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!