Meeting Details for November 19

The last meeting of 2015 is next Thursday, November 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Polk County Community Center, 134 6th Street, WDM (in Valley Junction) [click for map]. It is in the first block of 6th street, just north of Railroad Blvd. We hope to see you there!

Holiday Party 

It's finally here, our annual holiday party!!  We will celebrate with potluck treats, so please everyone bring a little festive food or drink to share, thank you!

Then we'll play the best tradition of this little group, the Holiday Gift Swap game!! Everyone who brings a homemade gift can play.  (I'm saying that so you can come to the party even if you don't have time to make a gift)  Anyway, try to make a small-ish holiday-themed gift to bring to the meeting. See this post (2014 Swap) and this one (2013 Recap) if you need ideas. Expect something like a pillow, tote bag, zipper pouch, small quilt, pincushion, apron, ornaments, etc., etc. Wrap it like a present and bring it to the meeting. You don't know who will end up bringing your gift home, but if its modern, quilt-y, holiday and handmade by you, I'm sure they'll love it!

I've been looking forward to this all year, so hope you all can make it!
See you next week,
-Emma

p.s. Jill made us a sign up for the pot luck, so click here to say what you plan to bring: http://www.luckypotluck.com/cgi-bin/display/potluck.pl?id=144475496252599446220&ref=1

REMINDER: Jacquie Gering at the DMAQG Meeting

Just a reminder that Jacquie Gering is the speaker at the DMAQG meetings tomorrow, October 27! She will be presenting two different programs:
1 p.m. Honoring Tradition
7 p.m. You’ll Know It When You See It
Meetings are at West Des Moines Christian Church, Building 2, 4501 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines

Our funds from dues helped bring this modern quilter to Des Moines, so let's show our support with our presence at the meetings as well. I hope to see some of you at the workshops this week too!

Call for New Leadership & Activity Ideas

Volunteers Needed

Hi Modern Quilter! Have you been a member of the DSMMQG for long? Or are you a new member looking to get more involved and make this group what you'd like it to be? We need new members of the "Steering Committee" for 2016 year. That's right, I didn't say "Board"! As a small group, our leadership is a little more relaxed than a board...but we still need some folks to make decisions and keep us running. If you haven't helped out in that way yet or you think now is the time you could make a contribution, please let us know.

The job doesn't involve too much work. You'll probably need to have 1-2 extra meetings a year to decide what the activities for the regular meetings should be. This year's group did most of our planning and decision-making through email!  You'll share the responsibility of being at the meetings to help them run smoothly, share announcements, bring the basket of fat quarters, make sure someone brings treats and talk to the Community Center staff when they have questions and to keep our space reserved. Also there is a website and Facebook page to update, if you're interested in helping with either of those things.

Ideas & Presenters Wanted

Also please think about whether you have any ideas for programming in 2016. We want topics to discuss, activities, challenges and/or presenters. If you would be willing to be a presenter, please let us know. You can teach a technique you know, for a whole meeting or just a 10 min. tip if you want, or give a trunk show and tell us your story about quilting.  Comment on this post, talk to a current Steering Committee member (Leila, Jill, Emma or Eva Marie) or speak up during a meeting if you have ideas! And thank you! Our meetings have been and will continue to be a great place for inspiration and sharing of modern quilt ideas thanks to our members!

Meeting Details for October 15

Our next meeting is next week Thursday, October 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Polk County Community Center, 134 6th Street, WDM (in Valley Junction) [click for map]. It is in the first block of 6th street, just north of Railroad Blvd. We hope to see you there!

 

1 Yard Challenge Reveal

If you attended the August meeting and played musical chairs with us, you know...this is the meeting to show what you made from the variety of fabrics you left with! We'll be ooohing and ahhing at your creations with no judgement on how well you "followed the rules" because our challenges don't have rules!  I hope you were super-creative and enjoyed the challenge!

If you didn't make it to that meeting, of course, please bring other Show and Tell.

Holiday Ideas

Then, we are repeating another very popular meeting topic, our holiday ideas swap! Please bring actual samples, books, printouts, pattern names or blog URLs to some of your best holiday ideas. Whether its a great gift idea, decoration or a pretty holiday quilt, think of what your friends at the Modern Quilt Group would like to see and bring us some inspiration.

You might want to get started on holiday sewing soon, so here's the kick-off to start your list!


Eva Marie signed up to bring treats, so there's another reason you'll want to come to next week's meeting! See you there!

Facebook

Oh, before I forget, I want to mention that Eva Marie also made us a Facebook Group! Yay, thank you!! So go visit that and join the group...we're already having discussions there about sewing machines, what we're working on, sharing resources and there's sure to be more. Here's the link.

Meeting Details for September 17

This is the week for the Des Moines Modern Quilt Group!! Our monthly meeting is this Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the Polk County Community Center, 134 6th Street, WDM (in Valley Junction) [click for map]. It is in the first block of 6th street, just north of Railroad Blvd and there is a good sized parking lot right next to the building. Please note that the Community Center is hosting a garage sale that day, so there may not be spots available in the parking lot. We should be fine to find on-street parking nearby, though. And maybe you'd like to come early and do some shopping, I heard someone brought fabric...

Scraps, Scraps, Scraps

Our planned activity will center around Scraps! Bring scrappy quilts to show, ideas for scrappy quilts and little projects to use up scraps. AND we will talk about ideas for storing & organizing your scraps. What do you use in your quilt studio to tame the scraps? Or do you just let them fly?! Please come ready to share your love of fabric scraps!

Also Bring Show and Tell, the bulk of our meeting is seeing what you have been making in the last month! Finished projects or in progress works bring whatever you have to show.

Refreshments: Melissa is bringing treats and drinks for this meeting. Thank you for your generosity, Melissa!

Also this week...Sewing Day!! 

Saturday, September 19,  9 a.m. - 10 p.m., Ankeny LDS Church, 721 E. 1st St, Ankeny, IA.  Why sew alone when you can sew with friends? Imagine what you could get done if you came to sew all day with your Modern Quilt Group of friends!  Pack up your current projects, sewing machine and supplies and join us. Invite your friends and neighbors too, participants need not be members of DSMMQG. We will have an abundance of space for you to spread out and work! Our hours are open, drop in when you can and stay as long as you want!

PLEASE RSVP if you would like to stay or come past 6 p.m...thank you!

Sewing Day, September 19

DSM Modern Quilt Group Sewing Day
Saturday, September 19
9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Ankeny LDS Church, 721 E 1st St, Ankeny, IA

Why sew alone when you can sew with friends? Imagine what you could get done if you came to sew all day with your Modern Quilt Group of friends! We snuck this on the calendar and hope you noticed, all are welcome. Pack up your current projects, sewing machine and supplies and join us.

Invite your friends and neighbors too, participants need not be members of DSMMQG. We will have an abundance of space for you to spread out and work! Our hours are open, drop in when you can and stay as long as you want!

Comment on this post if you're coming and will bring things like an iron, ironing board or cutting mat to share. Also, we were thinking it would be nice to not have to stop for lunch, so bring a pot-luck-type food or snack to share.

Meeting Help Needed for Tonight

Hey! I forgot to mention that we need to have a few rotary cutters and mats available at the meeting tonight. Please bring one if you can. Also, I don't have anyone signed up for treats again. (whoops!)  If you can comment on this post on the blog to let me know you'll be bringing either treats or drinks, that would be great!
Thanks, Emma

p.s. Don't forget your beautiful yard of modern fabric to join in our game & challenge

Hi Modern Quilters! Hope you are having a wonderful summer and finding lots of time to sew...even though summer camps & vacations can sometimes get in the way!

I just wanted to fill you in that the DSMMQG steering committee met and planned a few things for the rest of the year. We want our group to remain relaxed, fun and low key, but we still want to have some activities planned to keep you excited about coming to meetings. So, please check out the calendar page for what we've come up with.

Details for the Upcoming Meeting August 20, 2015

For the August Meeting, bring one yard of any kind of modern fabric you like. Make sure it is quilt store quality, prints or solids are ok and think about your friends in this group when you make your choice. We'll play a game where cut up our yards, swap the pieces and end up with a mish mash of many pieces that all add up to a yard. Details when you come to play!!

THEN, you'll be challenged to do something with those pieces. We'll continue our tradition of no rules for the challenge. Do your best to use all the pieces you received, add to them, cut them up however you want and make something quilted like a wall-hanging, quilt, bag, pillow, up to you!

Note: If you can't come to the meeting, but really want to participate, send your yard with a friend who you know is coming. We'll do our best to make a pretend you to play the game and send the pieces home with the same friend who brought your yard.

Join us Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the Polk County Community Center, 134 6th Street, WDM (in Valley Junction) [click for map].

Meeting Details for July 16

Quick Reminder!! Des Moines Modern Quilt Group meeting is this Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the Polk County Community Center, 134 6th Street, WDM (in Valley Junction) [click for map]. It is in the first block of 6th street, just north of Railroad Blvd and there is a good sized parking lot right next to the building. Please note that the Farmer's Market is this same evening, so there may be extra traffic and parts of 5th Street are blocked off. We should be fine to park in the Community Center parking lot, though. (Feel free to move the barriers to get in, if you're the first one there!) 

No major activities planned... Please bring a hand sewing project to work on while we visit. Embroidery, hexies, hand quilting or even knitting or crochet, whatever you have!

Also Bring Show and Tell, the bulk of our meeting is seeing what you have been making in the last month! Finished projects or in progress works bring whatever you have to show.

Refreshments: Doris is bringing treats and Emma will bring lemonade and iced tea.

DMAQG Auction Quilt Progress

It's coming together! Here's a photo of the Auction Quilt top so far. Thank you to everyone who made blocks, they look so great and special thanks to Leila for piecing the top for us (and for lots of behind-the-scenes help to get the project designed and organized!)

 

Meeting Details for June 18, 2015

Please join us for our next meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the Polk County Community Center, 134 6th Street, WDM (in Valley Junction) [click for map]. It is in the first block of 6th street, just north of Railroad Blvd and there is a good sized parking lot right next to the building. Please note that the Farmer's Market is this same evening, so there may be extra traffic and parts of 5th Street are blocked off. We should be fine to park in the Community Center parking lot though.

Leila Gardunia will show us and discuss her new book, You Can Quilt! Building Skills For Beginners.

Also Bring Show and Tell, the bulk of our meeting is seeing what you have been making in the last month! Finished projects or in progress works bring whatever you have to show.

Refreshments: Eva Marie is bringing drinks, Leila is bringing treats and if there could be one more person to bring some snacks or treats, that would be good. Please comment to let us know you can contribute. Thank you!  ALSO, the sign up for treats for July was blank. We need three people to volunteer for the July meeting, please.

See you next week!

Pin Cushions and Our Next Meeting

Wasn't that the most fun we've had since Christmas?!! The Pin Cushion Swap really was a highlight! Here's a great photo of our members holding the pin cushion they got to go home with...

And here's the little pile of pin cushions we started with...

Just a reminder, Melissa is still generously taking photos for us of every meeting! She gets all the beautiful show and tell moments...even though we talk and gesture and blink through her clicks. Make sure to check out https://www.flickr.com/groups/dmmqg/ or the photos tab from this page to see them.

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Details for Our Next Meeting

Our next meeting is on May 21, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the Polk County Community Center, 134 6th Street, WDM (in Valley Junction) [click for map]. It is in the first block of 6th street, just north of Railroad Blvd and there is a good sized parking lot right next to the building. We will be in a different room this time, but there will be signs directing you when you get in the door. 

The theme for the evening is, of course, our Black & White Text Fabric Challenge pieces. Show and tell will center around those pieces and of course anything else you want to bring. Time to put on those finishing touches if you're not done already!  This time you'll just have to show your pieces, not part with them. Although I'll miss the fun of swapping!

Speaking of swapping...Doris and the steering committee have begun arrangements with the Great Lakes Modern Quilt Guild in Michigan to do a swap between our members. We'll tell you more about it at the meeting. Some decisions are yet to be made, so we may discuss details such as timing and what to swap! Stay tuned.

Treats will be supplied by Jill and drinks by Carol. If we could have one more person to bring snacks, please let us know in the comments below. Thanks! Our July meeting needs snack & drink contributions as well.

Until next week, Happy Sewing!

Meeting Details for April 19

Our next meeting is on April 16, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the Polk County Community Center, 134 6th Street, WDM (in Valley Junction) [click for map]. It is in the first block of 6th street, just north of Railroad Blvd and there is a good sized parking lot right next to the building.

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Ooooo, I can't wait to see the pin cushions!! This Thursday's meeting is the day for the Pin Cushion Swap!

Please bring a homemade pin cushion wrapped like a present for the swap. We will swap and you'll get to bring a pin cushion home!

This meeting is also the deadline for the Auction quilt blocks. See this post if you need to know any of the details to finish up your blocks.

See you this Thursday!

Meeting Details for March 19, 2015

Our next meeting is on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the Polk County Community Center, 134 6th Street, WDM (in Valley Junction) [click for map]. It is in the first block of 6th street, just north of Railroad Blvd and there is a good sized parking lot right next to the building.

Bring Show and Tell, the bulk of our meeting is seeing what you have been making in the last month! Finished projects or in progress works bring whatever you have to show.

Also this month, we'll be sitting and sewing a little while visiting. Bring a hand-sewing project and get a little done during our meeting! Eva Marie has some hexagon papers for English Paper Piecing...so if you don't already have a project going, just bring a little fabric and make some hexies!

You still have a little time for our other projects, but keep working on your challenge fabric piece, a pincushion for the exchange in April and some auction quilt blocks.

Hope to see you at the meeting next week!

Projects!

We have a few great projects in the works right now, so let's go over the details again...

The Fabric Challenge Update

There are still a few bundles of the challenge fabric left, so if you'd like to participate in this challenge, there is still plenty of time and plenty of fabric! The deadline is May 21. Leave a comment on this post or ask for a bundle at the next meeting if you don't have one yet.


The challenge is this: there are no rules to follow, just make a quilted project using the fabrics supplied. You can add your own fabrics as desired and you don't have to use all of the fabrics supplied. The finished project should qualify as quilted in some way, but doesn't have to be a quilt. We all love quilted tote bags, pillows, pin cushions, etc, so make what you want! Bring your completed project to the May 21 meeting for Show and Tell with the group. Your finished project is yours to keep, all we want to do is see it and hear about why & how you made it.

Auction Quilt Project

Details here include instructions for the blocks. Blocks are due at the April 16 meeting. If you have them done at the March meeting, feel free to bring them. I'm sure those who aren't done yet would love to see yours!

Pincushion Swap

This is also due at the April meeting. Make a pincushion to swap. Everyone who brings one gets to take one home, so don't be left out!  Obviously we're not big on rules, so there are no rules to this challenge either! Please just make something that you would be happy to go home with and everyone will have fun with this swap.

Have fun working on our Modern Group projects!!

Meeting Details for February 19, 2015

Our next meeting is on February 19, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the West Des Moines Community Center, 134 6th Street, WDM (in Valley Junction) [click for map]. It is in the first block of 6th street, just north of Railroad Blvd and there is a good sized parking lot right next to the building.

Activity: Challenge Fabric

With our leftover dues funds from when we were an official guild...we bought fabric!! :) So at the upcoming meeting, we'll be spreading it out, cutting it up and sharing it with everyone who would like to participate in a challenge! There are no rules to follow, just make a quilted project using the fabrics in your little bundle. You can add your own fabrics as desired. Bring your completed project to the May 21 meeting for Show and Tell with the group. Your finished project is yours to keep, all we want to do is see it and hear about why & how you made it.

Note: If you will miss the meeting on February 19, but still want to participate in the swap, please let one of the steering committee members know before the meeting and we will set aside a set of fabrics for you.

Auction Quilt Project

Feel free to bring fabrics you are thinking of for the auction quilt project if you would like to swap some or get more to go with what you already have. Some members had thought it would a good idea to pass around what we have so that the fabric choices are well-blended and coordinated throughout.

If you have your blocks done already, good for you! Please bring them with for show and tell! Also, please leave a comment on the blog post about the project, so we include your block(s) in the count. Thank you!

Sewing Day

We are booked for the Sewing Day! On Saturday, February 21st, all DSMMQG members and friends are welcome to sew together at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 721 East 1st St., Ankeny, IA [click for map] from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come for the whole day or come for just an hour or two, its up to you. Its free and no RSVP is necessary. Bring everything you need. Tables, chairs and lots of space are provided, but bring everything else!

DMAQG Auction Quilt Project Details

A big thank you to everyone at the January meeting who voted and helped hash out the details of our next group project, and to Leila, who prepared these photos & diagrams. Here we go!

If you weren't at the meeting, here's the back story: The Des Moines Area Quilters Guild holds an auction every August to raise funds for a few major women's charities. It is customary for small groups to contribute items to the auction for sale and now that we're a small group, we will be doing the same. We decided on a modern quilt we will work on together, everyone contributing blocks and various members pitching in to assemble and finish it (let us know if you would like to volunteer for any of the finishing work in the comments below!)

The pattern we decided on for the blocks is the Half Square Triangle {Scrappy Strings Style} Tutorial, Blooming Poppies has a nice tutorial for the basic design. Leila drew this diagram for the layout of the blocks (which is subject to change based on how many blocks we get back)

Please click the link and follow the tutorial with the following changes:

• Cut muslin and background fabric 14" square.
• Use light blue, medium blue, navy, teal, or turquoise for the string fabrics.
• Use only one color of string fabric per block (ex. multiple prints of navy).
• Strings to be cut a variety of sizes from 1" to 2.5" wide.
• Use linen colored, cream or light gray low volume fabric for the background.
• Leave the blocks a little larger than 12.5" (we'll trim them square before construction)
• If you follow those directions, you will get two blocks. 
• Please leave a comment on this post with how many blocks you will contribute.
• Blocks are due at our April 16th Meeting

Here are some examples of fabric choices to help you visualize fabric selection...

DMAQG Newcomers Group

As a reminder, if you are a new member of the Des Moines Area Quilters Guild due to our recent change in guild status, you are eligible to attend the DMAQG Newcomers group. Its a small group you only get to go to for one year and it will be a good year! You'll get to meet all the officers, learn more about the guild (the stuff that everyone assumes you already know!), and best of all, just have another opportunity to get together with quilt-y friends!

The first meeting of the 2015 Newcomers is tomorrow night. 6:30 p.m. at the Urbandale Library, Meeting Room B, 3520 86th Street, Urbandale, IA 50322. They meet every THIRD TUESDAY January through October.

Bring Show and Tell and wear a nametag.

Meeting Details for January 15, 2015

Our next meeting is on January 15, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. at the West Des Moines Community Center, 134 6th Street, WDM (in Valley Junction) [click for map]. It is in the first block of 6th street, just north of Railroad Blvd and there is a good sized parking lot right next to the building.

Activity:  Garage Sale Swap

Everyone bring fabrics & supplies in baggies, marked with garage sale prices and your name. During the meeting, we will spread everything out and go shopping. Anything you want to buy, you will find the member and exchange money or, as in the past, swapping other comparable items is A-OK!

There will also be a free section for stuff you just don't want anymore. Don’t worry about marking those.

Remember to bring cash to the meeting so you can buy some new stuff!

Auction Quilt Project

We will also be preparing for a new group project! As part of the DMAQG, our small group will contribute to the August Charity Auction with a group-made quilt!  Please scour your files and favorite websites for free/readily available block patterns that would work well for a group project. The steering committee has already been discussing some ideas, so we’ll bring those, combine & evaluate all the options, take a vote and discuss the details such as color scheme and fabric choices.

The meeting is next week already, so see you soon!

Happy New Year & 2015 Schedule

Happy New Year!

We are looking forward to another year with our Modern Quilt friends!  Our group is changing a little, but staying the same a lot this year too!  A small steering committee met in December to talk about our ideas for the new direction as a small group of the DMAQG and activities for meetings in 2015. We welcome all members' input as we move forward, especially as you will notice there are some holes in the calendar. Let us know if you have any ideas!!

We will continue to meet on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., now at a new and consistent location! West Des Moines Community Center, 134 6th Street, West Des Moines, IA [click for map] Below is a list of our tentative topics for the coming year. I will send out more details closer to each meeting date. Every meeting we will also have show and tell by all, bring whatever you are working on (and remember, works-in-progress just as acceptable as finished pieces!)

Looking forward to a great year with our Des Moines Modern Quilt GROUP!
-Emma Thomas-McGinnis, new website admin

January 15, 2015

Garage Sale Swap
Bring Block Ideas for DMAQG Charity Auction Quilt

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February 19, 2015

Prepare Challenge Fabrics & Distribute

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March 19, 2015

Leila Gardunia & Her New Book!

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April 16, 2015

Pin Cushion Swap

Turn in Blocks for DMAQG Charity Auction Quilt

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May 21, 2015

Reveal Your Challenge Piece

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June 18, 2015

tba

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July 16, 2015

Hand-Stitching Together Evening, bring your own project

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August 20, 2015

tba

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September 17, 2015

tba

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October 15, 2015

Get Ready for Christmas, Bring Ideas to Share

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November 19, 2015

Holiday Party & Gift Swap