January Dates to Know

I hope you are all having a great holiday season!  I just wanted to let you know of our upcoming guild events so you can get them on your calendars.

Thursday, January 16th we will have our guild meeting.  Eva Marie will be teaching a class on making Cathedral Windows blocks.  I have always wanted to try these and am excited to learn!

Saturday, January 25th we will have a sewing day from 9 am to 9 pm at the Ankeny LDS Church.  Start the new year off right with some sewing.  Come all day or for a few hours!

Shameless asking for favors:  I (Leila) will need some help testing quilt block patterns in January/February.  I would provide printed instructions and fabric for three quilt blocks.  You would pretend that you know nothing about quilting and make them from the instructions.  Mark up the pages with any fixes or suggestions and then send the the instructions and blocks back to me (within two weeks).  If you want to keep the blocks you made for another project that would be fine.  All the returned blocks will be made into a quilt and published in a book.  !!!!!  These blocks will be used to illustrate a secondary quilt setting.  I believe in killing two birds with one stone.  ;)  I really want these instructions to be the best they can be and would love if you could help.  As an added incentive I would give each pattern tester a copy of the book when it comes out - hopefully by the end of the year.  !!!!!  Email me - or leave a comment if you could help - lmgardunia at yahoo dot com.

Have a Wonderful Christmas!

Happy Holiday Season from the DSMMQG!

It is so disappointing to get bad weather on the night of our meeting--freezing rain? Really?! We had to cancel the September meeting because of the wind storms, so we were determined not to cancel our last meeting of 2013.  We missed those of you who decided to stay home and stay safe (I don't blame you one bit!).

Leila led the meeting; we had a few show and tell items. Then we swapped holiday gifts.  When your turn came you could steal anyone's gift, or choose a new gift from the table.  Last year everyone was so polite, no one "stole" anything.  This year it was no holds barred! I had at least three different gifts in my hands at some point.  I thought you might like to see what some of our talented members made (I didn't get a pic of every single gift, but hopefully Melissa captured what I missed, so we will have more photos in the Flickr group (see our "Photos" tab on the menu bar above).

Eva Marie made this sassy Christmas apron:

Melissa's divided basket was extremely popular:

Sherry made quite a few of these gift card holders, and these went along with some notions and a fun book by Malka Dubrawsky:

Jill McBroom made this cute Christmas organizer, inside pic included:

Hannah (our Junior member) made this scrappy pillow, she even made use of the fancy stitches on her mom's machine:

Leila has been busy making pillow covers, she gifted one with a pillow form to Jill; these are her other three:

an embroidered mini quilt, coasters and ornaments by Emma:

And the mini quilt I made by sizing down Kate Spain's In From The Cold Pattern:

Please join us for our next meeting, at the WEST DES MOINES Public Library, Community Room, on January 16, 2014. In the meantime, have a safe and happy holiday season!

November 21st Holiday Social--and MQG Website update

First, some housekeeping from Doris, our Website Coordinator: Last night, I listened in on the MQG Webinar regarding navigating the website. About an hour and 15 minutes, really good info, and you can listen to the recording here. (It won't waste your time, I promise! I was able to set up my entire profile, join our group, follow friends and posts, all while listening and didn't lose track of where they were. The webinar answers MANY of the questions we had for Emily at our last meeting about loading photos, finding content, contributing, setting up, etc.  

Every one of our members should log in and create a profile, "join" the Des Moines MQG Group, and start interacting there. In the end it should replace our flickr discussion group. And yes, I will keep hounding you reminding you to do so until you do. ;-)

There is currently not a place for a pool of photos within our group (Many photos posted in FORUMS however), but they are releasing features in stages because it is a huge, private community with MANY subgroups, a very complicated site to build from an I.T. standpoint. Patience is key, but so is feedback. 

We need to let them know what we want! Contact them using this page and ask for what you want to see!

*housekeeping done* (Wow. I wish that phrase was literally true at my home.)

Join us at 6:30pm on Thursday the 21st of November for our Holiday Social!

Urbandale Public Library

3520 86th Street, (in Meeting Room B)

Urbandale, Iowa 50322

Bring with you:

• a nametag!
• an appetizer, a beverage or treats to share
• an item to swap for our holiday exchange (Thanksgiving, Autumn, Christmas, Winter... the holiday you choose is up to you!) Does not have to be handmade by you.  Some from last year were ornaments, pillows, a fabric bundle, a tote bag:
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  (See our Flickr Group for more ideas.)

Not been to one of our meetings before? That's okay, come introduce yourself--the more the merrier!

Questions? Email dsmmqg@gmail.com or comment here.

Membership cards are here!

We now have membership cards that will allow you to get discounts at fabric stores! I will bring them to the next meeting. Emily

Foster Care Quilts

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!  We collected over 40 quilts!  If you weren't able to bring your quilt last night, there is still time to turn it in.  If you email me a picture of it and the age and gender of child it would be good for by Friday the 25th, I can get it into the "sign-up-to-donate-other-kit-items-binder" and you can bring me the actual quilt at our November meeting.  My email address is lmgardunia at yahoo dot com.
Thanks again!

Voting this Thursday

Hello all! I just wanted to remind you that voting for board members will be this Thursday. At the moment, the positions and people to fill them are: President - Emily Vardeman Vice President - Amy Martin Co-Programming - Leila Gardunia and Eva Marie Evans Treasurer - Sherry Von Fumetti Secretary - Membership - Website Coordinator - As you can see, we still need to fill three positions. If anyone is interested, please contact me at dsmmqg@gmail.com. Also, as a reminder, if you made a quilt or blanket for the foster care kits, please bring it or them (if you made several!) to the meeting. Leila will be collecting them. We also will be finishing up the tote swap since we didn't get to last month. Last, but not least, I'll be handing out the bundles of fabric for the Riley Blake fabric challenge. I look forward to the creative things this group will make from these fabrics! See you Thursday!

Charity Quilt Giveaway

How are those charity quilts coming?  We will be collecting them at our meeting this month.  If you will not be there please let us know and we can work out a way to get your quilts.  If you have finished a charity quilt you can link up a picture of it on my blog and be entered into a giveaway.  Let's just say that your chances of winning are really good right now.  ;) Giveaway closes tomorrow at noon.
Thanks!!

Riley Blake fabric is here!

The fabric for the Riley Blake challenge has arrived!  I'll get it cut up and will either distribute it at the meeting in October or we can arrange for you to get it from me somehow.  If you'd like yours before the October meeting, email me at dsmmqg@gmail.com.
Emily

Pop in orange, Stripe in grey, Gingham in navy, Dots in yellow, Chevron in blue, solid charcoal 

Saturday Sew-In Fun:

Sadly, last week's meeting was cancelled due to the high wind storms that passed through central Iowa late Thursday afternoon. But we made up for it on Saturday; eight of us gathered to sew, cut, piece, laugh, share, eat, and quilt!  Several members worked on some CUTE kids quilts for our foster care 2013 Service Project. Remember, turn in your blankets/quilts at the October Meeting.

Emily rounding the corners on a foster care blanket

Eva Marie quilting a fun baby quilt!

Lots of activity around the work table!

Leila sharing a laugh with her neighbor while quilting a foster care quilt

Penny hard at work strip piecing multiple foster care quilts. 

Plan to join us next time we host a sew-in, we have a lot of fun and get to know each other so much more than we do at our monthly meetings.  

Next meeting: October 17, 2013 (Bring your service project donations, your Tote Bag Swap, and your Show & Tell!)

Put It On Your Calendar!

Our next meeting is Thursday, Sept. 19th at 6:30 pm.  We will talk about using art as quilt inspiration and make our own quilt pallets based on a piece of artwork.  We will also learn more about the new Modern Quilt Guild website.

Everyone who signed up to participate in the tote swap remember to bring your bag to the meeting!

Come to the guilds Sew-In on Saturday, Sept. 21st from 9 am-10 pm at the LDS Church in Ankeny (721 E 1st St, Ankeny).  Bring your own project and a snack to share!

This month on my blog I am going to be highlighting some quick and easy charity quilt ideas.  Keep working on the quilts for the foster care kits.  We will be collecting them at our October meeting.

August, 2013 Minutes

August, 2013 Minutes

July, 2013 Minutes

July, 2013 Minutes

Fabric Challenge - a small change

Jill noticed that some groups are notifying the group leaders on the new MQG website that they are interested in joining the fabric challenge.  I think that would be a good way to get the group started using the site.  So if you have received the invitation email to join the site and are interested in joining the fabric challenge, get signed in, go to the "groups" section, find our group (Des Moines MQG), and reply to my post there about the fabric challenge.  On August 23rd I will sign our group up to participate in the challenge.  They will send us enough fabric for the number of people who indicated to me that they want to participate, so be sure you let me know before August 23rd.  If you have any questions, email me at dsmmqg@gmail.com.

August Meeting Recap and Links to Christmas in August Gift Ideas

Last night we had a great meeting!  Here are the announcements and highlights:

• Sew-In - Saturday, September 21st from 9 am to 9 /10 pm at the LDS Church in Ankeny.  729 E 1st St.  Bring a sewing project and some sewing snacks to share.  This would be a good time to work on a foster care blanket - hint, hint...  :)
• We will be taking nominations for Guild Leadership positions at our next meeting in September.  If you are interested in serving, please email Emily at emily (at) the-vardemans.net
• For our September Meeting Emily will give us some tips on navigating the new Modern Quilt Guild website, people participating in the tote swap will reveal and swap and we will have a Color Pallet Inspiration activity. 
• At our October Meeting we will hold a vote for new guild leaders, collect foster care blankets and have mini trunk shows by some of the guild members.
• In November we will have our annual Holiday Party.  Bring some snacks to share and a small gift to swap.

At the meeting members shared great holiday or any-day gift ideas.  Here are the links to the projects shared:

• Make your own bag to wrap presents in.  Easy button bag.
• A 2 yard fabric bag.
• Folded Christmas Tree napkins.  How to fold.  Tutorial here.  Connie's napkins had a 9 inch diameter.
• Wide open pouch tutorial from Noodle-head
• Scrappy journal cover tutorial
• Christmas ornaments 
• Reversible child's apron 
• Circle zip earbud pouch tutorial
• Cammy Pack for your camera
• Sommerset Star Christmas ornament (tutorial here for Sommerset star)
• Magic Pillowcase
• Ruffled wristlet
• Love Where You Live state Christmas Ornament 
• Simple Patchwork Christmas Stocking

If I missed someone let me know.

Thanks for coming and making it a great meeting!

Fabric Challenge!

Did you guys see this blog post from The Modern Quilt Guild?!

Email me at dsmmqg@gmail.com if you are a paid member and want to participate and get some free fabric!  I'll sign us up next Friday, so please contact me by then!

The Basics Challenge with Riley Blake Designs

Posted on August 16, 2013 by themodernquiltguild

We are so excited to announce Riley Blake Designs as this year’s sponsor of the 3^rd annual MQG members fabric challenge.

          

Basics! We all love those wonderful basics from Riley Blake. They are generously providing each official MQG member 6 fat eighths from their Basic category. Each member will be receiving fabrics like these colors and patterns.

Guidelines

• The challenge runs from September 2013-December 2013.
• Members can make anything they want as long as it is quilted!
• Add in any solids or Riley Blake printed fabric.
• You do not need to use all the fabrics given to you.
• Upload and share your photos to the Fabric Challenge Forum on the Community site.
• MQGs can create guild specific challenges, as long as the other guidelines are upheld.
• Don’t forget to use the #mqgrileyblakechallenge on Instragram and Twitter!
• See the members Community site for sign ups.
• Fabric sign ups end Aug 31st, 2013

Meeting this Thursday

Our meeting for August is this Thursday at the Urbandale library.  Please remember to brig your show and tell and any ideas (patterns or tutorials) for Holiday gift ideas.

Look forward to seeing everyone there!

2013 Service Project: Blankets for Foster Children

Hi Everyone!  I am re-posting this to remind us all of our ongoing service project for the year!

When the guild leadership sat down to plan this year's activities, we decided that it would be a good idea to have a guild service project.  We have all so much (and I'm not just talking about fabric!) that we can give back to our community.  We decided that providing blankets for Foster Care Kits would be a great way to put our sewing skills to work to help others.

When a child is in an abusive or neglected home situation, Child Protective Services will take them into custody.  The children are placed with Foster Families until their home is safe to return to.  The children often show up on their foster parents doorsteps with just the clothes on their backs and in a state of emotional turmoil.  Foster Care Kits are meant to help make this painful situation a bit better.

Example of a Foster Care Kit:  Fleece blanket, toothpaste, toothbrush, pjs,
 stuffed animal, car and large drawstring bag

A Foster Care Kit Contains:

1. Basic Hygiene Items:  toothbrush, toothpaste and brush/comb.  It may also include rubber bands, barrettes, deodorant and lotion.  (Items may be travel sized)
2. Pajamas  It may also contain clothing, socks, underwear or diapers.
3. Blanket   (45x45 for 0-2 year old, 45x54 for3-6 year old, 54x66 for 7-11 year old, 54x72 for 12-18 year old)   Sizes are approximate, but the blanket needs to be big enough for the child.  The blankets may be fleece or pieced.  Foster Care Families will have blankets and beds for the children, but this blanket is something soft and special for the child that they can snuggle with and keep forever.
4. At Least One Comfort Item  Some ideas include:  doll, coloring book/crayons, notebook, journal, pen, pencils, book or stuffed animal.  No one is too old for a stuffed animal, especially when you are going through hard times.

All of these items are collected and placed in a bag.  It is best if the bag can be zipped, buttoned or velcroed so that the contents are not mixed up or lost.  A drawstring bag also works well.  The contents of the bag, age and gender of the child are written on a note card and pinned to the outside of the bag.  The bags are collected and brought to local agencies that place foster children.

We will be teaming with the Ankeny LDS Women's Relief Society to make these kits.  Our guild will be responsible for making blankets for the kits.  The blankets do not have to be anything elaborate.  Fleece blankets are perfectly acceptable.  We will be sharing ideas for quick and easy blankets throughout the year at guild meetings.  If you would like to make totes, large drawstring bags, pajamas or stuffed animals that would be great also.  We will collect the blankets and any other iteams that you would like to donate at our October Guild meeting.  The blankets will then be given to the LDS Relief Society and they will be responsible for providing the additional items and putting the final kits together.

I think it would be great if we could provide at least 100 blankets for this project.  Is that a big goal?  Yes, it is, but we can do it!  :)  Please let me know if you have any questions or if there is anything that I have left out.  I have started a discussion thread on the Guild's Flickr site where we can post ideas/pics/tutorials for quick and easy quilts.  Please share any ideas you have!

If you are interested in making large drawstring bags for the Foster Care Kits, I have a tutorial here.  They only take 2/3 yard of fabric and are a breeze to make.

I know that we can make a real difference for children in our community with this project!  Thanks so much!

Christmas in August

In July we had a great meeting at At the Heart of Quilting where we learned more about long-arm quilting.  A good time was had by all.  :)

Next month's meeting, Aug. 15th, will have a Christmas in August theme.  We would like everyone to bring a simple sewn/fabric gift idea.  If you have an example to bring that would be great.  Or you could print out a picture of the item or simply describe it.  Please bring the website link address if there is one and we will post all the gift links here after the meeting.

Are there any subjects you would like to have covered at upcoming meetings?  Do you have a tip or class you would like to teach?  Let us know!

Thanks!

Charity Quilt

Thanks again to everybody who worked on the charity quilt!  It sold for $500.  Mike, the man who contacted us, is requesting a photo of everyone who worked on the quilt together.  I know we will have some people missing next meeting, so maybe we should try for the September meeting.

This Month's Meeting at At The Heart of Quilting

Detail of Quilting on Metro Rings by Jenny Pedigo @ Sew Kind of Wonderful

This Thursday, July 18th, we will meet at At the Heart of Quilting at 6:30 pm to learn more about quilting our quilt tops with Diana Rausch.  At the Heart of Quilting is located at 315 5th St, West Des Moines in Valley Junction just south of the Quilt Block. We hope to see you there!

Harley Treads- Charity Quilt finished

The Des Moines Modern Quilt guild finished it's first group quilt for charity in less than 2 months and just in the nick of time, the event is Saturday, July 13.  We made this quilt for A Heavenly Ride For Hospice.  The first post about this quilt can be found here.  Since it was a motorcycle ride for charity we went with Harley Davidson colors, black and orange.

 The chevron pattern reminded us of tire tread, so it all seemed to fit together.

It was quilted by Beth Hromyak in a flame pattern.

Sherry Von Fumetti made the label and the backing featuring the pieced initials HD.

The binding was the same black and white print that really reminds me of lug nuts.

I hope this quilt raises a lot of money for Hospice and finds a good home with someone who loves it.

Eva Marie

Our Modern Quilt Guild Show

Sunday evening was the Artist's Reception for the first Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild Show.  We had a great turn out, lots of interest and conversation from visitors, and several of our members collaborated in an impromptu gallery talk with Q&A.

A few photos from the show (more can be seen in our Flickr pool):

The Gallery in the Round is in a contemporary building, with curved walls.  These first three photos are from a smaller, outer room and the lighting is somewhat "yellow" so please excuse the photo quality!

Some of our member's non-quilt entries to the show:

A small display of mug-rugs displayed "clothesline" style...

The main gallery during the reception:

The show will be on display through July 25th, so if you close to Ames, Iowa, stop in and have a look!

________________________________________________

Reminder for members: 5:00 pm tomorrow is the deadline to enter the Bag Swap!  

Announcing the DSMMQG Tote Swap...

It's been a little while since our last swap so we agreed tonight that it's time for another swap.   We have decided to do a tote bag swap.

Please fill out your form thoroughly. This helps your partner know what you want. Everyone wants to make something amazing for their partner.

It's nice to put a mosaic together and post it to Flickr under the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild Swap group.

This is a blind swap. Do NOT tell your partner who you are! They will find out when they receive your item. That's part of the fun.

The deadline for getting the form back to me is 5:00 pm on June 27th and I hope to have partners out by June 28th or 29th at the latest.    We will be exchanging the tote bags at the August meeting.  If you can't make the August meeting please arrange with another member to bring the tote bag so you partner doesn't feel forgotten.

Have fun! 

Jill

It's that time of year again...

Time to register entires for the Iowa State Fair (deadline is JULY 1) -- and we have a brand new MODERN QUILT category added to the competition this year!  Here is a link to the contest page, click on the Fabric and Threads link to download the entry form and details.  Keep in mind, your quilted bags, pillows, aprons, and other sewn items can also be entered...

And, this week registration opened for the American Quilters Society Quilt Week Des Moines, in October 2013.  Time to sign up for classes before they fill!  Weeks Ringle is teaching some Modern Quilting classes and there are some great free-motion and long-arm classes being offered.  Check them all out here:

Thank you last night's speaker, Valerie Funk, for an inspiring and fun trunk show of your creations!  

Upcoming Tote Bag Swap: Sign-ups were last night for our next secret swap, we will be creating a tote bag for someone in the guild.  If you missed last night's meeting and would like to join in, send Jill M. an email or respond to this flickr discussion.  

Note: our July meeting will be held at Heart of Quilting, on 5th Street in Valley Junction.

Meeting reminders

Tonight's meeting will be at the Urbandale Public Library.

If you made a block or blocks for the charity quilt, please remember to bring it or them tonight.

We will be voting about membership with the national Modern Quilt Guild.  If you have any questions about it, please email me at dsmmqg@gmail.com

Emily

Gallery Opening of Modern Quilt Exhibit This Sunday!

The first ever show of the DSMMQG is currently on display in Ames, Iowa!  The show includes work from 15 of our members; ranging from pillows and bags to a Queen size quilt, from hand quilting and embroidery to custom long-arm quilted pieces:

JOIN US THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 23rd 6:00-8:00 p.m. FOR A GALLERY OPENING! The show will be up through July 25 at 1015 Hyland Avenue in Ames at the Gallery in the Round of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Hours M-Th, 1-5 and by appointment (515) 450-6572. Note: Please call ahead for reservations during June hours.

Cancelled

Victoria Findlay Wolfe has cancelled the show she was planning in Clear Lake.  Sorry for those who were planning to go.

Fabric Sale!

Just a reminder that this Friday and Saturday, guild member Becky McGregor will be having a fabric sale!

WHERE:  314 NW Bramble Rd, Ankeny, IA 50023

WHEN: Friday, May 31 from 9-6, Saturday, June 1 from 9-1

WHAT:  LOTS of Moda fabric on bolts, pre-cuts, Kits, Patterns, & books - all at great prices

Charity Quilt

At our May meeting we talked about a service project that our guild was asked to do.  Mike Williams, a spokesperson for A Heavenly Ride for Hospice, asked if we would make a quilt to be raffled off at their Poker Run.  

The money raised at the raffle will go to Hospice.  We would love it if you all could help us make a great quilt to give to them for a raffle for a great cause.  Here are the details.

We decided a quilt in Harley Davidson colors (orange and black) would appeal to many motorcycle riders.  The block that we chose is the herringbone block.  

You can find the tutorial on how to make the block on the Stitched in Color website (http://www.stitchedincolor.com/2011/12/herringbone-block-tutorial.html).  For the blocks, please use black, orange, white, and grey.  The finished size of the blocks will be 11" x 22".  Her tutorial says to use 14 strips, but when making the test blocks, we found that 15 strips were needed.  

Please bring your completed blocks to the June meeting so that we can work on getting the quilt finished by July.  Let us know if you have any questions or problems.  Thank you for all your help!!

Iowa State Fair Now Has A Modern Quilt Category!

Last fall I contacted Dorothy Faidley, the Superintendent of the Fabric and Threads division of the Iowa State Fair, and asked if it would be possible to add a Modern Quilt category.  Based on the feedback she got from one judge, it seemed like it wouldn't happen.  So imagine my surprise today as I was skimming thought the quilt categories to find:  183 Modern - a quilt using a new design or reinterpreted traditional design, including improvisational piecing, alternative block structures, or emphasis of negative space and asymmetry.

Wow!  We are in there people!  So, please, please, please enter something in the Modern Quilt category!  I am going to feel really lame if we asked for a new category and there are no entries.  :)

To enter something in the Iowa State Fair:

1. Go to the Iowa State Fair 2013 Categories/Premium Books Page
2. Read the Fabric and Threads Booklet to see how many things you would like to enter.  Only one entry per category.
3. Fill out an online entry form.  You do not have to know for sure what you are going to enter at this time.  It will simply ask you how many entry tags you would like.  Each tag can be used for any of the Fabric and Threads categories. 
4. Drop off your item on July 27th.
5. Pick up your item on August 19th

What do you say?  Are you in?

Extra Doorprizes this month!!!!!

We are running low on the fat quarters for birthdays/new members.   If anyone can bring a few it would be much appreciated.  There will be extra door prizes this month and you will get an entry for every fat quarter donated.

     Urbandale Public Library
     6:30 pm 
     Topic:  Foundation Paper Piecing

and Entries Due for the Show at Gallery in the Round 
Thanks!

DSMMQG Show Entry Reminder!

This is the week to submit your entries by either email or mail them to Greta Anderson (address on entry form) or giving them to Doris at Thursdays meeting.  Forms, Photos and Entry Fee are required by Thursday the 16th.

You will be notified in approximately one week, whether or not your entries were accepted.  Therefore, if you don't want to add a sleeve to your quilt unless you have to, there will be plenty of time after being notified of acceptance before you need to submit the actual quilt to sew one on.

The gallery will be installing the show on June 15th, so the quilts will need to be delivered by June 14th... either to the gallery in Ames, or to Doris.  NOTE: this date is prior to our June Meeting, so it will be your responsibility to bring items to either Doris' home in Des Moines or to the Gallery in Ames.  Additional details will be included in your acceptance notice.

MUG RUGS and MINIs can be submitted without entry fee as the curator plans to create a special display of small items/mug rugs in the gallery.  

See you THURSDAY at 6:30 at the Urbandale Library for our monthly meeting!

Tons of Information!

Okay, my quilting friends, I have some information for you so please read this over carefully and let me know if you have any questions!

1)  Sewing Day!

Leila has already posted about our sewing day, but I wanted to remind you all again and add more information.  So it will be Saturday, May 11th from 9:00 am to 10:00pm (or whatever times you want to come anywhere in between those times) at the Ankeny LDS church at 721 E. 1st St. 
As a part of our sewing day, we will have a Give, Swap, Sell of fabric.  I think I have some fabric that I might want to swap or sell and I'll post pictures on our Flickr group.  Feel free to do the same if you'd like!

2)  Our Show at Gallery in the Round!

Doris emailed the forms a while back and I passed out pages 1 and 2 at the meeting before last, but I think that I may not have passed out page 3, which contains important information!  I have sent out an email to everyone whose email I have with the attachment again. If you did not get the email and would like to, please notify me by sending an email to dsmmqg@gmail.com.  I will check that email regularly.

3) National Modern Quilt Guild Membership

I intended to share the information on the blog, but I think it will be easier if I give a brief slide show and answer questions at the next meeting.   I will explain why the National Modern Quilt Guild is offering membership, what the benefits are, and let you think on it for a while before we vote about it in June.  I hope to not take up too much time so that Jill has time to show us about foundation paper piecing. 

4)  Victoria Findlay Wolfe, who won Best in Show at QuiltCon, will be presenting in Clear Lake, Iowa!  There is a small group of modern quilters starting things up there and they have Victoria coming to show quilts and talk to the group.  Since they are a very small group (I think like 3 people right now!), they will be charging $20 to attend.  Space is limited, so if you are interested, let me know at dsmmqg@gmail.com.  There is a facebook event for it, so if you are on facebook, I can send you an invite. 

Victoria's Winning Quilt

 5)  The placemats that were made and donated by this group went to Heartland Senior Services.  They were very pleased to receive them and the timing was perfect because they were having a special meal for all the people they bring meals to and were so happy to send them each a placemat!  Thanks for your help!

Okay, I think that covers it for now, but there might be a couple other things coming up soon.

Emily V.

Don't Forget Our April Meeting Is Tomorrow!

By Michelle via Flickr  - link

Don't forget!  No meeting tonight!  We will meet tomorrow night, Friday, April 19th at At the Heart of Quilting at 6:30 pm.  Vanessa Christensen, author of Make It Sew Modern and designer of the fabric lines Simply Color and Simply Style will be speaking to us.  She will talk about using traditional blocks in modern quilting.  Be there or be square!

March 21, 2013 Minutes

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4f5RcI0VuEeX09UU0xhSVdxcEk/edit?usp=sharing

Sewing Day!

Photo by Natalia Rosin via Flickr 

Don't forget to mark your calendars and set your alarm clocks!  We will be having another Sewing Day on Saturday, May 11th from 9 am to 10 pm.  It will be at the Ankeny LDS Church, 721 E 1st St, Ankeny.

I moved the time back to 9 am because, honestly, who wants to get up too early on a Saturday?   If anyone really wants, we can start it at 8 am like last time.  Let me know.

AQS Modern Quilt Challenge

Quilt from the AQS Modern Quilt Challenge website

Have you heard about the AQS Modern Quilt Challenge?  There are tons of quilt categories and prizes!  Check out all the details here.

And don't forget about our next meeting!  Friday, April 19th at 6:30 pm at At the Heart of Quilting.

Make It Modern: Traditional Blocks in Modern Quilting

Please note the change of date and location of our next guild meeting.  It will will be:

Friday, April 19th at 6:30 pm

At the Heart of Quilting

315 5th St,  West Des Moines, IA 50265

Vanessa Christensen will speak to us about using traditional blocks in modern quilting.  She describes her quilting style as what would happen if Modern Quilting and Traditional Quilting got together and had a baby.  ;)   

She is the author of Make it Sew Modern, a book that focuses on using texture for a variety of modern projects.  Vanessa has also published several patterns and has designed two lines of fabric Simply Color and Simply Style for Moda.

We are excited to have her come and speak to the guild!  Be there or be square!