Madrona Road Challenge Update

We hope you are all working on creating something fun with your bundle of Madrona Road fabrics! The challenge is to use the fat 1/8th bundles, combined with solid fabrics of your choosing, to create anything you'd like. You may also use any colorway or combination of the Madrona Road line. The Modern Quilt Guild has requested that you post pictures of your progress and your finished projects to the flickr group set up for the challenge. Michael Miller will be checking the flickr group pictures, and they may select some of the projects for display in their booth at Quiltcon. 

A Bit of Inspiration

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm loving this cooler weather! This is the time of year that my creative juices start to get going. I want to bake, knit, sew, quilt, paint...I want to do it all! If only we had more hours in a day! 

Pam sent me a link to the free pattern to make the Belle Wave Quilt. The pattern is by Faith Jones of Fresh Lemon Quilts, using Art Gallery Fabrics. This quilt looks like it would come together in a snap, and it would be a great stash buster! 

I found a fun tutorial on making candy corn blocks. I think the block(s) would be great for making a fall themed mug rug, table runner, or table topper! You can find the tutorial on the blog of Canton Village Quiltworks. 

I'm going to pour myself another cup of coffee and go do something creative! 

Cheers,

Lynn

Cheers For Our Members!

The last couple of months have been busy for the BMQG! As the president of this group, I get a lot of joy from watching our group grow and expand their quilting horizons. I would like to acknowledge a few of our members, and let you know what they have been up to:

Liz, Pam, and Nicci, all participated in making blocks for the MQG QuiltCon Challenge. As each of their blocks was displayed on the Modern Quilt Guild homepage, our BMQG family rejoiced for them! It was quite exciting, I tell ya! 

Pam continues to be our Swap Queen, participating in a variety of swaps and bees this year. It has been fun to see what she makes and also receives in these swaps! Pam posts her projects, and the things she receives from fellow swappers, on our guild's Flickr page. If you don't yet know about Flickr, you can join by creating a Yahoo account. It's free, it's easy, and Flickr will open up a whole new world of inspiration for you! Go to flickr.com to get started. If you have trouble maneuvering through getting an account set up, e-mail me at LongarmLynn@aol.com. I'm happy to help walk you through it!

The online swap groups are a huge part of the modern quilting movement, and I encourage you to get involved in one. Meg, who has also participated in several swaps and bees, wrote a great blog post about how to get involved in online swaps. Dip your toe into that water, and see how you like it!

The Kern County Fair was last week, and Nicci won a 3rd place ribbon on a quilt of her own design! She used a variety of Tula Pink Fabrics in the quilt, so she named it Tula Zig. Inspired by the style of Angela Walters, I had the pleasure of quilting it. We both enjoyed seeing it hang at the fair with a ribbon on it! Congratulations, Nicci! You did a beautiful job! (We'll all get to see it next month!)

Christy has completed several projects this past year, and I am always encouraged by her generous spirit when making quilts for charity. I missed our last meeting, because I was on vacation, so I didn't get to see her Polaroid quilt. I did, however, see pictures of it. It's adorable! She is donating the quilt for a fundraiser. Thank you for leading by example, and encouraging others to give, Christy! 

More exciting news for our group, is that we will be the featured guild in the premier issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited! I was thrilled beyond words when Vicki Anderson called me to say that she wanted to feature our guild! I got to write the article, and I sent Vicki no less than a dozen pictures to choose from. I have no idea which ones she chose, so it'll be a surprise for everyone! I also talked with Vicki, at length, about her vision for the magazine and what to expect. I was so danged excited after that conversation, I was bouncing off the walls for the rest of the day! I know of her other magazine, Machine Quilting Unlimited, so I know the quality of magazine that her company puts out. This one is going to be fabulous! If you haven't yet subscribed, I suggest you get on with it! The premier issue will be out next month! FYI, Machine Quilting Unlimited is geared for longarm and domestic machine quilters, so there's something for everyone in that magazine, too! If you want to check it out, Barnes and Noble carries it. 

Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, is October 11 - 14. This is a fabulous show! It features quilts of all styles, and you'll be inspired more than you can imagine! The vendors are fabulous, and the classes always get rave reviews! If you have the chance to attend, go for it! 

A reminder that Quilt Con is next February, and they are calling for quilt entries. I know of a couple of members who are considering entering quilts. There's still time to get your entry in, so give it a go! You'll find all the details on the Quilt Con website. 

I want to give a shout out and a big thank you to our local quilt shops for all of their support! Strawberry Patches and Bolts to Binding have been instrumental in our growth! They provide space for our meetings and sew-ins, and they are both great about ordering the things we need for our various projects. You'll find a variety of modern fabrics in these shops, as well as traditional fabrics, books and patterns, for those of you who prefer that style. Suzanne and Jeri, we couldn't do this without you! 

To all of our members, visitors, and fellow board members, you all inspire me to do more, make more, give more, and laugh more. I appreciate your involvement and your encouragement, not only to me, but to each other. This is a great group, and I'm proud to be a part of it! 

Until next we meet,

Lynn

Upcoming Meeting and Other Fun Stuff

Our next meeting is Saturday, September 15th, 2:00 - 4:00, at Strawberry Patches. Christy has been making an adorable Halloween quilt using Spider Web blocks. She will be showing the rest of us how to make this fun, easy block! During our show 'n tell, you'll have a chance to share the project you've made with the Perfect Polaroid Blocks we swapped at the last meeting. Pam has made another pillow, using Halloween themed Polaroid blocks. It's a fun, whimsical piece, and she'll be teaching the class at Strawberry Patches on the 17th @ 10:00. We are so blessed to have such talented and creative members in our group!

Our sew-in for this month will be held on the 22nd at Bolts to Binding, from 10:00 - 4:00. If you want to bring your lunch, we have use of the frig and microwave in the kitchen area. There are plenty of places nearby to go and pick up something. Bring a snack to share and a project to work on, and enjoy the fellowship and fun that this group has to offer! If you've never attended one of our meetings or sew-ins, a sew-in is a great way to check us out!

If you are making a quilt for the Bolts to Binding color challenge, the quilt has to be turned in by October 1st. The color for this challenge is a particular orange solid that the shop carries. The quilts will be displayed, and customers can vote on their favorite quilt. The winner will receive a gift certificate to spend at the shop. If you need more information, you can call Bolts to Binding at 661-873-4691.

QuiltCon opened for registration last week, and several of our members will be attending. What a great opportunity to be in the thick of things at the first convention of the Modern Quilt Guild! If you want to find out more about QuiltCon, visit their website at http://www.quiltcon.com.

I'll be on vacation for the next couple of weeks, so I'll miss the meeting and the sew-in. As much as I'll miss everyone, I'll be enjoying the company of my son. I haven't seen him since March, and I'm needing some face time! Enjoy the meeting, sew-in, time with fellow quilters, and be good to one another.

Until next we meet,

Lynn
President

Swap Reminder

We have just about a week and a half to finish up our Scrap Bag Swap projects. Put those finishing touches on your project(s), and be ready for the big reveal! Our meeting is on Saturday, June 16th, at Strawberry Patches, from 2:00 - 4:00. Don't forget to bring your show 'n tell projects and the blocks you are working on for the QuiltCon Block Challenge! See you soon!


Lynn
President 

Question of the Week

This week's question is about what you listen to while working on a project. Do you listen to music, audio books, the t.v.? What gets your blood pumping and ready to create? 

Question of the Week

We have decided to start posting a question each week, to see what everyone thinks or knows about a particular topic. If you have questions you'd like to see asked, e-mail them to bakersfieldmodernquiltguild@gmail.com. Our first question of the week is:

When did you start quilting, and what prompted you to start?

Color Play Class With Nancy Rink

Award-winning quilter, author, designer and teacher, Nancy Rink, will be teaching a color theory class for our guild on Saturday, December 10, 10:00 - 3:00, at Strawberry Patches.

If you have signed up for the Color Play class and don't yet have your supply list, please e-mail me at LongarmLynn@aol.com, and I'll e-mail it to you. The Ultimate 3 in 1 Color Tool by Joen Wolfrom, is required for the class. The Joen Wolfrom book, Color Play, is recommended, but not required. As of this morning, Strawberry Patches had 8 of the color tools and one copy of the book left. The class is a half day, hands-on workshop, and lunch will be provided. (The class is full) *Please bring small/medium cutting boards, as we will be sitting 4 to each table. If you don't have one small enough, there will be a few extras available.*

I look forward to spending time with my BMQG friends, learning skills that we can all use in our future quilting adventures!

Lynn

Your Friendly Neighborhood Program Coordinator

Mark Your Calendars

 (quilt By:: Elizabeth Hartman of Oh Fransson)

It's that time.... The New Year brings new adventures to Bakersfield. The most anticipated wait is almost over. Our first meetings have been scheduled and we have all been planning some wonderful things for you in 2011.

The Bakersfield Chapter of the Modern quilt guild will be holding a Meet and Greet January 22nd from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm at the Strawberry Patches Fabric Shoppe. Please visit the sidebar add for the address if you are not familiar with the shop, or you can email me directly at sewfantasticblog@yahoo.com for directions and information.

The Plan::

This meeting is to get to know everyone who is interested in modern quilting. Weather your a seasoned quilter or new to quilting. We have some great samples of fabrics provided by sponsors to share with everyone as well as some sharing of quilts. Please feel free to invite your family and friends to the meet and greet. This is a FREE meeting for everyone and will be loaded with modern inspiration.

We would also like to ask that you bring in quilts or projects that you are working on whether they are finished or not, traditional or modern, to share with the group. Small refreshments will be provided and this meeting is intended to be fun and inspirational to everyone.

If you have never quilted before, but want to learn. This is your chance to learn through our new Modern Guild meetings.

There will be lots to talk about, and much to share. We are asking that you try to RSVP so we can get a good estimate of seats that are needed. Please email me at sewfantasticblog@yahoo.com or RSVP by leaving a comment that you are attending.

We look forward to meeting everyone, and sharing our love of quilting.

Using Our Talents for a Greater Cause

Hello fellow quilters! I want to take a few moments to share with you a special project I have going. I really would love to have all of you wonderful future BMQG members join me in this effort! Earlier this year I became more aware of the sex trade in the U.S. and more specifically here in California. Through a radio program I learned of an organization that is doing what they can to deal with this issue. Courage to Be You works in the U.S. and in Africa to help children who have been sexually exploited. Currently they are working to open Courage House in Sacramento, which hits close to home.

It is unbelieveable and heartbreaking to me that teenage girls in this country and especially nearby (anywhere for that matter; but who knows, quite probably here in Bakersfield) have been victimized by the sex trade. Law enforcement is working hard to put the perpetrators behind bars, but there is little to nothing for the girls who are rescued. Courage House is to be a place for these girls to live and heal and have their needs taken care of.

Upon learning of the Sacramento House I immediately wanted to volunteer for this effort. But living 6 hours away (in Tehachapi!) makes that pretty much out of the question. So I got to thinking about what I have the ability to do with my own talents. I've seen various efforts by individuals in the online quilting community to make quilts for others, so I decided that would be perfect. I want to make quilts for these girls, something that can be special to them, give them warmth and comfort, something they can keep to remember someone cares. I have been in contact with the Sacramento House and they agree that special quilts for the individual girls would be wonderful. I think the modern quilting community especially has a lot to offer in the way of something that is appealing and meaningful for these teenage girls. And it's a way for us to extend part of our own hearts to them as well.

In the Flickr community, earlier this year I joined the second quarter of the [3 x 6] Sampler Quilt Mini Bee so I could collect some blocks for this purpose. As the third quarter rolled around I started to receive help from wonderful quilters who were generous enough to send blocks. To date we have received one quilt top, 33 quilt blocks, and more are on the way! My goal has been to have three finished quilts to send in time for Christmas. Here are a couple more photos of the quilt blocks that have been sent by fabulous quilters all over the world. I also have set aside personal quilts and projects to donate proceeds directly to the Sacramento House, including one particularly special quilt that I hope to auction in the coming months.

Megan, Terri, and I have talked about the possibility of the BMQG making our own contributions of making quilts for the rescued girls. I do hope you would like to join me, that as a group we can offer our abilities to give to others who have had heartbreaking experiences in their youth. I cannot adequately express my gratitude for all of the help that has been received as well as all that is to come. I'd love to hear what you think!