Are You Trendy?

SewMamaSew! blog features an interview with Kathy Steiner, owner of Michael Miller Fabrics. Read it in its entirety here. Kathy's comments are very telling, and fully relate to the modern quilting movement.

What (2011) trends stand out in your mind? 

1. Solids! Need I say more? They’re everywhere– I think it’s kind of the collective unconscious thing; we’re all “into” them now.

2. The color WHITE. Whether it’s a background in a quilt or a print, it makes everything clean, fresh and sparkly. All colors look great next to white.

3. A continuing, evolving acceptance of new fabrications for multiple uses– craft, home, quilting, needlework.

4. Large scale prints: Our “eye” has definitely adjusted over the past few years to larger scale prints. Thank goodness! I LOVE large graphic prints.

5. Embroidery, and all hand work.

Are you there yet?

Posted by Linda Hungerford, Programs/Education Co-Chair

SAVE THE DATE: DSMMQG Sew-In/Retreat!

We have found a location and reserved dates for our first sew-in/quilting retreat.  Mark your calendars for Friday evening, January 27th (5 PM- TBD), and Saturday, January 28th.

Retreat at the Waukee Arts Council-- more details to come!

November 2011 Meeting Recap

Last night's meeting was great fun, very little business, a little savoring the refreshments brought by our members, and much chatting and getting to know each other better.  We had the reveal of our "Ugly Fabric" Swap, her are a few highlights:

as well as swapped the Seasonal/Holiday items we made... my have made by Jill:

Lots of pics at our flickr site!

See you next year, DSMMQs!

Posted by Doris Brunnette, President

Meeting Tonight

Come out for the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild meeting tonight.  We are meeting in Valley Junction.

At the Heart Of Quilting

315 5th st.

West Des Moines, IA 50265

We are haivng out Holiday Swap and a social meeting with lots of yummies!

December -- and Art Quilt Exhibit in AMES

Please note, we will NOT have a meeting in December-- 


Our next meetings are November 17, 2011 and January 19, 2012. 

If this leaves you without something to do on December 15th, maybe you want to check out this exhibit in Ames (the artist is the mother of DSMMQG Member, Greta Anderson!)

Material Matrixes: Bar-code Inspired Quilts

Deborah Melton Anderson of Columbus, Ohio

Gallery in the Round

1015 Hyland Ave.

Ames, Iowa

THROUGH Dec. 22

Deborah says: "My quilts might be described as fabric collages....The construction process is satsifying physically and mentally...The molding of the basic image involves an emotional response to a place, an object, an event, etc.; an excitement that the fabrics elicit from me when combined with other fabrics; an on-going challenge to create an engaging composition that draws the viewer into the work rather than capturing a mere momentary interest; and lastly, a personal challenge to put aside a formulaic vision in favor of a search for a new visual language..." 

See photos that Greta Provided in the album I posted on our site here today!

Greta says:  "In short, my mother is an artist. She has been prolifically creating in fabric for four decades and has a resume of artistic achievement and involvement that is umpteen pages long. I think of her as "cutting edge" (no pun intended) but completely without pretension: she simply sees the world from a unique perspective. She was among the pioneers of the use of photo transfers in art quilts (no "mug shots" need apply! she photographs surfaces, textures, colors, etc. to makeher own fabrics). Her recent work, shown in this exhibit, reflects her "inspiration" by postal bar-codes and QR codes (OK, who but a NON-categorical thinker would be inspired by bar codes?). Ever fascinated by the abstract, by patterns and color, my mom has taught me to see beauty everywhere--and what else can I say?! I love her for it (and for many other gifts)."

ARTIST'S WEBSITE: http://www.debanderson.net/

Posted by Doris Brunnette, President

November Meeting Location

Remember, our November meeting, on the 17th, will be held at NEW LOCATION:

At the Heart of Quilting, 315 5th St. (Valley Junction) West Des Moines, IA 50265

We will be meeting at our usual time, 6:30.

Participants in the "One Fourth Ugly Swap" will Show and Tell their items.

We will be having a Holiday Project Exchange.  Bring a small quilted project with a holiday theme to exchange.  The holiday theme can be any holiday, not just the winter ones (or simply seasonal, Autumn, Winter, etc.).  This will be a FUN Get Acquainted gathering---hope you can join us.

Looking forward to seeing you there.  Guests and visitors are always welcome.

Eva Marie Evans

QAYG Resources

I hope everyone enjoyed my talk about quilt as you go methods as much as I enjoyed presenting them.  I mentioned there were a two blogs that had served as inspiration for me in learning about quilt as you go methods; The Quilting Edge and Fibermania

Here are a few sources that might be helpful:

http://www.thequiltingedge.com/p/tutorials.html

http://fibermania.blogspot.com/

http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2011/04/bottled-rainbows-joining-blocks.html

If you google "quilt as you go", you'll find other resources, including some youtube videos, that cover some of the same things I did tonight.

Eva Marie

Quilt As You Go

At the guild meeting tomorrow night, I'm pleased to be presenting my favorite technique in quilting, Quilt As You Go or QAYG.  With this technique, you make quilted panels that can be assembled into large quilts or used as they are.  I have to warn you, it's addictive.  You can't make just one panel.

I've been making pillows with my panels, but the possibilites are endless.  I've posted a few pictures on my flickr stream at Bijoux Baby, or check my blog at http://bijouxbaby.blogspot.com/2011/08/pillows.html for other pictures.  I tried posting pictures here, but it didn't work and time is tight.  Sorry about the redirect.

I hope you can join me tomorrow night.

Eva Marie Evans

MEETING UPDATE: Tomorrow, October 20, 2011

Our NEXT Meeting is tomorrow, Thursday, October 20, 2011 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

West Des Moines Public Library

UPDATE: We had a last minute program change; our scheduled speaker, Carla Timberlake of Lollyquiltz and charter member of the Kansas City Chapter of The Modern Quilt Guild, will not be able to come.

PROGRAM DEMONSTRATION:  Member Eva Marie Evans will be showing us her Quilt-As-You-Go technique. 

12 Minute Tip - Member Linda Hungerford will give our 12-Minute Tips!

As always, bring a work-in-progress, or finished project for Show 'n Tell!!!

Come join us for an informative meeting, lots of fabric talk with friendly quilters, and stay to socialize afterward. We look forward to meeting you!

For the November 17 meeting, plan to join in the fun of a Holiday Swap. Simply make a holiday item and wrapit up. We'll exchange gifts and take home something pretty for holidaydecorating. (Themes include Autumn; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Winter.  Suggested items: wall hanging; table runner; candle mat; mug rug;potholder; tea towel; hand towel, etc.)

Public Television Program About Quilting

On Saturday, October 29 at 9:00 AM Iowa Public Television (IPTV) will begin airing a documentary called Why Quilts Matter.

"This new documentary series focuses on why quilts are bigger than you think, seen through the lenses of history, art, and politics. For the quilter, collector or casual observer, the nine episodes take you behind the scenes and into new territory, exploring the centrality of the quilt in American culture and revealing the unsuspected size, breadth and depth of the quilt culture."

The first program is "Quilts 101 - Antique and Contemporary Quilts" Learn what makes an antique quilt more valuable and why contemporary quilts are judged differently.

For more information about the program, including air dates and times, visit IPTV here.

For more information about Why Quilts Matter, go here.

Posted by Linda Hungerford, Programming Co-Chair

Modern Quilt Show

Going to be in or near Kansas City on October 1?  If so, check out our Neighbor Guild's Show on the Quad...  

More info here.

Next Meeting: SEPTEMBER 15, 2011

Our next meeting is Thursday, September 15, at 6:30 p.m. in the West Des Moines Public Library Community Room. 

The program will be presented by member Elizabeth Andrews, curator of the quilt exhibit, "Yikes! Stripes" which was exhibited in 2009.  She will explain how she came to curate the exhibition,and will describe the quilts in terms of construction--some of themakersused unique techniques, and these "vintage" quilts have a very modernfeel! 

A few reminders:

Habitat Challenge DUE!!!  At our September 15 meeting we'll have a Show and Tell of our finished Habitat Challenge quilts.  Remember, your challenge item can be constructed only with Habitat prints and solids, and every print in your bundle should be used. The finished item should 60-120 linearinches.

One-Fourth Ugly Swap, Bring to the September meeting a total of 1/4 yard (one piece or several piece--needing to total approximately 360 square inches) of your own "ugly fabric" in a brown bag--(no one should see your fabric!). We'll swap bags & from the ugly fabric you receive, make something for show and tell at the November 17 meeting. The maker keeps what she makes.

Upcoming plans:

Holiday Gift Exchange, at our November 17 Meeting It's not too early to start thinking about the holidays. Plan now to join inthe fun of a Holiday Exchange. Simply make a holiday item and wrap it up. We'll exchange gifts and take home something pretty for holiday decorating. Themes include Autumn; Thanksgiving; Christmas; Winter. Suggested items: wall hanging; table runner; candle mat; mug rug; potholder; tea towel; hand towel, etc.

Join us for a fun evening of quilt talk and sharing, treats, a chance to take home a doorprize, and meet new friends!

INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND FELLOW SEWISTS--

Guests are warmly welcome to join us.

August 18 Meeting Recap

Last night's meeting was a fun get together on a rainy and dreary evening.  Members Jill Guffy & Marny Buck, of Modern Quilt Relish, presented the program.  They were invited earlier this year to judge the Robert Kaufman Kona Cotton Challenge: No Prints Allowed! for the Ann Arbor Modern Quilt Guild.

There were thirteen entries submitted for judging, and based on the elements of design they reviewed and critiqued each quilt, giving every quilter very positive feedback on their entry.  Having been on "the other side of the judging fence" they have an interesting perspective on analyzing, critiquing and judging modern quilts.  We had a great conversation over each of the 13 entries, the final selection, and how they came to their final decision.  Thanks, ladies!

Here are a few posts from the Ann Arbor Guild, here, here and here.

Following the program, Etta and Jill M showed what they've been working on for show-n-tell (check out the photo album!) and then we did our potholder swap.  There were 10 potholders entered, from 5-6 members.  Here's a look at all 10, for individual pics, check out the photo album:

 Our next meeting will be September 15, 6:30 p.m., and we will be revealing our Habitat Challenge Quilts!

July 21 Meeting Recap

Thanks to Linda H. and Veronica for giving the Twelve Minute TipsProgram on needles and threads...even those of us who have sewn and quilted for years learned something new!

We voted on a logo design, created by Elizabeth S. After a few tweaks we will have an official logo!

Almost everyone that came remembered a nametag for the President's Challenge.  I only captured five on film, but check them out at our flickr page...

We had another fun Show and Tell session, pics are loaded on our flickr site: 

http://www.flickr.com/groups/dmmqg/

Show & Tell is proving a good time for members to get advice and help on laundry disasters, quilting quandries and "what do I do know?" problems!  Please try and make our next meeting...

NEXT MEETING:  AUGUST 18

Location:  West Des Moines Public Library

6:30 pm

posted by Doris Brunnette, President

June 16 Meeting Recap

We are finding our groove... and have some ideas for pumping up the next meeting already!  Which will be on July 21st, WDMPL, 6:30 pm... bring your favorite type of thread and/or needles for quilting...and your questions about blogging and using Flickr.

We met four new Guild members, and it's fun getting to know all of you better!  The meeting ended earlier than expected, but the social hour that followed was great fun!  The sixteen of us that came shared our favorite quilting books with the group, and let me tell you, my Amazon wishlist grew a bit last night!  Here are (hopefully) all of the items shared last night:

Tricia brought along a book about creating your perfect Quilting space, because let's face it, which one of us doesn't have that dream studio floating around inside our heads? 

Crystal and Jill M. both mentioned Malka's book as one of their newest faves, it's full of fun, bright colors and fresh project ideas.

Kris shared Linda Otto Lipsett's Remember Me, a book of quilt history talking about signature or friendship quilts. Kris also shared that she's enjoyed everything written by this author.

Karen is a relatively new quilter and she shared this book,The Ultimate Quilters Visual Guide, given to her by the person who first introduced her to quilting.  It's her fave because of the personal connection, but it is also a valued go-to answer book when shecomes across a term she doesn't recognize, or a method that's new to her.

Our resident linen and asian fabric devotee, Veronica, brought along FIVE faves, all by Japanese designers, and we all had fun gawking over those.  Many of the instructions are in Japanese, but the photos and illustrations are amazing, and one really doesn't need to read the instructions, anyway, right?!?

A book I had not heard of before, but was shared by Maria, Stash Happy Patchwork is full of super cute small projects...

Penny and Lisa S. both shared Elizabeth Hartman's book, which I've been told by more than one person is a great basic reference book...

More than a few of us mentioned that we love the Material Obsession and Material Obsession Two books...and WDMPL has both of these books available to check out!

Until I saw this book in person last night, I thought, why would I need a book on log cabins?  Modern Log Cabin Quilting is full of unique project ideas,combinations of fabrics such as corduroy and linen, small projects as well as full quilts--worth checking out quilters!  Penny, Jill Mc and Meghan all brought copies of this to share with the group and raved about it!

The book I shared was Applique Outside the Lines, by the Piece O' Cake Designs ladies.  They were one of the first established pattern companies to recognize the modern quilting movement by joining in...

Etta brought a block reference book (one of the biggies--as did Linda) and she also brought this book on fabric manipulation.  Anyone with any interest in art quilts would find this book to be a great addition to your library.

One thing we all agreed on, while we may not actually read all of these books, we love to collect them and great photography (read: eye candy) is essential to draw us in and satisfy our hunger for them.  I wrote a post over two years ago, about utilizing quilting books from the library.  I still stand behind each of those books as great reference for any quilter! 

 Do you have a favorite quilting book we didn't mention at last night's meeting?

--Posted by Doris Brunnette, President