Hello everyone!  

We're going to try again to go live for our next meeting. Barring any new changes from Allegheny County, we are going to have our October 4th meeting at our usual location, the Holy Spirit Church cafeteria in Millvale from 1pm-4pm. We are permitted to meet indoors with a maximum of 25 people, as long as we wear masks and practice social distancing. Both before and after the meeting, leadership will sanitize tables and any other surfaces that we think people will be touching, but do bring your hand sanitizer and anything else you need to make yourself feel comfortable. We don’t normally have more than 25 attendees at our meetings so we are not terribly concerned about overloading the space or turning anyone away, but if we need to, we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

On the agenda will be:

• Our normal business meeting, show and tell, etc.

• Needle book images and tutorial recommendations

• Slide tutorial on how to make the blocks for the charity quilt

• Charity quilt block kit distribution

Bernadette Kovac will be handling distribution of 30 block kits. Keeping in mind that curved piecing is involved, we have identified skill levels for each kit as either beginner, intermediate or experienced. For those of you who are attending the meeting, see Bernie for a kit of your choice. For those of you who do not want to enter the cafeteria but do want a block kit: for your convenience, Bernie will be conducting a drive through distribution option in the church parking lot during the meeting hours. If you wish to use this option, please contact Bernie directly at 412-760-6736 to make arrangements for pick up. Be sure to let Bernie know what time you will arrive and which level of block kit you prefer.

Now for the September Meeting Recap!

Report from the Treasurer is the same as in past months. All good there!

Our 4th quarter challenge is Monochromatic quilts!!!

Create a modern quilt that uses a monochromatic palette.

● Due date, during the December 5th meeting/sew day

● We will learn how to create monochromatic palettes during

the workshop today

● No restrictions on size, fabric, etc., and yes, you can include

blacks, whites and grays with your monochromatic selection.

The hashtag for the current challenge is:

#pghmqgmonochromaticchallenge

Don’t forget to tag your IG posts with:

#pghmqg

#showusyourmqg

We currently have 53 members signed up for the 2020/2021 year!

The 2020 QuiltCon CHarity quilt  was donated to the Manchester Bidwell Corporation. They were very appreciative of our gift and plan to display our quilt in their office space. Thanks again to everyone who helped!

2021 QuiltCon Charity Challenge:

There are many tasks to be completed and volunteers are needed. Please e-mail B at

becain777@gmail.com if you’d like to help with any of the open tasks below:

● Design Development - Sandra

● Pattern Drafting and Piecing Instructions- B

● Quilt Top Fabric Selection and Purchase - Amanda

● Quilt Back and Binding Selection and Purchase - Volunteer needed

● Fabric Cutting and Block Kit Preparation - Volunteers needed, person to person contact is required

● Kit Distribution, Method TBD - Volunteers needed

● Block Construction - All of us

● Finished Block Collection, Method TBD - Volunteer needed

● Quilt Top Assembly - Volunteers needed

● Quilt Back Assembly - Volunteer needed

● Quilting - Volunteer needed

● Quilt Binding - Volunteer needed

● Quilt Label and Sleeve Volunteer needed

Other Upcoming Meetings (Pending County Orders!)

All future meetings are pending coronavirus restrictions but whether we

meet in person or continue to distance learn, this is what’s in the hopper

for later in the year:

● November - Various Binding Techniques and Tutorials

● December - Sew Day and Holiday Needlebook Exchange

Also, we are planning an online workshop with a “sewlebrity” to tide us over in the event that we can’t meet in person for extended period of time. This has been a bit more difficult to arrange than we thought. More info. to come!

Leadership Reminder

It's not too soon to start thinking about filling leadership positions for 2021. We are seeking nominations for all positions which include:

● President

● Vice President of Programming

● Vice President of Membership

● Treasurer

● Social Media Coordinator

If you’d like to nominate yourself or someone else, contact 

Pam Morrison at yopamm@gmail.com

Last and not least! Great job to all the members who participated in the 3rd quarter Triangle quilt challenge! Beautiful job, Ladies!

Bernie Kovak

Laurie Mizrahi

Mary Gregg

Sandy Schott

Sharon Galli

Zsofia Molgaard

OCTOBER & NOVEMBER RECAP

 

Hello Guild Members! We have had two wonderful monthly meetings in-person so let hope we have our December All Day, Sew Day in-person as well!

Allegheny County is still in the yellow!

...but we’re going to continue meeting safely and will continue to provide digital content for those who do not wish to attend in person.

● No more than 40 attendees (cafeteria)

● No more than 63 attendees (lyceum)

● Disinfect tables and other touched

surfaces before and after meetings

Also, please leave the center lane open for church patrons to pass. 

Annual Retreat

Yay! Mark your calendars! Our annual retreat is scheduled from

Friday, May 7th through Sunday, May 9th.

Single occupancy overnights and sleep at home options will be

offered. Meal or no meal options will be offered as well.

More info. to follow early in 2021.

Membership

We have 54 members for our 2020/21 year!

QuiltCon 2021

QuiltCon will be virtual for 2021.

● Quilt Submissions (by photo only) are due by the end of November

● Community Outreach Quilts will be submitted in photo form and will be posted online by the MQG for all to see. Our Quilt has been registered and submitted in drawing, rather than photo form. Photos can be swapped out in January for outreach quilts only.

2021 QuiltCon Community Outreach Quilt Challenge

Moving in the Best Circles - exemplifies the caliber and spirit of the Pittsburgh Modern Quilt Guild members. When we work together, we learn from one another, elevate our skills and benefit greatly from our interactions. The results of this are much more than the beautiful works we create, we are rewarded with an understanding of the importance of community and the value of pride in our accomplishments.

● Sandra is collecting finished quilt blocks today if you have them

● Blocks must be completed and received by the December 5th sew day

● If you have difficulty with your block(s), hate it, and don't want to do it, will not have enough time or lost it, never fear! Just let B know and we’ll figure something out! This is supposed to be fun!

There are a few tasks to be completed and volunteers are needed. Please e-mail B at becain777@gmail.com if you’d like to help with any of the open tasks below:

● Quilt Top Assembly During December 5th Sew Day - Volunteers needed

● Quilt Binding, Label and Sleeve Assembly During December 5th Sew Day - Volunteers needed

● Quilting - Sandra

● Quilt Binding, Label and Sleeve Application - Volunteer needed

● Quilt Photography and Submission Sandra and B

4th Quarter Challenge - Monochromatic!

Create a modern quilt that uses a monochromatic palette.

● Due date, during the December 5th meeting/sew day

● No restrictions on size, fabric, etc., and yes, you can include blacks, whites and grays with your monochromatic selection

● This is the last 2020 entry challenge project for the 2021 free retreat drawing. You can make a 1” x 1” quilt and qualify! Don't miss out.

Social Media

The hashtag for the current challenge is: #pghmqgmonochromaticchallenge

Don’t forget to tag your IG posts with:

#pghmqg

#showusyourmqg

#pghmqgcommunityoutreachquilt

Online Workshop - Guild Subsidized

Virtual Two Day Kitchen Sink Quilting with Maria Shell - Nov 14 - 15 2020, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Upcoming Meeting - 2020

Saturday, December 5th - 9:00 am - 9:00 pm - Lyceum

○ Sew Day and Regular Business Meeting at 1:00 pm

○ 4th quarter Monochromatic Challenges and Drawing

○ Community Outreach Quilt

Final Block Collection, Make Top, Bias, Sleeve and Label

○ Needle Book Swap

○ One meal from Jimmy Johns, otherwise BYO food/drink

Upcoming Meetings - 2021

Sunday 3-Jan Meeting 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Cafeteria Elections

Sunday 7-Feb Meeting 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Cafeteria TBD

Saturday 6-Mar Sew Day 9:00 am - 9:00 pm Cafeteria FPP Sewing 101 Break Out

Sunday 11-Apr Meeting 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Cafeteria FPP Pattern Making 101

Fri- Sun 7-9 May Retreat TBD - TBD Martina Business Meeting if Needed

Sunday 6-Jun Meeting 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Cafeteria TBD

Sunday 11-Jul Meeting 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Cafeteria TBD

Sunday 7-Aug Sew Day 9:00 am - 9:00 pm Cafeteria TBD

Sunday 12-Sep Meeting 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Cafeteria TBD

Sunday 3-Oct Meeting 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Cafeteria TBD

Sunday 7-Nov Meeting 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Cafeteria TBD

Saturday 4-Dec Sew Day 9:00 am - 9:00 pm Lyceum TBD

Leadership Reminder

We have nominations for 2021 leadership and welcome more:

● President - We have one nomination

● Vice President of Programming - We have one nomination

● Vice President of Membership - We have one nomination + an alternate

● Treasurer - Has one year remaining but could be an alternate

● Social Media Coordinator - We have one nomination

If you’d like to nominate yourself or someone else, contact Pam Morrison at

yopamm@gmail.com

If you are interested in either learning more about needle books (this is also our December Swap) or more on binding please view the slides from October and November that were sent to your email. 

SHOW & TELL

An Afternoon of Improv Peicing - Pre-meeting Preparation

As we get closer to our next meeting date and workshop I thought I would send some helpful tips to prep for the class.

Selecting your fabrics:

Having trouble deciding on what fabrics to choose? Here are some ideas help you select your fabrics & perhaps lead you to a fabric combination that is different than your 'norm'!

• Select a palette of two colors you don't feel 'go together'; the combination may surprise you!What color makes you happy? Work with that color and choose a range of value within a monochromatic scheme
• Create a palette celebrating an upcoming season.... Maybe the warm rich tones of Fall, cool icy tones of Winter ...just think, this could be a perfect gift!
• Challenge yourself to work with a color scheme you have never tried
• Choose your favorite color scheme but shift the intensity (for example, instead of bright orange try coral, from grey blue go to indigo or bright blue, from sage green try chartreuse). From here, choose compliments to create a fresh color grouping
• Challenge yourself to work in all solids or all prints
• Choose colors that are close to each other on a color wheel.... Add a bit of a strong contrast as an accent and use minimally as you piece your strips

Preparing your fabrics:

For those that want to dive into their improv piecing right away, I suggest cutting your fabrics prior to the meeting.  Cut strips 6"-8" long by a range of widths (approx. 1-1/4" - 3" wide); cut strips a random angles (see photo)

Remember, this is a liberating process...there is now exact rule to the technique & you can't do it wrong! It is your aesthetic, your feelings, your intuition, your process! We will all create very differrent, equally vibrant pieces!!

Looking forward to seeing you!

Gina


PS - Don't forget to check out our last post with the supply list for the class!