PEIMQG November 2016 meeting

Our little Island has been having some beautiful weather so far this fall, no lasting snow as of yet. With the holiday season approaching and our first PEIMQG anniversary looming, 20 members were in attendance. 

Heather J. opened the meeting by welcoming everyone.

We started the evening with Velda receiving her Queen Bee blocks from her beemates. These awesome blocks were altered slightly from the tutorial found at the MSQC found here. You can find Velda's version on her blog.

Queen Bee for November is Susan and she chose another block from MSQC. The Disappearing Pinwheel arrows block tutorial can be found here. Please bring the completed blocks to the January meeting.

Liz passed around a sign-up sheet for the next round of Queen Bees starting January 2017.

 She also proposed a Round Robin for the following year. Details for this to follow at the December Meeting portion of our Potluck party.

The FQ swap for November is an easy one. Your choice of ANY Modern Fabric. FQ's to measure 18x22. 6 members signed up for the November swap, please bring your FQ's in a plastic bag with your name on it to the January meeting. Here are the FQ's I received from the October FQ swap:

 Book, Blog, and Fabric

This month for Book, Blog and Fabric, Velda presented the Book called Quilt Lovely by Jen Kingwell. This fantastic book was found at the Confederation Court Public library and Velda shared that this book has something for everyone Definitely check this book out. (It will next be available in 3 weeks, although there may be a waiting list, lol)

For Blog Velda searched High and Low for someone a wee bit different and a whole lot saucy - the Bitchy Stitcher. The following excerpt was taken from Velda's blog. To see her entire post, please go here . "This is a blog that’s laugh-out-loud funny, cynical, and edgy; and inside every snarky post Megan Doherty makes, there is a nugget of something very insightful, which is always a bonus for me…be warned though, this blog is NOT always ladylike…you will find the “f” word, along with other very creative and descriptive words.  You’ve been warned."~Velda

For Fabric, Velda shared some gorgeous Alexander Henry prints and a bundle of Riley Blake's Zombie Love.

Next Up Susan had several proposal's for upcoming group activities:

The PEIMQG banner... Susan has requested help from 2 other members in the designing and planning stage of creating our PEIMQG banner. This will be a great way to show our PEIMQG pride and potentially attract attention and future members. Please contact Susan via email or the FB page if you would like to help plan/design our banner.

Charity Quilts -

Dianne was unable to attend the meeting this month but wrote a lovely email expressing the desire for the guild to donate quilts/ duffle bags to foster children of PEI. We have a quilt project in the works, but may be considering future projects as well. Thank you Dianne for researching and putting forth this charitable endeavour for the guild to consider.

QOV

Susan proposed a Quilts of Valor project and members signed up to make blocks. For those who committed to making blocks, please bring them to the January meeting. This is the Bento Box pattern one tutorial can be found here.

150th challenge for 2017 - CQA Great Canadian Beeblocks -

Several Blocks for this challenge were brought in to the meeting tonight. Aren't they fantastic? Of course Heather J and Susan are still looking for more.  Please read the details of this challenge here and bring any completed blocks to Heather J. or Susan as soon as possible.

Anderson House Charity Quilt -

One of the charity projects the guild undertook was an Improv string quilt. Each member participating created an Improv string block. During our May Sew-In, Lucinda assembled the blocks into the completed top, which was quilted by Colleen and bound by Heather J. 

This evening the PEIMQG was pleased to present the Quilt to Dayna from Anderson House. Anderson house is one of PEI's largest Not for Profit organisations. If you are interested in contributing to Anderson House, please check out their current Needs List. Their next fund raising event is their 5th annual Sweetheart Dinner held at Red Shores Feb18th. Please contact them for further details admin@fvps.ca.

Next up we discussed the PEIMQG bylaws and some suggested changes were proposed. Updated versions will be emailed to members. Policies will be discussed at a future meeting.

Our Sew-In for December 10th, will take place at Heather J's house. This will be a Pot-Luck Sew-in/Meeting day. She asks that people please bring folding chairs if they have any. There will be a few fun things taking place throughout the day. 

We are holding a raffle for several fantastic items. Tickets will be $2 each or 3 for $5. Proceeds will go to the PEIMQG.

Also for those who wish to play, Left, Right, and Center: a fun game, and a chance to take home some fabric!!! Please bring in ten 5" squares to participate (who knows you might just win them all!!).

Liz put forth the following swap for the Christmas Sew In/Pot Luck Gift Exchange:

We will make a cushion cover, min size 14” but can be whatever size bigger, but of course make sure it can be used on a standard pillow form.  You can use any fabric colours/theme you want. Your cushion cover will come in a Brown Bag (so no one can see it). If you bring one, you get to pick one.  Please also pin a note on it to say what size pillow form it will need so the quilter receiving it can easily pick a form up to display your lovely creation.  This is to be fun, so be creative.  You don’t have to take part, so no pressure if you choose not to do one. 

Last month Heather J. discussed Shot Cottons, and requested that members bring in any of their projects using them.

Here is Heather J. sharing her quilt :

And Robin sharing a similar pattern, with a bonus she constructed with her precious leftover scraps.

Jean showed us this vibrant beauty with a smattering of shot cottons in just the right places. (Here Heather J. points to one of these little gems).

 Show and Share :

For Show and Share Roberta brought this cute baby quilt made from a panel and some of her stash:

and she was commissioned to make 2 of these "Letters from Heaven" quilts.

here is the back 

Robin brought in her "Sister's Choice" quilt( love these warm spicy colors)

and her "Twisted Friendship" star Quilt

Janice had these adorable "Black Birds" potholders, a favorite of mine from SewFreshQuilts .

Linda turned a so-so quilt into a stunner by changing her original design for this quilt into this Scrappy Rainbow quilt top.

She also shared a great technique for getting a little more width from your fabrics for backing (stay tuned for the December Tips, Tools, and Techniques, for info on how to achieve these results.)

Lucinda shared her free pattern "Poinsettia" table topper from Sew Kind Of Wonderful.

And one of  her backgrounds for 2 baby boy quilts:

and some blocks she is working on for another table topper.

Susan shared her tumbling blocks quilt top

and her "Churn Dash" top made from orphan blocks leftover from another quilt project.

She also shared her quirky "Mussel" pillowcases. Just a few from the many she has made in recent weeks.

Liz and Cathy V. shared their Goody, Goody Binding Bags, they made when they got together for a fun day with Corrine at Blueberry Cove. ( If anyone is interested, I would consider leading a Sew-In day dedicated to making these.)

What a great Meeting. Lots of things being discussed and planned, the future looks bright for the PEIMQG in 2017.

Future Events:

December 10: PEIMQG Potluck Meeting/Sew-In (9-4pm) Heather J's House.

Tips, Tools, and Techniques November 2016

For this month's Tips, Tools, and Techniques, I thought I would share a Tip:

Is anyone else like me?? When I finally finish quilting a project I dread making the binding. It just seems to put the brakes on the flow of the project. Why not spend some time making bindings so you have some readily available when you need them and you can get those projects finished!! How to decide which fabrics become bindings?

Some fabrics just scream bindings to me,

While others become bindings because of the amount that I have left, cutoffs from quilt backings,Or because I just don't like the fabric that much anymore. Even ugly fabric can become great again when it appears small enough.( Really what was I thinking 5 meters of this monstrosity???)

And remember, by using up that fabric as binding, you free up room in your stash for newer fabrics to love.

No more excuses. I'm finally putting the binding on this humongous quilt, that Liz Dempsey quilted for me eons ago.

I'd love to hear what everyone else's dreaded quilt related tasks are. See you at the Meeting!!!

November 24th (7-9 pm) West Royalty Sobeys.

November Sew-in

This month saw seven members working on various projects, one guest and three (Marsha, Colleen and Dawn) dropping in to see what was up!  Lots of quilty happenings on the go with lots of chatting and laughter.  Dawn and Colleen had their blocks for the Queen Bee who was not able to make it, but those present enjoyed seeing them.

 Janice was working on her blocks for the Sugar Block Club -www.StitcheryDickoryDock.com.

Linda is working on an improv piece with rows of seven different colors. Here is her row of pinks.

Dianne was working on a charity quilt using string blocks. She also shared the story of how her ruler was returned to her as all her tools have her name and address taped on them.

Linda and Dianne brought blocks for the Big Bee run by CQA.  looks like we'll be able to donate a top for a quilt for Ronald McDonald house.

Lucinda was working on hand sewing her Farmer's Wife blocks.  Here is Periwinkle.

Velda was working on her pillowcase

 and her 100 Blocks!   what a commitment.

Her guest was working on her Map of the World quilt and then making oodles of blocks for her Sea and Waves quilt.

Heather was cutting background fabric for her son's wedding quilt.

Susan brought several projects along, one of which was Bento Blocks

 and another was Beach Balls.  The Beach Balls was part of a pattern book for jelly rolls in a box from the Fat Quarter Shop.

Heather and Susan also cut fabrics for blocks for a future Quilt of Valour quilt and Linda and Velda made two test blocks.  Love the camouflage and black together.

Reminder about upcoming events:

The following Meeting is planned for the West Royalty Community Room, Sobeys, 39 Babineau Avenue, Charlottetown.  Save the dates.


November 24: PEIMQG Meeting (7-9pm)

December 10: PEIMQG Potluck Meeting/Sew-In (9-4pm) Heather J's House.

Guest Blogger November 2016

For this month's Guest Blogger I would like to introduce Sharon McConnell from ColorGirlQuilts. I love Sharon's use of Bright/Bold Designs and fabrics. I am in love with some of the patterns she has for sale!! She also has some very useful tutorials and free block patterns on her blog as well. Please welcome Sharon of Color Girl Quilts.

  My name is Sharon McConnell,  and my passion is designing and sewing unique quilts. You will find designs for beginners and advanced quilters, projects for pre-cuts, scraps or for showing off a favorite collection of fabrics. I started blogging about my quilty adventures in the summer of 2012, after long admiring many other bloggers and their incredible talent. The Color Girl Quilts blog will always be filled with positive energy, colorful images, and hopefully exciting quilting projects.

 These patterns and many more available here

Q &A :

    1.What do you love about (Modern) quilting/fabrics?

I love the clear bright colors, and that there are so many choices! I tend to prefer pretty basic prints and tone-on-tone fabrics, so the vast array of designers and styles in the modern fabric world makes sewing so much fun.

    2.Where do you draw inspiration?

I have some favorite design elements (especially curved piecing), so I tend to start with a shape and build a quilt design around that. Sometimes the shape gets cut up and rearranged, or I experiment with how shapes and blocks can be put together to make unexpected designs. The fabric also has a big influence on what I make. If the prints have a certain style or look, I might go with that for the type of patchwork to use it for.

    3.What are you currently working on? (Can we have a sneak peek?)

I just finished the top for a second version of my newest pattern, Summer Bloom. This new version is super bright and has much more variety than the original. It was fun to play around with changing up the pattern to get a new look simply by using different colors and contrast.

I am also working on my own medallion quilt. I have made several of the popular medallion quilt patterns and I think they are a really fun style. I decided it was time to design my own.

    4.Solids or Prints?

Oh, prints all the way! There is a certain challenge to me in mixing a large variety of prints and still pulling of the right contrast and balance for a successful quilt. A couple of my favorite all-print quilts are Ring Around 

 and Fly Over.

 I do like solids a lot, too and use them for mixing with prints. I have never managed to make an all-solids quilt, though. I just can't resist prints!

    5.Precuts or Stash?

I am a stash girl. While I enjoy sewing with pre-cuts and often use a designer collection as a starting point, part of the fun of quilting for me is choosing the fabrics. This means rooting through my stash for the right colors and prints and experimenting with new combinations.

    6.Favorite Tool/Trick you can’t live without? 

I have pretty impressive collection of templates since I like curved piecing so much (most of them I make myself by drafting on the computer and then printing them out). For quick (straight) cutting, my favorite ruler is the one with slits so you can cut a bunch of squares and rectangles at the same time.

    7.What’s your Favorite Blog and/or Designer? 

Can I choose more than one? my design crushes are Alison Glass and Katarina Roccella. I love Alison's colors and basic prints that are so useable in a variety of projects. Katarina is just such an incredible artist...her sense for fabric design blows me away. As far as other quilters, Kathy Doughty and Jen Kingwell are favorites and I love the work of Leanne (Nifty Quilts) and RachelDaisy (Blue Mountain Daisy).

    8.What’s one thing we should know about you? 

While I pretty much eat, sleep and breathe quilting, I am also the mother of two boys and two lady labrador retrievers, so life is very full. Some of my goals in the quilting world are to do more teaching and increase the reach of my patterns in quilt shops.

Thanks for the opportunity to introduce myself! I hope your members will drop me a comment on my website or IG. Patterns are available to download on my website or through craftsy.

Sharon McConnell

Color Girl Quilts