From the Mailbag - Contests and Exhibits

It is a busy time of year for contests, exhibits and sew-alongs!  Here are some fun items from our mailbag:

1.  Art Spark Challenge:  

--The Northwest Ohio Modern Quilt Guild is sponsoring an "art spark" challenge.
--Visit a local art museum and find any piece that inspires you - your choice!  Make a quilted item that is inspired by the art piece, and post it on Flickr.
--Deadlines are July 1 and August 1, 2013.
--Yes, there are prizes!  Winners will be picked randomly from the Flickr posts.

--Click HERE for more information!

2.  Grand Central Terminal Centennial Quilt Challenge:

--City Quilter, American Patchwork  & Quilting Magazine and the NY Transit Museum have teamed up to celebrate Grand Central Terminal's 100th anniversary!
--Use Grand Central-themed fabric to create a mini quilt that is inspired by Grand Central Terminal.
--Winners and finalists will be exhibited in New York, and Grand Prize is $2,000!
--Deadline is August 21, 2013.

--Click HERE for more information!

3.  Gold Coast Quilt Exhibit:  A Quilting Evolution:
--The Gold Coast Quilt Guild is featured in an exhibit called "A Quilting Evolution."
--The exhibit is located at the Cornell Museum of Art at Old School Square in Delray Beach, from May 17 to September 29, 2013.
--On view are over 100 traditional, art and modern quilts and "quilted" artist books.
--There is an opening reception on Thursday, May 16th from 5:30pm to 7pm.
--Let's support our neighboring guilds and quilters at this wonderful exhibit!

--Click HERE for more information!

4.  Debbi Crane Lecture and Workshop - Coral Springs Guild!
--Everyone is welcome to attend the Coral Springs Guild's Debbi Crane Lecture:  True Confessions of a Rebellious Quilter!
--The lecture is Friday, June 28, 2013 at 7:15pm.  Located at 1300 Coral Springs Drive in Coral Springs.  Non-members have a $5 special event fee.
--A few spaces are still open for the Embellished Doll Workshop on Saturday, June 29th!
--Please email me for details about the workshop and lecture.

5.  Summer Sampler - Free Paper-Pieced Sew-Along!

--Ellison Lane Quilts is hosting a free sew-along for summer!  She is posting nine original and easy paper pieced blocks with a summer treats theme.
--Feel free to sew the 6 inch blocks at your own pace to create a mini quilt!

--Click HERE for more information!

Photo from Ellison Lane Quilts

May Charity Sewing Day!

On May 11th, a bunch of South Florida Mod members spent their Saturday at school!  One of our members was generous enough to let us take over her school's sewing room to host our second annual Charity Quilting Day!

All quilts and quilt tops made during that day will benefit Project Linus, a wonderful organization that donates quilts to ill or under-served children in need.  We will post a final count of the quilts soon!

Here are some photos from the special day.  Thanks to everyone who participated.  Remember, you are welcome to donate a 36" by 36" quilt to Project Linus at any of our meetings throughout the year.  It's a wonderful way to put those quilting skills to good use and for a good cause!

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Two Round Robin quilts that are destined to become Project Linus quilts!

Charlotte's Queen Bee blocks for May!

Madrona Road Challenge - Photos!

As part of our May meeting, members who participated in the Madrona Road challenge showed off their beautiful designs!  We decided to make mini quilts with the fabric, and they all turned out beautifully!

Many of these quilts were donated to the NQA's upcoming Little Quilt Auction, which provides grants for quilt programs and educational projects.  A wonderful cause!

Here are the photos for your enjoyment:

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Resources, Tutorials and Links

By popular demand, here are some helpful resources, tutorials and links for our recent projects and meeting discussions!

1.  Modern Quilting Inspiration Boards:
Flickr is a great way to see lots of beautiful modern quilts and get tons of inspiration! 
--Fresh Modern Quilts Board:  HERE.
--Quilting Bee Blocks (for those who want to try out a block or choose a quilting bee block for her month as Queen Bee of a virtual quilting bee):  HERE.
--Want to join a virtual quilting bee?  The Quilting Bee Blocks discussion page has an ongoing list of signups HERE.

2.  Madrona Road Challenge
For those of us participating in the Madrona Road challenge, you can see a Flickr group full of beautiful projects made with the fabric collection!  It is available HERE.

3.  Our Virtual Quilting Bee:
Our virtual quilting bee is currently full for the year, but you are welcome to follow along on your own!  Think of it as a modern Block of the Month activity.
--February's Wonky Star Tutorial:  HERE.
--March's Converging Corners Log Cabin Tutorial:  HERE.

4.  April Swap Item Tutorials (choose one or more to make and swap!):
--Scissor Fob Tutorials:
http://mycottoncreations.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/3-pocket-scissor-case-tutorial.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CorrespondenceCollage/photos/album/274061372/pic/1997394159/view?picmode=&mode=tn&order=ordinal&start=1&count=20&dir=asc
http://litlaskvis.wordpress.com/triangle-scissor-case-tutorial/
http://vickisfabriccreations.blogspot.ca/2012/02/hanging-folded-fabric-scissor-pouch.html
http://www.themotherhuddle.com/tutorial-little-scissors-case/
http://gettincrafty.com/scissor-pouch-tutorial/

--Wrist pincushion tutorials:
http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/projects-ideas/bags-pillows/free-pincushion-patterns_ss4.html
http://tearosehome.blogspot.com/2010/05/tutorial-sew-stylish-pincushion.html
http://thelongthread.com/?p=4748
http://www.michaelannmade.com/2011/06/wrist-pin-cushion-tutorial.html
http://nzgreenbuttons.blogspot.com/2010/11/wrist-pin-cushion-tutorial.html
http://dollsanddaydreams.blogspot.com/2012/07/free-wrist-and-ring-doll-pin-cushions.html
http://lucykatecrafts.blogspot.com/2009/05/tick-tock.html

5.  Florida Quilting News:
--You can see a list of the upcoming quilt events in our area HERE.

March Meeting Recap

Happy Spring!   Here is a review of the March meeting and some information for the upcoming months.

1.  The blocks for the charity quilt (made with the QuiltCon colors) are in the process of being finished up and will go to Project Linus for donation after completion.

2.  We are continuing with the two Round Robin quilts, and they look great!  They will be wonderful finished quilts that will go to Project Linus for children in need.  If you are interested in adding a row or side to the quilts, just speak up at the next meeting.

3.  The Virtual Quilting Bee is in full swing, and Carolyn requested a converging corners block (similar to a log cabin block).  The finished blocks look beautiful!  If you are interested in trying out the pattern for yourself, the tutorial is available HERE.  

4.  We discussed the ongoing Madrona Road challenge ( with fabric kindly donated thanks to the Modern Quilt Guild).  Members will make mini quilts using the fabric, up to 96 inches large around the entire perimeter (18 inches square, for example).  You can add any other fabrics in the collection or solids to the project.  Please bring in your completed projects for the April meeting!

If you want to see some amazing Madrona Road quilt projects from other Modern Quilt Guilds (note:  they are not all mini quilts), check out the Flickr page HERE!  

 

5.  Charlotte discussed her role in the National Quilt Alliance and their upcoming Little Quilt Auction, which benefits the NQA Grant program.  The Grant Program does so much to support the future of quilt-making!  

See http://nqaquilts.org/grants/ for details, and auction info can be found here:

http://nqaquilts.org/grants/grants-auction.php .

Anyone who is interested in donating mini quilts (does NOT have to only be the Madrona Road mini quilts) can give them to Charlotte at or before the May meeting.  Help support this wonderful cause!

6.  We had a short meeting because of the Broward Quilt Expo.  A number of members took an informal field trip to admire the beautiful quilts on display at the event!

7.  Quilt News and Events:

--eQuilter is requesting quilts for Hurricane Sandy victims.  Click HERE for more information about how to donate quilts.

--Nicole is speaking at the Coral Springs Quilt Guild on May 24th for a presentation on Modern Quilting!

--The American Quilter's Society is hosting a Modern Quilt Challenge, with $6,000 in prizes!  Quilt entries are due in August.  Click HERE for more information about how to enter quilts into the competition.

8.  We discussed the ongoing Pinterest board for the South Florida Modern Quilt Guild, which you can find here:  http://pinterest.com/patchworkduck/south-florida-modern-quilt-guild-projects-and-insp/
 

9.  We swapped modern fat quarters as our monthly member swap item.  It was a fun grab bag of swapping!

 

For our "Things to Bring" for the April meeting, members are swapping wrist pincushions and/or scissors fobs.  Check out the numerous free tutorials that are available HERE for ideas and patterns!

10.  Charity Quilting Day in May:  

Great news!  Jessica has kindly offered her school's classroom sewing space for our second annual charity quilting day!  She has sewing machines and irons for us to use.  Please bring unfinished quilt tops or fabric, batting, rulers and other items to make child-sized baby quilts for donation to Project Linus.    

PLEASE NOTE THE DATE CHANGE:  the date of the event will be on Saturday, May 11th (NOT May 18th), from 10am to 2pm.  

The location is Taravella High School in Coral Springs, Room 316.  You can find a map and directions HERE.

11.  Show-and-tell:  As a final wrap-up, here are some great March show and tell photos!

Our next meeting is Saturday, April 20th, from 10am to 12pm at StitchCraft in Boca Raton.  See you soon!

February Meeting Recap

Happy early St. Patrick's Day. Passover and Easter!   Here is a little recap of the February meeting and some information for the upcoming months.

1.  The blocks for the charity quilt (made with the QuiltCon colors) are currently being pieced and will go to Project Linus for donation after completion.

 

2.  We are continuing with the two Round Robin quilts, and they look great!  They will be wonderful finished quilts that will go to Project Linus for children in need.  If you are interested in adding a row or side to the quilts, just speak up at the next meeting.

 

3.  The Virtual Quilting Bee started up again, and Shelly's wonky stars turned out beautifully!  Wonky stars are classic modern quilt blocks; if you've never tried making one, try out THIS tutorial. 

4.  We discussed the ongoing Madrona Road challenge ( with fabric kindly donated thanks to the Modern Quilt Guild).  Members will make mini quilts using the fabric, up to 96 inches large around the entire perimeter (18 inches square, for example).  You can add any other fabrics in the collection or solids to the project.  They will be shown for show and tell at the April meeting.

If you want to see some amazing Madrona Road quilt projects from other Modern Quilt Guilds (note:  they are not all mini quilts), check out the Flickr page HERE!  

 

 

5.  Charlotte discussed her role in the National Quilt Alliance and their upcoming Little Quilt Auction, which benefits the NQA Grant program.  The Grant Program does so much to support the future of quilt-making!  

 

See http://nqaquilts.org/grants/ for details, and auction info can be found here:

http://nqaquilts.org/grants/grants-auction.php .

Anyone who is interested in donating mini quilts (does NOT have to only be the Madrona Road mini quilts) can give them to Charlotte at or before the May 18th meeting.  Help support this wonderful cause!

 

6.  We had a wonderful Babylock educator discuss free motion quilting and the incredible new Babylock Tiara.  I hope everyone had a chance to check out this machine.  If anyone bought one, please let us know how you like it (and whether we can all come over for some quilting playtime)! 

 

 

 

7.  Quilt News and Events:

--eQuilter is requesting quilts for Hurricane Sandy victims.  Click HERE for more information about how to donate quilts.

--The Broward Quilt Expo will be held from March 14th to 16th, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  Click HERE for more information!

 

8.  We discussed the ongoing Pinterest board for the South Florida Modern Quilt Guild, which you can find here:  http://pinterest.com/patchworkduck/south-florida-modern-quilt-guild-projects-and-insp/
 

9.  We swapped mug rugs as our monthly member swap item.  They were all beautiful!

 

The mug rugs from the swap!

For our "Things to Bring" for the March meeting, please bring in one or more fat quarters of fabric (18 x 22 inches).  It can be in any color or pattern that you like, as long as it's a "modern" style (in other words, no calico, Civil War prints, etc). You can swap as many fat quarters as you bring, so don't be shy about bringing lots!

10.  As a reminder, the March meeting will be a SHORT meeting, from 10am to 11am only.  After, anyone who is interested is welcome to travel to the Broward Quilt Expo for an informal field trip.  Please feel free to bring spouses, significant others, friends and family!

 

11.  Show-and-tell:  As a final wrap-up, here are some great February show and tell photos!

 See you on Saturday, March 16th from 10am to 11am!