March 2019 Meeting

Ice Breaker

This month we asked the members about their other creative endeavors outside of quilting. We have a range of talents in the guild. Members enjoy scrapbooking, cooking, ceramics, travel, genealogy, watching baseball, and writing.

OCMQG Website

The website has been given an update and overhaul by Dawn. Kudos to Dawn for volunteering to refresh our website and spending hours and hour to organize our domain.

This Year’s Quilting Challenges

Our first Challenge of the year will be a modern, minimalist quilt! As always, quilts need to be quilted, bound, and labeled. Exercise your creativity and develop a quilt based on minimalism. The size can be 12” by 12” or larger and can be done individually or as a group project. Prizes will be awarded for best use of minimalism, best modern design, and members’ choice.

More Minimalism

We continued our focus on one of the major tenets of modern quilting design: Minimalism. This month we focused on fabric choices. Sandra lead a Q&A where each fabric sample was evaluated for how to best use each fabric in a minimalist design. All fabric has potential but not all items are a great fit for minimalism – you can end up fighting against the strength of the fabric and not utilizing its greatest potential.

Quilters Journey

Ruth Shared her Quilters Journey with us! She shared some amazing quilts and shared her Journey through the quilty world with us! Thank you Ruth!!

A table runner she recently completed for her daughter

Tips and Tricks

Olfa has new quick release rotary cutters where it is very easy to change the blade. Also, there are new “smoked” rulers which are non-slip. M&Ls is having a spend 100 dollars and get a 20 dollar gift card promotion for another two weeks.

Be a Member and Dues are Due!

Membership dues for 2019 are due now. We will be keeping the dues the same at $50 for the year. This grants you access to the MQG Website, guild workshops, block lottos, Guild Challenges, and so much more. If you have not paid yet, Please mail your dues to Mary O’Bannon. Pins will be available next month for new members.

Quilt in Public Day Recap

Gail and Sandra organized a Quilt in Public outing at Orange Circle. They brought 4 quilts and got great photographs of their quilts. Ruth and her other guild members hosted quilting in public at the Laguna Woods Library and also at Café Laguna.

Quilting Retreat Anyone?

Who would enjoy a retreat to get away from everything—everything other than quilting and fellowship with other quilters, that is. The OCMQG 2019 Retreat will be held from Oct 18-20 in Valley Center, CA. There are only 8 spots available for the retreat. We will fill the retreat on a first come first serve basis. The cost of the retreat is $275 per person. A $75 deposit is due within 14 days of reservation (April 15, 2019). Full payment is due 3 months in advance. There is no refund for cancellation within 3 months of the retreat unless we can fill your space. We will do our best to accommodate special food requirements. Please let us know in advance of any special requests. We do not serve alcoholic beverages. You may bring your own, however, please be courteous to others and don’t drink and drive. Check-in is anytime after 12 noon on Friday. Please let us know if you plan to arrive later than 6pm. Check-out is by 3pm on Sunday. Sleeping accommodations are in comfy twin beds (no bunk beds) in three bedrooms. Room arrangements can be chosen upon arrival.

Quilter’s Journey

Our member Ruth, shared a Trunk Show and shared how she became a quilter and showed us some of her quilts. Ruth started quilting in 1994. A friend picked up quilting and wanted an “engrossing activity for retirement.” There were quilt shops on every corner in 1995, like Leah’s in Long Beach. Ruth’s 1st quilt was a traditional rail fence. Gave it to her brother and wife but their dog inherited it. Another quilt was called a Hawaiian Amish with teeny tiny half inch nine-patch. Ruth’s mother was a dressmaker. Ruth made clothes on the treadle machine even when she was a little girl and was too short for the treadle. Never lived in a house without a sewing machine, so it was always an accoutrement to her life. “Fabric is an endless delight.”

It would be great to have other members share at future meetings; how about you? We need volunteers for June through November.

Block Lotto

This months block were inspired by Maria Shell’s work and her exhibit at Visions Museum in San Diego. See her Instagram “Tales of a Sticher” for reference. Each block should make a nine patch, making a cross. Use solid colors only for the outside and aim for a strong mix of fabrics. Make your own prints by mixing patterns, stripes and blocks.

Handmade Raffle

Ann Ainsworth donated handmade items we raffled off at the meeting. (2017 Hoffman “All A Twitter” picnic tablecloth and 16 fat quarters). Thank you, Ann! Items were won by Ann Chavez.

Quilter’s Block

The guild discussed different options to address warping and buckling in a quilt due to different density in quilting. Options to fix include pressing, adding more quilting to even out the thread density, get the quilt wet and let the fabric relax, or spray and block the quilt.

Show and Tell

We always love seeing what you’ve been making so keep bringing those modern quilts to the meeting, so we can see your great work in person!

Ann’s Family likes when she backs her quilts in flannel because they are cozier

Member Happenings

Sandra Johnson is taping 3 segments of Quilting Arts TV next week. Wish her luck! She also has a piece in an exhibition on 5^th of April Freedom Railroad Exhibit in Cincinnati.

To Bring for the Next Meeting:

Ideas for the quilting retreat
Money for membership dues, raffle, and Block Lotto
Quilts for show and tell, issues for Quilter’s Block, give-aways for Going Green

Mark Your Calendars:

Saturday Crazy Quilters Guild 2019 Quilt Show Exhibit April 13, 2019
Sunday, April 14: Weekend Sew-In, 12-5 at the Los Olivos Room (clubhouse 2)
Thursday, April 25: Guild Meeting and Minimalism Challenge Quilts Due
Orange County Quilt Tradition at April 27-28th
Saturday April 27-28th, Through the Vines Quilt Show in Paso Robles
May 18th – Guild Social Mixer – Afternoon Tea with BYOB at Cheryl’s in Irvine
Flying Geese Quilt Guild Show on June 8-9 at Socca University
Chinese Haute Couture Designer Guo Pei Exhibit – Running March 9, 2019 – July 14, 2019