January meeting reminder

Hi all! I hope you are enjoying a warm, family-filled December. Before I turn off all my electronics for Christmas, I wanted to remind everyone that our first meeting of the new year is coming right up. On January 3, 2015 at 10 am to 12 pm at the Wiggin Memorial Library in Stratham, NH, we will be meeting for show and tell and a quilted bag-making tips and tricks workshop from our own Jess.

This is a sewing-machine optional meeting. If you would like to sew along with Jess, please plan to pack along your machine and watch your email for Jess's supplies list. She'll be asking you to pre-make two specifically sized quilted panels, and gather the rest of your bag components.

In between show and tell and our workshops in the coming year, I've been asked to provide an opportunity for people to bring in Gathering quilts-in-progress and have them "workshopped" by the group. To get this rolling, if you have a project going and you would like the group's feedback, please feel free to bring it in January. We may aim for a more structured system in February--stay tuned.

Have a safe and happy New Year's, all!

December meeting recap

Our December meeting was held on Saturday, December 6 at the Wiggin Memorial Library in Stratham. It was a busy, fun meeting! And no one got tackled during the Yankee swap or Kona Bingo :)

Even our items of business were fun. Here, Peg and Nancy reveal our Quilt Con charity challenge quilt, which was finished by Nancy and Sue. I am personally so proud of this quilt and I think it really showcases the talent that we have in our guild.

Dues for 2015 were accepted at this meeting. If you have not yet paid your dues, please mail them to the PO Box listed under the Contact Us link on this blog by December 20th. We need an accurate count of our membership so that we can renew with the MQG, and the MQG payment is due on January 1.

Retreat deposits have been accepted and all registration for the retreat is now closed (pending a few people who are interested in day commuter passes, which Laura is looking into). The Franciscan received our initial deposit and our next payments will be made via Paypal around the second week of January. (Here's how to calculate your next payment: take the total for the room/nights combo you initially selected, subtract $30, and divide the remainder in half. If you like, you may also pay the entire balance remaining.) Laura will post a payment page early in the new year!

Peg received our A Sense of Place swap minis from Northampton and they were beautiful! We distributed them by random lottery. This was a fun swap, and I so appreciated seeing both guilds' take on the theme. 

At Show and Tell, Kali showed off some neon bright slice-and-insert blocks she is working on for our Gathering show.

Barbara and Nancy took a landscape quilting class in another guild, and showed off their work. 

Nancy's snowman wall hanging is so cute and seasonal!

Sue just whipped up this mini during a slow morning at her shop. Amazing!

Sue also showed off her Michael Miller pastel challenge quilt, which she submitted to Quilt Con. I hope to see it hanging in Austin!

Stephanie made a Super Tote for herself. (and, spoiler alert: she also made a fabulous Super Tote for the Yankee Swap!)

Sarah took some Economy blocks left over from a swap and turned them into a fun quilt top.

And she did the same with this quilt top. Sarah is inspiring me to dig into my pile of weird leftover orphan blocks!

Amy's spiderweb quilt was published in a magazine and is quilted with thousands of tiny pebbles. No wonder she saw pebbles when she closed her eyes!

I believe Amy's second quilt was also for magazine publication! 

And when Amy pulled out her solids quilt (I do remember that this one is named Haberdasher), someone marveled, "do you sleep?" What a great use of solids!

Paula showed off a project she knitted for her daughter: boot socks from leftovers! I know I was covetous. 

After a lot of eating, we then had a Yankee swap, swapping only handmade items this year. I think it was a great success and I had so much fun seeing what everyone made. I also ended up winning Stephanie's fabulous Farmer's Market Super Tote :) Happy December all, and we will see you back at the Stratham library in January, when Jess will be teaching Quilted Bag Making Tips and Tricks.

December meeting reminder

Dear all: You are cordially invited to our second annual SMQG guild celebration and Yankee swap on Saturday, December 6, 10 am to 12 pm at the Wiggin Memorial Library in Stratham NH. We'll enjoy a fun morning of all the best parts of a guild meeting: show and tell, door prizes, lots of food to share, and a Yankee swap (protective headgear not required). Amy has donated some fun fabric and books for a door prize at this meeting. I won't reveal the surprise, but it's a bright, colorful fabric line I know I missed from a little while back! Please bring a brunch item to eat or drink to share with the group. If you are participating in the Yankee swap, please bring a small handmade item to swap. The item should be placed in a not-holiday reusable gift bag. Finally, if you have not yet paid your 2015 dues, they are due at this December meeting. Dues for calendar year 2015 are $50, and we accept cash or checks made out to Seacoast Modern Quilt Guild. I can't wait to see everyone there!

Announcing: The 2015 SMQG Retreat!

It's time to sign up for the April 24-26 SMQG retreat in Kennebunk, Maine! We are pleased to be holding our retreat at the Franciscan Guest House. It is a reasonably-priced, centrally-located option that hosts many quilt retreats. They provide a lovely, well-lit space for sewing and will provide all irons, ironing boards, and design walls, as well as coffee and hot water for tea throughout the day. There will also be a refrigerator to store sodas and other beverages. The Franciscan is a short walk from downtown Kennebunk. You'll be able to walk downtown for meals, snacks, drinks, and breaks. Continental-style breakfasts are included in the price of the room, and lunch on Saturday will be a catered deli lunch (think salads, sandwiches, cookies), price included in the totals below. We were so lucky to be able to tag along at the Boston MQG's retreat in March 2014--if you weren't there, and would like to see what kinds of fun takes place, you can look at Alice's writeup of the retreat here. Pricing for the retreat is as follows: Single Room, 3 nights (Thursday 23rd, Friday 24th, Saturday 25th): $324 Double Room, 3 nights: $224 per person Single Room, 2 nights: $229 Double Room, 2 nights: $163 per person There is a "commuter" option in the drop-down below. I was able to offer a very limited number of these spots to those who specially requested them, but needed to limit the spots to three people. If you are interested in a commuter spot, I am running a waitlist. Please email Laura. To reserve your place at the retreat, please select your room option from the dropdown below. You will have one week--until Thursday, November 20--to reserve your spot! The $30 deposit will be deducted from the balance of your choice above. You can then pay your balance in two payments, if you choose, or one, if you choose. For planning purposes, the second payment will be due around January 10; the final payment, by March 1. Please email Laura if you have questions or need clarification. Laura also needs to know ASAP if you will need a ground-floor/handicap accessible room. **The Paypal button has been removed!**

Save the Date: Lee Heinrich Lecture!

The beginning of March is usually, well, a lion here in New England. But this year, Lee Heinrich of Freshly Pieced will be coming to visit our guild, bringing with her a dose of her signature fresh, bright modern traditionalist style!

image courtesy Lee Heinrich

Lee is also a co-author of Vintage Quilt Revival, a book containing appealing modern traditionalist quilt projects. The book was released in late 2013 and several of our own guild members have made pieces using patterns in this book.

image courtesy Lee Heinrich

So mark your calendars, invite your quilty friends, and get ready!

When: March 7, 2015, 10 am to 12 pm (note: this is our regular meeting time)
Where: Dr. John C. Page Elementary School, 694 Main Street, West Newbury, MA
What: Trunk show and lecture
How Much: $10 payable at the door for SMQG members, $15 payable at the door for nonmembers

Sherri Lynn Wood Workshop Sign Ups!

I know you are all excited about the upcoming Sherri Lynn Wood workshop and guess what?  It's time to reserve your spot!

Sherri will be visiting the Seacoast Modern Quilt Guild on Sunday, May 3, 2015 for a 7 hour workshop at the Old Town Hall, 491 Main Street, West Newbury, MA .  The workshop will run from 9 am to 5 pm with an hour break for lunch.  Lunch is be included in your workshop fee and will be catered.

The workshop we chose is Bias Strip Curves, described by Sherri below:

Bias Strip Curves

In this workshop you will learn to master the innovative improvisational technique of bias-strip piecing on the curve, with tips on how to flatten internal bubbles in the patchwork when they arise, and how to utilize the technique in both traditional and improvisational patchwork compositions. This is an advanced, original technique that takes time to master but it’s definitely worth the effort. Just imagine the possibilities! Most suitable for intermediate and advanced skill levels.

Sherri's teaching focuses on improvisational process and technique and she has been sharing her love of that process for over 20 years now.  She also has a new book coming out that she hopes to have in hand in time for our workshop. It can be preordered on Amazon:

This is a unique opportunity to work with Sherri here in New England and I hope you will jump at the chance!  

The registration will be first come first serve to the first 20 registered SMQG members.  To secure your spot, email amybfriend@gmail.com and state your intention to register for the workshop and mention any dietary needs you might have (vegetarian, vegan, allergies, etc.).  I will reply to confirm that your spot is secure. After a couple of weeks, if spots are still open, we will advertise them to local guilds.  So please move quickly.  

The workshop cost is $100 (including lunch).  You can write out a check to the Seacoast Modern Quilt Guild and give it to Amy at a guild meeting or send it to her attention at PO Box 774, West Newbury, MA 01985.  If your payment has not been received by January 31, 2015, you will lose your spot and we will sell the ticket to someone on the waitlist.

If you have any questions, please contact Amy at amybfriend@gmail.com.  More information will be forthcoming regarding supplies and other details as the event date gets closer.

November meeting recap

Our November meeting was held on Saturday, November 1 at the West Newbury Town Hall Annex.

Judy opened our meeting with some announcements and general business items:

• Our "sense of place" minis were collected at this meeting and will be shipped to Northampton. When we receive our minis in return, they will be distributed random-lottery style.
• If you are a paid member of our guild you should have received an email from the MQG regarding regional representative elections. There are three candidates for our district (they are all from below the Mason-Dixon line...perhaps one of us should remedy that next go-round!). Please review their profiles and make your selection, and then, on November 10, you will receive an emailed ballot. You'll have until 11/13 to vote. This election only seems far-off and like it won't matter--if you want the East Coast to have a say in what goes on for the MQG, now is your chance. 
• Retreat pricing came in for the April 24-26 retreat at the Franciscan in Kennebunk, ME. The pricing looks to be similar to what it was last year. We will need to make a deposit with the Franciscan by November 28, so watch your inboxes for instructions on making your deposit and reserving your retreat space!

Looking ahead to next month, we will be holding our annual end-of-the-year party and handmade item Yankee Swap. Everyone is invited to make a small handmade gift to participate in the Yankee Swap! We ask that the item be small (like a pincushion, mug rug, mini quilt, small pillow, small pouch) and be sewn. The item should NOT have a Christmas theme. Please place your item in a small, non-Christmas gift bag so we can cut down on paper mess and waste. 

We will also be holding a potluck brunch. Make a fun treat of your choice to share! Debbie has me thinking of biscuits and gravy and I am wondering how well gravy might travel. :)

There were quite a lot of pieces of show and tell this month! We have been a very productive group. I apologize in advance for the wobbly photos. I should have used my flash. It is sometimes hard to tell about the light in these big rooms.

Sam's bright solid quilt is for her son. It's twin-sized so it is quite large!

This is Robin's contribution to the A Sense of Place swap.

And Robin made this beautiful quilt using Amy's Melon Ice pattern. 

This blurry photo absolutely does not do justice to Sue's A Sense of Place mini. Her quilting, which you can barely see, is particularly lovely!

Nancy made a colorful Dresden plate.

And this is Nancy's A Sense of Place mini. It is her backyard! It is entirely improv-pieced, and I am impressed by the precision she achieved.

Judy's A Sense of Place mini is inspired by her home and the objects that populate her everyday life. The tranquil blue is for the Seacoast water.

Joanne used metallic thread to quilt her autumn wall hanging. She had some issues with it and this led to a little discussion on using metallic threads. 

Diane's runner from Paula's workshop last month is finished. She handquilted the words and the asterisk (and there are several other words on the runner). 

Diane also finished this blue runner.

And this was Diane's test block for her contribution to our charity quilt. I love the whimsical feel of this block!

Paula's A Sense of Place mini was inspired by all the colors in our area, and the beautiful nighttime sky.

Laura's A Sense of Place is called Lucy Boston on the Road to Tennessee.

Laura also made a pickle dish unit, but is not sure what to do with it.

Laura also finished this Courthouse Steps quilt.

Karin showed off her bright citrusy pillow. This will be cheery throughout the coming dreary winter!

Karin made this Fat Eighth Frenzy quilt in 24 hours. The top photo is the front and the bottom is the back. She used Kate Spain fabrics, I believe!

Here is the banner made by the banner committee. It is still in progress (I believe Mary will be quilting it) but it is already incredible! Thanks to Jess for spearheading that project.

Kali's A Sense of Place mini was inspired by a foggy morning. She says these are her first machine-quilted swirls and I find that hard to believe!

Kali continues to rescue 90s stash fabrics and make things with them! She made this quilt out of a combo of fabrics given to her and purchased at a yard sale.

Allison is handquilting this black and white plus baby quilt. This photo doesn't show her stitches but she is using pink in the black area and black in the white area.

Mary made a take on Carolyn Friedlander's Aerial Grove pattern for her A Sense of Place swap mini. I believe those circles are hand-appliqued. They are rainbow pebbles on a beach.

Jess and Mary did an incredible amount of work on our Charity challenge quilt. (So much that I guess I needed to put this photo in this post twice.) Jess hammered the top into shape, and Mary did all the quilting. She added such darling details, like a couple of hidden cats and tiny ribbon candy quilting. I could look at this quilt for a couple of hours and not see it all. Great work everybody, and especially great work, Jess and Mary!

Jess's A Sense of Place mini is a whale and a NY Beauty sun. She handquilted it!

Jess also made a throw-sized top for her sister.

Amy's A Sense of Place mini is a quilted representation of Plum Island. The quilting really adds so much to this mini!

Recognize this? This is Amy's Melon Ice block, smaller, and with prints. (Same pattern as Robin's blue and white quilt, above!) I love how swapping figure and ground makes this into a totally different quilt.

Amy also made this as a modern quilting study. (It is not blurry, that is the badness of the photo.) 

Inspired by an Amish quilt, Amy made this ninepatch/Irish Chain variation. She made it modern by using some differently colored solids for an ombre effect. Amy also showed off the quilt she made for publication in the scrap quilt book, made of grey, lime, and yellow scraps--but I didn't get a photo of it.

After show and tell, we had a productive discussion about what makes a quilt "modern." If you are looking for the MQG's definition of a "modern quilt," find it here. If you are looking for our group's guidelines for our 2015 modern quilting show, please check your email!

See you in Stratham next month for our end-of-year party!