A giant thanks to special guest Lindsay Crouch of RipleyClark.com for sharing some of her vintage quilts during our April meeting. The quilts she showed have quite contemporary elements despite being more than 100 years old.
In addition to her trunk show, Lindsay offered tips for how she cares for these old quilts and sparked a larger discussion on the topic:
Use products such as Synthrolpol or Retroclean when washing the quilts to help with color fastness and yellowing; additionally, horse shampoo has worked for others and is available at local farm stores
Add as many as 10 Color Catcher sheets, or similar product, if the quilt has heavily saturated colors (e.g., red or black)
Use fabric of similar color to applique patches over a hole, using hand stitches to help the repair blend in
For a hand wash option, put your vintage quilt in a bathtub of water and gently agitate and swish to help release dirt; repeat several times as needed
A giant thanks to special guest Lindsay Crouch of RipleyClark.com for sharing some of her vintage quilts. Watch for a separate post soon with photos and tips about caring for old quilts. We were also excited to welcome new members to our meeting! Here’s what else:
Watch your email for details about the May 21 BMQG quilty yard sale (early sign up here if you know you’ll be there) and how to participate in the Modern Bee Block Project, using a block design featured in the Modern Quilt Guild’s Modern Monthly newsletter.
BMQG is purchasing quilt batting to use in the Get ‘er Done quilts. If you need any for the Get ’Er Done project you’re working on, please contact us at [email protected]. And if you haven’t already, check out this story on our blog to see where our Get ‘Er Done quilts have gone. Thanks to Marilyn Shake for providing quilt labels for our projects! If you are doing the binding step on a Get ’Er Done quilt, be sure to pick up one at the next meeting you can attend, so you can include it in the binding along the back bottom edge.
Show & Tell
Apryl’s scrappy twine
Karen H’s mini rounds
donation quilt finished by Betsy & Linda J
Dawn’s vintage scotties
Marilyn’s scrap quilt
Deb’s Y seams (why?)
Deb’s orphan block quilt
Karen F’s quilt featured at the main library lobby
Betsy
Darla’s house quilt of birthday blocks
Karen F’s temperature quilt
Karen F. brought her 2021 Temperature Quilt, complete with a label and backed with fabric aptly named “Weather Report.” Another of Karen’s stunning quilts is also on display at the Main Library front desk.
Betsy showed two Get ‘Er Done quilts: a sweet pastel baby quilt, and a black & red quilt that was a joint effort between Betsy and Linda J.
During spring break car trips, Apryl passed the time by twisting fabric scraps into handmade rope, which eventually turned into a cheerful fabric bowl. You can find plenty of tutorials online, here’s one.
Deb made a block to give Y seams a try, and then wondered why …. she also completed an orphan block quilt from the Get ‘Er Done pile.
Marilyn spent part of her 100 Day Project plowing through her scraps to make Jen Kingwell’s Bonnie Lass quilt from the Quilt Lovely book.
Dawn came to her first meeting and shared the vintage scotty dog quilt created by her great grandmother. Dawn inherited the quilt top, later adding a border and backing, hand basting it for stability. Now she’s ready to find vintage fabric from the quilt’s origin era and hand quilt to finish the entire piece. We can’t wait to watch this quilt as it progresses!
Darla shared her recent house quilt finish, made with birthday blocks from quilty friends.
Karen H. also joined us for her first time, and shared a photo of a recent quilt finish she gifted, plus she showed us two charming round pieces. Each uses fusible appliqué and is machine quilted, and was made based on an article from the Spring 2022 issue ofArt Quilting Studio, detailing how to make fabric bowls.
Where: Boise Main Library, 1st floor, William F. Hayes Memorial Auditorium (from main lobby, go through the children’s section to find the Auditorium entrance)
Our meeting will feature special guest Lindsay Crouch, a local online vintage clothing retailer (RipleyClark.com) and avid quilt collector. She’ll be sharing a trunk show of her vintage quilts, some of which are quite contemporary despite being more than 100 years old. She’ll also share her tips for how to repair these delicate quilts, as well as working with vintage fabric in making new quilts.
Other items on the agenda:
Details about the May 21 quilty yard sale (early sign up here if you know you’ll be there)
Show & Tell
Sewing! Feel free to stay to sew until 1 p.m. Bring or sew on any heart blocks you might have participated in making.
Finally, check out this story on our blog to see where our Get ‘er Done quilts have gone!
As part of our mission, the Boise Modern Quilt Guild provides opportunities for giving back to the community through the use of modern quilting skills. And as usual, our members jump in to help, and participate in making Get ‘er Done quilts — so named because the seeds of these quilts are often extra blocks or neglected projects that simply need a little attention and TLC to get done.
The Get ‘er Done project is a continuation of other community efforts. Since 2021, at least 10 BMQG quilts have found homes with local families and organizations. A huge thanks to everyone who’s helped stitch these together, and for folks who help deliver the quilts! Here’s a recap of where the quilts have gone.
quilts delivered to St. Luke’s Foundation
One of Marilyn’s get er done quilts
One of Marilyn’s get er done quilts
get er done quilts
Our first Get ‘er Done completed quilt!
Millissa showing the leaders & enders project that started at Quilting Day Camp
Gwen & Cathy with two hexi quilt tops
Where Quilts Went
Blue/red/yellow improv blocks: St. Luke’s Foundation
Three Sisters of the Hex quilts (Denise Arellano memorial): Dave Arellano, Arellano family friend & daughter, and Denise’s sibling
Gray/multi leader-ender project from 2021 day camp: Christmas gifts for seniors
Pink/green from Gwen-Darla-Jeri-Cathy R.: Christmas gifts for seniors
Second gray/multi leader-ender from 2021 day camp: St. Lukes Foundation
Three kid quilts from Marilyn: St. Lukes Foundation
A big shout out to Angela Bowman at Sewfinity for hosting our meeting! We got a behind-the-scenes look at Angela’s creative quilt process, as well as her booming business, which specializes in solid fabrics and a carefully curated line of patterns and notions. Thanks Angela!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
April 23 Trunk Show and Sew Day: Join us at the Boise Main Library, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. in theWilliam F. Hayes Memorial Auditorium (same location as our February meeting). We will be treated to a trunk show of modern-looking antique quilts from Lindsay Crouch of Ripley Clark antiques. There will also be time for show and tell as well as sewing, if you want to bring a project to work on.
May 21 Yard Sale: While you’re spring cleaning, consider what you might want to sell at a quilty yard sale. In lieu of a monthly meeting, we’ll join the East End Neighborhood Association for their annual sale (thanks to Lindsie’s friend for allowing us to use her front lawn on Warm Springs Boulevard!). All sale participants are asked to contribute 10% of the day’s earnings to the Warm Springs Historic. Plan to bring everything you need: table, chair, pricing info, change, snacks, etc. You can sell fabric, notions, completed quilts, craft items, books … whatever needs to find a new home. Watch for more details and sign up information coming next month!
Member Roster: If you’re interested in sharing your contact information with other members, we’re creating a share-able roster to be updated this spring. Watch for information on how to be listed.
Giving Back: Thanks to everyone for helping make quilts that are delivered to deserving organizations in our community! Anna and Jeri volunteered to help with deliveries (thank you!!) and we had a big stack of quilts turned in. Check out the Get ‘Er Done table at our next meeting to find fabric and blocks. You can assemble just the top, finish the quilting, or bring your own Get ‘Er Done quilt in progress and someone else can pick up the next step.
Millissa’s own design and pattern
Jeri’s fabric bowl
Carol’s Frank Lloyd Wright window quilt
Angela showing how she uses a color wheel to build fabric bundles
One of Marilyn’s get er done quilts
Karen’s art from scrap
Carol’s jelly roll quilt from Tula fabrics
Cassie cutting hundreds of HSTs
Ginny’s Jennifer Sampou table runner
get er done quilts
Karen’s free form pieces Hilde Morin designs
Deb’s paint chip challenge mini quilt
Lynne’s scarf from a knit-along
Lindsie and Angela in the Sewfinity back room
Shelly’s flower quilt top
Linda A brought her friend Marion
Elizabeth’s J Sampou quilt
Shelly’s paint chip mini quilt made by Angela
SHOW and TELL
In addition to quilting, Lynne is a talented knitter and make this scarf as part of a knit-along.
Marilyn brought a stack of finished Get ‘er Done quilts and preprinted BMQG labels. If you need a label for one of the Get ‘er Done quilts you’re working on, pick one up at the next meeting.
Millissa showed a little sewing kit she designed and made (including the pattern!), inspired by a bakery takeout box; she also showed us how she’s taken to the art of Korean fabric wrapping. Pojagi is a piece of cloth where the seams are sewn allowing the fabric to be used for gift wrapping, transporting items, fashion, and home decor. The word refers both to the craft and to the cloth itself.
Fay is working with her church quilt group to make quilts using the Pineapple Quilt Block Foundation Paper blocks we received in last summer’s Sew Day swag bags. If you aren’t using yours, consider passing the pattern along to Fay for this project.
We had a full and fun meeting, with lots of show & tell and swaps. Watch for a separate post soon dedicated to just our Paint Chip Challenge Swap.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Club Mod 2022: This year, we’re using Club Mod to focus on finishing Unfinished Projects (UFOs), and appreciate Cassie for the refresh idea! Join us at 7p.m. on Zoom on the second Friday of each month. Work on the UFO of your choice, or just join us for some socialization to go with your sewing. Want to get serious about it? Complete this optional UFO Challenge Commitment form.
March 26 Meeting: We’ll meet at Sewfinity in Meridian, owned by BMQG member Angela Bowman. Angela recently won a prestigious Judges’ Award at the QuiltCon Quilt show for her quilt “Chloe,” and will share a bit about herself and her work. In addition to Angela’s presentation, we’ll show some of the quilts featured in the show at QuiltCon and then, of course, make time for shopping.
May Yard Sale: While you’re spring cleaning, consider what you might want to sell at a quilty yard sale. Watch for details on location and date. We’ll ask you to contribute a $5 flat fee for space (the proceeds will go to a local non-profit—if you’ve got a suggestion for the board to consider, let us know!), and from there you can sell fabric, notions, completed quilts, craft items, books …. whatever needs to find a new home.
Membership Dues: If you haven’t yet paid your 2022 dues, please do so soon. We’re updating our roster of current members, and renewing your membership means you’ll get emails and updates about events and activities this year.
SHOW & TELL
Karen’s blue & yellows
Karen’s MQG swap
Linda J’s transparency quilt
Linda J’s improv
Linda J’s hand dyed fabrics
Elizabeth’s finished bag
Carol’s giant scrappy
Betsy’s UFO countdown
Jeri’s quilt kit from MN
Gwen’s transparency quilt
Nancy S sweater bears quilt
Lindsie’s handwork
Jeri’s temp quilt key
Nancy E’s Birch dogs
Nancy E’s scrappy Birch
Linda J. showed a quilt made of her hand-dyed indigo fabrics; she also created a black and white quilt as part of a modern improv class with Carole Lyles Shaw – this started out as 24“ pinwheels that were cut up and put back together
Karen F. participated in a MQG Mini-Swap and received this small quilt from England; she also made lots of blue and yellow small quilts from her stash and leftovers from another swap
Elizabeth finished a ByAnnie.com Project Bagfrom our last retreat, which she said was easier than expected
Carol quilted her large scrappy, striped quilt on her domestic machine
Betsy set a goal of finishing one UFO per month, and a small redwork piece is her latest
Linda A. took some blocks from the Get ‘er Done stack last summer, and brought back the impressive finished product
Fay is working with her church quilt group to make quilts using the Pineapple Quilt Block Foundation Paper blocks we received in last summer’s Sew Day swag bags. If you aren’t using yours, consider passing the pattern along to Fay for this project.
Jeri finished her 2021 temperature quilt, which includes a key about temperature ranges; she also showed a quilt of brights with black frames that she purchased in Minnesota while traveling this winter
Nancy S. made a quilt using adorable fabric with “sweater bears” that her husband loves to use as his TV quilt
Nancy E. finished two quilts using our beloved Birch fabric
Lindsie showed off some hand stitching in progress from a QuiltCon class.
100 DAY PROJECT Darla and Jeri were inspired by Sarah Ruiz’s presentation at QuiltCon about 100 day projects. Sarah’s approach is to pick your own timeframe (maybe 5 days or 30 days are better for you), and then decide your own rules. Anything goes, whether it’s sewing one seam a day (Darla’s goal toward finishing some UFOs) or putting two pieces together every day (Jeri’s plan for a neglected project) — you get to make the rules and change them if you need to. Marilyn has joined in and if you are interested, you’ll find lots of #100dayproject inspiration on social media.
GIVING BACK / GET ‘ER DONE Deb and Lindsie completed two small quilt tops that were passed along to Marilyn for quiltiling. There are still plenty of orphan blocks that could be assembled into tops, so please check out the Get ‘er Done table at our next meeting. You can assemble just the top, finish the quilting, or bring your own Get ‘er Done quilt in progress and someone else can pick up the next step.
When: Saturday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m. – noon (stay until 2 p.m. if you want to keep sewing)
Where: Main Boise Public Library, 715 S. Capitol Blvd., William F. Hayes Memorial Auditorium (first floor), Boise (Please note: Everyone over age two, regardless of vaccination status, must wear a face mask inside all Boise Public Library locations, including inside meeting and study rooms.)
Bring your swap: If you participated in the Paint Chip Challenge and swap, bring your mini quilt to hand off to your swap partner! If you can’t be there, consider getting your quilt to someone who can deliver it on your behalf.
Sew some hearts: Let’s make some simple heart bocks to use in a Get ‘er Done community quilt. The heart fabric is provided — just bring your whites for background (any white will do — including white on white, low-volume prints, solids, etc) and your sewing machine. We’ll plan on making 6-inch blocks using this pattern from Cluck Cluck Sew and then bordering each heart with a 2-inch strips of white. Copies of the pattern will be available at the meeting, or check it out ahead of time.
Wear your mask: We’ll be inside, and we want to help everyone stay healthy!
We hope to see you on the 26th! In the meantime, be sure to check out our latest Member Spotlight featuring original Sister of the Hex Shelly Harshman.
Our resident Sister of the Hex Shelly Harshman is in the Member Spotlight. She’s a long-serving member of the BMQG board, where she oversees all things Membership related. Shelly is quick-humored, and an accomplished quilter with a terrific eye for color.
Shelly
Shelly
Shelly EPP
by Shelly
Piper, Shelly and Amy
Shelly
Shelly Harshman
Shelly’s rainbow quilt
How did you first get involved with Boise Modern Quilt Guild? Shelly: I was looking for a smaller, more modern group to join. When I did a Google search, I was impressed with the colorful logo and the information about this group. I came to a meeting, and felt really welcome.
What’s your first memory of something related to quilting or sewing? Shelly: My mom paid me to make summer shorts for my little sisters when I was around 12. I sewed all my skirts and blouses and dresses while I was in school. My mom was always sewing, and it’s been a part of my life as long as I can remember.
What’s your most memorable, or favorite, quilting project? Shelly: My sisters and I made hexi quilts together. That will probably always be my favorite project. Sisters of the Hex rule!!
How would you describe your quilting design style or aesthetic? Shelly: I love color, and trying something new. A pattern is just a place to start.
What colors, shapes, fabrics do you gravitate to? What do you use most in your designs? Shelly: I love bright jewel tones, and super scrappy quilts – loads of surprising details to find. Curved blocks are a current favorite. I love a quilt pattern that you have to look at for a while to figure out how they put it together. I’m always up for a challenge.
Is there someone or something that has influenced your quilting? Shelly: My mom was always sewing, but she’s not a quilter. I thought everybody had matching clothes and pajamas for their dolls. I learned my sewing skills from her. My Grandma Spencer was a quilter and I have wonderful memories of her hand quilting on wooden frames on the covered back patio at her home. Sadly, she passed away before I caught the quilting bug.
What might someone be surprised to know about you? Shelly: Hmmm…. I’ve kissed the Blarney Stone and I drive a Mini Cooper.
What do you do when you aren’t quilting? Shelly: I don’t understand the question.
What are you working on now? Shelly: I’m free motion quilting the backlog of quilt tops that are hanging in my closet. I use my home machine to quilt them. I try to always have something to plan, something to piece, and something to quilt, and some handwork. I received a Featherweight for Christmas this year, and I’ve been loving piecing on it!
What’s the project that you always intended to do (quilting or otherwise) but haven’t yet? Shelly: I want to make the La Passacaglia quilt. So far, I have a nice big pinterest board with ideas, and have ordered the book and papers.
What’s the longest-lasting UFO in your collection? Shelly: I’m currently pretty caught up – I have quilt tops that need to be quilted, but the oldest is probably only a couple of years old. Covid has given me more time to work on projects.
Do you have a preferred snack or beverage while you’re sewing? If so, what is it? Shelly: Dr. Pepper and peanut m&m’s.
What do you listen to or watch while you’re sewing? Do you have any recommendations to share? Shelly: I love audiobooks and music. Movies on the iPad distract me unless it’s something I’ve seen a bunch of times. Mysteries and Clive Cussler adventures are favorites.
It was great seeing everyone on Zoom, and we can’t wait to meet again in person!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Paint Chip Challenge & Swap have been tentatively moved to February. Watch for updates via email and Facebook. Want to join the swap? Send a note to [email protected] and we’ll work on matching you with a partner. Please let us know by Friday (Jan. 28) if you want to join.
QuiltCon is coming to Phoenix, February 16-20. Are you going? Let us know if you want to meet in person there to exchange notes and finds!
Looking to later this year: Quilt Camp in the Sawtooths is still in the works for August 12-14, at Luther Heights Church Camp. And our ModernQuilt Walk in Ann Morrison Park is planned for Saturday, Sept. 10. Stay tuned for more details on both events.
If you haven’t yet paid your 2022 dues, please do so soon. We’re updating our roster of current members, and renewing your membership means you’ll get emails and updates about events and activities this year.
CLUB MOD 2022 New year, new format for Club Mod! If you’ve joined before you know it’s a fun and casual way to connect virtually with friends from the comfort of your own sewing room. This year, we’re using Club Mod to focus on finishing Works in Progress (WIPs), and appreciate Cassie for the refresh idea! Here’s how it works:
Choose one of your WIPs to complete during Club Mod 2022.
We’re kicking it off Friday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
Work on your WIP during Club Mod, or just join us for some socialization to go with your sewing.
Get ready to win a prize and enjoy the satisfaction of finishing!
SHOW & TELL
Deb’s work in progress
Karen’s temperature quilt block
Valerie with her work in progress.
Karen’s Birch Fabric quilt
Fay’s UFO quilt
Kathy’s Kaffe Fasset quilt
Valerie with her tabletopper.
Elizabeth’s purse
Karen’s mystery quilt
Karen’s temperature quilt
Carol’s linen stripes
Carol’s clover block
Valerie with her strip rug
Kathy’s block
Valerie with her work in progress.
Deb shared her WIP from an online class with Carolina Oneto on free form curves and color theory.
Carol showed her striped John James Fabrics Quilt from a Quilt Expressions pattern, as well as one of her three-leaf clover blocks she finished as part of her St. Patty’s Day quilt.
Fay finished three quilts from a friend’s one large UFO quilt; it’s been quite a project, but with beautiful results.
Valerie finished 20-year-old WIPs: a strip quilt and a picnic quilt. Congrats on getting those done! She also shared her jelly roll rug by RJ Designs and a strip quilt table topper.
Elizabeth finished a ByAnnie.com Project Bagfrom our last retreat. We also got a peek at a purse she is working on for her mother from a kit by Connecting Threads.
Kathy S. received a gift of a featherweight sewing machine extender with carrying case, and showed off her Kaffe Fassett quilt.
Karen F. shared her Edyta Sitar mystery quilt using a textured linen fabric line. From the leftover blocks she made another fabulous quilt. She also shared a Birch Fabric quilt made from a Quilt Expressions scrap busters pattern, as well as blocks from her 2021 temperature quilt, which she is still working on.
WIPs/NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS We exchanged lots of ideas on organizing WIPs and Unfinished Objects (UFOs), acknowledging it could be fun (and maybe a little bit intimidating) to evaluate and prioritize projects. Some resources we discussed include:
