September 2016 meeting


With the change of seasons, September also brought us our first official meeting with the new TMQG Crew. The training wheels are off and we’re fuuuhh-lying!

Block lotto biz

Berene shared an interesting story about being contacted by Bill Kerr, one half of the pioneering Modern Quilt Studio (the other half being the lovely Weeks Ringle). Unbeknownst to Berene, her tutorial on a previous block lotto, Pick Up Sticks, was an infringement of a pattern Bill & Weeks had in an out-of-print book of quilt designs. As the pattern was never digitized for the interwebs, it kinda propagated on its own and has been used by many not knowing where it came from. You can read more about it here. It just goes to show how nebulous our creative world can be. At least our community is kind and understanding, so no hard feelings all around. 

And to make up for this innocent transgression, Berene (and Georgia!) won our Spools block lotto. Nice work, karma.

"You mean they're ours?! We get to keep them?!"

Just in time for Hallowe’en, Andrea proxy-presented Julie’s block lotto, the scrappy Spider Web Block. You’ll find several tutorials online for this classic block including this one or this one. Kona Black was used as the starting foundation piece and the finished block measures 12” square. (BTW, the bottom black triangle in the image below hadn't been string-pieced yet.)

These spidey, tingly blocks will be raffled off at our October 30th meeting so get your string quilting game on. The more you make, the more chances you have at winning the whole Jack-o’lantern pot of blocks. Muahahahaha!!



Let bylaws be bylaws

Catherine & Dia took us through the ratification of our guild’s new bylaws and a vote was taken. And like the US election campaign, it was too close to call. JK! It passed and you can review them at your leisure here.

With glowing hearts

Valerie of Quilts at the Creek fame dropped off a box of some sharp red and white fabric generously donated by Northcott. In celebration of Canada’s upcoming 150th birthday, this year’s QATC goal will be to display as many red and white quilts at Black Creek Village. Imagine a sea of gorgeous red and white quilts proudly flapping in the wind. The next QATC takes place on July 29-30 so you’ve got T minus 10 months to work on some true patriot love.

Just a click away

Stephanie pulled out a pocket-sized projector (no acetate overlays for this member) and walked us through a comprehensively compiled list of online quilting resources. It was thorough and I liked that members collaboratively shared their faves. I know our new-to-quilting members and visitors will be checking them pronto. Heck, I already bookmarked a few new-to-me links. Wait … do people bookmark anymore? Do people still say heck?

Show & Share

September's S&S was very lean and I have to say, I took it personally. So prove me wrong and bring your masterpieces at our next meeting on October 30.

In the meantime, Lisa shared her Rainbow Rows quilt. I believe everyone should have a go at making a sharp, spectral quilt.
Rainbow Rows

Catherine teased us with the promise of three quilts to show but unfortunately for us, she had to give away two. The ‘towel-sized’ Blue Sun is an original quilt pattern and was meant for taking to the park or the beach but alas, summer is officially over so it’s destined for a nap on the couch.

Blue Sun


Jeannie gave us a sneak peak of a gorgeous quilt top made up of the TMQG’s very own Samarra Khaja’s awesome Geogram fabric collection for Lecien Fabrics. Launching at the upcoming Quilt Market, this stunningly graphic collection (and the quilt pattern!) will be available to the masses this January. I’ll be tucking my allowance into my mattress in anticipation.


Housekeeping

  • The QuiltCon Charity Quilt Challenge started off with a bang at our last Sew-Down. Becky’s winning pattern on this year’s theme of playing with scale is coming along beautifully. And like two dueling grand pianos, some of the quilt was pieced on two tiny Featherweights. Old meets new. Watch this space for more updates.
  • Our Instagram account now has over 500 followers. Yay us! And although our sudden surge in popularity is all well and good, we’d love more followers. So click here or on our newly added Instagram button above, follow @torontoMQG and enter to win a 1-year membership to our guild. Contest closes on October 2.
  • There were lots of lovely visitors this month: Christine, Georgia, Gillian, Jenna, Linda, Marian, Sandy, Susan, and Suzi – welcome and hope you’ll join our awesome guild.
  • This month’s door-prize winner was Valerie. Thanks to Catherine for donating that adorable pink zippered pouch.

And finally, one month into my role as Secretary and I’ve already failed you on the bribe promise of a home baked treat. Believe me, with season 7 of the Great British Bake Off in full swing, I had all the intention of serving up a sweet confection for our meeting. Unfortunately, I was waylaid by blunt force on my right shoulder and couldn’t stir some dry ingredients together, let alone unscrew a bottle of vanilla. I’m not making any promises but I’m hoping a batch of Dampfnudel or a Bakewell tart is in order for October’s meeting.

Yours in quilting,

— Debi

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