QuiltCon Block Challenge

By now, most of you know about the Modern Quilt Guild convention next year, called QuiltCon. There is a block challenge associated with the convention. Detailed information is posted on the Modern Quilt Guild website.  Wouldn't it be great if all of our members got involved? Yes!

March Meeting Activities

It's almost time for our guild's monthly meeting! I don't know about the rest of you, but I live for our get togethers! I always leave a meeting and/or sew-in feeling energized, inspired, and happy! For those that may not know, our meetings are held the 3rd Saturday of each month at Strawberry Patches, 2:00 - 4:00.

This month's meeting will include a hands-on tutorial on how to make a kaleidoscope block. Pam will be bringing some Happy Moochie Yum Yum fabrics, already cut and ready for sewing. If you'd rather use your own fabrics, just bring enough to make a block. Also bring your sewing machine and usual quilting tools. We will learn how to get all those points to come together in the middle!

We are also having a swap this month. Bring a quart-sized baggie full of scraps. Please think about how the scraps will work together, and make the pieces big enough to handle. Mark the baggie with your name. We will be swapping these baggies, and the recipient will be making something from the scraps, i.e. a pouch, mug rug, pot holder, mini quilt, etc. Use your imagination, and make it fun! Keep in mind that 75% of the finished project must contain the scraps contained in the baggie. Finished projects will be returned to the baggie owner at the May meeting.

Shop news: Strawberry Patches is expecting the Flea Market Fancy line, by Denyse Schmidt, to arrive at the shop this coming week. Get your name on the waiting list if you want some of this yummy fabric! Suzanne has promised a give-away and a challenge, so stay tuned!

Bolts to Binding will be moving to their new location on the weekend of the 23rd. Therefore, our sew-in date and location has been changed. We will be meeting at the new location, 930 Wible Road, on Saturday the 31st, 10:00 0 4:00. The new location is where JM's for Children used to be, on the corner of Wible Road, just south of Belle Terrace Avenue. After this month, we will be meeting for our sew-ins on the 3rd Saturday of each month, as usual.

See you all on Saturday!

Lynn

Book Review - Quilts from the House of Tula Pink

Two days ago I received a wonderful surprise. My signed copy of “Quilts from The House of Tula Pink” had arrived! I am in love with the colorful and delightful whimsy of Tula Pink’s fabrics and this book is just more of the same ….. The cover is beautiful and there are full page photos of her newest quilts. The photography took my breath away! The book features ten quilts, along with ten “companion” projects for each quilt.

The projects vary from the expected pillows to a lampshade and even a shower curtain. Personal notes are sprinkled throughout. Included are various techniques in quilting, such as half-square triangles, fussy cutting, scrappy fusing as well as the basics of squaring up, binding and color selection. After attending the BMQG class “Color Play” taught by Nancy Rink, I can really appreciate Tula’s explanation of color and pattern combinations. She encourages the reader to design their own quilt and discusses her own design process. The importance of choosing the right quilting is emphasized as a key to creating “the voice” of each quilt.

“To the quilter, fabric is art.” p. 35. My very favorite thing about this book is that I felt like I was sitting down with Tula herself. She is an artist and encourages the artists in each of us to make these projects our own – to allow ourselves to break the rules and have fun!

This book review was written by BMQG member, Lana Elfstrom. You can read more about Lana at her blog: http://www.elfqueenof5.com

Quiltcon Block Challenge

A new challenge has been issued for the Quiltcon Modern Quilt Guild convention! I think we should start brainstorming and get involved! Wouldn't it be great if several (or all) of our guild members submitted something? Find all of the details at quiltcon.com.

Question of the Week

What quilt block, pattern or technique would you like to try, but haven't had the courage to do yet? And why does that block/pattern/technique scare you?

Change of Date and Location for March Sew-In

This month's sew-in was scheduled to be held at Bolts to Binding's current location on March 24th. The store will be moving to the new location during that same weekend, so we are moving the sew-in to Saturday, March 31st, at the shop's new location. The new location will be in the building where JM's for Children used to be, 930 Wible Road, just south of Belle Terrace, on the corner of Wible Road and Wood Lane. The sew-in times are still the same: 10:00 to 4:00. The shop and the classroom will be much bigger, so let's help them break in their new digs!

baby bumps

Two of the cutest ladies! Our BMQG family is obviously expanding, in more ways than one!