February will be here soon 

we will be having a  

Surprise Activity at our February 2nd guild meeting!

 Please bring your sewing machine to the next meeting 

and black, white and a solid color fabric as well as a rotary cutter.

It can be a solid or almost solid like a white on white.

We will have cutting stations and pressing station set up.

It's going to be fun!

We will be meeting at the West Newbury Annex.

Retreat Information

We hope you can join us for our 2019 Retreat on May 2-5 at the Franciscan Guest House in Kennebunk, Maine. It's a fun-filled weekend that includes dedicated sewing time, group activities, swag/raffle/prizes and lots of laughs.        Below are the room rates, which include breakfast provided by the Franciscan daily. The Retreat Committee will host Friday evening dinner. Lunch is on your own and we are planning an off-site dinner at a local restaurant on Saturday evening for those who would like to attend.

2019 SMQG Franciscan Guest House Retreat Costs

Dates: May 2, 3, 4, & 5, 2019

Single Room

3 Nights         Total: $378.00

3 Payment Cash/Check Schedule                                   

·      $126.00         Payments Due By: 2/1, 3/1, 4/1

3 Payment PayPal Schedule

·      $129.78         Payments Due By: 2/1, 3/1, 4/1

·      Includes 3% PayPal Transaction Fee

2 Payment Cash/Check Schedule                                   

·      $189.00         Payments Due By: 2/17, 4/17

2 Payment PayPal Schedule

·      $194.67        Payments Due By: 2/1, 4/1

·      Includes 3% PayPal Transaction Fee

Single Room

2 Nights         Total: $270.00       

3 Payment Cash/Check Schedule                                   

·         $90.00                 Payments Due By: 2/1, 3/1, 4/1

3 Payment PayPal Schedule

·        $92.70       Payments Due By: 2/1, 3/1, 4/1

·      Includes 3% PayPal Transaction Fee

2 Payment Cash/Check Schedule                                   

·       $133.50        Payments Due By: 2/1, 4/1

2 Payment PayPal Schedule

·        $137.50      Payments Due By: 2/1, 4/1

·      Includes 3% PayPal Transaction Fee

Double Room  

3 Nights         Total: 267.00 PP           

3 Payment Cash/Check Schedule                                   

·      $   89.00    Payments Due By: 2/1, 3/1, 4/1

3 Payment PayPal Schedule

·      $  91.67       Payments Due By: 2/1, 3/1, 4/1

·      Includes 3% PayPal Transaction Fee

2 Payment Cash/Check Schedule                                   

·      $ 133.50        Payments Due By: 2/1, 4/1

2 Payment PayPal Schedule

·      $ 137.50       Payments Due By: 2/1, 4/1

·      Includes 3% PayPal Transaction Fee

Double Room

2 Nights         Total: $ 192.00        

3 Payment Cash/Check Schedule                                   

·      $64.00           Payments Due By: 2/1, 3/1, 4/

3 Payment PayPal Schedule

·      $65.92                       Payments Due By: 2/1, 3/1, 4/1

·      Includes 3% PayPal Transaction Fee

2 Payment Cash/Check Schedule                                   

·      $96.00         Payments Due By: 2/1, 4/1

2 Payment PayPal Schedule

·      $98.88         Payments Due By: 2/1, 4/1

·      Includes 3% PayPal Transaction Fee

Checks Payable: Seacoast Modern Quilt Guild

Mail To:    SEACOAST MODERN QUILT GUILD

                 UNIT #1606

                 61 PLEASANT STREET

                 NEWBURYPORT, MA  01950

January Meeting Recap

Our January meeting at the Wiggin Memorial Library in Stratham, N.H. drew 24 people. We discussed several upcoming events, including the October show at Strawbery Banke, a display at the Festival of Trees, and workshops with Rebecca Bryan. We voted in favor of acquiring a membership to the New England Quilt Museum and were reminded that our members can take advantage of resources from the Modern Quilt Guild, including webinars. See here for the MQG web site.

In other business, Retreat will be May 2-5 at the Franciscan Guest House in Kennebunk, Maine. A deposit on the cost is due by Feb. 1. (You may pay in two or three installments.)

As outlined in the previous blog post, we are embarking on a "Word-of-the-Year" project. Diane and Nancy gave us lots of information on how to piece, applique, or embroider our chosen word. We are suggesting that people use a gray or tan background with a final size of 10.5" x 14", but we are also happy to see the different directions that people go with this project.

We will be making a quilt for Colleen's daughter who had a fire at her house. The pattern is Bright Birch Trees by Amanda Jean Nyberg of Crazy Mom Quilts. Block size (before finishing) is 16" x 16" and they will be collected at the February meeting. More information on the specifics of the block construction can be found on the SMQG email list or at this tutorial.

A reminder that we are still collecting Courthouse Steps blocks for Judy D, our past president. She has asked for scrappy prints and solids in all colors (including low volume). The center should be a black square. The example below caught my eye because of the way the corals and greens play off each other.

(CLICK HERE FOR THE BLOCK INSTRUCTIONS.)

Many projects were displayed during Show and Tell.

Jane shared the biggest quilt she has ever made, a queen-size "Swoon" made from a Camille Roskelley pattern that Jane began last February. I love the vibrant colors in this quilt (especially the yellows).

Diane shared two pieces. The first (above) was made as part of a Michael Miller challenge. The second (below) has been juried into a craft show in Exeter. It includes a mix of commercial fabrics and fabrics she dyed herself. 

In November, Kate showed us a quilt she was working on for her son, a student at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. Today, she had the finished version. Apparently her son has wrapped himself into the quilt every morning since Christmas!

Speaking of Christmas, Mary showed us a red-and-green wall hanging that involved a lot of intricate piecing. 

Patty is working on a quilt for a bridal shower next weekend. The couple lives at the beach, so the quilting is done in a seashell motif.

Last but not least, all of us got to see the completed quilt that we'll be sending to Quilt Con, which is February 21-24 in Nashville. It's entitled "Safe Harbor" and its construction was coordinated by Kelly, our charity projects leader. A view of the front of the quilt is at the top of this post. Below is a view of the back. Suzanne (at right in the picture below) did the quilting.

We are still collecting dues. Payments can be made via PayPal or sent to Seacoast Modern Quilt Guild, Unit #1606, 61 Pleasant Street, Newburyport, MA 01950

Our next meeting will be 10 a.m. on February 2 at the West Newbury Annex.

January's Activity

As you may know, each of us will choose a "word of the year" at the January meeting to quilt in the medium of our choice. We recommend that you bring sketching paper, drawing materials, and a 2019 calendar to the meeting. The directions below give an idea of the scope of the project. 

This is the tutorial for the pennant base that will be done in grey:

https://www.incolororder.com/2017/06/enamel-pin-banner-tutorial.html

Large Banner (10"x14")

- 1/3 yard of fabric

-     5/8 yard of woven interfacing (SF 101)

Cutting:

From fabric:

- Cut (2) 10.5"x14" pieces

- Cut (1) 2"x20" piece

From interfacing:

- Cut (2) 10.5"x14" pieces

To help you consider some different lettering options...Nancy and Diane will share some examples and these sites might be useful too.

https://www.craftsy.com/quilting/article/name-quilts/

And

https://pin.it/o2ar4njvqkxvlt

http://patcherymenagerie.blogspot.com/p/lynne-tyler-word-quilts-2011-2012.html

Extras you might find helpful.

Terial Magic fabric Stabilizer (for appliqué)

Sulky Iron on Transfer Pens (for embroidery)

January Meeting Reminder

As 2018 draws to a close, it's an excellent time to look ahead to 2019 and reflect on our hopes and aspirations. At our January meeting we are asking each of you  to select your "word of the year” -- nothing fancy or hard to remember, but a word that has personal meaning to you or expresses a theme for the Guild in the upcoming year. We will be working toward quilting that in the medium you desire, so bring your sketchbooks and drawing materials.

Members will also have the opportunity to vote on the programs that will be the focus of our creativity during our meetings in 2019. 

The meeting will be held on Saturday, January 5, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Wiggin Memorial Library in Stratham, N.H.

Please note that 2019 dues are due. Payments can be mailed to the Guild's P.O. Box at the address below, submitted via PayPal, or brought to the January meeting.

Seacoast Modern Quilt Guild

61 Pleasant St. Unit 1606

Newburyport, MA 01950

December Meeting Recap

SMQG Meeting Summary

December 1, 2018

The Seacoast Modern Quilt Guild (SMQG) met at the Annex in West Newbury, Massachusetts on Saturday, December 1st from 10:00 am - 12 noon. Judy opened the meeting, welcoming 16 guild members in attendance. A short business meeting preceded the end-of-year party fun.

Newly elected board members for 2019 were announced and thanked for their willingness to assume responsibilities.  They are:

President – Mary Orencole

Vice President – Paula Krolikoski

Treasurer – Bethany Aycaner

Secretary – Barbara Mahoney 

As announced at the November meeting, a change to the guild bylaws was needed in order to accommodate the change of the guild location and mailing address.  The change involved only the first paragraph of “Article I – Name, Location & Tax Exempt Status”.  It changes the location from “West Newbury, Massachusetts” to “Newburyport, Massachusetts” and the mailing address from “PO Box 774, West Newbury, MA 01985” to “Unit #1606, 61 Pleasant St, Newburyport, MA 01950”.  There was unanimous agreement to accept this change. 

Barb followed with the Treasurer’s Report, detailing the amounts paid out for speaker related expenses and for retreat deposit to the Franciscan in Kennebunk, ME as well as the amount taken in from 2019 dues payments.  She collected dues from some members at this meeting. If you have not yet paid your 2019 dues, payments may be mailed to the guild mailbox.  Please NOTE: There is a new address for guild mail:

            Seacoast Modern Quilt Guild

            Unit # 1606

            61 Pleasant St.

            Newburyport, MA 01950

JoAnne again made available pricing for the 2019 retreat to be held in May and announced that she would hold a brief meeting of those interested in joining the retreat committee immediately following the December meeting. 

Judy provided follow up on the 2019 Quilt Con charity quilt.  Andrea had completed the binding and attached a sleeve to the quilt which she displayed to the delight of all, especially when it was noticed that tiny piecing had been incorporated into the binding!.  Thank you, Andrea!  Kate has offered to machine embroider a label for the quilt as soon as we have the MQG guidance on what it should say.  It was discussed that a second label could be prepared to swap off once the quilt returns from 2019 QuiltCon and before it is donated. 

The organization that will receive this year's QC charity quilt is the Teen Pregnancy and Parenting Program in Newburyport, MA, which is part of the Department of Children and Families' DARE program.  Our thanks to JoAnne for reaching out and providing contact with DCF. 

Judy also noted 3 other Massachusetts charitable organizations that she has identified for potential future donations.  These include Lucy's Love Bus in Amesbury, Hospice Care of Haverhill, and Pelican Intervention Fund, serving the greater Newburyport area.

                                   

Discussion of potential new policies remains tabled until 2019.

Six lucky winners were selected for door prizes.

Pillow cases were collected from those who had completed them since the November meeting.  Barb didn't have the exact count but estimated at least 175 pillowcases have been contributed, far exceeding the goal of154.  A very successful effort!  Thanks to all who contributed!  Catherine will deliver them to the Tewksbury hospital for those in the residential program. 

Show and Tell came next.

Paula shared her finished project for the MQG Michael Miller Challenge as well as a pillow she made using the printed image of her house block from the Strawberry Banke quilt that Diane gave her.  Diane also gave her the fabric she used to back the pillow.  There was some discussion of whether or not this pillow should belong to Diane!

Nancy is making matching flannel pajama pants for the whole family and a “brain” needle turned appliqued pillow for her daughter. She is hoping that image of braininess has a positive effect! 

Everyone agreed that Kelly's sister will love this “Big Foot” quilt that Kelly has made for her and the wood grain quilting Kelly did on her home machine was much admired.

Kate used self-designed fabric that she had printed through Spoonflower for her QuiltCon entry, which she finished in a very short time! 

We all enjoyed the wonderful array of food items that everyone had brought before our Yankee Swap and a game of Left-Right-Center, which Barb won. 

Incoming and out-going board members met for a transitional meeting following the fun.  Stay tuned to hear from them concerning the meeting plans for January.