March 17, 2016 Meeting Details

Our next meeting is a little over a week away, March 17, 2016 at 6:30 p.m. at the NEW LOCATION: Westminster Presbyterian, 4114 Allison Ave, Des Moines, IA 50310

Here are some details about the location: You will want to park in the parking lot on Franklin Ave. It is directly across the street from the church and is a large lot. After you park, cross Franklin and go into the church via the covered entrance. There are a set of glass double doors there. Once inside you will see a hallway & stairs going up. Ignore the stairs & follow the hallway. Turn left at the end of the hallway & then turn right. We will meet in Westminster Hall, at the end of that hallway.

We've changed our topic schedule a little, so I wanted to get the news out early. You won't want to miss this meeting. Local author & extraordinary quilter, Janet Pittman, will give a Trunk Show PLUS with insights and demonstrations on machine appliqué.

I asked Janet to present for us because her book Appliqué The Basics and Beyond is a well-loved resource in my sewing room. I hope you enjoy learning from her too and I can't wait to see her quilts up-close and in real life!

Other Activities

For our other activities, nothing is due this month. But please keep working on...

• DMAQG auction blocks, details here, and bring any you have completed
• Keep finishing your goals for the finish-it-up challenge (details here) and bring to show
• And the solids fabric challenge deadline (again, details here) is next month, so hopefully you're getting some ideas on this one. I still have a few bundles of fabric left if anyone wants one. A month is certainly enough time to make something! (says the girl addicted to one-week project quilting challenges!)

Please wear a nametag, our group is growing so wonderfully! Friends new and old need little reminders of names now and then.

Melissa is signed up for treats. If anyone else would like to help her out, please comment below. Thank you!

DMAQG Auction Quilt Details

Our group project, the auction quilt for the DMAQG Annual Charity Auction is well underway! We voted during the Februrary meeting among many great-looking choices. Ideas for some future personal projects in there I'm sure! But the winner was the Wonky Cross Quilt, suggested by Erin Monfort-Nelson.

Here is the tutorial we will follow: http://www.sewmamasew.com/2010/04/wonky-cross-block-sew-along/

Here is the photo idea we started from:

And here is the color palette we will use (suggested by Leila Gardunia):

Here are the details from Erin:
We will make our quilt very similarly to the one in the photo by using a variety of solids and small prints (less than 2" motifs) drawing inspiration from our color palette. You can use solids or prints in either the background or the cross, solids in both, or prints in both.

Blocks should be 9" so they can be trimmed to an 8" finished size by the piecer (or a kind assistant). The tutorial is for an 8" finished block so be sure to give yourself a little extra.
 
The cross strips can range in width from 3/4" - 1 1/2" finished.
 
Please make as many blocks as you would like in a variety of colors and prints, then bring them to a MQG meeting by May. If we have too many blocks we will either utilize them on the back or make a second quilt. 

If you would like to volunteer to take on a larger role within this project please comment here. Actually, I think we are covered for volunteers...here's a reminder of who we have: Patty McCue will piece the blocks together, Doris Brunnette is donating a batting, Sherry Von Fumetti will piece a back, and Eva Marie Evans will do the binding. Connie Remetch will do the quilting (this may be tentative, I couldn't tell!) 

Join the facebook group to see...some members have already posted finished blocks! Great job, Marny, Carol and Patty!