June Sew In

Just a quick reminder that our June Sew In is this coming Saturday, June 11th.  Stop by To Quilt n' Sew anytime between 10 and 4!  

We will also be having a little potluck, so please contact Lynn at longarmlynn at aol dot com if you would like to join in and share some yummy food!  

This is a great time to get to know everyone a little better and share in some fun!  We will also be offering some one on one time sharing binding techniques for anyone who would like some more tips.  This will be offered from 12-1 PM.

Happy quilting!

June Meeting Recap

We shared quilts!  Surprise!

 Nicci's mermaid quilt!

Corey's Royal Purple Quilt

 Pam's Pinwheel Sampler.

She used P.S I Quilt's quilt-a-long for this quilt (You can find it here.), and then of course jazzed it up with her beautiful appliqued borders.

Then we talked binding.  Corey is showing us her glue technique.

Nancy talked about bias binding!

There was lots of great tips shared!  I personally am excited to bind another quilt just to be able to try all these new things I have learned! ;0)

We also had our first swap!  We swapped mug rugs!  This was so much fun!  They were all so unique, and it was really funny how so many people ended up with the mug rug that was just perfect for them.

Other News

Logo

We are getting a new logo!  Yay!  It so cool!  So be prepared for a new look!

Bring a new friend!

We are starting a new recruitment program.  We want to grow and reach out to everyone who might be interested!  So bring a new friend (or two or three!)  to the next meeting and get a ticket to enter in the drawing for a fun quilt-y treat!

Sew In Potluck

We will also be having a potluck at our next sew in on Saturday June 11th.  So if you are planning to come, please contact Lynn (longarmlynn at aol dot com) to see what is needed!

June Meeting :: All About Binding

Finishing off your quilt with the perfect method is not always easy to do. We will be talking about different ways to make and attach binding, as well as discussing how to choose fabrics.

Most of the meeting will consist of our activity this time with a few small but very important announcements including the introduction of our New BMQG icon and graphics that will be displayed on our new membership cards.

If you would like to present something but have not signed up for a time slot, bring it down and we will try to fit you in.

Don't forget our meeting in now on Wednesday June 1st . The first Wednesday of each month from 6pm-8pm in the evening over at the Strawberry Patches Quilt shop. Even though the store will be closed, she will be available to let us browse and shop after hours.

We will see ya there.

BMQG: Mug Rug Swap Reminder!

Hi all!  Just a reminder that we will be having our first swap at the next meeting, June 1st!  

Please bring a mug rug with the theme of "Summer"!  Interpret this however you would like! Bring it wrapped up in a brown bag or other covering device. ;0p  Whoever brings a mug rug (if you aren't able to, we understand!) will leave it on the table, and we will all pick one up and exchange at the end of the meeting!

Have fun!  Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!  

BMQG Summer Challenge - Cast your VOTES

GUESS WHAT!

BMQG has signed up for the next Modern Quilting Challenge. Now that we are up and running, I thought this would be a fun time for us to do something as a group. One project will be determined by the guild, whether it be a mini quilt, full size or wall size quilt.

The challenge is for each person to create something using the same fabric line, only interpret it in their own way. Free Spirit will be donating the new line by Jay McCarroll called "Habitat"

This line was just awarded Fabric of the year by Fat Quarterly.

You will only be able to use solids to add into the quilt, each participant will receive a bundle of the Habitat fabric to use for this challenge.

As a group we need to decide on a colorway that we all want to work with. We will all be using the same colorway so cast your votes now for your favorite by leaving a comment on this post.

JEWEL TONES

BRIGHTS

EARTH TONES

Choose your favorite, and leave a comment. Challenge starts in just a few months but we need to put our request in with Free Spirit now.

Meet Christy!

Welcome to our first ever BMQG Member Feature! Every month we will have a special blog post featuring one of our amazingly talented members. Each member has been given a series of questions to answer so that we can all get to know each other better.

And now, without further ado, we are pleased to now turn our attention to our own, Christy Hall!

Christy was born April 10, 1966 and has been married to her husband, Richard, for 10 years. She has an 8-year old son, Nathan, two cats (named George and Moose), and one naughty puppy named Harry. Let's give it up for Christy!

BMQG: How many years have you been quilting?
Christy: Off and on for about 15 years.

BMQG: What inspired you to start?
Christy: Many years ago, someone gave me a copy of Make a Quilt in a Day by Eleanor Burns. I knew how to sew and the steps seemed simple enough for me to follow. I made queen-sized quilts for my Aunt and Grandmother. I've learned a lot since then.

BMQG: What is your favorite part of quilting?
Christy: I love picking out fabric. If I could just skip from picking out fabric to having a quilt complete, I'd be very happy. :)

BMQG: What is your least favorite part?
Christy: Basting. It gets harder and harder to crawl around on my knees pinning quilt layers!


BMQG: Do you have a specialty?
Christy: I'm good at anything WONKY.

BMQG: Do you enjoy any non-quilty sewing?
Christy: I like to make tote bags and crayon rolls for gift giving. I also like to make shorts, pajamas, and fleece hoodies/jackets for my son.

BMQG: Have you been featured, received recognition, or won any awards?
Christy: I volunteer for Optimal Hospice's Seamstress program. Last year they asked me to make a Memory Quilt for a woman who had recently lost both of her parents. She loved the quilt and I was featured in Optimal's monthly newsletter.

BMQG: How did you find out about the Modern Quilt Guild?
Christy: I can't remember exactly. I read quite a few craft blogs and I think I saw it mentioned on one of them (and I cannot tell you how happy I am to have found it!).


BMQG: What about modern quilting are you most drawn to?
Christy: I really like that so much of it is up to your own interpretation. I love using fresh vibrant colors. I'm learning to see inspiration everywhere. I think modern quilting is helping me to look at things differently, to see quilt possibilities in different places, such as architecture and nature.

BMQG: Is there anything else we should know about you?
Christy: I'm a perfectionist and tend to be very critical of my own work. Also, I really want to do free-motion quilting, but it scares me!

Thank you so much for sharing with us, Christy! Oh, and for anyone who doesn't know, Christy makes the BEST coconut macaroons...yum! Stop by and visit Christy on her blog Mama Said Sew.

The sew in is coming!

(Find this cute print at  Aunty Cookie!)

Rev up those sewing machines!

This Saturday is our monthly Sew-In over at To Quilt 'n Sew.

Come on down with your latest project and join us for some sewing, chatting, and snacks!

The sew in starts at 10am and runs through 4pm, but feel free to come whenever you can during that time.

May 14th 2011 Saturday   
Open Sewing Mingle 
Location :: To Quilt 'n Sew
3510 Allen Road #102
Bakersfield, CA 93314
(661) 589-8863

Irons and cutting table are provided.  

Please feel free to bring a snack to share with the group if you would like to. 

See you all on Saturday!!