Minutes from July, 2014 Guild Meeting

At long last I have, I think, learned how to get the minutes here for you all to read. Enjoy, there's nothing better for a sleepless night than reading minutes.    See them at the end of this post.

Last week my daughter and I went touring across US 2 in Michigan's Upper Peninsula to visit family in Wausau, WI. Jeny has shown characteristics of my dad, whom she never met, at various times in her almost 27 years, but this trip she demonstrated a key one: no way are we're not stopping for a quilt store! However, I was able to secure the steering wheel of my car in the afternoon when stores were open. Yeah, I could check out the Row by Row in Escanaba. What a cool store Glenna has! She's a designer by trade and does what I call funky modern. Her designs are available on line at: Quilts 'n Stuff by Glenna If you haven't started your rows yet, it's not too late....

These bird designs are some of Glenna's most popular orders, not her RBW.  

If you haven't started Row By Row yet, it's not too late to visit your favorite quilt store to get their pattern or buy their kit.  Many of the patterns are traditional and some are more modern.  Check out the Row by Row website

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Grand Rapids Modern Quilt Guild

Minutes of Meeting held

Tuesday, July 1, 2014 7 p.m.

Stitched Studio

Members in Attendance:  Michelle Luke, Claire Whitman, Adrienne Wilson, Caroll Drudy, Cathy Mueller, Dorothy Huizinga, Roleen Westfell, Nancy DeMaagd , Lisa O’Neil

Guests:  none

Meeting was called to order by Michelle Luke, the designated chairperson of guild, at 7 p.m.

General Opening Comments included Roni viewing a MQG webinar on Color.  Found it very informative.  Michelle reminded members that webinars are available to all MQG members at the website after establishing members’ individual accounts.  The webinars are always available with new viewings available once a month.

New Business:

Michelle relayed to members that by the year’s end this guild needs to have formal by-laws, banking account, NFP status and an EIN.  Members indicated interest in assisting once Michelle offered to do more research on the information available from the national chapter.

A discussion of a service project included this guild would assisting Stitched Studio (SS) with the Grand Opening.  While a date has not been set, the week of AQS show was suggested since so many quilters come from all over the Midwest.  Extended hours for the shop were also suggested so attendees have a place to visit after the show closes for the day.  The dates for AQS are August 20-23, 2014.  An ethics discussion did ensue regarding the GRMQG assisting Stitched Studio as the Guild is not existing to benefit the shop.  Since SS is the meeting place for the only modern quilt guild in Grand Rapids, it was agreed to help with food, beverages, decorations, public relations, and perhaps demos.

The need for a blog and other social media for the guild were discussed.  Cathy Mueller, Caroll, and Adrienne offered to assist in establishing a blog. 

Old Business:  none

Show and Share: All members brought at least one favorite tool and explained why it is loved.  Several members brought seam rippers and rotary cutters. Caroll brought her computer since she can surf the internet for inspiration and instruction.  She also demonstrated her headlamp that she brings on trips up North so she can continue working when the power goes off!  Cathy Mueller brought the 60 degree triangle ruler as table runners and table toppers can be made very quickly, a couple hours or so, with border prints.  Other uses for the ruler include One Block Wonder and Stack n Whack patterns.  The Rowenta Iron Cleaner kit was ideal for removing goop from fusible interfacings for Nancy. Michelle brought a sample of Sewing Edge which adheres to the machine to assist in guaranteeing the perfect seam allowance. Fine pointed tweezers and a wooden stiletto were offered by Lisa and Claire.  Claire also showed us her machine quilting gloves from Home Depot’s garden department and Size Slider for smooth feeding of quilts into her sewing machine or long arm quilter.

The members decided to not have sew-ins during the summer and not to have a guild meeting in August. 

Skill Set:  Adrienne volunteered to talk more on the Symphony concept of color choices at a future meeting.

Swap for September’s meeting will be exchanging a fat quarter with another member that will be suggested by the recipient as a difficult/ unliked/ never used color.  Members will draw a name in September and bring FQ for October.

Miscellaneous Info requested from Sew and Share:

            Jen Kingwell’s pattern, Ozzie Bird (Dorothy’s quilt top)

            Cluck, Cluck Sew blog for Beach Party quilt top (Adrienne’s squares)