Thanks for joining us in the park despite the heat! A few notes from our meeting:
Quilts for organ donor families: Thanks to Matt Coffin, RN for sharing about the Cascade Life Alliance’s efforts to give a quilt to families of deceased organ donors. These quilts become family heirlooms and tangible reminders of the deceased donor. Here are some general guidelines Matt provided:
size: lap size quilts are best; they can be placed on the donor’s lap/legs, without interfering in the medical team’s work
colors & themes: there are considerably more male donors in our area, so consider gender-neutral designs and colors (green, blue, red, brown, orange, low-volume); there is less need for pinks and florals
wash and label: please wash your finished quilt and add a BMQG label (available at meetings)
a few other things: please no religious symbols, logos, political references, etc.; and there is little need for pinks and floral quilts; no need for children’s fabrics or designs
Faces Collage entry for BBQ Quilt Show: All of those cute faces will go on display at the Boise Basin Quilters annual quilt show, Sept. 29-30 at Expo Idaho. Thanks to Pam P. for volunteering to oversee this effort! The quilts will be entered in the Group Challenge, non-judged category. To participate, members can communicate directly with Pam (watch your email for details).
For our July meeting, we’re headed to the park, where we’ll circle our chairs and enjoy the outdoors.
When: July 22, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Where: Winstead Park, 6150 W Northview St. in Boise
What to bring:
a chair, water and any show & tell you have to share
completed Scaled Triangle blocks for our Modern Quilt Bee and scrappy leader/ender blocks
your face collage to show — finished or at any stage of completion; we’ll also talk about submitting these as an entry in the small group category of the Boise Basin Quilters annual quilt show, Sept. 29-30 at Expo Idaho (thanks to Nancy England for the fun idea, and if we move ahead with this, we’re looking for a volunteer or two to help with paperwork, gathering the entries, delivering and picking up from the show)
community giving quilts — completed or ready to pass along for quilting or binding (huge thanks to Anna Yates for delivering and tracking our work!)
How did you first get involved with Boise Modern Quilt Guild?
I moved to Boise during the pandemic and I was looking for a new sisterhood of quilters. I noticed a scheduled meeting in the park on BMQG website and decided to check it out. The members were so friendly and so kind to each other that I knew it was the right place for me.
What is your first memory related to quilting or sewing?
As a young child, I was fascinated to watch my Louisiana grandmother sew dresses for my three cousins on her treadle sewing machine. We could also count on my Mother’s expertise to sew costumes for Halloween and other themed parties. No one in my family quilted.
What’s your most memorable or favorite quilting project?
My most memorable quilt project is a mini quilt entitled “Summer Village” which I completed at home via YouTube tutorials during the first snowy winter living in the Boise foothills in 2020. Quilt friends from Oregon and Washington did the class at the same time and we shared photos and comments through email and text. It helped us find some joy in the isolation of Covid shutdown.
How would you describe your quilting design style or aesthetic?
I learned to quilt at Temecula Quilt Co. and the shop was filled with Civil War reproduction fabrics. For years, I sewed Civil War reproduction scrappy designs until my first batik quilt at a women’s quilt retreat. My talented quilt friends helped me choose the light, medium and dark batiks I needed to create a colorful sailboat quilt for my husband.
What colors, shapes, fabrics do you gravitate to? What do you use most in your designs?
My favorite color to use in 1800’s reproduction quilts is red. I am venturing out by using solid, bright fabrics on my current quilt project which is Tula Pink’s 100 Modern Quilt Blocks. My new favorite whimsical fabric is Tilda by designer Tone Finnanger. I enjoy incorporating pinwheels into baby quilts. I also find satisfaction working with wool on wool appliqué and wool on cotton appliqué.
Is there someone or something that has influenced your quilting?
My travel friend Ellen encouraged me to quilt and she and another friend gifted me with a cutting mat, acrylic ruler, rotary cutter, scissors and fat quarters as a housewarming gift. Sheryl Johnson, of Temecula Quilt Co., taught me to quilt and instilled a love for Civil War Reproduction fabrics. Edyta Sitar and Kim Diehl have inspired me with their fabric and design styles.
What do you do when you are not quilting?
I love to read, work in my garden, and travel to new places.
What’s the project that you always intended to do (quilting or otherwise) but haven’t yet? DEAR JANE
What do you listen to or watch while sewing? Do you have any recommendations?
I enjoy listening to different kinds of audiobooks, including historical fiction and mysteries. I listened to the complete Louise Penny Inspector Gamache series set in Three Pines last winter. I balanced it with the CJ Box Joe Pickett series. For me, reading and sewing at the same time is magic.
The July 23 meeting will be at Julia Davis Park, 700 S. Capitol Blvd. in Boise, 10 a.m. – noon. We’ll gather in a shady area near the Rose Garden. (please note, Zoo Boise is hosting an event that day so parking may be a bit more crowded than normal). What to bring:
a chair or something to sit on, water, sunscreen
additional finished zipper pouches (we’ll plan on filling them that day)
your completed Modern Block of the Month
show and tell!
We’ll also update you on Quilt Camp and the September 10 Quilt Walk. Other updates:
Inaugural MQG Sessions: Have you seen that Modern Quilt Guild is holding a member-only virtual event October 13-16? You can spend the weekend learning from some of the best quilting instructors in the comfort of your own home. For one flat rate of $95 members will have access to over 20 hours of lectures, social gatherings, and more. Every education session is recorded and registered attendees can watch live and replay the recordings on demand for 14 days following the event. Registration will open to MQG members only on July 26th, 2022 at 11 a.m. CDT. Check out the faculty and schedule here: https://www.themodernquiltguild.com/sessions/
QuiltCon is Coming: Registration opens on August 16. MQG is using a virtual waiting room this year to better manage the registration process. Information will be provided prior to registration day about how this process will work. Be sure to check out the QuiltCon Challenges page to learn more about the various technique and fabric challenges for QuiltCon 2023 (and if enough people from BMQG are interested in participating, we’re looking for a couple of volunteers to lead the effort).
We’re welcoming Kathy Stockton to the BMQG Board, where she’ll serve as our new Treasurer. In addition to the skills she brings to the board, Kathy’s sense of humor means she’s plain fun to be around.
Kathy Stockton
by Kathy
Kathy
Kathy
Kathy
Kathy
How did you first get involved in with Boise Modern Quilt Guild? Kathy: I became involved with the Boise Modern Quilt Guild through a friend from a quilting class. She invited me to a meeting and told me all about how modern quilting was so freeing, that there were no rules! Of course, she was wrong. There are always rules. Because my sister was heavily involved with the Boise Basin Quilters Guild, and I wanted to be involved with a quilting group separate from my sister, I decided to join the Boise Modern Quilt Guild, even if there are rules to modern quilting. I joined in the fall of 2012.
What’s your first memory of something related to quilting or sewing? Kathy: My mother taught me how to sew in grade school and I did NOT enjoy garment sewing. Her mother and grandmother (my grandmother and great-grandmother) both made quilts, and that was what I wanted to do, but my mother was not supportive. This was back when garment sewing was a way to save money, so it was encouraged. I made my first quilt (tied) in my junior high home economics class, and gave it to my sister for Christmas.
What’s your most memorable, or favorite, quilting project? Kathy: I started a quilt made from primary colors for a grand-nephew and decided that I wanted to keep it, which I did. I had fallen in love with the fabrics and the backing fabric. I entered it at the Western Idaho Fair and won a first place blue ribbon. Now I can’t even use that quilt since it’s an award-winning – with the ribbon firmly attached – quilt!
How would you describe your quilting design style or aesthetic? Kathy: I like using patterns but when I have fabrics that I like together, I have been known to design my own quilt. If I find a pattern I like, I will make that quilt until I get tired of the design. I like the idea of triangles more than the execution of triangles. Because I have my quilts finished by my long-arm quilter, I have learned that a smaller quilt is less expensive to quilt, so I mostly make lap size or twin size quilts, although I will make larger quilts for special occasions, like weddings or graduations.
What colors, shapes, fabrics do you gravitate to? What do you use most in your designs? Kathy: I basically do my own thing, which is apparently purchasing fabric. HA! I enjoy bright fabrics but sometimes I am drawn to colors that aren’t nearly that bright, which always surprised me. I am drawn to Alexander Henry fabrics although lately I’m finding that there actually are other designers out there that I like. My sister is drawn to very different fabrics, generally more subdued colors, and I am constantly amazed that we have such different tastes.
Is there someone or something that has influenced your quilting? Kathy: The two people that have influenced my quilting the most are Teri Brown and my quilter, Ronald. Teri convinced me to buy a Bernina Quilters Edition sewing machine, and I began taking classes at Quilt Crossing, including her Project Runway class, where you worked on any garment or quilting project, and she was there to help you. One of the classes I took was Ronald’s Open Sewing class, and that class gave me the time and confidence to branch out to designing my own quilts rather than just buying kits. That class and his help more than anything else helped me to become the quilter I am today.
What might someone be surprised to know about you? Kathy: I generally give away every quilt I make and also have given away my left kidney.
What do you do when you aren’t quilting? Kathy: I should say organizing my fabric or cleaning my house, but probably reading books or watching television with my husband. I also sing with the Boise Phil Master Chorale and play violin in the Serenata community orchestra.
What are you working on now? Kathy: I tend to work on one project at a time unless something intervenes like a wedding quilt or other time-sensitive project. I am starting back on a quilt I am making for my husband’s oldest niece and her husband. It is a kit I bought over 2 years ago and have everything cut out. I’m to the part where I have to make half-square triangles.
What’s the project that you always intended to do (quilting or otherwise) but haven’t yet? Kathy: I started digitizing all my parents’ slides into a digital format over 10 years ago. There must be 30 or 40 boxes with about 100 slides in each box. I have a contraption that allows me to upload 4 slides at a time. I do intend to get back to this project, but after I scan all my printed photos and upload those for my daughter-in-law.
What’s the longest-lasting UFO in your collection? Kathy: I generally finish one project before I start another one, but I do have some pillow cases that I started back in 2010. The idea was to make pillowcases to go with the wedding quilt I made for my son and daughter-in-law. Someday I will finish them.
Do you have a preferred snack or beverage while you’re sewing? If so, what is it? Kathy: I try not to eat anything when I am quilting or sewing, but I always have a glass of water. Not very exciting, but keeps me hydrated. And if I spill water, it’s not a big deal.
What do you listen to or watch while you’re sewing? Do you have any recommendations to share? Kathy: Because I tend to listen rather than watch, I like to “watch” shows that I have seen before. I recently finished re-watching all the seasons of Downton Abbey. I also like to “watch” silly shows that don’t require my full attention, such as Brooklyn 99, or Corner Gas. I’ve seen all the Corner Gas episodes but will start over at the beginning because they are pretty funny. If you haven’t seen Corner Gas, I highly recommend it. It’s a Canadian television show set in Saskatchewan, and is available on IMDB television or I have all the DVDs if anyone would like to borrow them. I also enjoy Spongebob Squarepants.
It was the final outdoor meeting of 2021, and we managed to skirt the rain storms for show & tell and news about our Holiday Swap and Challenge.
The Paint Chip Challenge:
• Create a modern mini quilt for your swap partner
• Use only the colors and values (lightness or darkness) represented on the two paint chips you receive from the person you’re making for
• Additionally, you can throw in a pop of a third color; and you can add gray, black or white
• Keep the size small – no bigger than 18” on its longest side
• Your finished piece can be long and skinny, square or any shape you like
How it Works
• Find two paint chips/cards in coordinating colors you love (check your local paint or hardware store)
• Bring your completed mini to the After-Holiday Party on January 22, 2022. It’ll be a fun after-holiday gift exchange! (or if we’re not meeting in person, plan to have your mini delivered by then)
• Sign up here and then get your color chips to Darla by November 20, 2021
Show & Tell
Nancy E Christmas quilt
Here’s a sampling of what we shared:
Nancy Seid stepped into the Member Spotlight, and along with sharing her quilting, we got tips for breaking projects into small, manageable steps that can help get to the finish line. Nancy sees some corollaries between her work with Boise State ADHD students and quilters (go figure!!), and offered several ideas such as setting a timer to help focus attention on one project for a limited amount of time.
Millissa let us know about the Oct. 27 Virtual Talk and Tour by Victoria Findlay Wolfe: Now & Then, Playing with Purpose with the Artists. Register here. (It’s free but you have to sign up!)
The Get ‘Er Done effort saw some great action this meeting. Millissa spearheaded a leader-ender project during the Day Camp, and then she created two quilt tops. Darla and Cathy took the tops to quilt, and several others took some orphan blocks from our Get ’Er Done pile to make crib quilt tops. Progress!
Nancy England showed off her holiday runners and quilt, all of which will be at her church’s bazaar.
Betsy completed an art quilt as part of an online class with Laura Wasilowski of artfabrik.com. Betsy used some of Laura’s hand-dyed fabrics for this whimsical fun piece.
Karen showed a charming fall wall hanging, another large quilt she described as being made with leftovers from other projects, a huge quilt from Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts, and three (!) pieces from an online class with Cindy Grisdela.
Lynne showed a modern quilt made of solids, and a large Americana themed quilt
Lindsie finished a hearts quilt for a niece, which was quilted by Laura, but had delivered it the week before
We’re having an impromptu Halloween fabric exchange at tomorrow’s meeting Sept. 25, 1-3 pm, so if you’ve got a bit of Halloween fabric to swap, or if you’ve got any ghoulish projects in the works, plan to bring it all! We’ll meet outdoors at the Rose Garden in Julia Davis Park, Boise. Bring a chair to sit in, and show & tell of course! Given recent uptick in Covid cases, we want to make our in-person meetings as safe as possible, so plan on spreading out for a bit of social distancing and wear a mask if you prefer.
And if you haven’t already, check out the latest Member Spotlight featuring Cathy Rogers! Read about her reading tips, UFOs and how she got into quilting here.
We have made the very difficult decision to cancel the Sept. 11 Quilt Walk, and instead plan for it next season. The reason for this stems from the recent and drastic increases of Covid transmission in our area. Our top priority is the safety of our members. By postponing, we lose very little and can best protect the health of our members and help slow the transmission of Covid.
This postponement, while very disappointing, follows CDC guidelines and recommendations from local health experts. Our county is an area of high Covid transmission, mixed use of masking, and overburdened healthcare facilities.
We give our biggest appreciation to all of you who have planned, sewed, gathered and readied yourself for the event, and we know it will be a wonderful way to show off our guild’s many talents when we are able to hold this event. Thank you for being willing to jump into new things and stepping up to participate. You make Boise Modern Quilt Guild the dynamic, welcoming, creative group it is!
Please feel free to contact us with questions.
Sincerely,
Lindsie Bergevin, BMQG President
and Board Members
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):
Ginny holding her Ray Quilt, designed by Carolyn Friedlander
Jeri’s latest creation
Delanie designed this from our fav Birch Fabrics
Apryl’s quilted post cards using collage technique.
Lynne’s member spotlight show & tell
Jeri & Darla’s work on orphan blocks that will go to Artisans for Hope
Betsy made this scrap eater of a stunning quilt
Nancy’s sweet bee quilt with bear fabrics
Cathy Rogers quilted three quilts from the Sisters of the Hex project.
Apryl’s small Hamilton quilt for her daughter.
Millissa showing the leaders & enders project that started at Quilting Day Camp
Cassie sporting one of the tshirts from Quilt Day Camp
Fay made this from raffle winnings at Day Camp
Lynne shared knitting during the member spotlight.
Apryl with her collage-style quilted post cards
Gwen Smith showing her stripes & dots quilt
Lynne was in the member spotlight and showed some of her favorite things.
Kathy holding her “donuts & coffee” quilt
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).
Gather up those quilts you’ve been making and get ready to show them off at the Sept. 11 Modern Quilt Walk in the park. 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. Members, watch your email for a sign up form and details (and if you’re not a member yet, but want to display your modern quilts, please join us as a member!).
It’s Simple: We’ll spread our quilts out on the lawn, bring our own chairs and snacks, and BMQG will have a couple of information tables. It’s an opportunity to talk with people about your craft and artistry. Here’s a glimpse at how the Central Washington MQG hosted a similar event last year. (photos: Michelle Bartholomew)
When: Saturday, Sept. 11; 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Adjacent to the Boise Greenbelt in Ann Morrison Park; we’ll display on a stretch of grass between the footbridge and Old Timer Shelter
Who: Anyone in the Boise MQG is welcome to participate and display quilts, no registration fee. We’ve also invited the Nampa MQG to participate.
The Central Washington MQG 2020 outdoor quilt show. Photo: Michelle Bartholomew
The Central Washington MQG 2020 outdoor quilt show. Photo: Michelle Bartholomew
Central Washington MQG 2020 outdoor quilt show. Photo: Michelle Bartholomew
Questions? Send us a note at [email protected]. We hope you’ll join us!
The mission of the Boise MQG is to develop and encourage the art of modern quilting; encourage new quilters and other fiber artists from all backgrounds to explore modern quilting; offer educational opportunities; and support “charity” or other works that provide back to the community through the use of modern quilting skills.
