July Meeting Announcement

It's hard to believe it's already been a year since our first official meeting.  On Sunday, July 7, 2013, we will be celebrating our first anniversary at our July meeting.  The meeting will be held, as usual, from 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm at the Pittsburgh Project (2801 North Charles Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15214)

First, some business, then the fun details:

Dues for the 2013-2014 fiscal year will be $35.  Please remember to bring your dues payment to the July meeting.  If you cannot make it to the meeting or have questions about dues, please contact the guild leadership.

The meeting will be a potluck...and the potluck will include a birthday cake!  An E-vite has been sent out to the distribution list.  Please RSVP and let the group know what you will be bringing.  If you didn't receive the E-vite, please contact us and we will be sure to add you to the list! 

We will be making sewn name tags as our activity for the meeting.  A few examples are shown below.
 

A few examples of name tags - thanks to Jodi for putting the collage together!

Your name tag can be on a lanyard or pin-on or whatever you would like.  You're free to be as creative as you'd like!  If you're uncomfortable going without a pattern, try to find something online that you can follow.

Finally, we will have our usual show-and-tell session at the meeting.  Bring a project to show off or get advice.

We're looking forward to celebrating our first anniversary with everyone and seeing their spectacular nametags!

Stitching Hope

The Martha Washington Quilters Guild in Washington, PA, started a t-shirt campaign to raise money for Moore, Oklahoma following this spring's devastating weather.  The funds raised from the sale will benefit Central Oklahoma's Habitat for Humanity. 

The Stitching Hope t-shirt features the Road to Oklahoma block and will be sold online through June 30, 2013.  Shirts are just $15 and it benefits a great cause!

June 2013 Meeting Notes

June 2, 2013

Members:  Jodi, Lauren, Gerri, Stephanie, Sarah, and Kathy

Guest: Barb (2nd visit with us!)

New member: Amy

The Sew and Show

The Pittsburgh Modern Quilt Guild members continue to amaze with their WIPs!  The June PGH MQG meeting began with Show-and-Tell.  Gerri and Stephanie shared their modern mood quilts, which were beautiful, colorful and so original!  Amy, the guild’s latest member, shared a modern quilt top that she recently completed by participating in a “mystery” BOM hosted by Craftsy.  

It was also time to share again as members brought out projects to work on during this month’s meeting.  Spider web blocks in red – yum!  Embroidery stitches on a fabulous piece of Anna Maria Horner fabric!  Colorful drafting of an original quilt pattern – impressive!  While other members honed their hand-quilting skills and pieced together hexagons.  Shared ideas everywhere!

The Business

Joining The Modern Quilt Guild

Time for business during the second half of the meeting…  Lauren has registered the PGH MQG as a tentatively official member of the Modern Quilt Guild.  In conjunction with this status, PMQG members can take advantage of discounts the first MQG Sew Down in Philadelphia.  In July we will submit additional paperwork to become an “official” guild.  Members should check out the MQG website for more information. If you are a member in good standing and interested in attending the first Sew Down in Philadelphia shoot us an email for the discount code.

The First-Ever PGH MQG Members Exhibition

Jodi had a huge announcement to make – the PGH MQG has been invited by the Carnegie Public Library to present the first-ever “PGH MQG Members Quilt Exhibit” during September/October 2013.  What a wonderful opportunity for guild members to showcase modern quilting in Pittsburgh!  A reception for the exhibition has tentatively been scheduled for Sunday, September 8. The reception will take place instead of the Guild’s monthly meet-up at The Pittsburgh Project. 

During the meeting members discussed what kind of show they would like to have to demonstrate the modern quilt movement. Several ideas were generated taking into consideration the space and mounting limitations in the gallery space. The following was determined:

·         Members must be in good standing (i.e. dues paid for 2013-2014) in order to display work in the show; all quilt work submitted should be modern.

·         Modern mini-quilt challenge: All members are encouraged to create a modern mini-quilt that captures your interpretation of Pittsburgh. Mini-quilts should be no bigger than 8” X 10”.

·         There will like be space for additional members’ quilts. Members are encouraged to submit/prepare individual quilts 3-4 feet in width that represent the “modern” aesthetic in quilting. 

o   Please note: If we have more quilts than exhibition space the group determined we would draw names at the August meeting to determine what larger quilts will be displayed.

·         PMQG members should notify the Leadership Team by Sunday, August 4^th, of their intent to participate and the size of their quilt. 

·         There will be a community interaction element to the reception and exhibition. Three great ideas were generated. Those projects will be determined once discussed with the library curator.

·         The Leadership Team will provide additional details regarding the exhibit at the July and August PMQG meetings.

Upcoming- the July Meet-up

The Guild will turn one year old in July!  Happy Birthday PGH MQG! To celebrate the Guild will have a sweet celebration. Members are encouraged to bring snacks to share. Someone on the Leadership Team suggested we have a quilt-themed birthday cake… We shall see if we can make that happen.  
During the festivities we will also have a mini quilting challenge. Bring along your sewing machine, fabric and supplies to make your own modern guild name tag. More details to follow.

The Guild’s birthday also means that membership fees are due in July. Dues can be renewed with Lauren at the Sunday, July 7^th meeting or by mail.  Dues for the upcoming year are $35. If you will be mailing in your dues please email for the mailing address.
 
The PGH MQG birthday party/meet-up will be held on Sunday, July 7 from 1-4pm at the Pittsburgh Project.  We hope to see you then!