#QuiltsforQC - update

What we thought would just be a small local project seems to be gaining strength quickly... it is fantastic to see so many people who want to help! Our goal is to make a quilt to be given to each of the 6 families who lost a loved one, and to each of the people injured in the attack. For full details on the project and what we need to accomplish that, please see the original post.

House block by Maggie

I have had a few people ask if they could include notes of support with their blocks... absolutely! If you wish to include a card or note of support for the recipients, we will pass along any we receive with the finished quilts. If you would like to reach out to the mosque to offer support directly, you can do so through their website, Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec. 

For those of you who are local, you are welcome to drop completed blocks off in person at AFA during their business hours. We may also be planning a block-making session in the coming weeks; we will post details on that once we know. 

We will post updates here as things progress. If you have any questions, or would like to help out in some other way, please feel free to send us an email at: mtlmqg@gmail.com 

Whether you contribute a pile of blocks, a single block, or just help spread the word by sharing our post with your friends, we are very grateful for all of your help!

Call to action - Quilts for Québec

Updated to add: We have received all the quilt blocks we need for this project - thank you to all who contributed! If you would like information on how else you can help, please see our most recent blog post. 

Yesterday there was an attack made on members of our community... a gunman entered a Quebec City mosque during prayers and opened fire, killing 6 people and seriously injuring at least 5 others.

Intolerance and hate have no place in my definition of 'Québecois(e)' or 'Canadian', and as our Prime Minister recently said, "Our diversity is our strength." With that in mind, this act of terrorism simply will not stand and in the hopes of sending a little comfort and strong message of support to our neighbours in their time of need, we are doing what we do as a quilt guild - we are making quilts. 

We will be collecting house quilt blocks to make quilts that remind the recipients that this is their home, that they are an important part of this community and that we, their neighbours, are here to support and protect them. We would like to have at least enough for the families of each of the victims who lost their lives in the attack (6 so far), and ideally enough for those who were injured as well, although we do not yet know the final number. 

Image courtesy of Craftsy

If you would like to make a block (or many), here is what we need:

• blocks should be 12.5" square
• solid and non-figurative print fabrics are best (ie: no images of people or animals)
• it would be nice to have the background fabric be a light neutral (white, light grey, cream, low-volume prints, etc) if possible  
• the house can be as simple or as complex as you like, feel free to improvise and customize (examples and tutorials below)
• bring your completed blocks to our Feb 14th meeting or to the Feb sew-in on the 18th

We would like to start constructing the quilts after our meeting later this month, and for those mailing their blocks in, please try to have them in the mail to us by March 11th.

Also, we invite you to share pictures of your blocks on social media, and please include the tag #quiltsforqc so we can see your wonderful work! :)

We are also accepting donations of backing fabric and batting for finishing the quilts, or money to be put towards the purchase of those items, if that's more your speed... please send us an email (mtlmqg@gmail.com) and we can arrange something that works for you. :) 

As for the blocks themselves, there are many different kinds of house blocks you can make ranging from simple to complex. We want our quilt villages to be beautiful and varied! Below are some house block tutorials to get you started; you can also do a search for "house quilt block" on Pinterest or Google, and if you have an idea or tutorial to share, post it in the comments!

• Jacquie Gering's improve/free-style house blocks (no set dimensions)
• Fishstick Designs 'My House is a Little Wonky' tutorial (makes a 12.5" block)
• My Bear Paw's improv house block tutorial (makes a 12.5" block)
• Simple Simon & Co 'Home for the Holidays' block (makes a 6.5" block, will require sizing up or extra background fabric to make 12.5")
• Craftsy's scrappy house block tutorial (makes an 8.5" block, will require sizing up or extra background fabric to make 12.5")
• Ellison Lane's 'Heart of the Home' paper piecing tutorial (makes a 10" block, will require sizing up or extra background fabric to make 12.5")

I know quilts can't fix everything in this world (wouldn't it be wonderful if they could?), but it never hurts to remind people that they are a valued part of their community, and that their neighbours support them. We appreciate any help you can give us in sending that message! :)

January Meeting Minutes

January 2017 Mtl MQG Meeting Minutes

Tuesday January 10, 2017 at 7pm at CRCS St-Zotique

The Business Section:

• New members – Please see Claudia as she represents Welcome Wagon.

• Saturday Jan 28th at 5-7pm at Benelux brasserie 4026 rue Wellington, Verdun (de l’Eglise metro)

• Feb sew-in, Sat Feb 18th, 10-4 at Maplewood Presbyterian Church, 215 McLeod, in Chateauguay,
• If needed we can arrange car pools
• This will be inter-guild meet up with Chateauguay Valley Quilters Guild
• Please bring your lunch and snacks
• To celebrate Canada's 150th CQA is collecting Canada themed slab blocks for the Big Quilt Bee  https://www.canadianquilter.com/events/quilt-canada-2017-quilting-bee.php
• We will have a demo of Cheryl Arkison's slab block technique https://www.canadianquilter.com/pdf/quilt-canada-2017/Quilting-Bee-How-to-make-a-block.pdf
• We have the required charm square started, you just need you to bring along some scraps to finish the 12 1/2" blocks.
• The required fabric is has the following colours. So, scraps in black, cream, grey, red or turquoise will match the charm pack.  However, any fabric will work. 

• This is 100% voluntary and you are absolutely welcome to bring along any other projects you wish to work on.

·         Remember our declutter theme this year?  February’s swap is Ugly Fat quarter swap

o    Please bring an Ugly (or just not your taste) fat quarter in a paper (opaque) bag.  We will do a blind swap next meeting.

• Code of conduct reminder: In short, be kind to everyone.  We are a diverse group, with different skills, interests and experiences.  We don’t have to be always “hugs and butterflies” but we do require respect.  If you have any questions please consult our code of conduct found in your New Member Packet emailed when you signed up: “Members will treat each other with respect and courtesy at all times, both at guild events and within our larger community. Members who are disrespectful of another member, whose actions reflect negatively on the guild, or whose behavior is excessively disruptive may face disciplinary action, up to and including revocation of guild membership.”  See attached copy for more info.

• Mason jar raffle – Amanda and Francine are the winners.  More raffles in June.

Show and Tell

• Stephanie – Plaid – The Al Borland flannel plaid quilt
• Marie – Love Notes
• Melanie – RB challenge Diamond shaped quilt
• Jose – RB challenge Arbre
• Maggie – Monkey theme baby quilt
• Fiona – Metro teaser
• Izzy – Word wall hanging declutter
• Jen – Sorbet Sea – wedding quilt

·         Charity quilt

o    Completed, thanks everyone for their hard work. 

o    Josée for the original design

o    Lily and Michèle for all their organization putting it together

o    Francine for Quilting the final quilt

o    Everyone who added a square and helped contribute to the project.

o    Beautiful work.

• Twist festival – Stacy attending.  Please see her for details and possibilities of selling quilts - http://festivaltwist.org/en/home/

• Long-arm quilting with Francine – See notes below.
  
  
• For next meeting remember:
• Bring broken pins and needles we will be having a Hari-Kuyo celebration.
• Bring your Ugly fat Quarters for the swap
• We will have a demo of Handwork by Cinzia an email will go out with what to bring if you want to participate. 

For other updates please check
The blog        http://mtlmqg.blogspot.ca/
Facebook      https://www.facebook.com/MontrealModernQuiltGuild/
Instagram      https://www.instagram.com/mtlmqg/

Ugly Fat Quarter (Somebody Else's Treasure) Exchange

In the spirit of a New Year’s resolution, and inspired by our own vice president, Izzy, who has taken on “declutter” as her word for 2017, we will be having an Ugly Fat Quarter exchange, or if you prefer the PC term, Somebody Else’s Treasure exchange.

(For Izzy’s blog post, go here: http://dizzyquilts.blogspot.ca/2017/01/my-word-for-2017.html)

The idea is to go through your stash, and find a fat quarter that you will never use, put it in a paper bag, and bring it to the February meeting. There you will randomly choose someone else’s paper bag, and in it you will find that someone's fat quarter! This is meant to be fun, and maybe even impetus to declutter, or at least look at parts of your stash you may not have really seen in a while. You may even end up with the inspirational fabric for an award-winning quilt!

Happy hunting, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

A few new years updates

First of all, happy new year to everyone! I wish you all a wonderful and creative 2017! :)

Our next meeting is this coming Tuesday, January 10th at 7pm at the CRCS St-Zotique. We will be raffling off a few goodies, Francine will be leading a discussion on long-arm quilting and we will be seeing the finished charity challenge quilt before it gets shipped off to QuiltCon.

Later this month we will be hosting a 5 à 7 at Benelux on Wellington in Verdun on Saturday January 28th from 5pm onwards. You can bring handwork to work on if you wish, but really it's just an excuse to get together over a few drinks and socialize! :)

Also, be advised that the February Sew-In will be taking place on Saturday February 18th at the Maplewood Presbyterian Church, 215 McLeod, in Chateauguay. We are being hosted by the Chateauguay Valley Quilters Guild for an inter-guild sew-in. We will be giving a demonstration of Cheryl Arkison's slab block technique and making up some blocks to send to the CQA's Big Quilt Bee in celebration of Canada's 150th anniversary. We will provide some charm squares to get the blocks started, we just need you to bring along some scraps to finish the 12 1/2" blocks.

Scraps in black, cream, grey, red or turquoise are preferred as that is the palette of the charm squares, but honestly any fabric is welcome to finish the blocks. This is, of course, 100% voluntary and you are absolutely welcome to bring along any other projects you wish to work on.

Hope to see you on Tuesday!

December Minutes

December 2016 Mtl MQG Meeting Minutes

Tuesday December 13, 2016 at 7pm at CRCS St-Zotique

New members - Claudia is our Welcome Wagon, feel free to ask questions

Charm Square Swap fabric on table

Meeting:

There have been some muggings in the neighbourhood. 

Safety in the neighborhood/walking from the metro

Travel in pairs/groups, be aware of surroundings

Anyone feel unsafe travelling to meetings? Check forum for rides offered

Quilt Guild meet up February 18^th

Llynda traditional Châteauguay  guild

We will try the Charel Arkinsosn slab block for the Canada quilt bee at the CAQ. 

More to come at January meeting.

Shannon is ill out until January.  If you want to sign card. 

Show and Tell - My Favorite Things

➢ Lily sashiko little step stitches table cloth

➢ Snezana Puff quilt and book.

➢ Hungarian stictching and hand carved scissor holder

➢ Bag handlook batiks

➢ Chicago Blackhawks

➢ Wallpaper smoother to open seams

➢ Quilt rouge

➢ Quilter needles and transportation quilt

➢ Quilt for baby B - scary flower quilt

➢ Atlantic crossing each of 5 grandchildren made a block

➢ Thread holder

➢ Old lady quilt (is done) ruby and Lola quilt

➢ Fill the void quilt

➢ Men's ties quilt

➢ Rug slip matts to keep hands from slipping on free motion quilting.

➢ Small hand iron.

➢ Mad about patchwork fat quarter pack that is too pretty to cut

➢ Orfil dove grey 50 weight

➢ Fabric from Japan (recommend daintytime.net for a Chinese coin quilt pattern)

➢ Hummingbird mini quilt

➢ Greenery pantone

Stacy and Amanda have collaborated to open a new shop in Verdun. Please see them for more information

Camelot has Star Trek fabric and many others. 

Charity update – will be completed for January meeting.

            Thank you to Michell, Lily, Camalot Fabrics and everyone who put together a block.

Josee’s origami block – very cool.  See blog for more information.  http://mtlmqg.blogspot.ca/

Next meeting: January 10 - discussion will be led by Francine on long-arm quilting

Josée's block tutorial

As promised, Josée has provided the written tutorial for the block from her "A Sprinkling of Stars" quilt.

"A Sprinkling of Stars" by Josée Carrier

You can find the downloadable tutorial in the Members Only/Membres Seulement section of the blog! Thank you again to Josée for sharing her beautiful work with us :)

Member Spotlight: Jennifer Frei

We are back with another Member Spotlight! For December, we introduce you to Jennifer Frei. If you have questions for Jennifer or comments on her spotlight, please leave us a comment!

Enjoy!


What did you study in school and/or what do you do for a day job?

I studied sociology in school – not terribly creative. I’ve always done creative things but apart from a painting class, I never studied art. I work at the Montreal Children’s Hospital as a research coordinator in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It’s a lot of fun but can be a bit heavy at times which is why I enjoy coming home to quilt and make!

How long have you been quilting?

I started quilting about 7 years ago but I’ve been sewing ever since I was little. My mother is a seamstress by trade and she was always making things. Years ago she took up quilting but at the time I wasn’t really paying attention. It wasn’t until I got a bit older that I decided to try it out too and shortly after starting my first quilt a few of my friends started getting pregnant so I quickly moved on to baby quilts and was hooked!

What first got you interested in modern quilting?

My first quilt was pretty traditional and even as I was making it I found myself bored with the colours and fabric patterns. It wasn’t until I started looking for patterns online that I discovered different colour palates and designs. I was drawn to the bright colours and updated takes on traditional patterns. I think that’s still my favourite. I like to make things are that not traditionally modern but are modern traditional.

How did you find the MMQG and why did you decide to join?

I was having trouble finding nice fabric/supplies in and around the city and was doing some online investigating. I had come across the MMQG website was surprised by my luck, I had no idea we had guilds in Montreal. I was all set to head to a meeting when there was a snowstorm and I chickened out. It wasn’t until a year later that I finally made it to a meeting – this time in the spring!

Do you have any favourite quilting related social media accounts that you follow?

I’m an Instagram and Pinterest junkie but apart from our wonderful guild members, I don’t follow anyone in particular. I tend to search for ideas and click on pretty images that inspire me but I don’t follow particular designers or artists. I’m an equal opportunity quilting absorber!

Where do you look for inspiration or ideas for your quilting projects?

I have to admit that prior to joining the guild I looked through magazines or online to recreate quilts that I thought were pretty. Now I tend to see quilt ideas in everything. A few months ago I was at a medical conference and one of the presenters was showing some graphs of her data and all I could see was a really cool quilt! I have yet to recreate it but I made a mental note.

What would you consider to be your quilting “superpower”?

I’m not sure I’d call it a superpower but I’m pretty good at binding. I like hand-binding but I’ve been getting better at machine binding as well (a technique I only use on small projects like placemats or mug rugs).

What is your favourite part of the quilt making process? Why?

I like piecing. I like seeing my quilt transform from pattern on paper to a real, material quilt. And I find it fun to cut up all the little pieces and put them back together (I also like puzzles so…). I could make a million quilt tops but when it comes to quilting them they hang around for far too long before I *finally* force myself to finish them.

What project or technique is next on your “to try” list?

I have yet to confidently master the non-appliquéd circle. I think we agreed that the 2016/17 year was going to be the year of the circle and I fully hope to embrace it. The Cheryl Arkison workshop really helped to demystify some of the techniques.

What is your favourite project that you have completed? Why is it your favourite?

I think it’s a tie between two baby quilts I made. The first one had to be neutral because we didn’t know the sex of the baby and I love how calming it felt. The second was an appliqué circle quilt that was both grid-like and circular and I had a lot of fun arranging the squares so that the colours worked together. I also love my Libs Elliot “Weight of Love” quilt but that’s not finished yet (see previous comment on quilting/finishing quilts).

Describe/share pictures of your creative space:

When I bought my condo a few years back I had an extra room that I confidently set up like a guestroom which had a desk where I could work from time to time. Suffice it to say that no guest has ever spent the night in that room – my quilting has taken over.

Meeting reminder

Just a quick reminder, our last meeting of 2016 will be tomorrow night, Tuesday December 13th at 7pm at the CRCS St-Zotique.

The Polka Dot/Stripe/Plaid charm swap is due, so if you signed up to participate please remember to bring your charm squares!

Josee will be demonstrating the origami block she used to create her amazing Sprinkling of Stars quilt, and with a nod to the holiday classic 'The Sound of Music', our Show & Tell will be dedicated to a few of My Favorite Things. Please bring your favorite modern quilting-related thing; it can be a favorite quilt or quilt pattern, your favorite quilting book, magazine or notion, or your favorite fabric that you can't bring yourself to cut up and use.

Since this is the last meeting before the holidays, everyone is invited to bring along a seasonal treat to share with the group. See you tomorrow night! :)

November Meeting Minutes

November 2016 Mtl MQG Meeting Minutes

Tuesday November 8, 2016 at 7pm at CRCS St-Zotique

Business Stuff:

• New members - Claudia is our Welcome Wagon, feel free to ask her any questions you might have.
• Please pay dues to Josée before Dec 1st ($35)
• Remember to wear your name tags

Charm Square Swap! There are 14 participants in the charm swap, this means that for the December meeting you will need to bring a total of twenty-eight charm squares (5"), fifteen in each of two different prints.  Remember the theme of this swap is polka dots, stripes and plaids/checks. You should be able to get twelve 5” charm squares per fat quarter.

Show and Tell:

• Mélanie (Je t’aime), Stephanie (Uppity women Unite), Joanna ( Metro 2.0), Debby (Feather) Izzy (pattern test for Shannon), Suzanna (table runner), Nicole (circle wall hanging) Maggie (fire lights lane couch quilt number 2), Josée (Les Arabe) Claudia (Michael Miller Challenge)

QuiltCon submission deadline is November 30:

• Look at the guidelines and if have other questions please ask as we have many people who have submitted in the past.

A few reminders:

• December 3 sew-in (scissor sharpening - spots are limited, please book a slot on the sign-up sheet, $4 per pair, no pinking shears. We will also have a rotary blade sharpener on hand)
• Our final meeting of 2016 will be on Tuesday December 13th at 7pm.   
• Josée will be demonstrating the origami block she used in her showcase quilt, A Sprinkling of Stars.
• For those participating in the Charm Square Swap, your blocks are due so please remember to bring them with you. 
• We will have a themed Show and Tell, so with a nod to the classic 'Sound of Music', our theme will be My Favorite Things. Bring along a favorite quilting-related item to share; it can be a favorite quilt, a favorite quilting notion, a favorite modern quilting book or magazine, or even some of your favorite fabric.
• As it is the holidays, everyone is invited to bring a treat to share with the group!

Charity Quilt

• It is going well, Amanda is going to do the binding.

Cinza brought some things to raffle off tonight!  Thanks Cinza

Claudia had the workshop books if anyone wants to look at them at the break.

Guest: Chris Forsyth, photographer of Montreal metro project

• Amazing and inspiring photos of the Montreal metro.  To see more go to his website: http://www.chrismforsyth.com/