form on the Pink Castle Website to RSVP - this helps the store know how many chairs are needed.

Swaps: For this meeting we are doing a fat quarter swap:

Random FQ Swap:  Bring in 2 fat quarters, go home with two different fat quarters.  We’ll pile them in the center and go around the circle to choose.  First round clockwise, second round counterclockwise.  Make sure the FQs are quilt shop quality modern fabric.

FOR SEPTEMBER, we are doing the Secret Stalker Mini Quilt.  If you CANNOT attend the August meeting but would like to participate in this swap for September, please let Dorie know via email (tumblingblocks AT gmail.com).  You have to be able to attend the September meeting in order to participate.  

Secret Stalker Mini Quilt:  You are assigned a guild member to secretly make a mini quilt for.  You may need to stalk them online to find out what they love.  Identities will be revealed and gifts given at the September meeting.

If you are participating in the Round Robin, please bring your projects. Any concerns about the Round Robin can be emailed to Dorie.

Hope to see you there!
Jenna

Monday, August 12, 2013

Weekly Round-Up - Early August 2013

Thanks for your patience with this round-up, readers!  Let's see what's been going on this month:

Amy finished her Lotta Jansdotter quilt - love those colors! 



Debbie has been busy as always!  Did you guys catch this log cabin project she finished a couple of weeks ago?


And she's been productive at the Great Ann Arbor Quilt Guild's Quilting Unlimited workshop!  She taught her bias-tape applique technique, and also took a class on abstract mini quilts (using fusible interfacing).  So cool!


Rossie has posted a book review of "Geared for Guys."  A really cool conversation is ignited regarding gender roles and continued in the comments - go check it out.

Welcome to our new member Sarah!  She blogs at hiptopiecesquares.com (LURVE that name!) and makes all sorts of fabulous things, including this amazing quilted bag!



Look at this lovely Swoon quilt Pam finished for her nephew!  It's beautiful! 


Ronit made this vibrant blanket using her own experimental process!


And have you guys seen that Kathy's updated her site for her long-arm business?  Check it out - you can now use Pink CAstle Fabrics as a place to drop-off and pick-up your projects for quilting!


Charitable Quilt Auction Winners!

I am so happy to announce that the eBay quilt auction is over and was a great success!


Quilt A sold for $260 with 36 bids
Quilt B sold for $257 with 24 bids

That's $517 for the Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley!  How exciting!

Thanks to everyone who worked on these quilts, especially Jennifer B. for organizing the original project with Spoonflower, Kathy for the quilting, and Rossie and Debbie for the photography!


Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Meeting Minutes from July 31, 2013

There will be a sew-in on Sunday from 12 - 4pm if there is enough interest. If you would like to attend, please notify Pink Castle Fabrics by booking your space HERE ASAP..


For the next meeting (Wed Aug 28th at 6:30pm) the Swap will be: Random Fat Quarter Swap:  Bring in 2 fat quarters, go home with two different fat quarters.  We’ll pile them in the center and go around the circle to choose.  First round clockwise, second round counterclockwise.  Make sure the FQs are quilt shop quality modern fabric.

Old Business
- We welcomed many new members and visitors!


- Spoonflower quilts auction: August 4 - 11 on eBay. Two different quilts with their own listing. The HHVA will notify their membership in their August 6th newsletter. Please share information about this quilt via social media, your friends, co-workers, and family members : )

- Membership in National Guild: We are in progress.

New Business
- Upcoming Sewing Retreats to be held at the Hankerd Inn:
- January 30 - February 2
- June 26 - 29th

Member Spotlight - Jenna Brand
  • Dorie is next month's Spotlit Member.


Skill School - Binding by Lynn Harris
  • Next month Jenna will attempt to teach her super special Trapezoid piecing method.

Round Robin


This month's "swap" was a X and + Block Lottery. Debbie won!

Show and Share

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Charitable Quilt Auction!

The Ann Arbor Modern Quilt Guild is proud to have charitable giving as one of the core principals of our organization.  Through the eBay Giving Works program, we are thrilled to announce the auction of these two beautiful, vibrant, modern twin-sized quilts with 100% of earnings going to the Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley. 



The auction is August 4 - 11th.
Spoonflower, Inc was kind enough to donate a considerable amount of bright, lively fabrics designed by independent textile artists. Our guild members incorporated these fabrics with other solids donated from Pink Castle Fabrics to create these stunning blankets. 

Below is a picture of Quilt A - it measures approximately 58" x 88" (large enough for a twin bed).



Contributors to the piecing of this quilt include multiple nationally recognized quilters.  Members of our guild have  been published in many quilting magazines including Generation Q, have had quilts showcased at national shows including Quiltcon and the International Quilt Festival, have been on television programs such as Quilting Arts TV, and teach sewing classes all around the country.  





We chose Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley as the organization to receive our earnings because we love seeing the incredible dedication this group has for Washtenaw County. The HHHV works tirelessly to provide families with affordable, beautiful homes in our community.  Many of our members have seen the difference the HHHV has made in their own neighborhoods, transforming and renovating homes in need of care and pairing them with deserving families.   



Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Washtenaw County, Michigan and and is an affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI).






Sewists who worked on the piecing of this quilt include: Dorie Schwarz, Jenna Brand, Amy Stevenson, Kathy Koch, Rossie Hutchinson, Debbie Grifka, Jennifer Bernstein, Ginia Forrester, Amy Dietrich, Emily Shildhouse, Brenda Ratliff, Courtney Meszaros, and Ashley Day.



Below is a picture of Quilt B - it measures approximately 58" x 91" (large enough for a twin bed).




Kathy Koch of Threadbear quilting performed the gorgeous, unique long-arm quilting on both of these blankets.  Kathy is a professional quilter who uses a Gammil machine with a state-of-the-art computerized Statler Stitcher.





Thank you for supporting the Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley, and emotionally supporting our guild as we strive to use our skills to help our community.