Charitable and other projects that give back to the community.

Posts from the ‘Community Projects’ category


Mar
2021

March 2021 Guild Meeting Recap

categories: Community Projects, Events, Modern Quilting, Monthly Meetings

Spring has arrived and we’re giddy about the sun, and what’s ahead for the BMQG. Our March meeting was full of information and updates. Here’s a recap of what happened:

Announcements

  • April 9 Club Mod: Join us for the launch party of Friday night sewing at Club Mod, April 9, 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!
  • April 24 Meeting & Guest Artist: Next month we’ll hear from artist Rebecca Klundt, who creates quilt-like work with reclaimed wood. We’ll meet again on Zoom; plan for an abbreviated show and tell so that we have plenty of time for Q&A with Rebecca.
  • 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 a couple 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!

Modern Moment: Use of Bold Colors and Prints

  • 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 each meeting to talk about characteristics that help define modern quilting. This week we looked at quilts that use bold colors and prints. Watch for more on this topic soon!

Giving Back

  • Get ‘Er Done: We’re keen to share our quilting with others in need, while helping members finish projects. At future meetings, we’ll take time for Get ‘Er Done Projects — a virtual or actual table to facilitate quilts going from start to finish. 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. From there, we’ll provide a list of organizations on our website that can use the quilts.
  • Sisters of the Hex: You’re invited to help sew hexies that will become a memorial project for past member Denise Arellano. Find out more here.

Show and Tell

We had some great shares this month for our Show and Tell portion of the meeting. Here are some of the patterns and resources mentioned that you might find helpful.

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Mar
2021

Sisters of the Hex

categories: Community Projects, Modern Quilting, Monthly Meetings

You’re invited to help make a quilt in memory of our friend Denise Arellano. We were devastated when Denise took her life in August 2020, but we treasure the bonds created over good food, conversation, and of course, quilting! Denise was drawn to making hexies, jump started after seeing the amazing giant quilt made by BMQG member Shelly Harshman and her sisters … who Denise dubbed “Sisters of the Hex.” From there, Denise made hundreds of hexi forms and collected the fabric to cover them. Now we’re inviting you to join the sisterhood in making Denise’s hexi collection complete. The final product will be gifted to her beloved and any leftover hexi blocks will be sewn together into additional quilt tops which we’ll finish and donate to a local charity.

HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE

  • Pick up your packet of hexi-making supplies. (email us at [email protected] for location details)
    • March 28 (Sunday), 2-3 pm. or March 30 (Tuesday), 7-8 pm.
    • You can also get packets by contacting us at [email protected]
  • Hexi-making supply kit: Your packet includes English Paper Piecing (EPP) forms and fabric supplies to make 4 hexi flowers. Feel free to swap out fabric of your own choosing if you like! There are also 1-2 pre-made hexies in your kit, which you can use as an example and to incorporate into your flowers.
  • Make the hexi flowers: each flower is made up of 6 hexi petals + 1 hexi center in a contrasting color. Stitch the individual hexi first, then stitch them to each other. (Below, examples of completed hexi flowers and what completed blocks might look like. Photo credit: SameliasMum.com used by permission.)
  • Return: Please remove the papers from the hexies and press the flowers well; or, if you prefer, leave the papers in and we’ll remove them later. (Please feel free to keep the papers for future EPP projects or recycle them!) Bring your completed hexi flowers to the May BMQG meeting. The flowers will be handed off for machine stitching to background fabric, making 6.5-inch unfinished squares. Depending on how the project progresses, there may be an opportunity to help machine sew blocks together at the August BMQ Quilting Day Camp.

HEXI TUTORIALS TO CHECK OUT
https://www.redhandledscissors.com/2013/06/27/tutorial-english-paper-piecing-hexies-part-1/
https://www.redhandledscissors.com/2013/07/17/tutorial-english-paper-piecing-hexies-part-2/
https://weallsew.com/how-to-sew-english-paper-pieced-hexagons/ (links to a variety of techniques)

Thanks ever so much for your help! Please let us know if you have questions.

Mar
2021

BMQG Quilt to Benefit Ronald McDonald Charities

categories: Community Projects, Modern Quilting

Check out this beauty of a quilt! We’re so excited to contribute it to this month’s 2nd Annual Red Shoes Shindig fundraising auction, benefitting the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Idaho. An online auction is open March 9-18, with virtual watch parties happening March 11. It all supports RMHC’s mission of keeping families together and near the medical care their children need.

You might have worked on the quilt a few years ago, when BMQG members help to designed and sew it. The quilting was done by Laura Pukstas (thanks, Laura, your quilting is amazing!). It was all part of a QuiltCon challenge to local guilds. National MQG gave us just a handful of guidelines: to work collaboratively to create completed quilts, use a predetermined color palette, and use an alternate grid work design. The end result showcases our members’ impressive talents, if we do say so ourselves.

You can get in on the virtual Red Shoes Shindig! There are plenty of options to host a watch party with  friends, coworkers or family. Get ready to kick up your heels, boots, or sneakers and enjoy a safe evening of food, fun, and fundraising. For more information, visit rmhcidaho.org/redshoe/.

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