Posts from the ‘Monthly Meetings’ category


Oct
2021

Member Spotlight: Nancy Seid

categories: Member Spotlight, Members, Modern Quilting, Monthly Meetings

Say “hi” to our next member in the spotlight, Nancy Seid. Nancy’s one who joined BMQG during the 2020 shutdown, when Zoom meetings were the thing.

The Spotlight is simply 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.

What’s your first memory of something related to quilting or sewing?
Nancy: My grandmother gave me sewing cards when I was four, which I worked and worked on. My mother taught me to sew on her Singer Featherweight. I only started quilting a few years ago.

How did you first get involved with Boise Modern Quilt Guild?
Nancy: My little sister Joanna is a quilter and professional sewist. I thought I wasn’t good enough to join a guild, but she told me how much fun she had and encouraged me to join. I looked at the web page for BMQG and loved the projects and inspiration. Such an active, interesting group to learn from.

What colors, shapes, fabrics do you gravitate to? What do you use most in your designs?
Nancy: I gravitate to bright saturated colors, with a white or light gray background. I like bold geometrics with unexpected color combinations. I haven’t made many quilts yet, so I don’t have a particular style or aesthetic yet.

Is there someone or something that has influenced your quilting?
Nancy: My sister is my inspiration. She is a fabric recycler, very creative and artistic. I show her my works in progress and she helps me if I get stuck and is always encouraging.

What do you do when you aren’t quilting?
Nancy: I work at Boise State coordinating academic services for students with disabilities. One thing I do is coaching college students with ADHD. I use techniques for focus and project completion when I am quilting, and inspiration from quilting for the students: visualization of completed projects; “finished is better than perfect.” I am also in a book club and participate in church activities.

What are you working on now?
Nancy: My bear quilt and baby clothes for my 1-year-old granddaughter. Another granddaughter is graduating from high school next May, so she’s going to get a quilt.

What’s the longest-lasting UFO in your collection?
Nancy: The half-square triangle quilt has been in process for two years. I did not have the needed precision skills when I started it. The Guild members gave me some ideas on reformatting it.

What do you listen to or watch while you’re sewing? Do you have any recommendations to share?
Nancy: I listen to podcasts: This American Life, Hidden Brain, and Dateline NBC.

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Sep
2021

September Meeting was just rosey

categories: Member Spotlight, Modern Quilting, Monthly Meetings

The Rose Garden at Juila Davis Park was a perfect backdrop for our September meeting, and Halloween fabric (and candy!) put us in the fall mood.

Fall-Winter Schedule
We spent some time discussing meeting format in the coming months. Based on comments at the meeting, we’ll plan for a combination of in-person meetings, held outside (weather permitting), indoors in a large room with space to socially distance (think a large meeting room at the library, or a church multi-purpose room), and likely some virtual meetings on Zoom. Here’s the schedule for the next few months:

  • October 8: Club Mod on Zoom (7-9 p.m.)
  • October 23: Monthly Meeting in Person (1-3 p.m.)
  • November 12: Club Mod on Zoom (7-9 p.m.)
  • December 4: Annual Meeting on Zoom(1-3 p.m.)
  • December 10: Club Mod on Zoom (7-9 p.m.)
  • January 22: After-Holiday Swap (1-3 p.m.)

Show and tell
Possibly the favorite part of our meeting….? Here’s a sampling of what we shared (see details below photos):

  • As the feature of our Member Spotlight, Cathy Rogers kicked things off. Her love of all things Tula showed up in the quilt that graces her living room couch, where we suspect she reads some of the 34 books she’s working towards reading this year. (So far she’s at 30!).
  • Nancy E. showed a hexi ornament she made based on what she saw in McCall’s Quilting magazine November/December 2021 issue, and a scrappy pattern she bought on a road trip to the Stitch n’ Snip in Crouch.
  • Lindsie finished binding one of the Sisters of the Hex quilts.
  • Robin joined us for the first time and showed the quilt she made from a kit, featuring Kaffe Fasset wovens
  • Terri worked on knitting socks, while Kathy S. couldn’t help but show off her designer orange bag
  • Karen decided to make some really small hexis, and then wondered what to do with them… here’s what she ended up with!
  • Marilyn got serious about finishing projects this year, and it shows! She showed a jelly roll quilt; an orange quilt that started as a kit purchased in 2010 with Kaffe Fasset prints; a Halloween wall hanging started in 2009; and a skull quilt using Tim Holtz fabric purchased years ago at Salli’s Back Porch Fabric Store in Shoshone. And then! she stunned us with a quilt commissioned by a family member, using a photo of a landscape for color inspiration, and design inspired by Denyse Schmidt.
  • Elizabeth completed two Bonnie Hunter quilts: Appalachian Autumn and a round-robin style Unity quilt (which was sewn mostly from Elizabeth’s stash! Impressive)
  • Linda brought candy (!!) and her completed Bats and Boos mystery quilt from FatQuarter Shop.
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Sep
2021

Halloween fabric exchange!

categories: Member Spotlight, Monthly Meetings

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.

Hope to see you tomorrow in the Park!

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Aug
2021

August Meeting Recap

categories: Community Projects, Improv Quilting, Member Spotlight, Members, Modern Quilting, Monthly Meetings

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 here and 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):

  • 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.
  • Ginny showed off her giant log cabin Ray Quilt by Carolyn Friedlander.
  • 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).

Hope you see you at the Quilt Walk on Sept. 11!

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Aug
2021

Aug. 28 Monthly Meeting (10 a.m.)

categories: Modern Quilting, Monthly Meetings, Sew Days

Join us for our monthly BMQG meeting, outdoors and in person! We’re meeting earlier in the day to beat the heat.

When: Saturday, August 28, 10 a.m. to noon (**note time change for this meeting**)
Where: Grass near the Old Timers’ Shelter at Ann Morrison Park, Boise (park near the east entrance of the park)

  • Masks are optional; we’ll supply hand sanitizer.
  • Bring a chair or quilt to sit on. The weather should be perfect, so bring some handwork if you’d like.
  • Bring your Show & Tell, including anything you might have been working on from the July Quilting Day Camp.
  • Do you have an idea for the next Get ‘er Done project? Bring it, share it, get some help.
  • We’ll have a door prize!

We’ve chosen this location for our meeting so that we can scope out the site of our Sept. 11 Quilt Walk, and so that everyone can get familiar with the location ahead of time. Are you thinking about what quilts you might want to display at our inaugural show? It will be a fun, casual affair, and we’d love to have as many participants as possible with as many quilts on display as you’d like. Read more about the Quilt Walk here.

Questions? Send us a note at [email protected]. We hope you’ll join us!
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Aug
2021

New! Member Spotlight

categories: Member Spotlight, Members, Modern Quilting, Monthly Meetings

We’re pleased to introduce the new Member Spotlight series. The Spotlight is simply 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.

First up: Lynne Crawford, joined BMQG during 2020 and attended her first meetings on Zoom.

How did you first get involved in with Boise Modern Quilt Guild?
Lynne: I found the Boise Modern Quilt Guild online.

What’s your first memory of something related to quilting or sewing?
Lynne: Taking a quilting class and working on a sampler quilt from the book Quilts, Quilts, Quilts.

What colors, shapes, fabrics do you gravitate to? What do you use most in your designs?
Lynne: I like solid colors.

What do you do when you aren’t quilting?
Lynne: I like to knit and embroider. I also like to ride my road bike and ski.

What are you working on now?
Lynne: A Carolyn Friedlander pattern called Ariel. I also have several quilts that need the binding hand sewed.

Do you have a preferred snack or beverage while you’re sewing? If so, what is it?
Lynne: No food – I’m too messy!

What do you listen to or watch while you’re sewing? Do you have any recommendations to share?
Lynne: Audiobooks. I use an app called Libby that lets me check out audiobooks from the library (for free). I like mystery/detective stories as well as some science fiction/fantasy. My favorite authors/series are Louise Penny (Inspector Gamache), M.C. Beaton (Agatha Raisin), Jim Butchers (The Dresden Files) and N K Jemison (Broken Earth series).


Jul
2021

Quilting Day Camp 2021 Was So Much Fun!

categories: Events, Modern Quilting, Monthly Meetings, Quilt Camp, Sew Days

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.

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.

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Jun
2021

June 2021 Meeting Recap

categories: Community Projects, Improv Quilting, Modern Quilting, Monthly Meetings, Sew Days

Our first in-person meeting in more than a year was a welcome change to Zoom! Here’s a look at what happened:

Announcements & Upcoming Events

  • Summer Club Mod: We’ll take a break for July, and then you’re invited to join the Friday night sew party at Club Mod, August 13, 7-9 p.m. on Zoom. Sew on your projects, chair dance at your machine, and maybe win a prize!
  • July 24 Summer Quilting Day Camp: Fewer than 10 spots remain open for our all-day Quilting Camp. We’ll start with morning treats (first things first!) and then a few fun activities throughout the day and lots of raffle prizes. Plus, an impressive collection of quilting swag for each registrant, and a few surprises. Lunch included, and feel free to bring something for the snack table. Sign up by filling out this form.
  • Sisters of the Hex: We’ll sew hexi blocks together at the July 24 day camp to make two quilts. A few folks will plan to dedicate their time to sewing on this project and you’re invited to help out as the quilt tops take shape.
  • Get ‘Er Done: Our first project is complete (a big THANK YOU to Millissa, Cathy R., Gwen and Darla for working on this quilt). More scraps and orphan blocks were shared at the meeting, so stay tuned for more ways to participate in our effort to get quilts from start to finish before giving them to community organizations. 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.
  • MQG Challenges: If you’re up for a July project to benefit a good cause, check out this MQG Make-a-Difference challenge. The theme is TREES, the submission deadline is July 21, and quilt entry fees will benefit Trees for the Future, whose mission is to end hunger and poverty by training farmers to regenerate their land. Are you interested in organizing this (or future efforts) for BMQG to participate in a national MQG challenge? Let us know! send a note to [email protected] . Here are a few other challenges you might want to check out:
  • QuiltCon2022: Presented by The Modern Quilt Guild, QuiltCon is the largest modern quilting show of its kind. Each year, thousands of attendees come to see hundreds of modern quilts on display, including a juried quilt show with entries from MQG members around the world. The five-day event includes live lectures, panels, tours, workshops, and a vendor hall filled with the latest and greatest tools and supplies, and social events. The QuiltCon catalog is out now, and registration opens Aug. 4.

Show and tell
Possibly the favorite part of our meeting….? Here’s a sampling of what we shared:

  • Lynne showed her Gees Bend quilts, both from kits
  • Elizabeth brought a Halloween-themed quilt and another from a Quilt Crossing kit
  • Delanie might be new to quilting but she knocked it out of the ballpark with a modern take on a t-shirt quilt
  • Kathy showed gingham quilts pieced from an assortment of fabric types, all provided by a friend
  • Linda made the Ray Quilt, an oversized log cabin with big stitch handwork as part of a Quilt-Along with Carolyn Friedlander; and finished a small quilt in neutrals and earth colors

Hope you see you at Quilting Day Camp on July 24!

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Jun
2021

June 26 meeting is in person!

categories: Events, Modern Quilting, Monthly Meetings, Sew Days

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

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May
2021

Modern Moment: Improv Piecing

categories: Modern Quilting, Monthly Meetings

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. At our May meeting, members shared their improv quilts and we looked at a few other examples.

Above, some examples from our own:

  • The BMQG’s Get ‘er Done community quilt – sewn together by Millissa Masters – features blues, yellows and a pop of red, put together improv-style
  • Karen Flavey participated in a workshop with Cindy Grisdela to create these lovely pink curves
  • Lynne Crawford shared two of her improv quilts in bold solids
  • Darla Christiansen made 2.5″ scrappy blocks for a rainbow effect
  • Delanie Edmunds showed us her take on an improv t-shirt quilt

You can find an impressive array of examples made by other people by visiting the Modern Quilt Guild’s gallery.

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