Monday, February 24, 2014

February Show and Tell

More eye candy from our fabulous February meeting at Gather Here:

Jen's Twirling Trellis which graces the cover of this month's Modern Quilts Unlimited.

Janis with self-portrait.

Alice & Aimee showed off their gathered clutches.

Nathalia shared this sweet strip pieced quilt.

Kaesey's adorable doll quilt and reverse applique tote bag.

Reva makes T-shirt quilts look modern!!!

Maritza finished quilting this precious baby quilt since our last meeting.

Kathy shared these lovelies.

Alexis has a gift for geese.

There is no March meeting but expect to see lots of works in progress next month from our annual retreat.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

February Show and Tell: Riley Blake Challenge Entries

We had an amazing meeting this month to celebrate the launch of BostonMQG founding member Rachel May's new book Quilting With A Modern Slant.  A huge thank you to the gang at Gather Here for hosting and letting us use the Annex for show and tell.

We kicked off show and tell with the big reveal of our MQG Riley Blake Challenge quilts.  Our members certainly rose to the challenge!   Members were given these 6 fabrics.  While they were not required to use all of them they could only add solids or other Riley Blake prints to their project.  I am so impressed with the results!!!

Natalie's improv pieced challenge.

Karen

Jen's paper pieced Shootin' the Breeze

Leah

Charlotte

Stephanie

Jane's tote bag

If you completed a Riley Blake Challenge quilt and weren't able to make it to our February meeting please add it to our Flickr group.  

There's still more show and tell to come.  Check back soon:-)


Friday, February 14, 2014

February Dates to Remember

Rebecca's awesome Riley Blake Challenge quilt
I was blown away by the amazing Riley Blake challenge items BostonMQG members shared at our February Show and Tell at Gather Here (photos coming soon, I promise!).  If you weren't at the meeting please add your photos to our flikr group or send them to me, alice@alidiza.com.  The deadline for the MQG Riley Blake challenge is Monday, February 17th.  Photos must be uploaded to the MQG forum by that date.

Full payment for our annual retreat is due by Sunday, February 16th.  You can easily pay online using PayPal.  Questions, contact Stephanie at simplesewendipity@gmail.com.

Signup for our Sewing Room Swap by Sunday, February 23rd.  All BostonMQG members should have received an invitation to join via Elfster.  If you have not received an invitation please contact Jen, jensorenson05@gmail.com.

I've been rather remiss in scheduling Sew-ins.  It's been way too long so I'll kick things off again by hosting a get together at my home in Acton, 7-whenever on Thursday, February 27th.  We can use the basement so sewing machines are welcome.  Email me at alice@alidiza.com if you need the address.  


The fabulous gang at Gather Here is celebrating their 3rd year in business from 12-6 on Sunday, February 16th.  Come have fun with tattoos (temporary, of course;-), a s'mores bar, and demonstrations by some of the most talented makers around.  You can also tour the new & improved annex which features "legacy" fabrics and some stunning quilts.  Of course there will also be shopping and giveaways.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Sewing Room Swap

P.I.N. Pillow


For our latest swap BostonMQG members will make an item for another member's sewing room.  Anything goes: thread catcher, sewing machine cover, travel sewing organizer, fabric baskets, pouches...  Be creative!!!

When: Signups are now open and will close on Sunday, February 23rd. We will exchange items at our May meeting

Signups: All BostonMQG members should have received an invitation via Elfster.  If you have not received your invitation please contact Jen, jensorenson05@gmail.com

Partners: On Monday, February 24th, partners will be randomly assigned via Elfster. This is an anonymous swap, and to maintain anonymity, you may ask questions for your partner through Elfster while remaining anonymous. For example, if you want to know if your partner wants a particular item or has a color preference, you can ask this via Elfster. 

Inspiration: Check out the Sewing Room Swap!

Guidelines:
  • Please use quilt store quality fabrics and materials. 
  • Do not tell your partner who you are. Partners will be revealed when we swap items at the May meeting. 
  • Please use modern fabrics unless your partner has indicated she would prefer something different.
  • While there are no guidelines on what you make, please make every effort to make something nice for your partner. 
  • Unlike the Riley Blake challenge, you do not need to use a specific brand of fabric or color palette.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Quilting With A Modern Slant Launch Party

Our February meeting definitely ranks as one of my all-time favorites.  It was such a special evening as we celebrated the launch of awesome founding member Rachel May's fabulous book Quilting With A Modern Slant (currently #2 on Amazon's Best Sellers for Quilts and Quilting!!!).  If you don't have a copy you should get one now;-)  

Rachel was on hand to sign books along with many of the artists featured in the book.  BostonMQG members (past and present) represented include Alexis Deise, Rebecca Loren, Aimee Raymond, Laurie Matthews, Pippa Eccles Armbrester, Maritza SotoCaro Sheridan, and Monica Ripley.  Yours truly (Alice Webb Greer) is also featured along with my tutorials on hand quilting and binding your quilt.

A huge thank you to the gang at Gather Here for letting us crash their party!!!  Virginia & Noah sure know how to throw a party: snacks, booze, yarn, & fabric...  it was a crafter's heaven:-)

Thursday, February 6, 2014

January Show & Tell

Just in the nick of time...  our awesome January show & tell:

Alexis

 Hema

 Caro: Yes, that quilt is looking at you!

Maritza

 Charlotte

 Janis

 Karen

Nathalia

 Angie

 Emily

 Sarah's Riley Blake challenge

Stephanie shared this vintage quilt made by her grandmother.

Patrice found this amazing vintage quilt top on ebay and used it to "practice" longarm quilting.

 Andrea

Alice

Jessica shared her iPad pouch

Ellen

 Gretchen's Riley Blake challenge.

 Julie tried Hawaiian applique and made her own design...  see the kissing cats?

 Rachel

 Sue

Tina made this fabulous monitor cozy for her musician husband.

Natalie put together this adorable house quilt from blocks she received from do. Good Stitches.  

 And a final goodbye to Laurie and her enormous quilts...


and this sweet little doll quilt she made her daughter, just to prove she can do something smaller than a King:-)

Don't forget, to join us from 7-9 tomorrow night at Gather Here to celebrate the launch of Quilting With A Modern Slant by our own Rachel May!