Category Archives: Swaps and Challenges

#SBAMQGWIPITGOOD & Make it Modern Challenges

Posted on by Chelsea Hard
Reply

We have so many fun and exciting challenges going on this year at SBAMQG that I wanted to write up a quick blog post to tell you about them so you have somewhere to reference all the fun!

#SBAMQGWIPITGOOD 

At the beginning of the year members were encouraged to post on Instagram photos of works in progress (WIPs) that they planned to complete by the December 2017 Guild Meeting and to update us when their quilts were completed with both posts using #SBAMQGWIPITGOOD. Fast forward 6 months and we have had new member join at each meeting (we’re so popular and we love it!) and now we want to open up a new opportunity. Missed your opportunity at the beginning of the year? Want to start the challenge now? Here are the guidelines:

  • Post up to 3 WIPs by July 18, 2017 using #SBAMQGWIPITGOOD
  • WIPs are considered anything from a pile of fabric with good intentions to a finished, but unquilted top
  • Post pictures of your finished work using the hashtag throughout the year (no progress shots using the hashtag, please)
  • For every WIP finished by November 30, 2017 you’ll be entered to win a fabulous Quilty Celebrity prize

Here are some clues as to what this delightful prize might be:

  • The Quilty Celebrity equivalent of Indiana Jones’ fedora (or Don Johnson’s jacket, I am not letting that go and you cannot make me)
  • Bigger than a seam ripper
  • Currently decorating my sewing studio
  • NEW CLUE: Red and white and aqua blue all over

Make it Modern 

Our next challenge will be to take one of the traditional quilt blocks pictured below and recreate it using modern quilting elements. Finished quilts can be any size.

Some examples of modern quilting elements include, but are not limited to:

  • Use of bold colors and prints
  • High contrast and graphic areas of solid colors
  • Improvisational piecing
  • Minimalism
  • Expansive negative space AKA expensive negative space for those quilt-by-check gals
  • Alternate grid work

Guidelines: Quilts must be finished by the December meeting and will be displayed at the 2018 PVQA Quilt Show. All quilts must be submitted with a 4” wide hanging sleeve stitched to the back. Quilts should be labeled using the official PQVA label. All quilts must be finished (quilted and bound); no tops or partially finished quilts will be allowed to hang. No more than two entries per member.

We always enjoy the quilts our members make, but are especially excited to see the WIPs you finish this year and the challenge quilts you dream and stitch up!

See you all at the next meeting!

Chelsea

 

November 2015 Meeting Recap

Posted on by South Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild
Reply

The SBAMQG thanks Hart’s Fabrics for hosting another terrific meeting this week!

Business included the latest information on our Maria Shell workshop, which is happening this Saturday. We are expecting to have a great day learning all of Maria’s secrets. Lynne reminded us that the deadline for annual membership dues is approaching so please watch for your Paypal invoice, which will be sent out soon. We also talked about a few big things that will be happening at our December meeting. First, we will be doing our annual fabric gift swap. If you want to participate in this fun activity, please show up with a wrapped package containing one yard of fabric to swap. You can bring a one yard cut or any combination of cuts that equals one yard. Second, refreshments will be potluck style, so please bring something to share, keeping neatness in mind out of respect for our host shop. Third, we will be holding the election for new officers for 2016. Several people were nominated tonight for positions on the board but, if you are interested in running for a spot, please let the current board know by November 30, so we can get your name on the ballot before our December 1st meeting.

The highlight of tonight’s meeting was the big reveal of our small challenge quilts. In September, participants blindly selected a fat quarter from one bag and a slip of paper containing a modern quilting design concept from another bag. The challenge was to make a small quilt to demonstrate one or more of the design features that are often found in modern quilting. Our talented members came up with some creative solutions to the challenge and we had a blast viewing them. We hope to show them off in public in the near future. Here is a look at our proud quilters:

22147491284_2e96451b17_z22147473174_9e99900132_z

22149149403_a8fd39aca2_z22582239710_8aa07a0b4d_z

22781387391_04c333a1bc_z22781493331_ce2ebf546b_z

22582203350_8086506b8d_z22744159726_df500cdddd_z

22744229986_569fee3b38_z22744297616_d0800dc709_z

22770226615_98d7eb8ab2_z22770243595_f3622867e4_z

22781404431_686bd77cc9_z22149067523_c681b9a65e_z

Of course we had a few lovelies in our regular Sew and Tell, including a Fibonacci finish and this awesome log cabin:

22744318926_e5c0413f50_z22756798842_2cb7b103ca_z

Come see us in December!

22742405716_ea3bcf4476_z

(photo credit Karen Foster)

 

2015 Pantone Quilt Challenge – Marsala

Posted on by South Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild
Reply

Pantone has chosen Marsala as its Color of the Year. Some people love it, some people hate it, many are “meh.” Working with a  color you love is easy – the challenge comes in when it’s not your favorite.

marsalapantone

And speaking of challenges – Our very own Anne Sullivan of Play Crafts (left) and Adrianne of On The Windy Side (right) are once again hosting the Pantone Quilt Challenge this year, showcasing Marsala.

AnneAdrianne

 

Some of our favorite bloggers have agreed to be judges, including (from left to right) Amy Gunson from Badskirt, Jeni Baker from In Color Order , and Kristin Link from Sew Mama Sew. How awesome is that?

amyjenikristin

 

Anne and Adrianne have lined up wonderful prizes from generous sponsors including our own Julie Dueck from The Intrepid Thread, plus Fat Quarter Shop, Aurifil, Hawthorne Threads, Westwood Acres, Green Fairy Quilts, Stitchbird, Sew me a Song, and Karen Lewis Textiles.

There are three main categories: Quilts, Mini’s, and Just the Top. And to encourage entries from quilters of all levels, there will be a random drawing with prize attached! Anne has listed all the rules and lots more info on Play Crafts. (Thanks, Anne!)

And since Marsala fabric isn’t easily found, and you may be wondering anyway how (or why) you’d use it, here are some posts to start your thought process: Adrianne’s my thoughts on Marsala including a fabric pull, Anne’s thoughts including some suggested palettes and quilt designs, Latifah Saafir’s thoughts and Debbie at A Quilter’s Table’s thoughts.

Be sure to add your items to the 2015 Pantone Quilt Challenge: Marsala Flickr Group, or tag them on Instagram using #pantonequilt.

And check out the 2014 Pantone Quilt Challenge to see how Radiant Orchid inspired entrants.

Get sewing!!!

December Meeting Recap

Posted on by Anne
2

Our December meeting was a ton of fun! We once again met at Hart’s Fabric in Santa Cruz, but they had rearranged their store which meant we had a bigger space to meet than ever before.

We started with a bit of business, as our officers and by-laws were voted on. Congratulations to our new executive board:

President – Tina Michalik
Vice President – Anne Sullivan
Secretary – Dana Seeger
Treasurer – Emily Sardo

Photo by Karen Foster

Once that was all settled, we moved into the party portion of the evening. We had a lovely potluck of goodies and snacks, and the main event: The (pretty) white elephant fabric gift exchange!

Photo by Karen Foster

Everyone brought an equivalent of a yard of fabric, and we limited it to two steals per item. It was a blast, with much stealing all around! I’ve even [mostly] forgiven everyone from constantly stealing from me. 😉

Photo by Karen Foster

We look forward to the new year when we will officially join The Modern Quilt Guild, and what the new year brings for us as a guild.

-Anne

July Meeting Recap

Posted on by South Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild
1

Apologies for the late posting!  We did cover a lot of ground at our last meeting, and so here are the highlights!

josquiltcheddar

Jo’s quilt, adapted from the Modern Mystery Quilt.  This was a pattern from Weeks Ringle and Bill Kerr of the Modern Quilt Studio.  Fabulous!

We were so honored to have Susan Osorio, director of Jacob’s Heart visit and present to us a certificate of appreciation for our Pay it Forward efforts benefiting 31 young people who are battling cancer in our community.  Picture here.

Before the meeting got underway, Isabel Michalik (age 6) and daughter of Tina showed us all what a little determination can do and held up the quilt she designed and made for her dad.  It took about a year from beginning to end, with feverish quilting as father’s day approached.  She was very nervous to talk in front of a group, but she made it through just fine 🙂 Picture here

Julia, our guild secretary is moving on to go do exciting things in Los Angeles and will be attending design school to learn surface and fabric design!  Way to go Julia!  Meanwhile, Emily Sardo will be our interim secreatry until we hold elections for new officers in December.  Emily hails from southern California, and was an original member of the LAMQG.  Welcome Emily!

Tina gave the second talk about the principles of  modern quilting focusing on the subject of negative space.  A separate blog post will focus on these talks.  We hope this new part of our guild meeting is interesting and helping to inspire new quilt ideas for everyone.
Speaking of negative space, we announced our “quickie” swap, making a small item for a secret partner using negative space.  We will return with our finished gifts to our partners at our August meeting.  How is everyone coming along with their projects??
Pam Rocco spoke to the guild about her own ideas and approach to fabric selection.  Pam’s style is often one that uses many solids with small bits of print.  Her fabrics come from a variety of sources; flea markets, thrifting, old clothing and from other unexpected places.  She enjoys repurposing fabrics.  Pam can tell the story of where her fabrics came from and how she chose them for that particular project and her storytelling is always enjoyable.  Thanks Pam!
Julia then spoke about Heather Ross’s most recent fabric collection, “Briar Rose”.  Heather is now designing with Wyndam Fabrics and is back with using a quilting cotton as her base goods.  This is great news for quilters!  Karen has made an incredible quilt with these very sweet prints.  Picture is here.
We have one, possibly two spots still open for the Weeks Ringle workshop for August 3rd.  If you are interested in attending, please email Tina.  tinam@cruzio.com

  • PIF donation quilts for the Community Bridges are due at the  August  meeting.
  • Welcome new members, Kelly and Barbara!
  • Friday Sew Day dates in Aptos at the community center are July 26, Aug 23 – final dates for 2013
  • Intrepid Thread in Milpitas hosts an open sew on the third Friday of the month.  Tina, Karen and Anne recently went and it was good fun.  (Thanks Julie!)
  • 2nd Annual Quilt Show of the SBAMQG will be held at Sue Dee’s in September.  Please consider entering a piece for the show!  Small items are welcome.  Items to be in the show should be turned in by the last week of August.
  • Fall Retreat committee is still open for volunteers and we plan to meet soon!