Posts from the ‘Sew Days’ category


Apr
2023

April meeting was a hoot!

categories: Community Projects, Events, Monthly Meetings, Sew Days

Our April meeting making face collages was so fun and energetic! A huge thanks to Cathy R. for coaching us through the process and for her design inspiration! And, we’d love to see your face when it’s complete — members, watch your email for a future group show & tell.

  • July target for Scaled Triangles & Leader/Ender: Turn everything in by the July meeting, and from there we’ll start assembling quilt tops for donation. So far we’ve received 22 of the large Scaled Triangle blocks (wow!), and quite a stack of completed scrappy leader/ender blocks. If you’re working on the leader/ender blocks, you can bring completed, or partially-completed chunks (pairs or half blocks) to the next meeting; you may want to exchange other partially-completed blocks to mix up fabrics. Finished leader-ender blocks should turn out 6.5“ but you might find yours are a little skinny. No worries, they’ll all go together great!!
  • Community Giving: We’ve already delivered 26 quilts so far this year – that’s so amazing! Thank you Linda J., Jamie H. and Mary S. for some recent long arm quilting, and to everyone who has helped with binding, piecing and delivering. Warm Spring Counseling Center expressed an interest in receiving four “cozy” quilts to use in therapy offices during sessions with children clients — so if you’re inclined to sew with minky or flannel, this might be the project for you.
  • Drawstring backpacks & zipper pouches: This week we’ve delivered more than 20 finished drawstring backpacks and 30 zipper pouches for sustainable period packs to the Faces of Hope Victim Center. Thank you Pam P. for helping with deliveries!
  • Spring cleaning: We’ll be clearing out the burgeoning collection of donated fabric, orphan blocks, books and patterns in the coming months. If you’re doing the same, please refrain from bringing your unwanted items to BMQG, and instead find another good home.

To see photos from everyone’s show & tell, check out our Facebook and Instagram feeds (this is thanks to Apryl!). And, the May 27 meeting is open sew! Bring your projects, machines, tools and say hello. We’ll be at the Bown Library in east Boise (2153 E. Riverwalk Dr., 83706), 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

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Apr
2023

March meeting recap

categories: Community Projects, Member Spotlight, Monthly Meetings, Sew Days

We had a fun and super productive meeting! Thanks to everyone who worked on making drawstring backpacks! Here’s a recap of our day:

Drawstring backpacks & zipper pouches: We had 20 finished drawstring backpacks (wow!) by the end of the meeting. Nicely done all! We still have a few pre-cut packs ready to sew (thanks Anna for cutting and Marilyn for fabric!), and if you’d like one or two of these pre-cuts before the next meeting, please send a note to [email protected]. We’ll bring more cording to the April meeting for those who have backpacks in the works. And, we are looking for some more zipper pouches that will hold sustainable period packs. These items will all be gifted to Faces of Hope Victim Center.

Community Giving: We received a treasure trove of finished quilts for donating (thank you Carol M. and Marilyn for your generosity), plus others ready for  quilting — and yahoo! our amazing long arm quilters Linda A. and Jamie volunteered to quilt them. Mary brought a completed whole-cloth quilt, which was snatched up for binding. Thanks everyone for helping out!  (notes about backing: if passing a quilt to a long arm quilter, please make your quilt back 3-4 inches bigger than the front on all four sides; this extra fabric allows the quilt to be attached to the long arm rollers)

Scaled Triangles & Leader/Ender: Our Modern Quilt Bee is well underway, with nine blocks already completed. We’re looking for more blocks (see attached instructions). And as Marilyn says, any red, orange, or pink will work! Marilyn also brought pre-cut scrappy fabrics for a simple leader ender quilt. If you took some home to sew, bring them back next month. Ultimately, both quilts will be donated to a local organization.

April 22 Meeting Faces Collage: Our own Cathy R. will lead us in making whimsical collage portrait mini quilts. No sewing machine needed; just bring scraps to share, scissors and glue sticks (watch your email for details). We’ll be at the Library at Cole & Ustick (7557 W Ustick Rd, Boise) 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Thanks to Linda Armstrong for her wonderful show & tell! What a variety of beautiful and charming pieces she shared. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out her member spotlight. And, to see photos from everyone’s show & tell, keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram feeds.

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Mar
2023

Join us March 25 for Drawstring Backpacks!

categories: Community Projects, Member Spotlight, Monthly Meetings, Sew Days

When: Saturday, March 25, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Library at Cole & Ustick, Sagebrush Room, 7557 W. Ustick Rd.
What: We’ll have a sew day making drawstring backpacks. The meeting will feature Linda Armstrong in the Member Spotlight .

Things to know:

  • Bring your show & tell and community giving quilts: We want to see what you’ve been working on! And, if you have any community giving quilts (in any phase) to pass along to a new home, or for a next step toward completion, bring those, too! As a reminder, the Guild provides batting for these donation quilts. Please contact Millissa Masters (BMQG Secretary) to get the batting you need (members, check your email for Millissa’s contact info).
  • We can use 30 more zipper pouches by late April: Faces Victim Center is working with a high school student to create kits with sustainable menstrual products (like period cups and underwear, washable cloth pads, and organic cotton tampons). They asked if BMQG members would be willing to provide more zipper pouches to package the items, instead of using plastic ziploc bags. If you’re interested in making another pouch, any pattern works. Here’s one we have used: https://blog.noodle-head.com/2012/06/open-wide-zippered-pouch-diy-tutorial.html
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Feb
2023

Feb. 25 Meeting & Mini Sew Day

categories: Monthly Meetings, Sew Days

Join us for our February meeting and mini sew day.

BMQG Guild Meeting & Mini Sew Day
When: Saturday, Feb. 25, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (please note new start time)
Where: Main Boise Public Library, Marion Bingham Room (3rd floor), 715 S. Capitol Blvd., Boise

– Bring your show & tell and community giving quilts: We want to see what you’ve been working on! And, if you have any community giving quilts (in any phase) to pass along to a new home, or for a next step toward completion, bring those, too!

– Member Spotlight: Linda Jolly has amazing quilting skills, and she’ll share some of her work with us.

– If you plan to sew: Bring your machine, tools and projects. We’ll have a small ironing board and an iron available.

We hope to see you on the 25th. 🙂

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Jul
2022

July 23 Meeting & MQG updates

categories: Block of the Month, Monthly Meetings, Sew Days

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).
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Jul
2022

Announcing our Modern Quilting Bee + June 2022 Meeting Recap

categories: Block of the Month, Community Projects, Monthly Meetings, Sew Days

Modern Quilting Bee

We’re kicking off a Modern Quilting Bee Project! It’s simple to participate, and we think it will be so fun! We’re starting with this 16.5-inch unfinished block.

You’ll need to login as a member of MQG — once logged in, you can follow this path to the pattern: For MQG Members > MQG Journal > Previous Issues > MQG Journal Issue 02 > scroll down the page to find “Issue 02 / Block Study / Barbed” and click on More.  If you trouble getting to the pattern, email us for help.  (Barbed quilt block by Molly Wardlow; photo by Laura Loewen)

Millissa (BMQG Secretary) is leading the effort and has chosen a tranquil blue and aqua color theme, you can also throw in a natural off white if you are inspired.

  • Make your block using these similar colors, using either solids or prints. Don’t worry about finding an exact color match.
  • You can use the Clearly Perfect Slotted Trimmers ruler, or something like it for quickly making a batch of Half Square Triangles (HSTs). Or, check out this tutorial if you want to brush up on tips for making HSTs.
  • Bring your completed block to the July 23 meeting.
  • Eventually, the completed quilt will be part of our Get ‘er Done quilts and gifted to a community organization.

Zipper Pouches

A giant thanks to everyone who joined us for making zipper pouches! We collected 31 completed pouches by the end of the meeting – and we know there are more out there being stitched up. The pouches will be filled with personal care items, including items from Jill Shelton Wagers, DMD and Hilton Garden Inn at Pioneer Crossing, and donated to two local organizations: Faces of Hope Victim Center and Community Outreach Behavioral Services (COBS). We especially appreciated the tips and tutorial from Apryl and Cathy R.

If you’re working on a pouch, plan to turn it in by the July 23 meeting. You can follow this simple tutorial by Noodelhead (or if you have an equally simple pouch pattern, you’re welcome to make that). If members are interested in continuing the project, we can add it to our ongoing community giving activities.

Show & Tell

  • Marilyn was in the Member Spotlight, and brought a collection that illustrated her journey as a quilter. She made her first quilt for her doll’s bed, and not knowing any different, she cleverly used dryer lint as batting. After that, there was no stopping Marilyn! She admitted that she “love(s) weird backs” and Elizabeth Hartman designs.
  • Cassie showed the quilt top she finished during Friday night Club Mod get togethers. There are so. many. HSTs. She’s also leading girls at her church to make fabric bracelets using this fabric and paper version and this fabric-wrapped cord version.
  • Darla showed a purse that’s part of the Sew Powerful purse project. The purses are sent to Zambian girls to use for carrying feminine hygiene supplies, thus allowing them to stay in school all month. Find the pattern here. A group of friends will send a package of purses at the end of October, and if you’d like to make a purse, simply get it to Darla, Jeri or Cathy R. by the October meeting.

Get ‘er Done quilts: If you’re helping make quilts to share in our community, Anna Y. reminded us that throw or twin bed sizes would be especially appreciated by some organizations, though smaller baby quilts will also be accepted. Need batting? The Guild recently purchased a supply for this very purpose. Send us a note to let us know what you need!;

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Jun
2022

Join us in June for Zipper Pouches!

categories: Community Projects, Member Spotlight, Monthly Meetings, Sew Days

When: Saturday, June 25, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: Sewfinity, 800 S Industry Way Ste 360, Meridian
What: The meeting will feature Marilyn Shake in the Member Spotlight and making zipper pouches.

We’ll be making zipper pouches to donate to two local organizations: Faces of Hope Victim Center and Community Outreach Behavioral Services (COBS). We’re asking you to help make the pouches following this simple tutorial by Noodelhead (or if you have an equally simple pouch pattern, you’re welcome to make that), and then we’ll fill the pouches with personal care items, donated by local businesses. The Noodlehead medium pouch (check here for cutting info) is a versatile size and perfect for our inserts. BMQ is supplying zippers and interfacing — and we need you to bring your fabric, sewing machine and your quilty selves to help make it all come together!

What to bring:

  • your sewing machine & tools (irons, ironing boards and cutting mats are provided by Sewfinity)
  • fabric (if you want to get a jump start, cut 2 pieces of exterior fabric and 2 pieces of lining to 9“ x 12”)
  • you can use one piece of fabric for the exterior, or maybe get creative and piece something to a finished size of 9“ x 12”

Apryl Gardner has graciously agreed to lead us in a pouch-making tutorial at the meeting, along with Cathy Rogers’ own bag-making tips. They’ve both made loads of professional-grade pouches, bags and purses, so have first-hand expertise in this area. Our goal is to make 30-40 pouches in this initial effort. If members are interested in continuing the project, we can add it to our ongoing community giving activities.

We hope to see you soon!

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Apr
2022

April Meeting: Vintage Quilts, Repair & more

categories: Monthly Meetings, Sew Days
Join us for our monthly meeting! 
 
When: Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

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!

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Mar
2022

March Meeting Recap

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

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 the William 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.

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.
  • Elizabeth finished a colorful Jennifer Sampou quilt.
  • 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.
  • Carol A. completed a bright and cheerful rug from Tula Pink jelly roll fabric.
  • Deb recieved her paint chip challenge mini quilt, made by Linda J.
  • Carol made two Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired window quilts, which hang on either side of her fireplace at home, using the Jackie Robinson “Quilts in the Tradition of Frank Lloyd Wright“ book.
  • Karen’s organic, free-form quilts were made following Hilde Morin techniques; Karen managed two bonus pieces from her scraps!
  • Shelly showed her spring bloom quilt and received her paint chip mini quilt from Angela.
  • Jeri created a large fabric bowl.
  • Ginny showed a table runner using Jennifer Sampou’s sky fabric and pattern from the “Ombre Quilt” book.
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Feb
2022

Feb. Meeting: Mini Sew Day & Paint Chip Challenge Swap

categories: Member Spotlight, Monthly Meetings, Sew Days

We’re in person for our next meeting!

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.

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