Mug Rug Swap SUCCESS!

At last night's meeting, our Mug Rugs were swapped, and everyone went home with a pretty little work of textile art--

This fabulous little mini was made by Sherry for Katie, who is a big-time Edyta Sitar fan-- the front:

and the flip-side -- (my photos do not do this justice!):

Crystal made this for Leila (again, my apologies for the terribly colored photo!):

Crystal received (TWO!) from Emily V, this fun hexie mug rug:

and an awesome orange peel variation (love the cursive "C"s all around the binding):

Janora made this one (two sides shown) for Karen:

Jill made this EPP beauty for Emily V:

Karen made that one for Janora:

Doris made this for Jill:

Katie made this appliqued mug rug for Sherry:

and Leila made this for Doris... one side:

and the flip-side:

Great work!!!

Next month, we will have a grab bag swap--bring a handmade item, seasonal theme of your choosing (Winter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Autumn) for our holiday open house meeting, November 16th, starting at 6:30 pm.  (please bring an appetizer or treat to share as well!)

MEETING Thursday, October 18 – JoAnn Belling

Please join us this Thursday at the Urbandale Library. Well-known Des Moines quilter JoAnn Belling will be having a trunk show and sharing many of her quilts. She will also be speaking and the title of her presentation is "My Take on Modern."

"Wishing on a Star" by JoAnn Belling

We will also reveal partners and mug rugs in the Mug Rug Swap.

And finally, we'll be electing new officers for next year. As always, remember to bring something to Show and Share!

6:30 p.m., Urbandale Library (meeting officially starts at 6:50 p.m.)

Our Own QUILT SHOW!

DSMMQG will have a Show Summer 2013!!!

DSMMQG was accepted for a show at the Gallery in the Round in Ames, for Summer, 2013. (note: you will have your quilts back in time to deliver them to Iowa State Fair for hanging). Entries will be juried by one of the rotating curators of Gallery in the Round, herself a modern quilter.

Gallery in the Round, a Unitarian Universalist fellowship, has is a total of 90 linear feet for us to fill, along with Lucite display cubes. The “modern quilt” aesthetic will complement the modern architecture of the buiding quite well.  A few views of the gallery:

For the show, members are asked to prepare 1-3 submissions that exhibit some aspects of the “modern quilt” aesthetic, including:

* focus on functional quilting * alternative block structures or lack of visible block  structure * inspired by modern art and architecture * bold colors, solid-color fabrics, graphic prints * increased use of negative space

* asymmetry in quilt design * reinterpreted traditional blocks * embracing simplicity and minimalism * improvisational piecing * gray or white as neutrals

The purpose of the exhibit is to share the “new aesthetic” with viewers who may have preconceived ideas of what quilts and quilted items look like.

A few of the details we know at this time:  At the same time quilts should exhibit originality of design, stretching the bounds of the new aesthetic beyond just following the latest kinds of patterns or using the latest styles of fabrics.  Quilted works may express humor, but “cutesy” elements should be avoided.  Functional items such as purses, aprons and pillows can be entered.  If they are show-worthy, we will find a way to display them securely!  Crib-size quilts or wall-hangings should have a sleeve sewn in the back. Bed-size quilts can also be entered, with the understanding that they might be folded over a hanging rod/dowel.  Your work will be insured against damage. “Please do not touch” signs will be prominent.  Entry forms will be forthcoming as the event approaches. A small fee ($10) per entry will cover materials used to hang the show, transportation costs, and publicity, and will be administered by Doris. 

The deadline for submission will be May 15. 

The Gallery will host a reception for you to bring your friends, coworkers, neighbors and family to come see your work and celebrate your quilts!

More details to come as time gets closer...

Show Girls

Several of our Des Moines MQG members are also members of DMAQG, and submitted projects to the show.  It was fun to see MQG member’s names jump out at me as I walked around the show.

This is Katie’s snails trail:

Penny’s New Wave quilt made primarily from Denyse Schmidt fabrics:

Tricia’s Wonky Log Cabin quilt:

Her pillow, made for our Pillow Swap this Spring:

Lola Z’s pineapple mini:

Doris's twin-size Modern Fortune quilt:

Janeen’s very fun Dr. Seuss Christmas quilt:

And this beautiful art quilt, by Janet, entitled Hawaiian Hospitality:

And, I know there were others…but these are the few I managed to get shots of, sorry if I missed your quilt(s) please feel free to adda pick to the blog or the flickr site of your entry!

There were several quilts in the juried AQS exhibits that were of a very modern aesthetic.  At least two wonky log-cabin style quilts, and a few pieces with the feel of a Gees Bend quilt.  Modern or Traditional, the theme for the day was superb craftsmanship and well-executed quilting!

September EPP Program Recap

Last Thursday, we met at the Urbandale Library for our monthly meeting.  Emily V presented a program on English Paper Piecing, giving a brief history of the technique, and demonstrating three different methods for basting/starting hexagon or diamond shapes.  Even those among us who had done EPP before learned new tricks!  And we all learned the value of having a Sewline Glue Pen!

BTW, members, did you all see this post?  Love those EPP Hexies--in Liberty fabrics, no less...

Projects brought to share included Jills' adorable paper-pieced Frankenstein, (pattern by Sonja at artisania.bigcartel.com).  Jill brought some sweet little pouches she made to swap, which you can seen in her flickr photostream.  

Penny made this great New Wave quilt (pattern by Elizabeth Hartman) from Denyse Schmidt fabrics, everyone was encouraging her to enter it in the guild portion of next week's AQS Show in Des Moines.  Beautiful! 

And newcomer, Amy, brought some fabulous swap blocks she received from all over the globe to share-- Those are going to make one great quilt!

To see the rest of the pics from last week's meeting, check out our flickr pool.  Each meeting is a great opportunity to catch up on what everyone is working on, get to know like-minded, local quilters better, and learn from each other.  

Our next meeting is:

OCTOBER 18, 6:30 PM at the Urbandale Library.  

Quilt Artist and Teacher, 

JoAnn Belling will be giving the program!  

A few reminders...

• Membership renewals are due in October.  
• Mug Rug Swap items are DUE at the October Meeting--can't wait to see what everyone made!
• Elections will be held next month as well.  Persons nominated are

President--Emily V

Vice President--Crystal 

Treasurer--Sherry 

Membership Chair--Peg 

Education Co-Chairs--Jill McB & Leila 

*we are still looking for a Secretary

Thanks again to Melissa for being our designated photographer.  See you in a few weeks!

Meeting THURSDAY, September 20

Please join us Thursday at the Urbandale Library--

Member Emily Vardeman will be giving the program on English Paper Piecing.  She will be demonstrating her methods; Emily is providing the paper pieces, but please bring:

6 rectangles--2"x3" for a star shape OR

7 squares-- 2.5" for a hexagon flower shape  

thread

needle

scissors

In addition we will be taking nominations for next year's officers.  And, as always, remember to bring something to Show and Share!

6:30 pm, Urbandale Library (meeting officially starts at 6:50 p.m.)

One more thing, the Modern Quilt Guild is conducting their annual survey of members worldwide, please follow this link to complete the survey--THANKS!

QuiltCon Challenge Blocks-feature

Our own Emily Vardeman was featured on today's feature post of blocks submitted for the QuiltCon Block Challenge:

Emily entered three AWESOME and unique blocks... letter H above is one of them.

The other blocks in this photo were made by:

Block A = Barbara Lee of the Kansas City MQG

Block B = Nicci Pannell of the Bakersfield MQG

Block C = Nicole Neblett of the Triangle MQG

Block D = Danielle Hallinan of the South Jersey MQG

Block E = Robin Woods of the Houston MQG

Block F = Karen Ernest of the Charlotte MQG

Block G = Danielle Hudson

Block H = Emily Vardeman of the Des Moines, IA, MQG

Check out Emily's flickr photostream, girl's got some sewing cred...