The Boise Modern Quilt Guild presents a Yard Sale of Sewing Stuff! Come shop from local quilters’ fabric, sewing supplies, handmade gifts and more on Saturday, May 21, 9am-3pm at 1104 Warm Springs Ave., Boise (corner of Warm Springs and Walnut).
The sale will be during the annual Warm Springs Yard Sale event, so you can shop for other treasures afterward! Please be courteous to neighborhood parking needs and park along side streets.
(Also note, the yard sale replaces our monthly meeting.)
A giant thanks to special guest Lindsay Crouch of RipleyClark.com for sharing some of her vintage quilts during our April meeting. The quilts she showed have quite contemporary elements despite being more than 100 years old.
In addition to her trunk show, Lindsay offered tips for how she cares for these old quilts and sparked a larger discussion on the topic:
A giant thanks to special guest Lindsay Crouch of RipleyClark.com for sharing some of her vintage quilts. Watch for a separate post soon with photos and tips about caring for old quilts. We were also excited to welcome new members to our meeting! Here’s what else:
Show & Tell
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:
Finally, check out this story on our blog to see where our Get ‘er Done quilts have gone!
As part of our mission, the Boise Modern Quilt Guild provides opportunities for giving back to the community through the use of modern quilting skills. And as usual, our members jump in to help, and participate in making Get ‘er Done quilts — so named because the seeds of these quilts are often extra blocks or neglected projects that simply need a little attention and TLC to get done.
The Get ‘er Done project is a continuation of other community efforts. Since 2021, at least 10 BMQG quilts have found homes with local families and organizations. A huge thanks to everyone who’s helped stitch these together, and for folks who help deliver the quilts! Here’s a recap of where the quilts have gone.
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
SHOW and TELL
We revealed the results of our Paint Chip Challenge and mini quilt swap at our February meeting. The results were pretty amazing!
We had a full and fun meeting, with lots of show & tell and swaps. Watch for a separate post soon dedicated to just our Paint Chip Challenge Swap.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SHOW & TELL
100 DAY PROJECT
Darla and Jeri were inspired by Sarah Ruiz’s presentation at QuiltCon about 100 day projects. Sarah’s approach is to pick your own timeframe (maybe 5 days or 30 days are better for you), and then decide your own rules. Anything goes, whether it’s sewing one seam a day (Darla’s goal toward finishing some UFOs) or putting two pieces together every day (Jeri’s plan for a neglected project) — you get to make the rules and change them if you need to. Marilyn has joined in and if you are interested, you’ll find lots of #100dayproject inspiration on social media.
GIVING BACK / GET ‘ER DONE
Deb and Lindsie completed two small quilt tops that were passed along to Marilyn for quiltiling. There are still plenty of orphan blocks that could be assembled into tops, so please check out the Get ‘er Done table at our next meeting. 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.
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.)
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.
Our resident Sister of the Hex Shelly Harshman is in the Member Spotlight. She’s a long-serving member of the BMQG board, where she oversees all things Membership related. Shelly is quick-humored, and an accomplished quilter with a terrific eye for color.
How did you first get involved with Boise Modern Quilt Guild?
Shelly: I was looking for a smaller, more modern group to join. When I did a Google search, I was impressed with the colorful logo and the information about this group. I came to a meeting, and felt really welcome.
What’s your first memory of something related to quilting or sewing?
Shelly: My mom paid me to make summer shorts for my little sisters when I was around 12. I sewed all my skirts and blouses and dresses while I was in school. My mom was always sewing, and it’s been a part of my life as long as I can remember.
What’s your most memorable, or favorite, quilting project?
Shelly: My sisters and I made hexi quilts together. That will probably always be my favorite project. Sisters of the Hex rule!!
How would you describe your quilting design style or aesthetic?
Shelly: I love color, and trying something new. A pattern is just a place to start.
What colors, shapes, fabrics do you gravitate to? What do you use most in your designs?
Shelly: I love bright jewel tones, and super scrappy quilts – loads of surprising details to find. Curved blocks are a current favorite. I love a quilt pattern that you have to look at for a while to figure out how they put it together. I’m always up for a challenge.
Is there someone or something that has influenced your quilting?
Shelly: My mom was always sewing, but she’s not a quilter. I thought everybody had matching clothes and pajamas for their dolls. I learned my sewing skills from her. My Grandma Spencer was a quilter and I have wonderful memories of her hand quilting on wooden frames on the covered back patio at her home. Sadly, she passed away before I caught the quilting bug.
What might someone be surprised to know about you?
Shelly: Hmmm…. I’ve kissed the Blarney Stone and I drive a Mini Cooper.
What do you do when you aren’t quilting?
Shelly: I don’t understand the question.
What are you working on now?
Shelly: I’m free motion quilting the backlog of quilt tops that are hanging in my closet. I use my home machine to quilt them. I try to always have something to plan, something to piece, and something to quilt, and some handwork. I received a Featherweight for Christmas this year, and I’ve been loving piecing on it!
What’s the project that you always intended to do (quilting or otherwise) but haven’t yet?
Shelly: I want to make the La Passacaglia quilt. So far, I have a nice big pinterest board with ideas, and have ordered the book and papers.
What’s the longest-lasting UFO in your collection?
Shelly: I’m currently pretty caught up – I have quilt tops that need to be quilted, but the oldest is probably only a couple of years old. Covid has given me more time to work on projects.
Do you have a preferred snack or beverage while you’re sewing? If so, what is it?
Shelly: Dr. Pepper and peanut m&m’s.
What do you listen to or watch while you’re sewing? Do you have any recommendations to share?
Shelly: I love audiobooks and music. Movies on the iPad distract me unless it’s something I’ve seen a bunch of times. Mysteries and Clive Cussler adventures are favorites.