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.
Our first Get ‘er Done completed quilt!
get er done quilts
One of Marilyn’s get er done quilts
Millissa showing the leaders & enders project that started at Quilting Day Camp
Gwen & Cathy with two hexi quilt tops
quilts delivered to St. Luke’s Foundation
One of Marilyn’s get er done quilts
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
Our Member Spotlight this time is Elizabeth Schneider.The Spotlight is a way to learn a little about each other and our shared love of quilting. And, each Spotlight member gets time at the next meeting to be, well, in the spotlight and share some of her favorite modern quilts or other works.
How did you first got involved in with Boise Modern Quilt Guild? Elizabeth: I got involved in the Boise Modern Quilt Guild after I moved back to Boise in 2020. I had been following the guild on social media before we moved.
What’s your first memory of something related to quilting or sewing? Elizabeth: My grandmother made most of my clothes growing up. Once I learned to sew in junior high we would spend about an hour each Sunday morning after church working on one of my garment sewing projects.
What’s your most memorable, or favorite, quilting project? Elizabeth: I really enjoyed doing Cinco De Mayo, Karen Stone’s paper piecing project as a block of the month. I had a friend in another state working on it at the same time.
How would you describe your quilting design style or aesthetic? Elizabeth: I think “modern traditional” fits my style. I have done modern, traditional and art quilting.
What colors, shapes, fabrics do you gravitate to? What do you use most in your designs? Elizabeth: I like bright colors. Fabrics include Tula Pink, Valori Wells, Violet Craft, Kaffe Fassett. In terms of shapes I have quite a few house designs plus scrap quilts.
Is there someone or something that has influenced your quilting? Elizabeth: The guilds I have been a part of have been the biggest influence by whom they bring in as speakers.
What might someone be surprised to know about you? Elizabeth: I’m also a musician. I play flute and sing in church choir and play English handbells.
What do you do when you aren’t quilting? Elizabeth: Too many things! I work part-time writing grants for the Idaho STEM Action Center. I am trying to improve my tennis game. I also make cards. And make music.
What are you working on now? Elizabeth: I’m working on trying to finish Sue Spargo’s 2020 Block of the Month lite, Chirp. I’m also getting a head start on a graduation gift quilt.
What’s the project that you always intended to do (quilting or otherwise) but haven’t yet? Elizabeth: I want to remake the dress my grandmother wore at my Mom’s wedding in 1961. I have the dress (it’s very cool with a Mad Men vibe) but I’m not her size. I found the Vogue pattern through an online pattern database several years ago and bought it from an Etsy shop for $75!
What’s the longest-lasting UFO in your collection? Elizabeth: A Dresden Plate wall hanging that I started in 1995. It’s partially machine quilted. The colors are not me.
Do you have a preferred snack or beverage while you’re sewing? If so, what is it? Elizabeth: Beverages depend on the time of the day and range from coffee or tea to an occasional glass of wine in the evening. I don’t snack while sewing.
What do you listen to or watch while you’re sewing? Do you have any recommendations to share? Elizabeth: I listen to public radio and depending on time of day it might be classical, jazz, or news. I really like Echoes in the evening.
It was great being in the park for our August meeting and thanks to everyone for finding their way to a new location. A special welcome to new members, and thanks to Lynne Crawford for stepping into the Member Spotlight! We loved seeing Lynne’s quilts and other handiwork.
Announcements & Upcoming Events
Sept. 11 Quilt Walk: Gather up those quilts you’ve been making and get ready to show them off at our inaugural Modern Quilt Walk in the park on Sept. 11. The Quilt Walk is an informal way to share the art of modern quilting in an easily accessible location — and to capitalize on greenbelt foot traffic expected at Art in the Park that same weekend.
If you’re thinking about participating, let us know by completing this form.
We’re celebrating modern quilting — and other handiwork (whatever you’re making and proud of!). Our quilts will be front and center, but you’re also welcome to bring other items (e.g., bags, works in progress) that show the range of things we all make.
Read more hereand watch your email for additional details as we get closer.
Club Mod: We’ll take a break for September as we’ll be on the eve of the Quilt Walk (see more below), and then you’re invited to join the Friday night sew party at Club Mod, October 8, 7-9 p.m. on Zoom. Sew on your projects, chair dance at your machine, and maybe win a prize!
Show and tell
Possibly the favorite part of our meeting….? Here’s a sampling of what we shared (scroll down for details):
Millissa showing the leaders & enders project that started at Quilting Day Camp
Cassie sporting one of the tshirts from Quilt Day Camp
Lynne’s member spotlight show & tell
Nancy’s sweet bee quilt with bear fabrics
Cathy Rogers quilted three quilts from the Sisters of the Hex project.
Lynne shared knitting during the member spotlight.
Ginny holding her Ray Quilt, designed by Carolyn Friedlander
Fay made this from raffle winnings at Day Camp
Apryl with her collage-style quilted post cards
Lynne was in the member spotlight and showed some of her favorite things.
Betsy made this scrap eater of a stunning quilt
Jeri & Darla’s work on orphan blocks that will go to Artisans for Hope
Delanie designed this from our fav Birch Fabrics
Apryl’s small Hamilton quilt for her daughter.
Kathy holding her “donuts & coffee” quilt
Gwen Smith showing her stripes & dots quilt
Apryl’s quilted post cards using collage technique.
Jeri’s latest creation
Delanie designed and worked on this Baby Birch Quilt at the July Quilting Day Camp.
Millissa spearheaded a leader-ender project that we could all sew on during the Day Camp. She created a design that uses scraps to make a modern, vibrant quilt.
Jeri showed her Center Point quilt by Elise Lea for Robert Kaufman. She also assembled orphan blocks from Artisans for Hope and Darla pieced the back. It’s off to Gwen for quilting and will eventually be returned to Artisans to sell.
Apryl is in a mood for minis! She’s making fabric collage postcards (aiming for 100) and the Hamilton mini is for her daughter.
Gwen had a few bits of stripes and polka dot fabrics that she’s turned into a bright and cheery quilt.
Cathy R. quilted the three (three!) Sisters of the Hex quilts. Thanks in advance to Betsy, Cassie and Lindsie for finishing the binding.
Kathy S. made this donuts-and-coffee themed quilt for her husband.
Betsy showed off her very scrappy, very beautiful Japanese X block. You can find tutorials and patterns on Pinterest, and here’s just one example of what you’ll find.
Nancy S. showed her Bee Sweet pattern with bear fabric from Hobby Lobby
Fay made a Christmas quilt with the bundle of winnings from July’s Day Camp raffle
Linda is getting ready for fall with Bats and Boos, a mystery quilt from the FatQuarter Shop.
Lindsie shared the 2022 Quilter’s Planner that she helped design again this year. You can check out the customizable planner made just for quilters at QuiltersPlanner.com (and a tip from Lindsie: pre-sales end Tuesday, Aug. 31, so if you get your order in today, you’ll get the clip-in bookmarks bundle for free).
Our quilting day camp was such fun! Thanks to everyone who spent the day with us to sew, talk, pose for close-ups, eat, win, and all the rest. Shout out to Millissa Masters for her work designing and organizing a leader/ender project, which one day will be another Get ‘er Done community quilt; to Linda Jolly for applying her magic touch to the hexi quilts; and to everyone who helped sew (an unsew) the hexi blocks.
Millissa arranging pieces for the leader-ender project
Apryl is getting into collage quilting
Nancy has discovered the funniest quilt pattern out there. Nikki’s not so sure.
Gwen & Cathy with two hexi quilt tops
Teri is excited to be at Quilting Day Camp
Laura and Sam showing off their projects
Delanie at the ironing board
Piper, Shelly and Amy
Laura working on her project at Day Camp
Linda pressing seams
Lynne and Anne sewing away
Marilyn Shake
Linda working her magic on the hexi layout while Nikki looks on
Carol, Vicky and Fay taking a break from some pretty intense sewing
Gwen doing a little bit of unsewing
And, we had truly generous donors who contributed to our prizes and swag bags. Please support and thank these terrific folks:
Here’s what some of our attendees said when we asked what they liked about the retreat: “Food was great, lots of social time and great prizes.” “Seeing everyone! Working on the community quilts. Sharing ideas and seeing what everyone is working on. I left renewed and inspired.” “Seeing everyone again and just chatting with people. Getting my creative juices flowing again!” “So very happy to get out of the house and sew. Thank you!!! LOVED the swag bag and I am excited for the tshirt.”
If you attended and have pictures to share on social media, be sure to tag them with #boisemqg. And, check out our Instagram profile @BoiseMQG for more photos in the coming weeks.
When: Saturday, June 26, 1-3 p.m. Where: Inside at the LDS church, 3200 Cassia St., Boise
We originally planned to meet outdoors, but the forecast is for sizzling temps (100 degrees!) so we decided to move indoors.
You’re welcome to wear a mask or not — your choice — but if you haven’t yet been vaccinated, masking up is encouraged. We’ll have hand sanitizer and be in a large room with plenty of space for social distancing.
Bring completed hexis and your completed modern projects to share with the group. Besides Show and Tell, we’ll also be doing a Scrap Exchange, so please bring scraps of any size to exchange, and maybe something for the Get ‘er Done table!
We can’t wait to see everyone in person!
P.S. There are just 9 spots left in our July 24 Quilting Day Camp. Find details and registration info here
there are a surprising number of unused hexi forms
If you happen to have hexis for the Sisters of the Hex project, please turn them in at our June 26 guild meeting (or by June 30 if you can’t make it that day). After we get your hexi flowers, those will be sewn to gray background squares (we already have nearly 200!!) and then plan to assemble blocks at the July 24 Quilting Day Camp. If you have extra hexis or can’t get them turned in by then, no worries! We can easily use them for future community donation quilts.
Thank you everyone who’s had a part in this. Here’s what is next for Sisters of the Hex:
Two quilts – We have enough blocks to make 2 quilts.
Assemble tops – we’ll plan to sew blocks together at the July 24 Boise Modern Quilt Guild Day Camp. A few of us plan to devote the day to sew blocks together, and if you’re there, you’re invited to chip in!
Finishing – Cathy Rogers has volunteered for quilting, Betsy Johnson volunteered to bind, Sewfinity donated a bolt (a bolt!) of fabric for backing, and Jeri Wood has volunteered to make a label. And, we’ll have a card available that anyone who contributed can sign, and these will be given with the quilts.
Join us for our annual summer gathering of no-host modern quilting. We’re going al fresco and sewing outdoors! Members, sign up by submitting the form you received by email. The retreat is limited to 40 attendees. Member registration ends June 18; non-member registration begins June 19
When: July 24, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (We’re starting early to beat the heat! You’re welcome to arrive as early as 7:30 a.m.)
Where: LDS church at 3200 Cassia St., Boise 83705 (We’ll meet at the picnic shelter at the rear of the church lot, so drive around back for parking and meeting.)
Cost: $40 per Boise MQG member | $65 non-members
Morning treats (baked goods, coffee, juice) and catered lunch is provided.
June 11 Club Mod: Join us for the next Friday night sew party at Club Mod, June 11, 7-9 p.m. on Zoom. Sew on your projects, chair dance at your machine, and maybe win a prize!
June 26 In-Person Meeting: We’re planning on meeting outdoors and in person.
Want to join the fun? Send us a note at [email protected] and we’ll make sure you have the details. We have more fun events planned for this year. Be sure to join our guild so you can participate in our upcoming activities and be the first to know about them!
Giving back
Get ‘Er Done: Our first project is nearly complete! Let us know if you are willing to make and sew binding — the quilt is 64“ x 64“ (and a big THANK YOU to Millissa, Cathy R. and Darla for working on this quilt). Get ’er Done is our clearinghouse to facilitate quilts going from start to finish before giving them to community organizations that can use the quilts. So, if you’re only interested in making quilt tops, this is the place to let others know, and they can take it to the next step or to the finish. Check out this list on our website for local organizations you can donate them to.
Sisters of the Hex: If you have completed hexi flowers, send us a note at [email protected] . We’ve started sewing them to the background squares and can’t wait to add yours.
Show and tell + Quilt label discussion
Deb Stoner’s Tetons quilt
Deb’s custom label
Fay Hikida’s birthday blocks
Possibly the favorite part of our meeting….? Here’s a sampling of what we shared and discussed:
Deb Stoner finished her Tetons Quilt, which will be a lovely wedding gift. She used the Mod Mountains Pattern ; and, Deb made her own custom label to match the quilt design
Fay Hikida finished her red and white Creatin’ in the Sticks quilt from a birthday block exchange
We had another great meeting this month, starting with a few announcements:
May 7 Club Mod: Join us for Friday night sewing at Club Mod, May 7, 7-9 p.m. on Zoom. Then, pencil in the second Friday night of the month for upcoming Club Mod sewing parties. Sew on your projects, chair dance at your machine, and maybe win a prize!
May 22 In-person Meeting: We’re planning on meeting outdoors and in person beginning in May. Plan on wearing a mask and social distancing, and watch for more info on locations, including availability of tables, electricity or covered pavilions. (We have more fun events planned for this year that are still in the early stages.)
Be sure to join our guild so you can participate in our upcoming activities and be the first to know about them!)
Deb’s hexis
Apryl’s hexis
Elizabeth’s hexis
Lynne’s La Passacaglia Millefiori blocks
Sage’s paper pieced blocks
Shelly’s drunkard’s path
Cathy’s Cranberry Chutney quilt
Carol’s Kite Flight
Millissa’s Get ‘er Done bee blocks
Delanie’s fabric stars
Nancy’s HSTs
Giving Back
Get ‘Er Done Projects: This is the place to facilitate quilts going from start to finish, and then find them a new home in the community. Thanks to Millissa Masters for taking on our first project — a batch of bee blocks she’s artfully assembled into a completed 64″ x 64″ quilt top. Cathy Rogers is donating batting, and if you’re interested in quilting or binding, let us know!
Sisters of the Hex: We are so thrilled with everyone’s response to help sew hexies! They’ll become part of a memorial quilt for past member Denise Arellano. If you need more hexi-making supplies, send us a note at [email protected]. Bring any completed hexi flowers to our May 22 meeting (did we mention it’s in person?).
Show and Tell
We had some great shares this month! Here’s a sampling of the patterns and resources mentioned.
And so many working on hexi flowers! Discussion about single or double strand of thread when making the hexis seemed to come back around to this: it’s just fine to use one strand.
Guest Artist Rebecca Klundt
Our meeting featured artist Rebecca Klundt, whose work is so inspired and so quilt-like in its construction we couldn’t help but be wowed. If you missed it, check out her work on Instagram @rebeccaklundt or at rebeccaklundt.com .
Centered by Rebecca Klundt
Pieced Quilt by Rebecca Klundt
Front Porch Friends
Modern Moment: High Contrast & Graphic Areas of Solid Color
Have you ever wondered if your quilt was “modern” or “modern enough”? Well, you’re not alone. To help demystify the topic, we’re taking a few moments at the start of each meeting to talk about characteristics that help define a modern quilt. This week we looked at quilts that feature high contrast & graphic areas of solid color, like these:
Icy Waters by Amy Garro 2014
Gypsy Wife by Catherine Mosely 2014
Cascade Quilt by Kristi Schroeder 2014
You can browse through plenty more examples of modern quilts in the MQG photo gallery.
Please join us for our April 2021 virtual Guild meeting!
When: Saturday, April 24, 1 pm – 3 pm
Zoom: (email [email protected] and we’ll send you the meeting link)
Featuring guest artist Rebecca Klundt: “Gather. Break down. Reconstruct.”
Centered by Rebecca Klundt
Zion Not so Narrows by Rebecca Klundt
Rebecca Klundt
Pieced Quilt by Rebecca Klundt
Tall Fellow in the Grass Phillips by Rebecca Klundt
Utah artist Rebecca Klundt makes quilt-like art, working primarily in wood and acrylic to create two-dimensional “reconstructions.” Rebecca’s artwork uses resources that might otherwise be wasted, is inspired by Utah’s mountain landscape, and is driven by a desire to foster thoughtful conversation. “I love the challenge of using simple materials to say something…or to hear something,” she says. If you’ve ever dug through your scrap bin to source your next project, you’ll appreciate Rebecca’s resourcefulness and design ingenuity. Find her on Instagram @rebeccaklundt or at rebeccaklundt.com
Our meeting will also include:
Modern Moment: We’re revisiting the characteristics that help to make a quilt modern. This time, we’ll talk about High Contrast & Graphic Areas of Solid Color.
Updates: How are those hexis? And, what did you think of Club Mod, our Friday night sewcial?
Show and Tell: Do you have anything new you are working on? Show it to us! If it’s a larger item, consider sending a few photos that can be shared on screen during the meeting. Send a photo of the whole thing, and one or two of details we might not see otherwise. Submit by 5pm on Thursday (April 22) to [email protected].
If you haven’t been able to join us recently for a virtual meeting, we promise Zoom is really easy to set up. Let us know if you have any questions. We are looking forward to it!
