Thank you to all of you who were in attendance or participated via Zoom for our first in person membership meeting. Your participation ensures our guild is a success. Your beautiful quilts also made the meeting extra special. Thank you to all and we look forward to seeing you at our next in person meeting on April 28th.
Maritza Rodriguez Farr, OCMQG Co-Secretary
OCMQG Membership Meeting Minutes
March 31, 2022
Laguna Woods Village
WELCOME: President Cheryl Higley welcomed all in attendance back to LIVE OCMQG meetings! For many of us, both new and “seasoned” members, it’s the first time we’ve seen each other face to face.
GUEST SPEAKER (via Zoom): Tara Miller, www.quiltdistrict.com or Facebook “The Quilt District”
Mary O’Bannon introduced us to Tara Miller
Tara’s fascinating talk focused on quiltmaking in the context of 20th Century mainstream “women’s sphere” and “women’s work” in the United States as well as societal norms for each period of history. Beautiful examples of quilts crafted throughout the century were presented in 25-year increments, with commentary on society’s impact on both quilt design, function and fabric choices. She did not disappoint! An important message from her presentation “Our soul is reflected in what we create.”
INTRODUCTION OF THE 2022 LEADERSHIP BOARD:
The Leadership Board was introduced to the members by President Cheryl Higley.
Our 2022 Board Members are:
Cheryl Higley – President
Lisa Handley – Vice President
Susie Johnson – Workshops
Gail Sevilla – Membership
Kaylin Murray – Technical Support
Mary O’Bannon – Workshops
Kelly Hogan – Block Lotto
Sam Saturday – Social Media & Website
Maritza Farr – Co-Secretary
Elizabeth Wing – Co-Secretary
Janet Segner – Treasurer
Ruth Bailey – Facilities/Hospitality/Greeter
MEMBERSHIP – Gail:
Total membership for 2022 to date is 48.
To those of you who rejoined – thanks for holding on through Covid!
Welcome to our new members, we’re so happy to have you!
TREASURER’S REPORT:
Janet was out of town, but we have been assured that our Guild finances are in tip-top shape!
Guild banking was switched from Wells Fargo to Chase, and we have received the “new account bonus” of $300 – which will be used in various ways for the benefit of our members.
We are encouraging everyone to use Zelle for all Guild payments. This method is free to the Guild, while PayPal charges a fee. Eventually, we will transition solely to Zelle.
Please see the link below to OCMQG Membership FAQs page for ways to pay with Zelle through various banks:
And, YES…the Guild will still accept personal checks for workshops (and cold hard cash for Block Lotto)!
CHALLENGES: April is our “Focus on Quilting” Challenge:
Bring your completed quilt with fabulous quilting to the LIVE Membership meeting on April 28th.
These quilts must be a minimum of 18” x 18” and must be SELF-QUILTED – by hand, domestic machine, longarm – or a combination.
Awards will be given in 3 categories:
Best Use of Quilting
Best Modern Design
Members’ Choice
Current Challenge information can be found at:
Future Challenges (details to come as we get closer to the dates):
August – Mini Quilt
November – Annual Book Challenge
WORKSHOPS & GUEST SPEAKERS:
Mary O’Bannon reviewed the lineup of upcoming speakers and Workshops
Membership Meeting Guest Speakers:
May – Bill Stearman, “BackPack Show” www.billstearman.com
June – Audrey Esarey, “Finding My Voice in Modern Quilting” www.cottonandbourbon.com
July – Teresa Duryea Wong, “Hello Modern Art, Meet Antique Quilts” www.thirdfloorquilts.com
September – Rachel Derstine, “Keep it Simple But Pack a Punch”
November – Janneken Smucker, “Amish Quilts” www.janneken.org
Workshops (please note LIVE vs ZOOM before signing up!):
May 15th LIVE – Cecile Choi, “Color Play” www.Sewingparty.com
June 11th ZOOM – Carolina Oneto, “Organic Shapes”
July 17th ZOOM – Audrey Esarey ($12 pattern), “Watercolor Quilt” www.cottonandbourbon.com
September 11 LIVE – Jean Impey, “Spider Web” www.sewjean.com
October 30 & Nov 6 (two ½ days) ZOOM – Rachel Derstine, “Keep it Simple But Pack a Punch”
Important workshop links:
See the link below for all upcoming workshop info:
Cecile Choi workshop scholarship form: https://forms.gle/913dgDGoQQhzCcDdA
Carolina Oneto workshop scholarship form: https://forms.gle/QAwu4T7FiKJqetCGA
Be sure to watch your OCMQG emails for workshop sign up information!
BLOCK LOTTO:
Kelly offered the April Block Lotto kits – “Cheater Hexies, No Y-Seams” – for sale, and the response was very positive. There may be some kits left, please email Kelly for information at kel.hogan@gmail.com. The “hexie” instructions can be found in the link below:
Your completed “hexies” should be returned to Kelly at the April Guild meeting, and the winner will be drawn that evening.
At the April meeting, Kelly will also be offering kits for “Korean Patchwork/Bojagi”. Kits are $2 each, or three kits for $5 (please bring cash to pay).
Don’t wait too long..this one is going to be very popular!
SHOW AND TELL:
After many months of (mostly) viewing each other’s accomplishments only virtually, we were excited to see so many beautiful completed quilts! Though we ran short on time, there was no shortage of oohs and aahs. We look forward to seeing those quilts we didn’t have time for, as well as additional creations, at our next meeting.
During Show and Tell, the beautiful OCMQG Community Outreach quilt that had been entered in QuiltCon was presented as a surprise gift to our wonderful Ruth Bailey as a thank you for her many years of service. We hope this quilt, which Ruth had expressed a very strong interest in, will bless her with many warm memories and be a reminder that she is so appreciated.
SOCIAL MEDIA:
Sam got a chance to let us know about the Orange County Fair Quilt competition…it’s coming up quickly, we know that MANY of you have gorgeous quilts to show off – and what better place than the OC Fair?
Info on OC Fair competition entries:
LENDING LIBRARY:
Kelly reviewed this new benefit to our members – a “library” of books and quilting related tools that members may check out at the meeting and return at the following month’s membership meeting. If you have quilt rulers, tools, pattern books, etc. that you would like to donate, please bring them to future meetings.
PHILANTHROPY:
Lisa was happy to announce that we had 13 beautifully completed pillowcases, and one completed quilts returned. Don’t forget to check the philanthropy table at each meeting and see if there’s a project waiting for you to dive into! Also, bring in those “orphan blocks” and completed quilt tops to the Guild meetings. We love to give!
DOOR PRIZE DRAWING:
Elizabeth drew tickets for three great little prizes. The door prize is something we’ll do at each meeting – no purchase is necessary, just be sure to sign in for the meeting as we’ll be picking winners from the list of attendees in the future.
We look forward to seeing all of you at our next OCMQG meeting on Thursday, April 28th!
Orange County Modern Quilt Guild 