Thursday, April 28, 2016

April 27, 2016 Meeting Minutes

Old Business
  • Snacks
    • Thank you to the following people who signed up for snacks
      (May: Jessica M & Kim N; Jun: Jude F & Maggie W; Jul: Debbie T (we need someone for beverages); Aug: Kim U & Susan U; Sep: Jackie McG & Denise A; Oct: Emily S & Jody E; Nov: Pam E & Karen B.
  • Penny Lehman Class
    • Sign-ups are now closed for the guild and any open spots will be given to the DAMQG.
    • They do need assistance with setup and provision of ironing boards and irons (Contact Giedra or Vicky if you can help)
  •  National Teachers
    • Still working on Chris T for October or November. Looking at having him teach as part of a retreat and probably at Howell so everyone who wants to attend, can.  It was suggested that we make sure he doesn't have a class size limit (Giedra will verify).
  • Sew-Ins and Retreats
    • A test run was held at Ann Arbor Library on April 8th.  It is a nice space with plenty of outlets. Unfortunately it was not well attended.  One big issue is that we cannot have food there and another is that the schedule is very tight for all day sewing (not many Sunday dates available)
    • Giedra has had a look at New Center which also is very nice. More to come on that at future meetings. She feels it is an amazing space but the contact person is out until June 1.
  • Zingerman's Foodie Challenge
    • 16 people have signed up so far - would like to have 20.
    • Final registration form needs to be turned in with your quilt at the May meeting.
    • Make sure your mini-quilt is labeled and has a hanging sleeve or hanging corners.
    • Giedra needs help with hanging the quilts and take down.  Let her know if you are available on Thursday the 2nd and/or Sunday the 5th of June.
    • Results of viewer choice voting will be announced at June meeting.
  • Michigan Avenue Yard Sale
    • Jackie Mills offered her yard but there does not appear to be enough interest to take part so we will table this idea for this year.
  •  MQG membership cards are in.  See Jackie Mills if you didn't get yours.
  • Charity Quilts
    • We have a box for donations (need more!)
    • Members are bringing dies and die cutters to the meeting. Suggested to keep the meeting from running long that members use the social time before the meeting to cut fabric (or quietly while the meeting is running)
    • Pam Lincoln received a letter from Mott. She will forward it to Amy D.
    • Board is continuing to look at the idea of relay or team charity quilts. Contact Karen Burton if you are interested in forming a team.
    • Anyone who takes part in a charity quilt will have their name put in a drawing for a prize at the end of the year.
    • We will also reinstate having a charity corner at all retreats (although it was noted that this is entirely voluntary).
    • Charity challenge - 12-1/2" blocks in red/white/or blue to make quilts for the Veterans. Bring to May & June meetings.
New Business
  • Jackson Pieces and Patches Quilt Guild brought a sample raffle quilt and made a presentation on their Annual Quilt Show which is May 14-15 at Jackson Catholic Middle School.  See http://jacksonquiltguild.blogspot.com for more information.
  • GAAQG is hosting Cathy Miller at the May Quilt Day - May 21.  She also is giving a hexie class on that Sunday. See http://www.gaaqg.com for more details.
  • Casual Quilters of Brighton are having a quilter to quilter sale on May 2nd at St. Patrick's Church.
  • Board is also considering an "Introduce a Friend to Quilting" day.  There was interest in this event from attendees.
Library: 7 new books - all with a modern slant!  See Kim U to borrow.

Member Spotlight: Kim Ulrich


 Skill School: Lynn Harris - Pressing Matters!

We shared our Upcycle Challenge projects (this month's Swap) as well as progress on Round Robin quilts and our monthly Show and Share.


Thank you Pam for taking photos for me. These are a mix of the upcycle challenge and our show and share.  (NOTE: Since we forgot to ask, if you do not wish your photo posted above, let me know and I will remove it.)

~Kathy Koch
Secretary

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

March 30, 2016 Meeting Minutes

Old Business
  • Sew-Ins
    • Board decided that Quilting Season is probably not going to work for our needs. 
    • Looking into Ann Arbor District Library free space - main branch downtown (see FB page for more details or contact Giedra). First sew-in set for Friday, April 8, 5:00-8:30pm.  No food is allowed at this venue.
    • Looking for May time frame for an all-day sew.
    • A suggestion was made to look into Cleary University in Howell.
  • Foodie Challenge
    • Quilts are due at the May meeting
    • Show is at Zingerman's from June 3-5
    • Open to A2MQG members only
    • There will be a pre-registration form on the FB page and here (BLOG). Need to provide an estimate of size.  Due next meeting (April).
    • Need volunteers to hang and label
  • Membership
    • Jackie has not received membership cards yet from MQG
    • Email was sent to members with a PDF of member emails. Let Jackie know if you did not receive
  • Pie-Making Day Challenge
    • Winner was Ginia Forrester
New Business
  • DAMQG and A2MQG Co-Sponsor Penny Lehman (@sewtakeahike)
    •  Penny will be presenting a paper-piecing class in concert with her teaching at GlampStitchaLot.
    • Wednesday, June 1, 10am-2pm, Location in Canton - Cost: $45
    • Attendees will receive a Faygo and Guild logos in order to complete their project which is a hot pad
    • Each guild gets 10 spots - first come, first served.  If you want to attend let Giedra know immediately.  However, spots will be saved by check received by her - it won't hold your spot to just say your intent.
  • Giedra is working on getting Chris Thomson (the Tattooed Quilter) to give a class in early fall. It will probably be a one day class on one of these dates > Sep 10-11, Sep 17-18 or Oct 15-16. We will not be hosting Lizzy House at present due to cost and too fast a turnaround to find a suitable location.
  • Giedra would like members to give her ideas on what they want to learn - what she should be looking for when bringing in national or local teachers.
  •  Retreats
    • Amanda is working with Giedra on ideas for bringing in teachers to a retreat
    • Still looking at possible dates for Late June thru August
    • Ideas for location include Hankerd Inn, St. Johns retreat in Plymouth, Howell Nature Preserve, or Creative Passions (which is almost to Birch Run)
  • Guild is re-instituting a snack sign-up for the social 1/2 hour before the meeting. We need volunteers for next meeting.
  • The Board is looking into doing the Hwy 12 / Michigan Ave Yard Sale.  We can use Jackie's yard, but she will be out of town.
  • Charity Quilts - Amy S bought a box and added some fabric to start for kits or backs.  A suggestion was made to have a 'pass along' project where someone signs up for cutting, someone else piecing, sewing, quilting, binding...   We will be able to promote the sale of the eBay auctions at the Foodie Challenge - Zingerman's will have a space for signage (not big enough to show the quilts themselves).  The Board plans on future charity projects to just donate the entire quilt to the charity to let them auction it themselves.
  • Library
    • We are taking advantage of Pink Castle's book sale and will be purchasing approximately 6 modern quilt related books for the guild library.  Debbie G noted that she and other get a discount with Fons & Porter (F&W publishing) plus several members have wholesale accounts (e.g., Checker) where they can purchase books often at 40% discount. 
    • There is a book missing from the library - if anyone knows the where-abouts of Kathy Schmidt's "Rule Breaking Quilts", let Kim know.
    • It was also suggested that members follow various blog hops to attempt to win books for the library
    • Anyone with good modern quilting books they no longer need, please feel free to donate
  • Member Spotlight - Amy Stevenson ; next month - Kim Ulrich
  • Skill School - Cheryl Smallwood demo'd Board Basting
  • Swap
    • Favorite Tool Yankee swap was held
    • next month - Up-cycle Challenge: bring something made by upcycling (e.g., using clothing, vintage linens, bag hardware) - does not need to be a quilt but does need to be 'sewn'
NEXT MEETING: Wednesday, April 27

Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Koch