More Quilt Block Creativity

Lauren J., who showed off a few of her amazing quilts at the first Pittsburgh MQG meeting, has sent along four quilt blocks she made recently for the QuiltCon quilt block challenge.

They are all equally amazing. Since only three can be entered into the block challenge Lauren has an additional challenge of determining which ones she wants to submit.

Lauren had the following to say about the blocks, "All of the blocks are machine pieced.  I used improv piecing at some point in all of them.  I’ve been super inspired by the improv pieced blocks I’ve seen through several quilting bees and I decided to take a stab at doing it myself.  I think they all feel “modern” to me because of the colors (gray & white + bright modern prints), because of the improv and wonky piecing, and because of the increased use of white space.  On the hexagon one, I also think it’s about using traditional patterns in new ways to get a new type of block."

Have any of you other keen modern quilters started whipping up your blocks? If not, you will have a great opportunity to hang with your other fellow modern quilters and make blocks for the QuiltCon challenge on Sunday, July 8 at the Pittsburgh Project from 1:00-4:00 PM. There will also be a great raffle thanks to a generous donation from Lori K.

Lauren, thank you for sharing your blocks. If anyone else has QuiltCon challenge blocks they would like to share please email a photo and brief description about each one. We will do our best to get them on the blog as soon as possible.

Modern Quilting Basket Raffle!

Raffle Basket

We’re raffling a basket of goodies at our first meeting!

This collection has a pretty neat history. Quilt designer/author and blogger Elizabeth Hartman offered four terrific packages of goodies on her blog, Oh Fransonn!, for a giveaway to celebrate the release of her new book “Modern Patchwork.” Our member Lori K. won one of the packages and is donating it to the guild to raise funds for future activities and expenses.

Check out those amazing modern fabrics!

The bundle consists:
Elizabeth Hartman’s book: “Modern Quilting” ($24.95)
oval template set ($9.00)
Three sets of eight fat eighth bundles Kona Solids (~$20)

You can see complete details about the bundle at Elizabeth’s website. 

To sweeten the pot, Lori is adding a set of samples of Jane Sassaman fabrics, nine pieces 13” wide-ranging from 15.5” long to 25” long, most  coordinating nicely with the Kona Solids. These still have their $7.50 price tag still on them.

Who doesn't want Kona solids to add to their stash and Elizabeth's new, amazing book?

That’s a basket full of fun valued at over $60!

Tickets will be sold ONLY at the meeting and the winner will be drawn after the business portion of the meeting. NO mail orders, due to legal restrictions.

Tickets:
One for $2
Three for $5
Seven for $10

So be sure to attend the meeting on July 8, 1-4 p.m. at The Pittsburgh Project (2801 North Charles Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15214). It’s your only chance to win!
See the previous blog post for details.


Email us if you haven't received the evite. We would be happy to add you to the evit and the Guild's email list. 

A Little Eye Candy for the Up-coming QuiltCon Sew-a-long

Michelle U., who attended the first meeting, and has been helping with getting the Pittsburgh Modern Quilt Guild up and running recently submitted some quilt blocks she made for the QuiltCon quilt block challenge. She was so excited about participating in the challenge she decided to start playing with her fabric before the up-coming July 8 meeting. Perhaps her work will be inspiring to all of you.

When asked about her work Michelle had the following to say, "I made this one first, after a lot of drafting with colored pencils. I like to sew curves, and these color choices seemed to be the strongest out of a dozen or sew that I colored. I think it's alright, but really describes what modern quilting means to me... bold colors, asymmetrical "blocks." I think this design  could stand on its own, but I might also play with it (with other solid colors or prints) to make a repeating, mirrored design. It's the first block challenge that I've ever entered."

"These are the other two blocks; the smaller, vertical one (04 I think) is just be practicing my curves. the second one, with more grey is a result of what I was seeing other people post on the Quiltcon Flickr site.... There was more piecing and more fabric used. So I went back to the drawing board and came up with another curve... I don't really have a favorite. I tend to like everyone's BUT mine! but that's the way I roll."

Many thanks to Michelle for allowing us to post her beautiful blocks to the blog and sharing her insight to their creation. Stay tuned for another quilt block challenge post later this week featuring the crafty, creativity of Lauren J.

And, just a reminder- our next meeting and QuiltCon block challenge sew-a-long is Sunday, July 8 at the Pittsburgh Project from 1:00-4:00 PM.

Please email with any questions.

The Draft of Guild Bylaws and Sew Much More

We have a draft of the Pittsburgh Modern Quilt Guild Bylaws

As announced last week we will have our next meeting on Sunday, July 8 at the Pittsburgh Project from 1:00-4:00 PM. Gina and I have been working with Lori, Michelle, and Lauren, who volunteered to help after the first meeting in May. Together we have drafted a set of bylaws. Gina and I are incredibly thankful for their help!

The draft of the bylaws is now available for your review on the Guild Meeting Notes page. Please review this draft before our next meeting. We will be discussing the draft, making suggested changes, and voting on the final draft.

Guild Leadership Elections

Once we have successfully approved and voted on the bylaws we will move on to electing Guild leadership.

We need to fill the following positions:

President

Vice President

Treasurer/Membership Coordinator

Secretary

Social Media Coordinator

A description of each of these positions is provided in the draft of the bylaws. If you are interested in nominating yourself for one of these leadership positions please send an email informing us of your self-nomination, the position, and provide a brief paragraph about yourself. This paragraph is a way for us to get to know you better and will only be shared privately via the Guild mailing list.

Please submit your nomination no later than Saturday, June 30, 2012. Once we have gathered all of the nominees we will forward the list for you to review before the meeting on July 8.

QuiltCon Block Challenge

Our first sewing activity, which will take place after we conduct general business on Sunday, July 8, will be the block challenge from the QuiltCon coordinators. This is a fun way for us to get to know one another and participate as a guild celebrating modern quilting.  The theme is “What does modern quilting mean to you?”

More information can be found here: QuiltCon Challenge. There are links to a few online fabric shops that have created fabric bundles, which fit within the challenge’s guidelines. However, you may have fabrics in your stash that fit these guidelines, and there are plenty of local fabric stores that carry these solids and a variety of matching prints.

Please plan on bringing any supplies you may need to create your quilt block(s)- this includes your sewing machine. The Project has tables, chairs, and electrical outlets, but you may also want to bring an extension cord.

Save the Date: Sunday, July 8, 2012

Save the Date: Announcing the Pittsburgh Modern Quilt Guild's Second General Meeting and First Quilt Block Challenge

Date: Sunday, July 8, 2012
Time: 1:00-4:00 PM
Location: The Pittsburgh Project (2801 North Charles Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15214)
Cost: $5 (This fee will be used to cover the cost of space rental and will be deducted from membership dues for those who choose to join the Guild)

1. The General Meeting
The General Meeting will be an opportunity to recap the first meeting, review and vote on drafted Guild bylaws, and elect Guild Leadership. (Please stay tuned as the draft of the bylaws will be posted to the blog for review no later than June 8, 2012. A call for leadership nominees will also be posted soon.)

2. The Quilt Block Challenge
The first-ever QuiltCon will take place February 21-24, 2013 in Austin, Tx.
The first-ever quilt block challenge for the Pittsburgh Modern Quilt Guild will be the QuiltCon quilt block challenge. Please bring your sewing machines and join us as we construct quilt blocks that reflects what modern quilting means to each of us.

Please follow these links to learn more about block challenge rules and helpful information provided by the MQG.
Quilt Block Challenge information  (Includes the overview, rules, and links to online fabric shops selling fabric bundles for the challenge)
Modern Quilt Guild's Quilt Block Challenge Guidelines (Includes great information on color, fabric, and design)
Quilt Block Challenge Flickr Group (Photos of blocks being entered into the challenge)

Please note: This is only a save the date announcing our next general meeting. More information about the meeting will be posted soon including the drafted bylaws written and reviewed by five people who attended the first meeting and information about the Guild Leadership elections.

Please feel free to email if you have any questions based on the provided information above.