Thanks to everyone who joined us last Saturday for a great trunk show from BMQG’s founding president, Christy Foltz. Thank you Christy for all you’ve done for BMQG! We would not be here celebrating 15 years had you not launched us into existence. And, a big thanks also to Vice President Mary Simmons for running a great meeting. There’s so much more happening! Don’t miss these:
March 23: Charles Cameron virtual workshop
1-5 p.m. Eastern, Zoom
The Lancaster MQG is sharing a Charles Cameron workshop (Crooked Crosses and Bent Boxes) through zoom for just $50. Charles was a hit when he was in Boise last summer, and this is a great opportunity to learn about his approach to design and construction, or refresh your workshop experience. Register here:
https://lancastermqg.com/
March 28-29: Quilt San Francisco 2025
In-person and online quilt show, featuring more than 300 quilts, wearable art, presentations, and a drawing to win one of 12 splendid full sized quilts. For details and ticket purchase, visit https://www.sfquiltersguild.
April 26: BMQG Improv Quilt as You Go
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Hillcrest Boise Public Library, Boise
Our monthly meeting will feature Millissa Masters teaching her technique for Improv Quilt as You Go, and will be the sole focus of the meeting. There is no fee for this class, but advance registration is required. Watch for a separate email with sign-up and supplies info. Members get priority sign up; non-members may attend if space allows. (If you signed up at the February meeting, consider yourself already registered.)
May 10: BMQG Modern Circles: Simple techniques for every skill level with Joyce Cambron
10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Boise First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2201 Woodlawn Ave., Boise
Joyce’s goal in sharing her curved technique is to give you options when it comes to piecing curved seams in your designs. And whether you’re creating an original design, or making a pieced classic like Drunkard’s Path, this class gives you the techniques so that it becomes less daunting! Registration and supply details coming soon. Fee: $35 members / $45 non-members
May 30-31: FREE “No Frills” In-Town Retreat (Note date change)
9 a.m. – 9p.m. (Both Days) First Christian Church 619 12th Ave. South, Nampa
Join our sister guild in Nampa for as much sewing as you can handle (ha!). We’ll be at the church where NMQG holds their monthly meetings. Bring your own food, or enjoy the local Nampa restaurants downtown for both/either day. There is plenty of parking at the church. We are working to bring in someone for scissor sharpening and sewing maintenance while we are there — stay tuned for more details. And, if you want to reach out for maintenance, you can contacts one of these folks anytime: Ed Baker: (208) 447-8264 / Vern Johnson: (208) 371-1646 (Vern also is great with longarm maintenance)
15th Anniversary Swag
Check it out! Shirts and hoodies available for purchase with this special link https://www.etsy.com/shop/
Portable Office Chair
Several people were interested in Mary’s portable sewing chair that folds up — Mary had at the January Sew Party. It is called: PRO, Stackable & Foldable Conference Room Chairs with 2X Thick Cushion, Lumbar Support, Armrest – Mesh Bouncing Back for Office Meeting. Here’s the link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
There’s lots more information below, including updates on Creative Challenges (thank you Cheryl Seath for the overview on Saturday!) and more. See you at the March 22 meeting featuring Dianne Kane with Stitches to Stories trunk show.
February 22, 2025
Boise Library on Ustick & Cole Road
Mary Simmons, Vice President, opened the meeting with a welcome to everyone.
Mary then introduced the agenda for the days meeting:
*Trunk show by Christy Foltz
*Future Challenges to be introduced
*Some 15 Year Anniversary swag to purchase
*Yearly meeting programs and locations of each.
*New permanent meeting location starting in June 2025
Christy showed us her beautiful modern quilts, photos of these 8 quilts are in the google drive for this meeting date file. Her quilts are used by herself and her family. The intricate star quilt she showed last was handmade for her by Kadee Porter, this quilt was made in 6 weeks it was hand pieced and hand quilted for her while she was going through breast cancer treatments, very special quilt to her. Other quilts she showed were influenced by Denyse Schmidt, Ruby Star designers and Kadee Porter among others.
Christy enjoyed sleeping under a quilt made by her grandmothers as a child and remembered it fondly. Later in life she took a quilt class at Quilt Crossing and after time realized she did not have an interest in the colors or fabrics used in the quilt or the blocks used. She started designing her own quilts and creating her own fabric combinations. She was drawn to the simple design of the modern quilts.
First quilt she saw that got her started was the one she slept under at her grandmother’s house. This is her first memory of quilts and most memorable.
She describes her quilting style and designs as lots of space in the design, likes white space, wonky and in the beginning she liked no rules to the blocks and or patterns.
Is there someone or something that has influenced your quilting?
Her influences include Denyse Schmidt, whose book is her quilting bible, and Amy Butler’s books and styles. She is most recently influenced by Ruby Star Society Fabrics and their designers.
What might someone be surprised to know about you?
She works in Communications with Ada County Highway District, has not quilted in the past 3 years, is now knitting socks. She is good friends with Kadee Porter who is her mentor at ACHD.
What projects or quilts have you longed to do and have yet to do?
Christy is trying to allow herself to be open to doing other projects and go buy the supplies needed to do that project. Recently she took cookie painting class but decided this was not for her.
Longest Unfinished project:
She never finished the first quilt she started at a class with Quilt Crossing, did not like the colors and has decided to give it away.
Preferred snack or beverage while making? What do you listen to or watch while you’re sewing? Do you have any recommendations to share?
Seltzer water, dark chocolate and enjoys listening to podcasts and NPR radio. She really enjoys the “Wiser Than Me” podcast by Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Has her daughter started to quilt or knit?
Daughter has designed a quilt and has done some knitting, she is currently a senior in high school, plans to get a bio-chemistry degree and is going on to get her PhD in chemistry.
2. Challenge Quilt blocks: introduced by the Challenge group-Cheryl and Linda
Cheryl Introduced three different challenges that will be happening at the April, June and July meetings and how this will work.
- April Challenge: ugly fat quarter exchange; use 75% of the the ugly fabric on your project top; project can be any size.
- May Challenge: orphaned blocks to be made into a 6×40 inch wall hanging, hopefully all quilts will be in the October quilt show as a small group effort.
- Improv Block Challenge in four shapes to be presented in June and July. June shapes: Lines and Curves and July will be Triangles and polygons.
3. 15th Year Swag options will be available to purchase, very nice and soft shirts for members.
* Choice of T-shirts, Hoodie or Sweatshirts will have the 15 year logo on it, in white or black backgrounds. Shirts are designed and printed by James Allan available on Etsy. Members will be able to order and pay via credit card, in the following dates by batches.
4. Future meetings and workshops
April: Improv Quilt as you go Method.
April 26, 2025 at the Hillcrest Library, Butte room. 10:30 am to 1:45 pm
Millissa Masters will teach Improv Quilting as you Go method. A sign up sheet was passed around so she can prepare for materials. Melissa talked about using biased cut fabrics on to batting as a foundation to achieve this method and a sample was sent around to look at.
May: Simple Modern circles, Simple techniques for every skill level
May 10 at Boise First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2201 Woodlawn Ave., Boise
Teacher: Joyce Cambron,
Fee $35 members/ $45 non-members
May 30-31 In-Town Retreat with the Nampa Modern Quilt Guild
First Christian Church in Nampa
Make and take: Rice Pouch Bag
June, July Sept, October and November
New meeting location: Boise First Congregational United Church of Christ, 2201 Woodlawn Ave., Boise
Notes: Annual Meeting moved from Beginning of December to November 15.
Also announced was the Quilt San Francisco coming March 2025. Online quilt show March 28-29. Link to online viewing of photos and videos of the show available March 31-April 20.
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