Thursday, June 4, 2015

June Meeting Minutes

MEETING MINUTES
JUNE 3, 2015
MAITLAND, FL

 
The meeting opened with an icebreaker, advice to sew small one-inch blocks. Some cute advice given and hints  were ‘sew straight, drink wine and don’t use such small blocks. Serious advice was to use gridded wonder under and sew in strips instead of individual blocks.

Yanick welcomed new guests Frank P. and Jane A. Twenty-seven members and guests were present.

Marge presented the current financial report with our current total balance of $6,934.50.
 
Debra A. won the blog post book.

Pat won the lovely raffle basket put together by Rene, there were nearly a record breaking number of tickets sold at twenty eight.

The Maitland Library Exhibit will be in October, with the theme ‘What is Modern Quilting? Several members volunteered for the committee, including Beth, Mary, Karol, Marge and Debra.
 
Sharleen presented the Mailtland Sew Day Charity project. It is a fabric backpack that will be given to the Orlando Womens’ and Children Center. Sharleen will have pre cut fabrics to help get the project started. The directions can be found at:
 
Yanick presented information on the Maker Faire Orlando, it will be September 12-13, it is a chance for us to showcase what we love doing. We continue to need volunteers to participate, help set up, break down and have possible demo ideas. Please contact Yanick if you would like to join the fun.
 
The UFO challenge will be re-opened, expect another survey in which new members can list their UFO’s and those already on the list may have a chance to add any projects they neglected to list previously.
During show and tell Jodi showed an all pink quilt that was on her UFO list.
 
We are looking for a nice place to host our fall retreat, if you have any ideas, we would love to hear from you. Please email Debbe K. or Yanick.
 
Two more Alzheimer’s quilts were turned in. They will be accepted through July.  Also we can begin accepting Wheelchair Art Quilts both at meetings and at The Sewing Studio, if you turn it in to the Sewing Studio, please take a photo and email it to the guild.

This fall Alissa will begin to organize beehives for some block swaps.
Also for this fall Beth announced a challenge or swap that will include UFO’s that you do not wish to finish, but instead trade of give to someone else to complete. Also she will organize a swap.
 
Yanick showed one more postcard she received from a guild member in Leesburg.
 
If anyone is interested in having a mentor please contact Marge. The mentor will help new guild members if they have any questions concerning the guild, blog, or the Modern Quilt Guild.
 
The Block of the Month was won by Marge, she asked to have another name drawn, her name was chosen a second time. Debra offered and Marge accepted to trade a future win with her.

Six door prizes were given today from The Cloth Pocket of Texas, who sponsored today’s meeting. We will put some advertisements on the blog and Instagram, so keep your eyes out for it.

Show and Tell
























We Dismissed for Lunch to ‘Another Broken Egg’, about a dozen members said they would attend.
 

July 2015 Block of the Month



Hello! I hope you're as excited as I am about this month's block. I know we haven't done a curved block yet and it's super scary to a lot of you, but I promise you can do it! Just sew a bit slower, pay a bit more attention, and you too can sew some curves. If you haven't ever sewn a curve, I would start with a drunkards path. It's a single curve, basically a quarter of a circle, and gives you a good base for this block since this is a few curves in a row. Follow the first link below for a drunkards path template to follow, and the second link is a great video to watch of the curve being sewn. Skip these links if you've sewn a curved block before!

http://www.mccallsquilting.com/qb/mccallsquilting/pattern_505/index.html

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HTOGt4cRdJE

Now on to this month's block! It's called Rolling Tide and it's by Alyssa Lichner of Pile o' Fabric. She is a great quilter, has a great online shop (I've ordered quite a few times!), and has absolutely wonderful tutorials. This block uses both a scrappy improv strip and curved seams, so it's two types of practice in one.

http://pileofabric.com/blogs/modern-quilting/15172569-rolling-tides-improv-curves-tutorial-something-new-sampler

Follow the link, and I would advise you to read through the whole tutorial before attempting the block. There are great tips and tricks in there and the photos help a LOT. Please use blues/turquoise for the improv section, and white/off white/low volume for the two solid sections. You trim quite a bit off the block after its sewn so if i seems a bit wonky it's ok. A good starch and iron fixes most of that. After my two finished blocks, I think I have a few of my own tips for you!

First, I know she says smaller, shallower curves are easier, but personally I thought wider, shallower curves were easier for me. My first block I used the first part I cut off to cut my second section as well to make it an even on both sides, river-like, curve. But my second block, I used two different curves, one side with smaller, and one with wider. I thought the wider side was easier.

Second, be careful as you pull the curved pieces. When sewing the curves you pull the pieces towards each other towards either left or right, and when doing so near your improv blocks seams try not to pull too hard or you can pull the block apart! I almost did on my first block. On my second attempt, I pulled using the seam itself, not in front of the seam, so it stayed together better.

Third, when piecing the improv block, try to keep the end pieces a bit on the longer side, maybe 3 or so inches. It makes starting and ending the block easier. Without seams on each end, its easier to pull the pieces towards each other and gives you a bit more stability to hold on to. Obviously this is something I figured out after my second block as my improv seams are close to my edges!!

Fourth, have FUN! This is an improv block, so no worries on the center piece, use vertical seams, diagonal seams, horizontal seams, whatever you see fit. And if it's a bit wonky, that's ok. This is a new block for us! If it's super wonky, maybe try this with a solid center piece to get the hang of it before using your improv section.


Both my blocks together, top was done first