October meeting reminder

Our October meeting will be held on Saturday, October 3 from 10 am to 12 pm at the West Newbury Old Town Hall--different from the West Newbury Annex where we met in September. The address is 491 Main Street, West Newbury, MA 01985; it is the historical white building where we held the Sherri Lynn Wood workshop. Parking is in the rear of the building.

Leave yourself time to pack for this meeting! Please plan to bring:

--quilts that are accepted into the A Quilter's Gathering Show, with 4'' hanging sleeves attached. The tutorial for the hanging sleeve is HERE. This is the last time you will see your quilt until it is hanging in the show, so make sure it is show-ready! Acceptance emails have not yet been sent. If you submitted a quilt, please check your email on Saturday 9/26 to find out if it was accepted for the show. 

--your lottery blocks: Mary chose a fun and seasonal block, spooky eyeballs! Find the tutorial HERE.

--any quilted work you would like to share for show and tell

--your nominations for officer roles! Many of our current officers are in need of a sabbatical, so there are many roles to be filled. Please consider nominating yourself for one of these positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary. If you'd like the inside scoop on any of these jobs, Laura, Judy, Jess, or Peg would be happy to let you know what the job entails.

--your sewing machine and basic sewing supplies (scissors, thread snips, neutral piecing thread, whatever foot you like for piecing) for a fun charity sew-in! We'll be putting together some wheelchair comfort quilts using the Jelly Roll Race. I'm promised that the quilt tops will take less than an hour...to see what you're in for, you can watch THIS YouTube video. We will need volunteers to quilt and bind the finished quilt tops. The guild has purchased jelly rolls, so there is no need to bring fabric!

--any fabric you are ready to get rid of (but not make money off of) for the free fabric table!

Whew! That's a lot planned. I won't actually be at the meeting--I will be on vacation with my family. Have a ton of fun jelly roll racing!

September meeting recap

Our September meeting was held last Saturday at the West Newbury Town Hall Annex. (Not to be confused with the Old Town Hall down the street where we will meet next month.)

The Gathering Exhibit Update

Business started with a reminder that Gathering Exhibit electronic submissions are due NEXT WEEK - Tuesday 9/15 Midnight EDT. The electronic submission consists of emailing a overall and detail photo to Laura as well as a makers statement then filling out the Google Form. 

We're looking for quilts that fall in the modern spectrum, to illustrate elements of Modern. Don't omit an entry because you're not sure if it's "modern enough"! Please consider submitting more than 2. The original guideline has softened so that we can be well represented. 

The Exhibit Committee met with Kate of A Quilter's Gathering at the Radisson in Manchester on Sunday to go over details. Kate has offered a free multi-day pass to anyone who a.) enters a quilt AND b.) volunteers for a time slot. The guild will pick up one day of the discounted parking fee of $5. That's $17 dollars that can be better used to buy fabric at the Merchant Mall, just sayin'.

You will be notified if your quilt was chosen for entry by the end of September. (Just enough time to speed stitch that label and 4" sleeve. Sleeve Tutorial here.) 

The exhibit quilt handoff will be at the October meeting. If you can't make it, please contact Mary for alternate arrangements.

October Meeting Notes

Our October meeting will be a charity sew-in with a four team jelly roll race to make wheelchair comfort quilts. Bring your sewing machine, bobbins loaded and the usual notion assortment. 

We will also have a fabric swap table. It's a fabric free-cycle. Bring something that you don't want anymore and find another treasure to pick up. No money changes hands.

The October lottery block is the Eyeballs block by Happy Sew Lucky. The color scheme is black and white with some color in the eyes if you wish.

Also at the next meeting, Mary will be taking names of those who want to participate in the December Secret Handmade Swap. This will consist of making a Lined Drawstring Bag by Jeni Baker and fill it with approximately $15 of  fat quarters, thread, notions, zippers, whatever.  Simple, easy, and fun.

Show and Tell

Mary showed her low-volume with a slash of color quilt.

New member Susan Gold brought a table runner made from scraps of Asian fabrics.

Another new member, Kate Kim was inspired by blue polka dots for this beauty.

Judy finished a mini quilt from her improv work at the Sherri Lynn Wood workshop.

New-ish member, Bea Matheson had a quilt top of staggered houses.

Diane did some pattern testing for a wedge ruler.

The back was equally fun and geometric!

Sue Ann showed a mystery quilt that was difficult to make but ended up stunning.

And her retreat finish, like buttah!

Laura was working with the 6 minute reverse applique circles that she would be teaching the class shortly.

She also showed her house quilt, marking the journey to home ownership with some notable literary houses represented too. 

The September lottery blocks go to Barbara in absentia. 

The 6 minute Reverse Applique Circle demonstrated by Laura

Start with two pieces of freezer paper, iron shiny side to matte to make a double thickness sheet.

Trace a circle on the paper and cut out the circle

Iron the shiny side to the wrong side of the fabric.

Cut out the center, leaving 1/4" from template. Snip "eyelashes" about 1/4" apart from edge of fabric to edge of template. 

 Iron eyelashes to the back of the freezer paper.

Apply glue stick or starch to eyelashes and place the inner circle fabric. Set the glue/starch with a hot dry iron (this will keep your needle from gumming up).

Stitch around the circle in a thread that matches the background fabric. Voila!