Darla kindly provided both photos and text for this post about the July meeting. Thanks, Darla!

To have 22 members attending a meeting on a summer weekend is AWESOME!! We have outgrown the meeting room at Sobey’s. Stay tuned for news of a new meeting space for September!

Quilts for Orlando

This meeting was the last opportunity to submit blocks to be included in the #quiltsforplus quilt that will be be put together over the next few weeks by Lisa, Heather, and Sheila.

QuiltCon 2017 Charity Quilt

Bev is leading the charge for our guild’s QuiltCon 2017 Charity Quilt. She presented the membership with three ideas: 1) curves, 2) improve, and 3) diamonds. The group chose diamonds. The theme established by QuiltCon is “Scale”. Fabric choices will be discussed at future meetings and Bev will come up with an approach. Exciting!  Thanks, Bev, for taking the lead.

Photography Challenge

We were all reminded about the Photography Challenge. Photos must be entered before the August meeting. Apparently there have been hashtag issues. Someone will investigate and, worst case, people will have to email entries. Use #smqgphotochallenge on your IG postings or email saskatoonmqg@gmail.com.

Education Component: Scrappy Quilting and Managing Scraps

We had a great discussion on what constitutes a scrap. While some may consider anything less than a fat quarter scrap fabric, some would put that same piece of fabric back into their yardage. Some members brought bags from their scrap bins to show and discuss what they would do with their scraps and how much they have. Some people sort their scraps by colour, by designer or by project.

Then we turned the topic over to Val, who is meticulous, to say the least, about her scrap fabric management! She cuts her scrap fabric into assorted sized squares and strips then sorts and stores those squares and strips in trays inside of bins in her sewing room. And her fat quarters – She has over 50 of the bins (pictured below) in her sewing room sorted by colour! All of her yardage is folded neatly and stacked in a cabinet ready to go.

Val went on to show us some of the books she uses as inspiration for scrappy ideas. Some have more traditional quilts in them but can easily be suited to the modern aesthetic. Thanks for the great presentation, Val!

Val brought quilts to show how she has used some of her scraps. The low volume squares quilt uses 3” centre blocks and 1.5” strips from her scraps.

The red quilt uses Kaffe scraps, batiks and other bright fabrics from her scraps.

Val’s scrap paper-pieced quilt is something she has been working on for 3 years with smaller scraps that don’t get cut into strips or squares. She also showed her gypsy wife quilt in progress (sorry, no photo) using scraps from her stash.

Kelly brought her fractal quilt that was created using her scrap fabric from assorted lines and designers. She told us that she truly created each block ‘blind’ by just reaching behind to grab a fabric piece and putting it with what she was sewing – a true surprise finish in the end. Looks great! The back of Kelly’s fractal quilt includes a strip of truly scrappy selvedge edges!

Edith brought her Cotton & Steel scrap quilt. She sewed sections at a time and cut to fit the strip she was working on at the time.

Bee blocks

Hive 1 – Participants brought blocks for Erin.

Bev brought fabric for her round of blocks for group members to use in creating her bird on a wire theme block. Find instructions for Bev’s bee block here.

Hive 2 – Participants brought blocks for Lisa.

Tarra wasn’t able to be at the meeting but we discussed her block request for next month. Instructions for Tarra’s bee block can be found here.

Book / Blog / Bolt

Lisa recently bought the book Quilt Lovely by Jen Kingwell. This book was the inspiration source for her show and tell baby quilt.

Show & Tell

Lisa made this awesome space quilt.

The pieced strip on the back is, of course, much awwwed over by our nerdy group!

Lisa made this sweet baby quilt, inspired by the book she brought to show us.

Sonya brought three dresses that she has sewn. The middle is a Washi dress and the other two are made with such soft double gauze.

Sherry made two beautiful table runners to show. The first one was made using the Row by Row pattern from the the 440 quilt store’s 2015 kit.

Sherry’s other table runner was made using scraps and fabric from Hawaii for the backing.

Kelly quilt this richly coloured Geisha panel. She has others panels if any members are interested in them.

Amy, a newly minted member made this gorgeous and bright star quilt inspired by one made by Wombat Quilts. She quilted it on Lucey, the longarm machine at Periwinkle Quilt Shop. It’s her first quilt! What a great start. We’re looking forward to seeing her next projects.

Quilters are “makers” and even though we’re a quilting guild our members make all kinds of other things and we’re always interested to see. Bev has a new and growing passion … pottery! Here are some of her latest creations that she brought to show.

This meeting we had a door prize draw! Two issues of Quilty Magazine featuring scrap quilts were won by Margaret and Kathy, a guest of Sherry.

Scrap stash challenge

Members were invited to bring bags of their own scraps to this meeting. Those participating  took scrap pieces from other piles and have been challenged to create something with them or use them in a project and bring to our September meeting. The result can be as simple as a mug rug.

Upcoming Sewcial Dates

• Sunday, October 2, 2016 | 8 am – 8 pm  | $10 per member
• Saturday December 3, 2016 |  8 am – 8 pm | No Charge per member

Both Sewcials will be held at Home Inn in Stonebridge behind Sobeys. Signups will take place at a later date.