Another Chance; Another Show

This may be a bit premature, but congratulations are in order to all of our members who're entering quilts in the 2013 Emerald Coast Quilt Retreat and Show.  (Pictures to follow after our meeting tomorrow.)

For many, this is the first time ANY quilt has ever been entered.  In.Any.Show. Way to step boldly into 2013!!

Now that you've done it once, how about doing it again?  

You know, just in case the confidence-building and stepping-out-of-your-comfort-zone adrenalin is still circulating through your veins.  Just in case you like that butterflies-in-your-stomach feeling.   The Home Machine Quilt Show takes place May 8 - 11, 2013 in Salt Lake City, UT.  Not as close to home, but they are looking for Modern Quilting examples.  

They define a modern quilt, for competition purposes as: Quilts that are functional, include bold colors, and are inspired by modern design. Minimalism, asymmetry, expansive negative space, and alternate grid work are often a part of modern quilt compositions, as are improvisational piecing and solid fabrics.  Sound familiar?

You can find the quilt competition and submission guidelines here.  You have until April 13th to decide, and actual quilts aren't due until April 27th.

Good luck.

Three Days

Yes, that's right.  Three days until our next meeting and SEW-day.  Yay!  Saturday, February 9th. Crestview Baptist Church inside the Fellowship Hall.  Enter from Cedar Avenue.  You'll know you're in the right place when you see the blue awnings.  

Remember this?  The L.O.V.e Mini Quilt from our own Kelly Bowser?

This is the Demonstration and Skill Builder for the month.  Our talented paper-piecing guru - have you seen her Bee blocks on flickr? - Kira Bell, is teaching.  She has printed three sizes of the templates, so you only need to bring your sewing supplies - fabric and scraps, batting, backing, binding, etc.  If you're staying for all six hours of the SEW-day, you could complete it easily. 

Three days - to decide, get your courage up, come out of your comfort zone - however you want to phrase it, to complete your application and enter a modern quilt or project for the 2013 Emerald Coast Quilt Retreat & Show.  At our last meeting, we were "challenged" to represent our aesthetic, which has previously gone unrecognized here on our edge of the Gulf Coast.  This is your time ladies.  With $150 in prize money available for each category, that's a lot of moolah for fabric.  Or goodies.  Or fabric.  Marcy is the liaison and will ensure your application, money, and photograph are in the hands of a Flying Needles QG member.  Should you choose to participate, your actual quilt or project isn't due until February 25th.  Details can be found here.  

We have also been invited to volunteer at the retreat.  Simply by giving three hours of your time, you gain admission to the show and the demonstrations.  The person to contact is Donna Hubbard via gina at BeachRetreatAndShow dot com.  Place "VOLUNTEER" in the subject line of your EMail. 



What is Modern Quilting?  Is it design?  Is it color?  Is it simple?  Is it complicated?  Is it detailed?  Is it traditional, but not quite?  Is it negative space?  Is it fussy?  Is it crowded, with a riot of color and texture and tiny pieces?  Is it planned?  Is it random?  Is it precise?  Is it wonky?  It's all of these.  Think about it.  Even machine piecing was "modern" when it was first attempted, and before it became the norm.

With your help, twice next week, Marcy will attempt to explain it with examples of our work and aesthetic, as well through books, blogs, and pictures.  Please, LOAN Marcy any quilts, blocks, WIPs, books, etc. that will allow more local quilters to see and understand what we like to do.  Please bring them to the meeting. 

See you Saturday.   

Dates, Challenges, and Quilt Shows

There are several dates to keep in mind this weekend and next week.

The Winter Fabric Challenge featuring Madrona Road by Violet Craft ends Thursday, January 31st because projects that are posted to the MQG Madrona Road Challenge Flickr Pool will be considered for the Michael Miller booth at QuiltCon.  Hey, we might not be able to attend, but how cool would that be to have one of our projects chosen?  Additionally, Violet will also select, from that same Flickr pool, someone to receive a care package.

For OUR guild though, your project has to be completed by the March meeting - Saturday, March 9th.  Something quilted.  You can use as many solids as you like, but any additional prints have to be Madrona Road.  Locally, The Sewing Center Around the Block has the "boy" colorway.  

This is Kelly's WIP.  And this is Kim's.  (And this is where their pictures are supposed to be, but that's a skill/lesson I have to figure out another day.)   Anybody else?  Pictures?  Upload them to our Flickr Pool.

The other major date is the entry deadline for quilt submissions for the 2013 Emerald Coast Quilt Retreat & Show.

That date is Saturday, Feb 9th.  Also the date of our next meeting and SEW-day.  Gina Curtis, ECMQG member and Flying Needles QG member, challenged all of us to submit at least one quilt as the modern quilting aesthetic has not been well represented.  Forms and information can be found here.  As a guild, we are submitting the Children in Crisis charity quilt.  

What gem do you have sitting at home that could be entered?  Think about it.  Then take the plunge.  Let 2013 be the year you step outside of your comfort zone.