May Meeting Recap

I have been so busy with the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day this morning and I almost forgot this post! 

This month we had a wonderful presentation from Amber and Paula on utilizing your camera for photographing quilts. One of the big tips is read your manual!! Crazy right but really so important. We also learned a lot about lighting. We are lucky to have the overcast days in the Pacific Northwest which is ideal.
I am hoping to have some more info from the power point for you soon.

We also had a 10 minute presentation by Michelle on participating in swaps and a new fabric swap she's hosting for guild members. Here's the link to the swap I think there are ten spots left. 
Michelle is also giving away a spot on her blog for Giveaway Day the winner will receive a pack of all of the final fabrics. 

Show and Tell

 Nancy K. shared her crib quilt Pinwheels for Jackie.

 Michelle had her Improv quilt Park Blocks. This was a result from a group "bee" effort "Think Outside the Block" and her own composition.

 Detail

 Back

 Nora Simon shared Equestrian T-shirts quilt. Made for her sister's 21st birthday out of t-shirts from horse competitions.

 Jen shared a gift she received from Megan this Buttercup paper pieced mug rug.

 Susan shared her quilted and bound Oceanside quilt. It was inspired by a trip to the beach and seeing a public sign on weathered wood. Nancy Stovall quilted it with whales and waves. It's all Michael Miller Cotton Couture Solids.

 Back

 Amanda shared her braid quilt.

 Back and this was her first time free motion quilting.

 Kimberly shared Gypsy Girl which she made for her 18month old daughter. You can find her on Flickr as Perfection Not Included.

 Gretchen shared her jacket made from vintage quilts.

 Cris brought her Black and White quilt using the one block technique. 

 Back

 Detail

This was also shared by Cris and quilted by Nancy Stovall.

 Back

 Barbara shared two Art Quilts Alzheimer's Tree and

 Taos at Twilight.

 Ann Marie brought Not Intended for Children's Sleepwear ll a selvage quilt.

Jill shared Purple Iris made for a baby named Iris. An orange peel style quilt made with her own templates designed with Rachel available on her blog.

Ann shared Mod Mosaic made with Peacock Lane fabric and 

Doll quilt with Kona

Doll quilt made with more Peacock Lane.

Elsa shared her Zakka purse and

a Happy Zombie quilt made with Annela Hoey's fabric.

Heather brought her Retro Modern quilt.

Back

Paula shared her Star Struck quilt top.

Heather brought her Precious quilt. She used her "precious" stash of Neptune!

Amber shared her Baby Log Cabin. 

Back

She also shared her Green Triangles quilt.

Cherri brought in this quilt...

Detail

Back

and shared her Confetti quilt which used a layer cake cut in strips not individual blocks. Pattern by The Pattern Basket.

Back

Erin shared a quilt she made for her Mom.

Back

We'll have the quilt survey up in a day or two so stop back by to participate. 

Pétra

Guild Meeting Reminder & Member Spotlight // Paula

Happy Sunshine Everyone! The past few days have been filled with as much sunshine as I could squeeze into the day. Hopefully, I'll get some more sewing done soon! ;)
Remember that our guild meeting is this week! It's this Thursday, May 19th at 7pm in the Stagecraft Building. We have the pleasure of learning some applique from Rachel and quilt photography from Paula and Amber. Bring your cameras so that we can get some hand-on knowledge.
And while we're at it, let's get to know Paula at bit more....

Meet Paula Wessells! 

Blog: http://www.paulawessells.com/

Flickr:http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulawessells/

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/paulamwessells/

1) How long have you been making quilts? What was your learning process like?

Maybe three years? I know it hasn't been very long… seriously really started when I joined PMQG in 2010. I had some background in sewing because my mom is an excellent seamstress and learned from her. But she didn't quilt; so most of what I know is self taught or I have had the chance to take some great local classes.  There was a period of time where I was at the stage of "Is it me or my machine?" Definitely the machine right??!!

2) How long have you been a PMQG member and how did you find us?

Since 2010 [I think??] - I was slowly getting into quilting and started following a few blogs and noticed that there was a Modern Quilt Guild and luckily there was a Portland Oregon chapter!

3) What inspires your designs/quilting?

I really get my inspiration from other creative people and my surroundings. Pinterest and Flickr are like crack for me! It's funny how creative endeavors can change how you look at things ever so slightly.

4) How many quilts do you think you've made in your life?

The ones that I have made myself: I think around seven - out of that seven I have kept two. Of the ones I have done for Do. Good Stitches - two

5) Why do you quilt? What do you enjoy most about it?

In all of my creative outlets I really just enjoy the process. With quilting I enjoy all the different stages; planning, shopping, cutting, piecing, quilting and binding. While I have several WIP this actually drives me nuts since I am so focused on the process and when things are half way started/finished it's enough to drive me insane. I also enjoy the giving of quilts - not just to family and friends but to charity. I have enjoyed being part of the Do. Good Stitches PEACE group for over a year now. We do 11 to 12 quilts a year and they are donated to My Very Own Blanket who provides them to foster kids. 

6) What is your favorite quilt that you've made?

I can't say that I made this quilt - but I worked with the kindergarten class on it and to date this is hands down my favorite quilt. This is the Garden Quilt for my niece's school auction - it was the highest bid item that night at $2500! I was so proud of the kids and equally excited that there were people out there that saw the value in a project like this. The winning bid was from the father of one of the kids - she happened to rock the very large yellow flower on the top left. He told me that he wanted to put it in her hope chest but she wraps herself in it every day!

7) Fill in the blank: "When I'm quilting, I feel _______"

When I am quilting I feel that I am doing the right thing for me at that moment. There is no feeling of regret or the fact that I should be doing something else. 

8) While you're quilting, what is the environment like? do you listen to music? enjoy the humming of the machine? watch re-runs of Downton Abbey? 

 I am lucky enough to have a dedicated creative space/office. It has gone through several transformations over the years but its finally settling in. Instead of major furniture rearranging I am either consolidating, swapping out or re-organizing. When I am working on projects I usually have the TV on so I can catch up on my shows or watch a movie and when that doesn't suffice the music is going. My furbabies are always close by and they are my reminders to take a break every once in awhile.

- - - - - - - 

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Paula! I don't know about you all, but I'm in some serious envy of her sewing space! 

~ Heather

Cotton Couture Quilt

The quilt top is together and ready to go to Nancy!! The blocks in this one are by Bonnie, Linda, Kimberly, Heather, Rachel, Nancy, Melanie, Barbara, Katie, Jill, Monica, Anne, Cathy, Susan, and Michelle. 

When we collected all of the blocks last month we had 48 and they were all so impressive we wondered how Kathy could even choose? After sending her all of the photos it turns out she couldn't! She wanted us to choose instead. We didn't really feel like we could either and it put us in a difficult position but Susan and Heather came up with a great solution. The board met and we arranged the blocks into three different groups of 16 guided by style they are Improv, Graphic, and Linear. Next we photographed the groups and sent those to Kathy. She picked her favorite, Graphic, for Quilt Market. What has worked out so well is the other groups will be made into quilts of which one will be shown at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show and the other will be shown at the Northwest Quilting Expo! As the other two quilts are finished we will share them with you as well so you can see your blocks in their finished quilts. All of the quilts will be sashed and binded by a group effort of Susan, Heather, Ale, Linda, myself and quilted by Nancy. Before Violet takes the quilt off to Market I'll get final photos to share on flickr. 
Thank you to everyone that contributed blocks they look so amazing together and I think they've inspired quiet a few new projects for people. 
Pétra

Member Spotlight // Jen Carlton Bailly

Hello Guild Members! I'm thrilled to have Jen sharing today on the blog. Enjoy! 

-----------------------------------

HI! I’m Jen Carlton Bailly, otherwise known as Bettycrockerass. If you get to know me, I might share the story of how that name came to pass almost ten years ago! I love to sew, garden, bake/cook and read.

I’m almost 40 (May 18), a stay at home mom and an avid self taught sewist. When I’m not chasing my kids or and making something delicious I usually have my head down scheming on a new sewing project…figuring out how I can not follow the directions and use fabric that I probably shouldn’t!

How long have you been making quilts? What was your learning process like?

My best friend taught me how to sew a straight line about 10 years ago. That lasted for a few days until I got frustrated. About four years ago I bought an old 1972 Husqvarna Viking. Got frustrated. Then I learned that I was putting the bobbin in wrong. Who knew! Well, I guess I could have read the manual.

At any rate, I really didn't start really sewing until about 3 years ago. My daughter had received a quilt while in the NICU. I loved it so much and was so touched I wanted to make one (some) to donate back. I Googled "quilts" and my entire life changed. For days I was plotting and planning. Then, I read about a "fabric stash" and how everyone must have one! I had a little one, but I NEEDED quilting fabrics! So I started fabric shopping... and well now, I have a whole room dedicated to sewing.

How long have you been a PMQG member and how did you find us?

I’ve been a member since the beginning and was the first president. Alissa (who co-founded the MQG) knew that I was interested in a local guild and let me know when Elizabeth got the ball rolling! Being nominated, as president was a little shocking but the year was fun. We had lots of bumps along the way but feel like we were able to move forward and create something people were excited for.

What inspires your designs/quilting?

Everything around me inspires me. Right now it’s art. I see a piece of art and I want to turn it into a quilt. My last quilt was exactly that. A random piece of art that I saw on line became a great quilt that’s going to be in the Modern Quilt Guild Show Case at The International Quilt Festival!

How many quilts do you think you've made in your life?

Around 60-I average about 20 a year.

Why do you quilt? What do you enjoy most about it?

I quilt because it’s an outlet for my artistic side. It gives me time to learn something new, challenge my skills and then perfect them.

What is your favorite quilt that you've made?

My Orange Cross quilt that I did when reviewing Susan’s Modern Log Cabin Book. Several people shared their fabrics with me (thanks again!) and I used my favorite color. The linen gives it some weight that feels so nice when you’re curled up with it. It’s not done. I’m hand stitching it with floss after being inspired by Ale’s presentation on hand quilting. It will get done at some point, it’s a labor of love. It’s also the first quilt I’ve made for myself.

Fill in the blank: "When I'm quilting, I feel _______"

Happy, inspired, talented and some times really frustrated!

While you're quilting, what is the environment like? do you listen to music? enjoy the humming of the machine?

I usually listen to Pandora or This American Life. My music tastes vary with what I’m sewing.

Send us your Sisters quilt entries!

Hey everyone, just a quick reminder that this coming Sunday (April 29) at midnight is the deadline to submit your entries for our special quilt exhibit at Sisters! All the details are right over here.



You don't have to have a finished quilt yet... a sketch or in-progress photo is just fine. We need to collect and ship them in June, so you'll have more time to work - just make sure you enter by Sunday night!

 

We can't wait to see this year's PMQG Special Exhibit that the panel curates! Thanks to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show for inviting us back, and to all the guild members who have entered quilts. Check out some of the submissions so far in the flickr pool!


PS: If you don't have your own photo of a quilt you've shown at a PMQG Show & Tell, feel free to link back to one of our meeting recap posts to use one of our shots!

Dynamic Blogging

This is all the information From Heather's Presentation

Links to the Blog Design Resources:

PicMonkey

Pixlr

Gimp

Fuzzimo

Pugly Pixel

BlogShop

Viva la Blogette

Method and Craft

----------------------------------------------------

Do you want to make your own Blog Buttons? Here is a quick step by step tutorial:

Go to pixlr.com / click open photo editor / click create new image / set the pixel width to the width of your sidebar / draw shapes & add text / save file as a jpeg

1. Open blogger - go to layout - click on "add a gadget"

2. Scroll to picture gadget, click there to open

3. A new window pops open, add feed address feed link from your feedburner account into the link box *(see below photo if you don't know about feedburner)

4. Upload your saved jpeg

5. Save!

*Feedburner is a devision of Google. It allows people to receive your blog updates via many reader platforms. Basically it allows your readers to subscribe. Go to feedburner.google.com, and follow the directions to burn your own feed. Once you have the feed address, link this into the link box as described above.

Let's Swap with VMQG!

At our meeting last week, we announced that we are hosting a new swap! We are going to swap with the Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild (in British Columbia) pouches. Here are the guidelines: 

• Make a handmade zip, snap or drawstring patchwork pouch
• Finished size should be somewhere between 4x4" and 8x8"
• Bring your finished pouch to the May 17th or June 21st meeting
• Projects will be shipped in a group, so please label your pouch with your name and the name of the recipient
• If you weren't able to sign up at the meeting, but would like to participate, please email portlandmodernquiltguild@gmail.com by MONDAY, APRIL 30TH, the following information: 

1. Name: 
2. Email: 
3. Blog/Flickr:
4. Five words to describe your style
5. Favorite and least favorite colors
6. Anything special you want a pouch for?

• Optional step: you can create an inspiration mosaic (using Big Huge Labs’ Mosaic Maker tool) and post it to the Portland Modern Quilt Guild Flickr. It helps your partner get to know your style.

We hope that you'll join us!

April Meeting Recap

Our wonderful President Susan starting out the meeting.

 From now on I am going to leave out the part where I tell you this was a big meeting with lots to share and lots of photos. We pack a lot into our meetings every month because we are so excited to be together from now on these posts are big! Susan shared these classes and announcements with the group. 

Improv blocks from our All Day Sew being made into a quilt for Quilts of Valor.

Jen did a 10 min tute on making zipper pouches her way.

Jen did a great 10 minute tute on a making a zipper wristlet pouch and I shared a tutorial on snaps. This is all to help prep for a pouch swap we'll be doing with the Vancouver BC Guild.

There was announcement by the panel that will be choosing the quilts to be in our PMQG special exhibit at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. You can find info on that under the Sisters tab above. 

For our mixer this month we displayed our blocks for the Michael Miller Cotton Couture Challenge. Forty Four blocks in all I am not sure how Kathy Miller is going to choose just 16! The remaining blocks will be made into quilts for charity and one to be displayed at Sisters. We were struck by the diversity and beauty of each block they all turned out amazing.

Violet Craft shared a peak of her new fabric line Madrona Road! I can't wait to sew with it. 

Heather our vice president did a great talk on dynamic blogging. She has created a wonderful resource page above for everyone to use Update: 1/13 Follow the Dynamic Blogging link highlighted above (for the information that used to live on the page) to find links to blog design resources and a great how to for making those cute little buttons you see on the sides of blogs. 

Show and Tell

 Matthew shared his quilt top Glimpse of Future Dimensions. 

Back

 Susan shared her entry for the Sisters exhibit. The design is based on a sign she saw three years ago at Oceanside Oregon.

Lara shared some things she's made from the Zakka Style book.

 Rachel shared her English Strippy Quilt. 

 Back

Cris brought her Amish Stained Glass quilt. It was inspired by a quilt in the book Amish Abstractions.

Back

Kate's Half Square Triangle Peeps quilt.

Back

Anne W. shared Rainbow Baby Quilt. This was inspired by the "Gumdrops" quilt in volume 2 of Sew Scrappy. 

Also from Anne Forever Black & White. This is Elizabeth Hartman's Birdbath pattern from her book Guide to Modern Patchwork. Quilted on Modern Domestic's quilt frame.

Cheryl E. brought Not on the Quilt,dude! "Which came first-the quilt or the Lebowski adoration robe? You be the judge! Sewing is good for the soul, "Careful Man!"

Lebowski adoration robe!

 Dee shared her Bug Jar quilt made for her 4 year old Granddaughter whose parents call her "Bug".

 Back

Jill shared Moons of Many Colors.

 Jane shared a quilt top from her "Civil War" block swap.

Detail

Heather L. shared two quilts her "Plus" Quilt

and Happy Squares.

Anne brought two quilts Ode to Kaffe

 Back

 and her Baby Quilt made with Peacock Lane fabric.

Amanda shared her quilt top from a Modern Minimal Pattern.

 Amorette shared her Sparkle Punch Taza quilt. This is also a pattern from Elizabeth Hartman and a quilt along.

Bonnie made this for her Mother for Mother's Day. This is a Thomas Kinkade panel she did using a creative stitching technique learned from a Craftsy course.

 Back with her first label.

Judy shared her Harmony and Friendship quilt. It was made with Japanese taupe's in response to the Tsunami last year and was inspired by a fund-raiser concert.

Gail shared Orange Stripe and Improv quilt inspired by our last meeting.

Ale shared her Zig Zag quilt top and 

her Granny Square quilt. 

Back

Erin shared two quilts.

This was made with fabric from old sheets, clothes and stash.

Thank you for visiting the Portland Modern Quilt Guild!
Pétra

New Sisters Info Page for You!

We just wanted to point out the new Sisters Outdoor Quilt Festive page that has been added to our site. It's right up there on the right. This has all the info we went over during this month's guild meeting. If you are interested in entering a quilt in our Portland Modern Quilt Guild special exhibit it should hold all of the answers and if you have any questions we're happy to help! 
Not sure if you want to enter? You can do it I know you can!! 

April Meeting Reminder

Tomorrow is our April meeting it will be held in the Illustration Studio  - S1 - in the stagecraft building from 7 - 9pm. The door into the building faces NW13th street, if you come after 7:15, knock or call the number on the door and we will run down and open it for ya! Check out our room info page for a map.

This month Heather will be talking all about blogs, blog layout, and her visit to Alt Design Summit. We'll have tutorials on zipper pouches and snaps. Also a Sister's Outdoor Quilt Show announcement Show and Tell and of course giveaways! Don't forget to bring your blocks for the Michael Miller Cotton Couture Challenge and/or the Improv block Challenge. 

See you tomorrow!

Mend It Better review + giveaway!

I'm very excited to be reviewing Mend It Better, a wonderful new craft book by Kristin M. Roach (also author of the lovely blog/project/zine Craft Leftovers) today! Mend It Better offers a wide variety of useful techniques, from darning and patchwork to weaving and crochet, for reworking and salvaging garments and beyond.



As Diane noted in her recent review, Mend It Better is arranged like a textbook, with her suggested techniques neatly organized by chapter. There are tons of photos and tips for undertaking a new mending project, which is also a nice touch.



I am very happy to have contributed one* of the 22 mending projects to the book, and along with my contributor copy, Storey Publishing sent me an extra book to give away at our PMQG meeting this week. I asked Kristin a few questions about mending, especially patchwork projects, and here are her thoughts...

Do you have any favorite decorative stitches for covering a seam or line in a mended patchwork project?

I know it's so bland, but I really love the whip stitch or overcast stitch. Just going to town and completely covering it, kind of sloppy, in a bright color!

What's your favorite mending or embellishment use for binding tape?

I love using it as straps, or sometimes a little accent in a seam, like small piping. So cute!



Have you ever mended a larger quilt or patchwork project? Any general tips for that?

I've done some light mending on a quilt I made - one of my first sewing projects - just some basic patchwork. I'm really excited to be embarking on a huge mending adventure this year: restoring a quilt my husband's grandma made. She passed away a long time ago and it's in tatters. He doesn't remember her, so it's his only connection to her. It's going to be one of those "for the love of it" projects because mending it will probably take more time than completely making a new one!

Here are a few tips for mending quilts:
1. DO NOT wash it before you mend it. It will just make the damage worse.
2. Unlike darning where you want to stretch the fabric taut, if you stretch the quilt in a hoop before making the basic structural repair, it will actually cause the fabric to ripple when you take it off, or stretch the tear even further. You'll want to mend it while it's flat, then repair any quilting stitches in the hoop only after the structure is sound.
3. If you can, work on a large smooth surface with the quilt completely flat. The kitchen floor works great!
4. Sometimes you won't be able to match the pattern exactly when patching, if that's the case, think accent vs "sloppy". One of my teachers used to always say "do it or don't do it". So if you can't match, make it look intentional. Bold contrasting colors can be really fun!



- - - - - -

I think quilters, sewists, lovers of vintage, upcyclers, and wardrobe-refashioners will all love this book. This pieced-vintage-fabric skirt hem idea Kristin included is my favorite project... so adorable!



I'll be giving away a copy of Mend It Better at our PMQG meeting at 7 pm this Thursday, April 19 at PNCA. We'll be meeting in room S1 upstairs in the Stagecraft Building right across the street from the main PNCA building (where we've met the last two months as well). Hope to see you there!

*Here's my little project! Thanks so much again, Kristin!

Lizzy House Class

Recently I took a class through PNCA, Pacific Northwest College of Art, they kindly host our guild meetings. We have a great relationship with the school including a discount for guild members for classes. The class, Textile Design and Printing was taught by Lizzy House. Before I get started on the class one thing I know you all will love is fabric! Lizzy received Guising her Halloween line in the mail during our first day of class so we all got a peek. I'm a freak for Halloween and am soooo excited to make something with this line. 

Lizzy House Guising Fabric!

I don't have any more photos for you from class, you think I would have at least one of Lizzy but I was so caught up in the class it didn't cross my mind. I think she looks just like her photos though cute in her skirts and her hair up.
 So what did I learn? A LOT we learned the process of making  repeats for fabric patterns and we did block printing and screen printing on fabric. For the block printing we used linoleum blocks and carved our designs with carving tools. To print on the fabric we used an oil base printing ink which you heat set once it's dry.

For the screen printing we drew our images and using a xerox of our drawing we transferred the image using a photo emulsion process to a silk screen. Printing the image on your fabric involves oil based ink again but this time it's squeegeed across the screen onto your fabric. 

 What was really great about the class was all the advice and info Lizzy had for getting into the fabric design world it was a lot to process and she is so positive! Now I have Lizzy saying "You can all design fabric you're amazing" in my head, maybe I'm embellishing with that amazing part but it's what I remember. It was also nice to meet and see what all the other students were coming up with. The group had diverse backgrounds and goals and we had a lot of fun. 

If you are interested in Fabric Design check out Lizzy's book How to Enter the World of Fabric Design: for the Quilting Industry and Kim's book from True Up A Field Guide to Fabric Design. Both are excellent! We'll be doing a Guild review on Kim's book soon and giving away her book at a meeting. Also Lizzy will be in LA in May if you are in the area don't miss her.

Pétra

Member Spotlight // Mary Ann Morsette

If you've been to a meeting lately, you'll have noticed that we aren't getting any smaller! In an effort to get to know everyone better and learn a bit about new members, we're introducing a new column: Member Spotlight! To start things off, here is Mary Ann!

1) How long have you been making quilts? What was your learning process like?

I've been quilting for maybe four years? I started sewing in junior high--clothing and baby stuff and purses but was never the least bit interested in piecing a bunch of triangles into a boring looking star pattern. When I finally realized that there were patterns I liked I jumped in with a few baby quilts. My first projects had a lot of mistakes--a pinwheel quilt with a couple pinwheels spinning the wrong way, another baby quilt that I tried to use fusible batting on that bunched up terribly--but I caught the bug.

2) How long have you been a PMQG member and how did you find us?

I attended the second meeting. My friend Kimberly Lumapas told me about it.

3) What inspires your designs/quilting?

I am a total book/blog/picture junkie, I love looking at what other people have made and then putting my own twist on it or just letting the ideas simmer until I come up with something of my own. A lot of times inspiration can come from fabric, because it needs to be cut or pieced a certain way.

4) How many quilts do you think you've made in your life?

Probably around 15-18? It's hard to say since so far I haven't kept any and they have all been gifts or swaps!

5) Why do you quilt? What do you enjoy most about it?

I think I quilt just to create. Sometimes you get that feeling where you just have to make something, even if it doesn't turn out well or nobody else appreciates it. I enjoy the process of piecing and binding and that final moment when it's all finished and washed and you can really feel the weight and texture of it. I don't care for the basting and quilting process, so I do get stuck with finished quilt tops a lot of the time!

6) What is your favorite quilt that you've made? 

This is always changing, but right now it's a quilt I made for a friend in a Craftster swap. She sent me about a yard of Ghastlies fabric, and initially I was going to make an apron for her. But I decided it would be an awesome quilt and cut it up into "scenes" which I made  into a sampler style quilt, with pairs of modern style blocks. I love using gray but am not a fan of black and pink together, so while I enjoyed working with the quilt and loved the end result, it wasn't too difficult to give up since it wasn't exactly "me" colors.

7) Fill in the blank: "When I'm quilting, I feel _______"

Free!

8) While you're quilting, what is the environment like? do you listen to music? enjoy the humming of the machine? watch re-runs of Downton Abbey? 

I like to quilt in my sewing room with the tv on. I watch something I've seen before like Buffy or Friends, or something that doesn't require a ton of attention (Dr 90210, don't judge!), or anything else on Netflix Instant that catches my fancy.

Thanks so much for sharing with us Mary Ann!
-Heather

Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show

We are excited to be invited back to have a special exhibit at the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show this year! The show is Saturday July 14th from 9:30 to 5:00 and there are lots of events surrounding the show if you are interested.
We have had so many beautiful quilts at show and tell lately I know we will have no shortage of entrants.


To enter a quilt in the special exhibit please:

• Email a photo to portlandmodernquiltguild@gmail.com by April 29th. Make sure to include your full name and contact info, and the dimensions of the quilt. You can also bring your quilt to the meeting this month and we can take a photo for you. The deadline is approaching soon so quilt tops or sketches of work in progress will be accepted.
• All submitted quilts will be reviewed by a panel consisting of one board member and 2 guild members; Gail Weiss and Michelle Freedman. Quilts will be selected to represent our guild and the modern quilt movement. Here is some great info about what is modern quilting from the Modern Quilt Guild.
• Once we have the group of quilts chosen to be in the show you will be notified and then must register your quilts for the show through the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show website by May 1st. Registration is $5 a person.
• We will collect quilts at the June meeting to ship to Sisters. Quilts are due to arrive in Sisters for the show between June 29th and July 7th if you want to arrange your own delivery. 

Sisters Outdoor Quilt show guidelines:

• Quilts must be at least 36" x 36" and no bigger then 104" in width or length.
• If a quilt will be for sale a photo must be sent in with your registration.
• A quilt is two layers of fabric with a filling that is stitched together with lines or a pattern.
• Quilting may be done by hand or machine.
• Tied quilts do not meet the definition of a quilt for this show.
• “Raggy” quilts and quilts made from predominantly preprinted panels are not accepted.
• We do not accept raffle quilts from other groups.
• Quilts do not need to have a sleeve for our show.
• A fabric label sewn to the back of each quilt is required.The quilt name and exhibitor’s name on the label should match the information on your registration form.

We will be sharing photos from last years exhibit and talking more about the event and quilt labels at the next meeting. Check out flickr to see photos before then.


Pétra

Sew Day Reminder!

Hello Quilting Friends! I hope to see lots of you at Fabric Depot this Saturday! 

If possible, bring a snack to share too! 

Also, have you seen these amazing blocks for the MM challenge? I'm so amazed by everyone's creativity and ingenuity! Keep it up! :) 

Can you guess who made each one? To see if you're right, check out the flickr pool! Also, if you've made your block add a photo to the flickr pool so that we can see. 

an interview with Lizzy House

Fabric designer Lizzy House is coming to Portland to teach a fabulous Textile Printing and Design class at PNCA this weekend, and PMQG got the chance to catch up with her and ask a little bit about her design life and process. Lizzy is a truly fascinating person (check out her blog for more of a peek at her world) and I love sewing with her fabric, so it was really cool to hear a bit more about what makes her tick creatively!


two of Lizzy's collections, Castle Peeps + 1001 Peeps; first four photos courtesy of Lizzy House

Heather: How did you start designing fabric? What was the beginning process like for you?

Lizzy: I started designing fabric because when I was six or seven I decided that I didn't like anything that was available, so I asked my mom how the designs came to be on the fabric. She told me that someone drew it. I then told her I would take over the world. I was, again, six or seven. I started professionally designing when I was 21. It was literally always something that I was working towards, and thinking about. People my own age thought I was crazy town when I told them that I would design fabric. Then I would have a maniacal moment to myself when I knew I would rue the day.

I'm feeling super hero-ish this morning.



The design process for me usually involves travel. That's just how I get a lot of my ideas, and it's great because I travel a lot. It all works. When I know that I need to produce a new collection, I will start working really intensely for about 2 weeks. Literally just drawing/ writing down every thought no matter how wild or odd, until something starts to rise from it. And it usually does around the middle of the second week. Images and ideas start to set themselves apart, and that's typically how most of my lines start. Those two weeks get a little unkempt. It's like my apartment explodes.

I live by myself.



Petra: With the boom of digital fabric design and new fabric designers, where do you see the industry headed in the next 5 or 10 years?

I definitely see the industry changing, but mostly the pace of things. There is so much that has become instantly available, and I think that has changed the way people think about buying/collecting/using their own fabric. It's like an insatiable appetite. Also the rapidity at which collections are being released now seems dangerously fast to me. I don't see exactly how this is going to pan out, or if it will ever slow down again... but things are definitely changing. I see previews for movies now and I can hardly watch because they are all so intense or in 3D... it's like everything has become so extreme, and it feels like the textile industry is falling into a similar formation. So where does it go when you are on the road to full speed?


Lizzy's Marble Champ quilt featuring prints from Red Letter Day

Susan: Your fabric designs are always so striking, from spoons to peeps to pennants, but I love how you've included new colorways of Pearl Bracelet in all your recent collections. That's my favorite print and I'd love to hear a little more about what inspired it... hoping to keep seeing it as you create new lines.

Lizzy: The idea for Pearl Bracelet comes from the basic idea of Red Letter Day, the collection from which it originated. Which is, taking ordinary things or experiences and making them special. An ugly duckling who loves his life because he has no idea he is odd. An unexpected walk in the woods that turns into the best part of your trip. A prize ribbon that made you feel like a winner. Stripes to know that you did it. And of course the Pearl Bracelet. The idea of a gift from someone that you know loves you more than you could measure.

So it thrills me that people love it, and I am so excited for the initial collection of them to be released. There will be 30 total: including the ones that are currently available from 1001 Peeps, Outfoxed, and Hello Pilgrim, as well as the original blue pb. I'm working on some neutrals as well as just some fantastic colors that will fill in your rainbows. So I am super psyched about it. It's always cool when something that means a lot to you, means a lot to other people too.


imagine a pennant strand five times this long in 30 different colors!

New stuff! I'm developing some products that I am so excited about, and that's pretty much all I can say. Oh, and of course there is new fabric that will be shown at Spring Market that I am so excited about too.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Thanks so much to Lizzy for the interview - I can't wait to see the new collection and all thirty (!) colors of Pearl Bracelet! Her class, Textile Printing and Design, still has just a couple spaces left, if you are free this weekend and looking to learn amazing things. (And don't forget, thanks to their generous sponsorship, guild members get 10% off any one PNCA class.) Petra, who's taking Lizzy's class, will post all about it next week!


photo courtesy of PNCA

My Michael Miller challenge block

I had so much fun sewing my PMQG challenge block using all the lovely solids Michael Miller sent us! I have always wanted to try string quilting and this felt like the perfect chance to work on something new. Love all the colors together! I wanted to share how I made my block, so if you're interested, you can read on for a simple tutorial.



We were so lucky to have Kathy Miller speak at our February meeting, and she brought Cotton Couture cards for each of us with swatches of all 80+ colors in their new solids line. (Fabric Depot is now carrying every single Cotton Couture color, if you are local!)



So Heather, Nancy, Petra, Ale and I met up and chose 8 colors we loved from the collection for a PMQG challenge, and Michael Miller generously sent us a bolt of each one. We had an all-evening cutting party at Nancy's studio, and ended up with this beautiful box full of fat eighths to share with everyone at the March meeting...



I stitched up a little pennant of the eight challenge colors - Fog, Meadow, Clementine, Luna, Charcoal, Kryptonite, Tangerine, and Aqua.



Heather and Petra each sewed improv blocks in the challenge colors in honor of Michelle's wonderful presentation.



So, the challenge details are all on the blog, and I was so excited to work with these colors, but the specific block size requirements (15.5" x 18.5") threw me a bit at first. I usually piece square blocks, and rarely anywhere near 18 inches across. But doing a little math, I realized that if I pieced five 8" square blocks and cut one into 2" x 8" strips to sew on both the horizontal sides (using a 1/4" seam allowance throughout), it would magically translate into the correct finished size!



I started by cutting five eight-inch fabric squares for foundation piecing, using an extra piece of Luna (the pale blue solid in the range), and then cut two varied-width strips from each of the 8 colors the length of the fat eighths (22"). I cut each strip randomly between 1 and 3 inches wide, without thinking about it too much. I made and photographed this block very quickly during one naptime, so I didn't take step-by-step photos of my piecing - for the basics of string quilting, I'll send you to this excellent film in the fridge tutorial. The differences with mine are that I pieced on fabric instead of paper (so don't adjust the stitch length at all, you won't be tearing the back away), and instead of using a glue stick, I just pinned my first diagonal strip in place and stitched the second one on to it, removing the pin afterward, and continuing the same way to fill the square. You'll press and trim the same way as on paper, but you'll have a nice sturdy fabric foundation layer underneath. I loved how much calmness the double layer gave a larger block - Cotton Couture is silky and wonderful to sew with, so it is not heavy or bulky at all.



After I made five 8-inch blocks, I stitched four together to form a big, colorful diamond pattern. Then I sliced the 5th block into four 8" tall, 2" wide strips, thinking they would be perfect for adding to the sides to yield that magical 15.5" x 18.5" dimension!



...but I figured out that while they are exactly right size-wise, to continue the diamond pattern, you need two strips with the diagonal going one way, and two with it going the opposite way. Whoops! So I stitched up one more 8" x 4" opposite-diagonal section with the scraps (the one on the left - I had just enough time and fabric left, yay) and cut that one into two strips to use instead. And ended up with this!



If you don't want to try string piecing, maybe imagining four 8-inch blocks of any style, with an extra one sliced and diced for the sides, will help you plan something fun to build out to 15.5" x 18.5". I think that it would be fabulous to use log cabin, improvisational patchwork, paper piecing, or any other block style you're into this way...



If you are a PMQG member and haven't gotten your challenge fabric yet, you can pick it up from Nancy at her Just Quilting studio, Monday through Friday. Just give her a call first (503.234.0403). And if you're working on your challenge block, please share photos in the PMQG flickr pool, we'd love to see them! You can bring your challenge blocks to our April meeting (Thursday the 19th at 7 pm, PNCA) or email us at portlandmodernquiltguild at gmail.com so we can collect them and take photos. Kathy Miller will choose 16 of our blocks to create a special Cotton Couture quilt for the Michael Miller booth at Spring Quilt Market! We'll make a PMQG-collective quilt with the others plus any improv blocks using your scraps you'd like to bring in May, and hope to show it in Sisters.



Yay!

All Day Sew!

I'm thrilled to announce the next All Day Sew!

We hope that you can come out: Saturday, April 7th

From 9am - 8pm you can stop by Fabric Depot (700 SE 122nd Ave) and sew to your heart's content.

Also, we thought it might be fun to have a potluck. Feel free to bring something yummy to share!

While you are looking at your calendar, mark these dates for the next few upcoming Sew Days:

June 2

August 4

October 13

December 1

Also there are a few more seats available in this Saturday's Fabric Care and Preservation at PNCA from 10am - Noon. It's only $20 (which includes coffee and pastries for everyone), click here to sign up!

March Meeting Recap

We had another full house this month! Our meeting started out with a wonderful presentation by Michelle Freedman on Improv quilting or as she calls it "Think Outside the block". Here is a little taste of her presentation. 

no rules

no rulers

NO WAY!

"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have."

Maya Angelou 

photo by Michelle Freedman

The Quilts of Gees Bend

http://www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/index.shtml

Blocks from Improv challenge

Her presentation concluded with a mini tutorial on making an improv block and confetti block. Here are some links to tutorials and articles courtesy of Michelle.

Design Camp Flickr Swap, Michelle's swap.

Improv tutorial by Theresa Down Under

Confetti block tutorial by Lady Harvatine

Article on Denyse Schmidt in the Wall Street Journal

What is Improv Quilting Sherri Lynn Wood of Dainty Time
Improv Monday (tags)

Project Improv Tallgrass Prairie Studio

Laxy Gal QuiltingTanya Ricucci

Gwen Marston

Nancy Crow

Some improv blocks by Heather and I.

We also revealed the fabric colors for our Cotton Couture Challenge and passed out fabric to our paid members. The fabric colors from left to right are Fog, Meadow, Clementine, Luna, Charcoal, Kryptonite, Tangerine, and Aqua. If you were unable to attend the meeting and would like to participate in the challenge you can pick your fabric up from Nancy at her studio just call 503-234-0403.

Giveaways

Nancy shared her quilt from her Sweetwater Simple Home book review. We gave away the book and pillow made by Nancy. Also in the giveaway this month were 4 $10 gc to Cool Cottons!

Show and Tell

 Quilt my me (Pétra) made for our school auction this year and it was quilted by Nancy.

Back

Quilt by Katie. She found a hand sewn quilt at a yard sale for $20 took it apart and made this. The stars are from the original quilt.

The back is a vintage sheet. Katie also shared a nice bag but the photo didn't turn out, sorry Katie send me one if you have it. 

Cathy made this zig zag quilt for herself. She used wool batting.

Back

I don't have a show and tell sheet for this one please send your info and or a better photo and I'll update.

Quilt by Jill. This quilt was inspired by spring flowers blooming in her neighborhood. 

Quilt by Rachel

Second quilt by Rachel testing out a templet by Jill.

Quilt top by Michelle using Pendleton Wool fat quarters.

Else shared containers,

Little Pips baby quilt from Monica's Taking Turns pattern,

and 930 hexagon quilt top!!

Wavy Gingham quilt by Cheryl. Cheryl made this by hand dying ginghams from Colette Fenske. She bought the fabric in 2004 and waited for the right inspiration she found it in a Civil War quilt book, "the old is new again".

Back

Megan shared her Trajectory quilt which was inspired by mid-century modern boomerang design motif.

Back

Anne's W. Vintage Nation quilt. Quilt made for her best friend using all vintage and 30's reproduction fabrics. Free-motion quilted on the new quilt frame at Modern Domestic!

Jolene shared 3 fairy quilts.

Gabrien had 2 Plain Spoken quilts one for her son...

and one for her daughter.

Back

Kate shared half square triangle placemats.

Lara had 2 baby quilts for co-workers.

Christina has been working on english paper piecing making some Sprockets.

Violet shared her Light Cycles quilt inspired by Tron and using her Peacock Lane fabric.

Back

Anne W. shared her Tayamasie quilt also made with Peacock Lane.

AnnMarie's quilt from the Made in Cherry Quilt Along.

Gail shared this king size quilt made for her in-laws Anniversary.

Kelly made a Queen sized man quilt made for a friend; Valve quilt offset with "Summer Sampler Series 2011" blocks set in randomly.

Back

Anne M. shared Cherrywood Improv made with old scraps used for playing.

Name tags

If you're still here I have a few more name tags to share.

Thank you for another fun meeting! Stay tuned this month for Member interview's and another book review.

Pétra

Modern Minimal

Modern Quilt Guild founder and Block Party author Alissa Haight Carlton has a beautiful new quilting book out, Modern Minimal. It officially comes out Friday, but I was very lucky to get a review copy from Stash Books to give away at tonight’s PMQG meeting!

Alissa’s 20 designs are wonderfully simple and driven by line, shape and color (nearly all solids – I spotted one Katie Jump Rope print, one Lizzy House print, and a dots pattern in the entire collection). The book includes quilts of all sizes, from throws (like Mustard, the cover quilt, an instant favorite) to everything from baby to king-sized bed quilts as well. The scale of the piecing and colorwork varies considerably, so whether you’re drawn to huge, bold lines or a more delicate or intricate design, you’re sure to find a pattern that appeals to you.

The book is very nicely styled, including colorful shots of each of the quilts within a room as well as full flat images. I loved this one, Oddballs – probably my favorite of the whole collection.

The quilt above, Basket Weave, measures 90″ x 95″ and inspired me to imagine a smaller-scale take on Alissa’s pattern. I didn’t have time to work on anything before the meeting (unlike Nancy’s gorgeous throw and pillow from Sweetwater Simple Home – !) but I hope to try my hand at this one soon and will report back.

Alissa’s book is neatly organized into several chapters: White Negative Space (chapter opener above), Colorful Negative Space, Improvisational Piecing, Monochromatic Quilts, and Baby Quilts. I particularly loved the simplicity of Boxes, one of the baby quilts in the book. As the mama of both a boy and a girl, I really love those kinds of striking gorgeous designs that work for any baby, and will be treasured well into childhood and beyond.

So, if you want to win a copy of the book, I’ll be giving one away at our PMQG meeting tonight – 7pm at PNCA in downtown Portland. We have a lot of fun stuff planned like a special presentation and a fabric giveaway (check out this post for all the details), and we would love to see you there!

Speaking of Portland stuff coming up, this Saturday (March 17, St. Patrick’s Day) is also National Quilting Day. I got to write a little post about it for CrafterNews, and I’m so excited that the PMQG is organizing a little celebration here in town! We’re meeting at Bolt at 3:00 for fabric shopping, and then Modern Domestic is offering a sew-in from 4-7 ($10, register here or just show up). Hope to see you a couple times this week!

You can find Modern Minimal at the Stash website, Powell’s, or your favorite local or online shop. Congratulations, Alissa!!

-Susan