December Charity BOM: Clean Out Your Scraps with Cats!
If you were at the December holiday meeting, didn't you have so much fun with the mug and rug swap? You may have heard me talk about cleaning out your scrap bin to make room for all the great fabric coming out in 2014. Well, I changed my mind about what block we're going to make - a woman's prerogative, right? When I saw Elizabeth's Catvent Quilt Along, I thought well isn't that the cutest thing EVER. I know some of you are making them already. Why not make a few more for the January meeting?
Elizabeth will have instructions for 25 different cat block variations, each making a cat block that measures 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" unfinished. You can choose to make any of the variations in monochromatic colors with a low volume/value background. These are super addicting - don't stop at just one!
Go to Elizabeth Hartman's website, Oh, Fransson! and choose one or all of the cat blocks to make.
Please use monochromatic colors for the cat and low volume/value prints or solids for the background.
Need a quick challenge rule refresher?
Grand prize is a full size V & Co Aurifil Thread Set!
During our December holiday meeting, we'll be having a white elephant swap of mug rugs and a mug. If you want to participate, you need to bring both a mug rug and a mug in a brown paper bag. We'll have extra bags at the meeting if you need one.
Example: Don't laugh. I made this one a long, long time ago. PS I still love squirrels.
What's a mug rug? Basically a mini placemat or a large coaster. Something you can put your mug on, with a little space for a snacky snack too. Does it have to be a rectangle? Nope. Does it have to be holiday related? Nope. Does it have to be awesome? YES! Please only bring a mug rug that you would be happy receiving. If you need some mug rug inspiration, here's a Flickr group or two and we have a Pinterest page too.
The next meeting will be held Thursday, December 12 at 6:30 pm at Book People. More details to follow. If you are visiting for the first time, please don't be shy and join in the fun with a mug and a rug! Oh and don't forget to bring your maples!
We had such a great showing for the September Rail and Posts BOM. 54 blocks were donated! The guild gave away a set of 20 blocks so Susan and kept 34 blocks for our charity quilts. We also gave away the October Quilty Box to Christi. What a fun prize! Tabatha, the founder, lives in Miami and curates a collection of special items to be delivered to your door each month. She loves us so much, she's giving a special $5 discount to AMQG members. Please email me if you'd like to get the code. Another neat factoid: Tabatha is a childhood cancer survivor and she donates 5% of Quilty Box proceeds to Quilts for Kids. If you are interested in having your product (yes, you!, aspiring pattern and fabric designers) as part of the Quilty Box, contact the company directly. More awesome prizes will be given away in the following months, so stay tuned. The grand prize for the most blocks donated will be a big V & Co. Aurifil thread box!!
Emily brought the pieced August BOM top and it's awesome (if I do say so myself). Jessica is going to be quilting this lovely for us.
Without further ado, the November BOM is the glorious Maple Leaf. Angela at All Patched Up has a wonderful tutorial for making the 12.5" unfinished block, so please refer to her site for directions. You'll need a 7.25" square of both background and focus fabrics for her method, plus additional smaller pieces.
Please use leaf colored fabrics for the leaf, and low volume prints or solids for the background.
I went to my first quilt retreat last weekend in Wimberley and had so much fun! I also sewed more than I have in a loooong time. I managed to finish a quilt top, start on another one, and do some charity blocks. Show me what you've been doing! Linky party lasts all week, so if you want to share but can't today, come back please!
We'll be having an awesome giveaway for the charity blocks tomorrow night, so be sure you bring your blocks. For each block you donate, you'll get a ticket for a chance to win a set of blocks and the October Quilty Box!
b. Outreach/Charity - Don't forget your BOM!!!!!!!! Susan said her last count was 20 blocks, so we all need to catch up!
c. Events - Corinne will give us the scoop on The MQG Riley Blake challenge and talk about a fun swap we'll have for the December meeting. The Riley Blake fabric bundles will be available to paid members at the meeting.
President Mary Anne will present proposed revisions to our current by-laws.
We're going to break into our committees and talk about what we'd like to accomplish in the coming months. Bring your ideas!
Thursday, December 12 will be our next meeting at Book People. See you then for our holiday party!
Get Ready for the November Retreat and a Giveaway!
Have you ever been to a quilting retreat before? If not, why not join us this Friday, November 8 through Sunday, November 10 at Wimberley Quilt Ranch. For more info, check out the sign up page.
Leave a comment below telling me if you've ever been to a retreat, and what your favorite part is to win a prize! Winner will be drawn on Thursday night. Make sure I have a way to contact you for your prize!
There's still time and space for you to join us for a workshop with Jacquie Gering on Monday and Tuesday at Sew Much More. Sign up here! Just to give you a little extra incentive, I'm busy stuffing goody bags for workshop participants. We have so much good stuff for you!
Remember the Clinique gift with purchase? Man, I was crazy about those things. I'm even more excited about this sewing related gift with purchase worth $35!! Don't forget - if you've signed up for one workshop already and want to take a second, you'll get 20% off the second.
Also, The Modern Quilt Guild needs volunteers at Quilt Market and Festival. Sign up for that here.
We will start the meeting promptly at 7:00pm. Please check-in at the membership table before finding a seat. Be sure to sit close so you can see all the great details in Jacquie's quilts!
The AMQG Retreat is coming up shortly! November 8-10th at Wimberley Quilt Ranch. Sign up now!
September's BOM will be collected at next month's meeting, so just keep sewing until then! If you won't make it to the November 14th meeting, please find me (Emily, the redhead) before or after the meeting and I'll take yours.
NO SHOW AND TELL THIS MONTH!
Riley Blake Challenge - paid members can pick up their fabric bundles after the meeting, or in November. The deadline is February and we will be giving some guidelines at the meeting. If you can't attend the meetings, contact us and we can work with you.
Our November meeting will return to its' normally scheduled Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 6:30 PM at BookPeople. We will be announcing a holiday swap and going over our Bylaws.
The December meeting will be a holiday party where we do a little swap, have some snacks, and vote on our Bylaws.
Beginning now, if you sign up for both the Stitch and Flip and the Modern Crazy Piecing workshops, we'll give you 20% off the price of the second workshop. That's only $80 for the second workshop!
Did I mention that there's a great swag bag involved? For each workshop you attend, you'll be getting full-size products from Aurifil, Modern Yardage, Schmetz, Sew Sweetness patterns, and Atkinson Designs? How awesome is that? Two workshops = 2 swag bags. You won't be disappointed!
Workshops are on Monday, October 28 and Tuesday, October 29 from 10 am - 4 pm at Sew Much More in Austin. There will be a 30 min lunch break so you can bring a lunch or there are some fast food restaurants nearby. So what are you waiting for? Sign up to take both classes!
Now, onto WIP Wednesday. I have nothing to show you this week, except this really old picture of my cat Carlton wanting to sew with me. He doesn't fit in there anymore... Hopefully you've been getting more sewing done than me!
Have you had any time to sew this week? I'm busy packing boxes and picking paint colors for my new sewing room! I did manage to sneak some time and make a couple bee blocks for my Munki in the Middle Flickr swap. Show us your projects!
November Retreat is Coming Up Soon!
I know we're all excited about Jacquie Gering's visit, but please don't forget about the upcoming AMQG retreat! You're going to get so much accomplished Friday, November 8 through Sunday, November 10 at Wimberley Quilt Ranch.
Complete the registration form and Paypal payment here. The whole weekend is $125 for a large, spacious workspace and your very own memory foam mattress! Food is not included, but often people coordinate potlucks and excursions into town. I even hear there's a margarita maker or two!
Are you going to International Quilt Festival or Market in Houston next month? Do you want to get in for free?? Of course you do because free admission = more $$ for fabric! Heather and the Modern Quilt Guild need YOU to help man the MGQ booth at Market and Festival. All you have to do is go here to sign up for a teeny weeny volunteer shift and you get in that day for free. Plus maybe some other cool stuff. Find a friend, carpool down, and get a room together. But the fun ends right there, people. Honestly! Post on Facebook or comment here if you plan to go and want to work out unofficial AMQG trip plans. And get your Amy Butler weekender bag packed because it's going to be awesome!
Did we all have fun with August's BOM the Texas Puzzle? I'm so excited for the great turnout we had. Everyone is so generous with their time and stash to make so many blocks!
This time the block is super easy - no bias edges, no traingles, no problem! The block is called Posts and Rails by Judy Martin. She has a Block of the Moment and the blocks are not archived once they are removed from her site, but luckily I found this image on Pinterest (where else??) and I'll share the info with you.
Please use any combo of blue and green fabric. Add a neutral if you wish! These instructions use the colors I picked so you can follow along.
Viola! You're finished. Now go make one or two or seven :) If you have any questions, please ask! And if you'd like, upload your pictures to the Flickr group.
I'm lining up some GOOD prizes, so get stitching people!
Public Service Announcement: Jacquie Gering is Coming to Austin!
We have BIG news for everyone! Jacquie Gering, internationally known quilter and author, is going to be giving a lecture and two work shops hosted by the Austin Modern Quilt Guild next month. Here are the details.
This will take the place of our monthly meeting. There will not be show and tell this month!
We will still have the charity BOM challenge. Bring your blocks with you!
Price: $100 for members, $125 for non-members. Fee is non-refundable but can be transferred.
Sign up begins Sunday, Sept 22 at 8 pm.
Members have priority sign-up. You are not allowed to sign up for anyone but yourself. First come, first served! Members will receive an email with the sign up info 5 days prior to the sign up day.
Members will be limited to 1 workshop for the first 48 hours. After 48 hours, members will be able to select a second workshop. After 1 week, remaining workshop space will be available to non-members.
Registration is a 2 part process! Fill out the registration form first, then pay with Paypal second. Both must be completed to be registered!!
Class materials list will be posted shortly.
If you would like to use a Bernina from Sew Much More, you can provide that info on the sign up sheet.
Nothing like some last minute sewing before the blog post so you actually have something to share, right? Have you been sewing over the past week? I've been chugging along making the Thimble Blossoms On A Whim pattern using Tula Pink Birds and the Bees. Please share with us what you're working on! Remember, the link doesn't have to be a blog post. You can even use a Facebook picture!
Sew In Days... Sign up now!
Do you dream of a time when you can just sew your heart out and not worry about your kids or pets messing on the carpet while your SO asks when you're going to start making dinner for his boss tonight? Yeah, me too. Watching my furry kids test out how soft my quilts are while I'm away and leaving a ton of fuzz behind is really pushing my buttons.
c. Events - Sew In Days are here!
You'll get the low-down on the best places to find pre-cut patterns, tutorials and books plus more. We'll have some demonstration tables set up and see a few of the amazing ideas that can come from those fun pre-cut packages.
October meeting is Monday, October 28 with Jacquie Gering! Her lecture and trunk show are free for members and non-members will pay $10 for attendance. More info TBA on location as well as the sign ups for the workshops!
WIP Wednesday - Time Again!
Did you have a relaxing Labor Day holiday? I had a good one celebrating my birthday in Fredericksburg. I stomped grapes and got to go fabric shopping! Here's a little what I've been working on. What have you been up to lately?
Of course I'm going to gently remind you the heat is on for the August BOM challenge!
This is a quilt top I made pattern testing for Janice at Better Off Thread. Isn't it funky? It's pretty large and I had trouble taking a picture of the whole thing due to my cramped work space... But I'm bringing it to the meeting and if anyone wants to take this puppy home and quilt it, it will be a great charity/outreach quilt!