I don't know about all of you but I am really looking forward to this Thursday's meeting!  Between hurricanes and snow, no heat or power, no internet or cable at the store ... I am ready for some fun with great people!!!

This month, we are welcoming Linda Lum DeBono, quilt designer, textile designer, and author. Linda recently published her new book, "Sew Merry and Bright", a wonderful collection of all things festive and creative, with every project reflecting Linda's bright and colorful trademark style!

Linda will share with us all about the projects in the book (with samples), as well as chat about the publishing process, how projects were chosen, or whatever else we would like to talk about.   There will be some time to purchase her book and get it signed!

Look forward to seeing you all there to give Linda a warm welcome from the North Jersey chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild!!!

 

See you on Thursday at 7:00pm!

 

Beth

Corrected link for EQuilter Quilt Relief program

Oops - the correct address for info re quilt relief effort is:
http://www.equilter.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/quiltrelief.html
Thanks to Diane in the Jersey Short Modern Quilt Guild for pointing out my error. Sorry, everyone.

Want to make some quilts for hurricane victims?

Hi all,

In keeping with the idea of organizing smaller groups for special projects, I was wondering if any of you would like to help make quilts for some of the hardest hit victims of Sandy. Equilter.com has organized major quilt drives for past disasters (911, Katrina, Japanese tsunami, etc.) and is spearheading a drive for 5,000 quilts for the Sandy victims. They have contacts and experience and have enlisted the help of RJR fabrics who will provide storage space and help with delivery.

Here is the link explaining the process:
http://northjerseymodernquilt.blogspot.com/

I am definitely interested in this and suspect that many of you will be as well. I know I've been feeling that I should be DOING something to help (in addition to monetary contribution of course). So, I'm thinking we could discuss this at the next meeting, make some plans and put the project in motion....Time is of the essence!

Start thinking about ways to organize such a project - and if anyone has experience in doing something like this we'd love to have your input.

Peggy Kelleher

A Michael Miller MQG Challenge!!

 I've already put in a request for this challenge, so hopefully we will receive enough fabric for everyone who is planning to participate!  Stay tuned!

 

Announcing Fall 2012 Fabric Challenge Madrona Road by Michael Miller

 

 

 

We know how much you loved the Robert Kaufman Kona Challenge and the Jay McCarroll Habitat Challenge. We are happy to announce this year's Winter challenge, Madrona Road by Portland Modern Quilt Guild Member, Violet Craft.

Once upon a time in the windy lands of the Old West a baby girl was born to a rooted father and a gypsy mother. And so begins the story of Madrona Road, a modern, sophisticated fabric collection of crisp florals, monochromatic textures and text prints.

The challenge begins December 1 and ends January 31. 

Rayna

More meeting news and notes re dues

Hi everyone -

I hope you've come through Sandy safely. I've been very lucky so far but my heart goes out to those who were less fortunate.

November meeting: Thurs, 11/15/12. I believe this is the meeting when Linda Lum DeBono will be presenting. If I'm wrong about the meeting, someone please let us all know! Check out her web site: http://www.lindalumdebono.com/

December meeting: Changed from Thurs, 12/20/12 to Thurs, 12/13/12.


I'm having so much fun working on the block from the Scrap Bag Exchange! The block should be 10 1/2" when done, and is due at the December meeting. The storm has given me some unexpected quality quilting time!

I agree totally with Rayna that the October meeting was very exciting, with lots of terrific program ideas and plans discussed! For example, Beth spoke briefly about one possibility for a guild/small group challenge: the 1,000,000 Pillows Challenge project (see allpeoplequilt.com).

Finally, Since the group voted for membership dues, we now have an "official" membership list which so far lists only those who were at the October meeting and have either paid or committed to pay the dues.


If you were not at the meeting and wish to become a member, you can either email me (peggy.kelleher@gmail.com) with your name, phone # and email address or just sign up at any meeting. I will be sending out an updated list to all members after each meeting.

The dues will be used for various things: batting and backing for quilts made by the group or small groups, programs, membership cards, etc. At this point, dues can only be paid either in cash (preferred) or by check made out to "Cash". Rayna will be handling the money and I will maintain the list. If paying the dues is a hardship for you, please just tell Rayna and they will be waived. Of course, this will be totally confidential.

Stay safe - and see you all next month!

Peggy

October meeting was lively!

Lots of discussion about business items, projects in the works, and show and tell from antique to modern!  

Dues, a necessary evil if we are to function as a group, will be $25 for a year. We started officially meeting in June, so it seems sensible to have dues be renewable in June.  Once you have paid (and gotten the first four months for free - LOL) you will be official and Peggy

will inscribe you in the list on her computer. She has kindly volunteered to keep the membership list - thanks, Peggy!! We also decided that new people can come to two meetings without paying but then have to join if they want to come again and be part of our NNJMQ.

So - bring checks or cash to the November meeting and you'll be official till June 2013. 

Other things:

• We need batting for the quilts we are making (Lonely Crayons) and other group activities. Fairfield was having a sale on their roll batting 100% cotton - 90" x 20 yds that retails for around $250. I was able to get it wholesale and on sale for the guild's use for $99.95 plus around $9 shipping. Yay!  It is now standing in my front hall. I'll bring it to the next meeting so we can cut what we need and then if anybody wants to volunteer to be Royal Keeper of the Batting, that would be great.

• Kelli is spearheading the QuiltCon charity quilt project, so if you want to make blocks and work on the quilt, let her know.

1. Small, informal "bees" are a great way to get acquainted. If you want to make a quilt with negative space or a quilt in purple, orange, and green; or exchange wonky blocks and make quilts with them (or anything else that sounds like fun) and a few people want to do the same thing - get together to make your quilts en groupe and then bring them to show and tell!  We'd love to see them.

• Melanie volunteered to profile different members on this blog so that we can all find out something about everybody. Great! Looking forward to it.

•  Please sign up as an author on the blog and share with us between meetings.  Let me know and I'll send you an invitation.

• On another subject -- we are a "Modern Quilt Guild" chapter and it would be nice to focus more on the modern sensibility.  More about this, next month.  In the meantime, you'll get a great feel of what Modern is about if you subscribe to updates on the National MQG blog - http://themodernquiltguild.com. Lots of info and great ideas, plus visuals.

Finally -- Show & Tell

Dawn brought in this wonderful old top to show us.  We decided that the postage-stamp Trip Around the World, probably from the 1940's, was too cool  to languish without somebody having it to love, so we decided to rescue it and finish it.  It's old but has a very graphic sensibility, despite its lack of - uh - negative space.

Here are a few more...

Next two meeting dates

Thursday, November 15

Thursday, December 13 (the 2nd Thurs)

Cheers,

Rayna

Weeks Ringle in New Jersey!

This is SOOO exciting!

In case you haven't yet heard, Weeks Ringle will be at Pennington Quilt Works on Nov. 15th, 16th and 17th. There will be a trunk show and 2 one-day workshops. Unfortunately, the trunk show on the 15th conflicts with our next guild meeting, but I am signed up for both of the workshops and I can't wait!

If you aren't familiar with Weeks, she and her husband (Bill Kerr) are two very talented modern quilt designers. You have probably seen some of their very inspiring books, including The Modern Quilt Workshop, Quilts Made Modern, and Transparency Quilts. I recently read a description of their work that I think is apt - they create "heirloom quality modern quilts". Their work is just beautiful.

They are a hot commodity these days and, looking at the teaching schedule posted on their web site (www.funquilts.com), it seems the next workshop scheduled for  anywhere on the east coast isn't until May of 2014 (in VA). If you get the chance to go see her in Pennington, I think it's going to be worth your while!

Here's the quilt shop's web site: www.penningtonquilts.com. FYI, without traffic Pennington is not too far from Princeton and is a little over an hour's drive from Montclair.

Hope you can work it out!

Peggy