This was our second year of doing the storybook challenge: Choose a children’s book and make a quilt based on the book. Once again, our guild members have really pulled out the stops and created beautiful, thoughtful quilts for the Pediatric Cancer center. The quilts were made for children baby to 18 years old.
Our members made 14 quilts for this challenge, with an additional 3 made during our Christmas parties from prior years.
Here are the lovely quilts (the maker and book name are in the photo caption):
Bunnie: Bear Story
Trudy: The Quiltmaker’s Gift
Lisha: Nature’s Beauty Coloring Book
Karen: Neverwhere
Sandy: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Gail: Put Me in the Zoo
Diane: Trucks
Maryanne: The Little Pea
Janet: Avengers
Janet: Guess How Much I Love You
Susie: Put Me in the Zoo
Mary: Harold and the Purple Crayon
Karen: Ada Twist, Scientist
And the winners! Tied for first place: Lisha’s Nature’s Beauty coloring book and Susie’s Put Me in the Zoo. Third place: Karen’s Neverwhere.
Lisha: Nature’s Beauty Coloring Book
Susie: Put Me in the Zoo
Karen: Neverwhere
Thank you to the guild members who donated these lovely quilts and books.
Our November meeting was filled with sharing and our Storybook Challenge.
Sharing Finishes:
Sharon quilted “Old Blue,” a quilt she made in a workshop with Fiberworks. Bunnie drew inspiration from Cecile’s studio – Dresden Plates – and made “Grandma’s Garden.” The grouping represent her children’s family and her grandchildren. Gail finally used some stashed fabric from 1982 and made an adorable Bunny quilt. Karen A finished the top for her Aunt Louise, using suggestions regarding the background from the last meeting. She’s hoping to get it quilted in time for Christmas. Karen M (@cosmicquilting) shared a quilt from her client, where the quilting shows off the lovely applique.
Sharon: Old Blue
Bunnie: Grandma’s Garden
Gail: 1982 Bunny Fabric
Karen A: Flying
Karen M: Example of quilting
Storybook Challenge:
We had 13 people participate in our annual philanthropy challenge – with 14 quilts/books. Thank you to everyone who participated and donated their quilts. To see al the quilts, please go to the Philanthropy 2016.
Winners! Lisha and Susie tied for first and Karen A came in third.
Lisha: Nature’s Beauty Coloring Book
Susie: Put Me in the Zoo
Karen: Neverwhere
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Tuesday, November 22 10 AM – 3 PMish: Meet Sandra at Michael Levine in LA for a fun filled day of fabric and notion shopping.
Sunday, December 3, 10 AM to 4 PM: Bias Tape Workshop with Latifah Saafir. The workshop is full. If you are signed up for the class, you should have received an email with the supply list. If you have any questions, please email ocmodernquiltguild@gmail.com.
Sunday, December 11, Noon to 4: Holiday Party! It’s potluck, so please bring a dish to pass. Non-staining beverages are welcome (white wine, Champagne/sparkling wine). If you’d like to participate in the Yankee Swap, please wrap 5 coordinating fat quarters (modern, quilt weight fabric). We will also do our annual Holiday philanthropy quilt (thank you, Susie, for coordinating this challenge), so get ready to sew.
At our September meeting, Janet solicited members’ knowledge on how they’ve approached making a T-Shirt Quilt. As usual, our members came through!
If you have a suggestion for making a t-shirt quilt, regarding design elements or construction, let us know in the comments.
Helene’s Tips:
Helene made this quilt from her son’s tshirt collection
This quilt has t-shirts, stabilizer, batting, and backing.
Use iron-on stabilizer on all tshirt material (Karen recommends Pellon SF101); this allows using a 1/4″ seam and makes the material feel like quilting grade fabric
Save scraps from the t-shirts, in case gaps need to be filled between the blocks
Trudy’s Tips:
Trudy made this quilt from her Camp Tshirts
This quilt has t-shirts and flannel (it’s really soft)
Instead of using interfacing and batting, sew flannel to the back of the t-shirt blocks
To create a boarder around the t-shirt block, piece the blocks so the seam is on the t-shirt side. Sew seam allowance open and down – a flannel border with raw edges is now visible on the t-shirt side of the quilt
Gail’s Tips:
Gail’s tshirt quilt is of her sisters work tshirts
This quilt used t-shirts, stabilizer, batting, and backing
Use stabilizer
Holly’s Tips:
Holly’s tshirt quilt in memory of a lost friend
This quilt used t-shirts, stabilizer, batting, backing, and pieced blocks from quilting material
Use a block pattern that can easily be adjusted in size to fill in any weird spacing issues due to different t-shirt block sizes.
This type of pattern allows the quilt to be customized to the owner’s color preferences
Other tips:
If the t-shirt has a plastic-y decal, do not iron over it! It will melt. Iron around it.
Check Pinterest for ideas. Shannon found a schematic for using different block sizes.
Use unique features of the shirt – special tabs/buttons – in the quilt design
Browse Craftsy for classes on making a t-shirt quilt
If the quilt will be a wall hanging, use flannel instead of batting to lighten the quilt. press the seams open, if you have to piece the flannel to make it big enough.
Suggestions for Making it Modern
Use all the same color t-shirts to create more negative space in the quilt
Cut t-shirts into strips, circles, hexagons, etc and piece back together randomly
Use different sized t-shirt blocks
Use a few t-shirt blocks as part of the overall design of the quilt
For the month of September, we’re doing the Twizzle block by Buttons and Butterflys. (at time of post, this pattern is free from the Craftsy site)
@eyecandyquilts posted her version on Instagram and we decided this would be a fun skill builder block. How many of us have done half-rectangle triangle blocks? Hm?
Update:
Here are the blocks everyone made- and congratulations to Karen M on winning these blocks.
Fabric provided by the guild is a light grey Kona solid (thank you, Karen for cutting and making templates). From your stash, use a brightly colored solid to coordinate.
Karen M. picked out this month’s block and was inspired by Verena’s simply colorful blog about her experience with a Quick Curve Ruler.
Picture, piecing, and quilting by Verena at einfach bunt…
We had a ton of fun at this month’s meeting. T-Shirt Quilts, Show and Tell, Quilters Block, Block Lotto Fabulousness, Workshop Sign-Ups, changing of the guard….
10/9: Weekend Sew. Bring your projects or help us finish our QuiltCon Charity Quilt. A volunteer is needed to do the binding, once the quilting has been finsihed
10/15: We’ve been invited to celebrate LAMQG’s anniversary with quilt show and party at St. Andrew’s Luthern Church in Van Nuys, 5-9 PM
10/27: Monthly Guild Meeting. Same bat-time, same bat-place
11/17: Annual Philanthropy Challenge: Make a quilt that goes with a children’s book
12/3: Latifah Saafir’s Design Your Own Bias Tape workshop. See your email for details
12/11: OCMQG Holiday Party! Mark your calendars.
Call for Officers and Volunteers!
Our lovely officers are ready to pass the torch. They’ve done a wonderful job for us, but it’s time to let them sit back and enjoy. We’ve had some folks volunteer to step in their shoes:
Co-Presidents: Karen (behind the scenes stuff) and Bunny (lead the meetings)
Secretary: Dawn
Treasurer: Shelly
Open: Membership Chairman/Secretary – Our guild is growing and we need help keeping track of our members. this role is responsible for keeping a list of members and maintaining OCQMG’s member’s access on the MQG mothership site.
Open: Occasional Event Lead – Have an idea for an event you would love to do with the guild? Or maybe there’s a charity near and dear to your heart that needs some quilty love? This position is a one-time-event (rather than year long) lead that would coordinate a specific event or charity drive. You’d be in charge of the event, calling for any additional helpers, and executing. (Think how Quilts for Pulse was done – everyone made a few blocks, but one person coordinated the gathering of materials and mailing to Orlando MQG).
Now the fun stuff…
T-Shirt Quilts!
Janet, our fearless leader, asked for folks to share their experiences with making T-Shirt quilts.
Helene
Trudy
Holly
Gail
Lucinda
Trudy, Helene, Gail, Holly, Shannon, and Shelly all shared their awesome tips. Check out the TShirt Post under Resources – Quilt Tips.
There was much oooing and aahhhing over show and tell:
Cecile showing off Carolyn Friedlander’s new fabrics and quilt patterns
Kathy’s “It all Add Up” (quilting by Brandwine)
Helene did this quilt as a personal challenge
Mary Anne does her version of an MQG Quilt of the Month
Cecile showing how she plans to fix her mistakes.
Cecile’s quilt modified to fit her
Trudy made this from jelly rolls
Lucinda gave this quilt made from vintage fabrics a modern aesthetic
Trudy shows off a quilt made in a class
Mary Anne brought some lovely inherited pieced arcs to Quilters Block – What would you do with these pieces?
Janet is wondering if more quilting is needed in the medallions.
Block Lotto
Twists! Everyone did such a lovely job on these half-rectangle blocks in Halloween colors. Congrats to Karen M for winning this month’s blocks.
Photo, piecing, and quilting by Verena at einfach bunt…
October’s Block Lotto is “Confetti.” Check the Block Lotto page for information on this month’s block.
Please recommend a block and colors for the upcoming months – See any of our officers for suggestions.
Random Give Aways…
Thank you to Cecile for donating a lovely Fat Quarter bundle (which Karen A forgot to photo…sorry Cecile!)
Welcome to our new members and big thank yous to Cecile for opening her studio for pre-meeting shopping (Sewing Party) and to Karen (Schoolhouse Sewing and Cosmic Quilting) for our new meeting home!
Challenge Winner
Lucinda’s Lines
Janet’s Puppy
Susan’s Modern Hexies
Helene’s HST
Sharon’s Star in Star in Star
Bunnie’s Improv Color Study
Gail’s Polka Dots
Barbar’s Bird and FMQ
What a great turn out for our 18 x 18 mini quilt challenge! We had 11 entries.
Congratulations to our first place winner – Irene, our second place winner – Karen, and our third place winner – Dawn.
Irene’s arrows
Karen’s Improv X
Dawn’s Pen Pal
Our November Thanksgiving Challenge
2015’s Story Book Challenge Quilt Entries
This is our annual philanthropy challenge! Create a quilt inspired by a children’s book or make a quilt and find a children’s book. Due at our November meeting – November 17th (the third Thursday of the month due to the Thanksgiving Holiday). All books and quilts will be donated to www.PCRF-Kids.org. Please share with us as you work on it via social media with #storybookchallenge16. Post coming out soon with more details.
Block Lotto
Congratulations to Kathy Chevalier for winning the Block Lotto!! Look for instruction to this month’s block lotto via our blog.
Blocks for Orlando
Top by Kathy S
Top by Karen A
Top by Cathy M
Thank you to our members who have donated blocks, tops, quilting, and binding: Gail, Morgan, Kathy S, Cathy M, Karen M, Karen A, and Susan M.
We are continuing to collect blocks and quilts for Orlando (see dates below for deadlines). Karen Miller of Cosmic Quilting has agreed to quilt any quilt for Orlando (please bring batting and batting). Thanks for Susan M. for agreeing to bind the almost done quilts.
Important Dates:
8/14: Unfinished quilts are due at the August Sew (8/14). This includes blocks, binding, backing. Karen A. needs to ship these out on 8/15.
8/14: Tops to be quilted need to be given to Karen Miller no later than the August Sew (8/14)
8/25: Finished quilts are due at the August Meeting (8/25). This means you’ll need to coordinate with Karen Miller to get the top and bind the quilt.
QuiltCon 2017 Charity Quilt
Look at the wonderful word blocks that have come back from our volunteers! We will be gathering at Schoolhouse Classroom & Meeting Space (23011 Moulton Parkway, A-15, Laguna Hills) on August 14th, Noon-4 PM to determine block placement and start on quilt assembly.
You are welcome to participate, even if you have not worked on a word.
Always by Cecile
Heart by Shellie
Punctuation by Susan
You’ve by Gail
To by….
Filler by….
To’s by ….
Life by ….
Listen by Bunnie
The by ….
Demo – Continuous Bias Binding (with a rotary cutter!)
Thank you Karen A. for your amazing demo of continuous bias binding! We appreciate you passing on your knowledge to the group. If there is something you would like to demo – please let us know. We enjoy sharing knowledge.
Make a parallelogram
Along the grain, mark 2″ from edge on both sides (selvedge edges)
For 2″ binding, measure 2″ from bias edge and cut between marks
Continue cutting across…
Extend ‘cut” by marking fabric to the cut to the selvege. Shift fabric to create tube
Sew tube together
Press seam open. Complete cuts
Pile o’ Binding!
Instructions will be up on the resources page shortly.
Octagon Shimmer Make up Class
Shellie’s Shimmer Block from class
For anyone who has taken the Octagon Shimmer class with Cecile – here is an opportunity to get help finishing your project. Cecile will be holding a makeup class on August 28th for free from 10 to 4 in Bunnie’s clubhouse in Newport Hills. There is a 12 person limit so if you are interested, please contact Cecile directly to sign up at eunsoo50@gmail.com
Free Quilting and Sewing Classes
Thank you Sandra for joining us at our meeting to share with us the opportunity of free classes at the Orange campus of Santiago Community College. If you are interested please contact Sandra at Sandrajohnsondesigns@gmail.com. The quilting classes are on Tuesday and the Sewing Classes are on Wednesday from 4 pm to 9 pm. It’s at no cost except for the $2.00 parking fee.
For more information, when it becomes available: Older Adult Programs (“older” meaning older than 18 years)
Creative Webinar: Definition Modern Quilt with Mary Fons
The Road is looking for volunteers for the 2017 event. Check out their website for more information.
Show and Tell and Going Green
Happy Kaffe by Sharon
Completely Dottie by Susie
Completely Dottie by Susie
Interleaf patter by L. Craner; block by Holly
Full size Inter Leaf by Holly
Old Blue by Sharon
Squares by Mary Ann
Surf by Mary Ann
Hexies for a Man by Shannon
Sampler by Susie
Thanks to everyone for the show and tell of all those amazing quilts. Keep them coming. And big thanks to Molly for all the fabric she shared with the group.
Upcoming events
Next Sew: Sunday, August 14th at Cosmic Quilting
Next Meeting: Thursday August 25th at 6:30 pm at Cosmic Quilting
Open Studio: Cecile’s studio will be open prior to our meeting on Thursdays from 4 to 6. Be sure to stop by while you are in the area to pick up some really good fabric. Cecile’s Studio is located just around the corner from our meeting at 23181 Verdugo Dr. Suite 102 Laguna Hills, CA 92653
It’s been a couple of weeks since the shooting in Orlando occurred. In an effort to help the survivors and the victims families, the Orlando MQG has started a quilt drive.
Thank you to Kathy, Cathy, and Morgan for the two tops and stack of blocks that were dropped off at the June meeting. Thank you to Karen @cosmicquilting, who has volunteered to quilt the tops on her long arm.
Our guild is collecting materials to send to the Orlando MQG. Karen A. will be at the July 10th Sew, as well as the July 28th Meeting to collect materials.
We can send the following:
Binding
Backing fabric
Blocks (make 1. make a bunch. any quantity) – 10″ square
Tops (at least 48″ x 60″ but no larger than a twin) – Please include a label
Completed quilts – Please include a label
Important Date: July 28, 2016 – Karen A. will be collecting all materials to send in one package to Orlando MQG. If you wish to make something, but cannot make these meetings, please email Karen at aalders.karen@gmail.com.
For the blocks/tops/quilts, here is what the Orlando MQG blog says:
Can I use a block other than the one you showed?
By all means, do your thing. I chose the block so everyone could take part. I know there are plenty of heart blocks out there and feel free to use anything you’d like. I only ask that your quilt includes a heart or hearts of some sort, and that its mostly brights and/or rainbow. I chose brights and rainbow to represent not only the LGBT flag, but also ALL of the different people affected by the event. I also want them to be cheerful, and want the recipients to know that these are created with love, given with love, and in using them, they will be covered with love. I want them to be comforted knowing that even strangers care and that they did not go through this without the support of others
If you make many of these blocks, you’ll end up with many HST – which Jay Bird Quilts has created a large heart block to use those scraps. Six blocks can make one quilt that is just about a twin quilt. #BigHeartBlock
Block photo, design, piecing by Jay Bird Quilts
Another fun block to try is by Threaded Quilting Studio. This is a paper pieced block. #ModernHeart
Photo, Design, and piecing by Threaded Quilting Studios
Love Free Wins block by Amanda Hines of What the Bobbin? This is also paper pieced and finishes at 10″
This month’s Block Lotto is a tiny dip in the world of improv piecing. The basic block is Crosscut Blocks by @aquilterstable (link to incredible tutorial). Our colors are Kona Denim for the background and fabrics that coordinate with Kona Pomegranate and Kona Sprout.
In addition to the background fabric you received, you’ll need 1″ strips of coordinating fabrics to make the “X.” The strips should be about an inch longer than the diagonal of the background square.
If you’re participating and sharing on FB or IG, please use #crosscutblocks #blocklotto #ocmqg so we can find your progress!
Cut 2 – 1″ strips for each block, approximately 15.5″ long. These should be longer then the diagonal of the 10″ square blog
Sew one strip to the long side of the first triangle. Press.
4. Sew strip to long side of triangle
Sew the long side of the second triangle to the other side of the strip.
Cut the square in half diagonally, across the center strip.
6. Cut square from corner to corner
Sew the second strip to the long side of the first triangle. Press.
Sew the second triangle to the strip. The photo below shows how to center the pieces so the cross pieces are closely aligned. These DO NOT need to be perfectly aligned. Press.
7. Repeat step 4, then step 5 (shows aligning the cross)
Flip up to see if alignment is how you want it
Et Viola! Finished Block Lotto block.
Trim finished block to 9.5″
You might be wondering … where’s the improv in this one block? Well, for me it’s about not having (and not trying to have) that cross *perfectly* aligned. Which can be difficult if you’re used to perfectly matching points.
The other part is actually cutting into a block, across something you’ve already pieced together. That’s another huge step for someone who’s never done improv.
If you are the winner, you have some options:
Sew the blocks together in a traditional manner and quilt. Pretty….
2. Or continue with more improv. Sew together as in the above picture, then using a 6.5″ square ruler, cut the fabric into smaller squares, and re-assemble!
Orange County Modern Quilt Guild 
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