March BOM

March BOM Instructions

These are the instructions for Block 4 of our year long Block of the Month.  You get one point for each block you create by the next meeting as well as 10 points for putting them together in a finished quilt by our December meeting.

This is a great block to use up scraps and is due April 18th - Enjoy!

Cutting instructions:

Sew your 48 squares in this order

2 strips 3 squares long {A}

2 strips 5 squares long {B}

2 strips 7 squares long {C}

2 strips 9 squares long {D}

Assembly Instructions:

Begin with center Square and add {A} to top and bottom

Then add {B} to left and right

Sew background strips

Add {C} to top and bottom

Then add {D} to left and right

Sew background strips

You will have some extra, trim to 12.5" x 12.5" when done.

March Meeting Agenda

Call Meeting to Order

Special Speaker

Guest Introductions

Icebreaker

Treasurer Report

Membership Report

February BOM Reveal

Break

March BOM

Announcements

Door Prizes

Show and Share

Adjourn

Link 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4

Member Spotlight

The Member Spotlight this Month is our President Julie Herrera 

How long have you been Quilting? 3 years

 How did you learn to Quilt? I took a class and read blogs and watched youtube videos.  After I took the class I really didn’t quilt for a year afterwards.  For some reason, a switch just flipped for me and then  all I could think about was my next one.

What is your favorite part/step of the process? I have two favorite parts. My first one is when the last seam is sewn on the top. I love to press and and see what it looks like all put together.  It’s just such a sense of accomplishment for me.  The second part is the binding.  I really enjoy hand sewing my bindings on my quilts. 

Your biggest obstacle? The colors! I recently joined a Skillbuilder Block of the Month for 2013 and when choosing color palettes, we were asked to pick colors in different hues – aack! I just chose black and white and gray instead.  For some reason selecting colors that go together is hard for me.  Sure I get the color families, but the accent color or pop color is difficult. 

How many Quilts have you finished? 13 

How do you decide on a pattern? That’s easy. I only make what I like.  When I see something on a blog, flickr or pinterest, I mark it and that is what I go to when I need an idea.  Another component that drives my quilts is the complexity.  If a block looks like it takes a long time to make, then I go on to the next one.  I don’t want to  get so tired of making blocks that I don’t want to finish the quilt so I like quick and easy and with great visual impact.   

Tell us about your stash? Oh my, well I have a large one.  I separate it by color and have a few dozen Kona pieces too.  I love to have solids on hand and I usually buy them by the bolt.  Most of my stash is just two colors (but reads one).  I have lots of metro living circles, oval elements, dots, pearl bracelets and all in bright saturated colors.  I have very few pastels in my stash.

How would you define your style? I am a modern quilter who likes both modern and contemporary design. I am not drawn to traditional patterns or blocks or fabrics but I appreciate that we wouldn't have modern quilting now if it wasn't for traditional quilting before us.

What are your go to colors? Pink, purple, aqua and tomato red, although not always together (because frankly, those are ugly together-right?) Kona ash is my go to neutral but I love Kona coal too. I have only made one quilt that doesn't have at least one of those first four colors in it.

Do you have other crafty hobbies? I used to a be a scrapbooker for about 10 years so I have all of that “stuff’ but other than that, quilting is it for me.

Anything else you would like to share? Call me, email me – let’s go have tea or better yet dessert!  I don’t get to socialize as much at meetings as I would like and want to get to know everyone better!

February's Meeting and a New Challenge

We had an amazing turnout for our February meeting!! If you missed it, please check out the BOM post. It's such a fun block and it went together really quickly. We also talked about our new challenge.

  The WONKY Paint Chip Challenge. 

We picked out paint chips so if you weren't there you can pick up yours at the next meeting. 

You need to use at least 2 of the colors on the paint chip in your project. You can use up to 3 additional colors as accent colors, but the paint chip color has to be the dominate color.

Select one Category:

Quilt or Wall Hanging (any size is acceptable)

Home Dec

Purse or Tote (any size is acceptable)

Use a "WONKY" design somewhere in the project (i.e. wonky stars, houses, string quilts, log cabins or make up your own "wonky")

Inspiration here, here, here, here, here and here

Reveal is at the April meeting on 4-18-2013

You will receive 5 points for completing this challenge by the April meeting. 

I hope you guys will join in on the fun!!

On to the beautiful quilts!!

Allyson brought her Grandma and the great wedding present she got from her. The guest all signed the blocks - isn't that a great idea!!

Ann showed off her mad curving skills - I love this pattern!!

See how much fun we have :) I love the outline quilting she used. 

 Sharon showed off her colorful side with this quilt!! She has a good eye for color and her quilts are always bright and cheerful. 

 Jessica made a couple quilts out of some blocks she got from her Grandmom. She's going to give them to her aunts. What a special surprise!!

Elizabeth showed off this fun "Wonky Star" Quilt. Watch out she's ready for the challenge :) 

Lazara showed off this beautifully bright quilt. I love the hearts and the custom quilting was beautiful!!! 

Suzie brought her Celtic Appliquéd Mini. 

This girl does some really intricate quilts.

  Sally brought this cute Baby Quilt!! Look at how cute that is!!!

She also brought this amazing Art Quilt inspired by her mother's own designs. That is really awesome!!! People were asking her questions so she's a little blurry. Everyone really loved this.

Jenn brought her finished Retro Quilt, Chevron Baby Quilt and her Fall Leaf Quilt. This lady is a machine!! I wish I could be like you Jenn :)

So as you can see we have lots of fun and always leave with a lot of inspiration. Hope to see you at the next meeting!!

February Block of the Month

February's BOM

The block we introduced for our Block of the Month for February is "Wonky Pinwheels".  The tutorial for this block is courtesy of Natalie of Greenleafgoods.wordpress.com

Each block you complete and bring to the meeting will get you a point.  You only get a point if you complete the block for that month. If you cannot make it to the March meeting with this block be sure to post a picture to our Flickr group by midnight the Wednesday before our meeting (March 20 in this case) and you will get credit for your point. You will not lose any accumulated points if you happen to miss a month. You can earn a total of 12 points for your BOM if you bring them to the meetings or upload them to Flickr. Then if you bring the completed quilt to our December meeting you will earn 10 points. More about our points here.

Tutorial Here

February Meeting Agenda

Call Meeting to Order
President Message
Guest Introductions
Nametags
Treasurer Report
Membership Report
Survey Results
Madrona Reveal
January BOM
Break
February BOM
2013 Points Program
Secret Sister Reveal
Quiltcon
Introduce New Challenge
Announcements
Door Prizes
Show and Share
Adjourn

Member Spotlight

This month we are going to learn a little about our lovely VP Gayla Tennison. 

How long have you been Quilting? Less than one year

 How did you learn to Quilt? I have wanted to learn to quilt for many years, especially after I inherited a family heirloom quilt. On a whim, my sister and I both bought sewing machines last spring. I started sewing on mine every day. My sister has already abandoned hers! In June 2012, I joined the FWMQG. I have slowly taught myself how to improve my quilting skills, and learn a lot from online bloggers and tutorials I find on the Internet.

What is your favorite part/step of the process? I love to pick out the fabrics, pattern, and piece together the top.

Your biggest obstacle? The quilting. I have attempted to FMQ, but it has not gone well! I love to wavy line quilt, and always like the results with this.

How many Quilts have you finished? 13 

How do you decide on a pattern? Flickr provides much inspiration – probably too much. Everything I see that I like I want to make! Online bloggers provide inspiration. Right now I am planning on making many of the quilts in Elizabeth Hartman’s The Practical Guide to Patchwork.  

Tell us about your stash? Lots of bright colors and solids. I also love text prints.

How would you define your style? I consider myself a modern quilter.

What are you go to colors? I have a lot of blue, green, and orange fabrics.

Do you have other crafty hobbies? Of course! I also learned to knit last year, and am probably knitting if I am not quilting.

Anything else you like to share? I am honored to serve this year as vice-president of the FWMQG and look forward to learning from the wisdom and experience of my fellow modern quilters.