Sewcial in Hopewell - pics!

We all had a great time sewing together at the Hopewell Train Station earlier this month! We try to hold an informal sewcial every month - sometimes at a public place, sometimes at a volunteer member's home. If you know of a place near you that would accommodate a slew of us for a weekend day (at a low cost), feel free to email me!

 Michelle and Beth working hard!

Some of our members were working on their blocks for our guild's Block of the Month (BOM) - see here for more information.

 Jess actually made this block, too... silly Robin. :)

Kathleen and I were both making quilts with Laurie Wisbrun's Brr! Kathleen was quilting all day.

Lori was making a scrappy trip along. Awesome! Can't wait to see this one.

Amy was working on a bag - Elizabeth Hartman's Sewing Circle Tote! It is sooo pretty - you have to see this in person!

Krishma just spruced up/remodeled this 1908 Singer! It's absolutely gorgeous!

Random pressing table picture. :)

Sonia was finishing up her amazing solids (and like solids) quilt top!

Alison got so much done. We were all in awe!

 Welcome to one of our newest members, Kim!

Miggie was hard at work all day, too!

 Carol busy cutting.

 

Neva was my table partner :) She was doing an awful lot of paper piecing!

Guess I shouldn't always stay behind the camera :) Thanks for the picture, Lori!

Please join us next time!

-Jess S.

2014 BOMs on the 'net, and Sewcial Time Change

Hi all! Can't wait to see many of you at the sewcial tomorrow. There are 19 spots filled, and our max is 20. Please be aware that the sewcial is now from 10-5, not 9-5.

Click here to see a great post by Craftsy, which highlights the many Block of the Months going on this coming year! Hope you're considering our own guild BOM, too :)

-Jess S.

January Meeting Reminder!

Join us for our January meeting - Tuesday January 14, 7 - 9:30 pm at Pennington Quilt Works.
RSVP: http://www.bigtent.com/home/calendar/event/82750827

PLEASE remember your dues if you didn't already pay. We have to renew with the national guild so we'll have to remove anyone who doesn't pay their dues.

At this meeting we will:
- elect our new officers
- exchange our secret quilter gifts
- have a discussion on needles (bring examples of both hand sewing and machine needles to share)
- share the blocks we've started for our Quilt Along (QAL) - see email
- regular business and show and tell


 See you then!
-Jess S.

Sewcial - Hopewell!

Hi all,
Lori S. has graciously organized another sewcial for members in two weeks, before our next meeting! Come hang out with us for the day, get lunch in downtown Hopewell, and finish up your Secret Quilter Gift Swap items (or anything else you are working on).

• Sunday, January 12, 9-5
• Hopewell Train Station (pretty close to Pennington Quilt Works) - Broad St., Hopewell, NJ
• 20 members MAXIMUM due to space (2 per large table, tables and chairs provided)
• Free to go!
• RSVP for your spot here: http://www.bigtent.com/home/calendar/event/82680184

We had an awesome time last time. Looking forward to seeing everyone! Happy New Year!
-Jess S.

December Meeting Recap

Even though the snow threatened to push us to another week, our December meeting went off without a hitch! Though we did miss some of you, we hope you'll return in January (cross your fingers for no snow).

News:

• If you haven't done so already, please bring your dues for 2014 ($50) to the January meeting! Looking forward to a great year!

 

• Membership pins are in - if you didn't get one in December, we'll have one for you in Jan. Any new members will get them next year.

 

• I (Jess S.) distributed a survey at the Dec. meeting about 2013 and suggestions for 2014 - I will bring more to the Jan. meeting for members to complete. This helps us plan for the new year - thanks!

• If you are interested in being on the ballot for the new year's officers (President, VP, Secretary, and Treasurer), please email the account (centraljerseymqg(at)gmail(dot)com) ASAP. So far all current officers are running unopposed (though Jess and Jess are running for opposite positions). Elections will be in January. Please email me if you are interested in being the guild bee chair (take over/run it), events chair (help us plan events, arrange guest speakers and instructors), or philanthropy chair. We could really use your help!

• Secret Quilter Gift Exchange - papers were given out at the December meeting - please bring your gift wrapped with the person's name on it (though not your name), and in a bag - we will try to guess who the sewist is. This event was wildly popular last January!

• Information about our Guild Quilt-A-Long (QAL) for 2014 can be found on this post. The first blocks will be due at the January meeting!* (*does not mean you have to make all of them!). This QAL is laid back and is meant to get everyone working on the same quilt with their own choices of fabrics and blocks. You can choose not to participate if you wish (no registrations, no stress, no finish, no worries)! Of course, we'd love to see as many people participating as possible and sharing their progress! 

• Please enjoy our giveaway/freebie table at meetings - thanks, Neva, for taking the responsibility of all items that don't find a new home. Please, no overly large items and please only bring quilt shop quality fabric.

• We are exhibiting our modern quilts at the NJ Quilt Fest from March 6-9! This is a UNIQUE opportunity to exhibit our guild's quilts that we might not have again for a long time. Please submit two pictures of your quilt (a good picture of the front, and a detailed shot of the quilting), plus the title and size of your quilt, to centraljerseymqg(at)gmail(dot)com BY January 3. Quilts should fit the modern aesthetic which means they should be inspired by modern art and design, but all skill levels are welcome. Quilts should include 1 or more of the following criteria:
• lots of negative space
• alternate grid layout
• bold colors
• asymmetry
• minimalism
• solid fabrics
• improvisational piecing (including seams that aren't always straight or even)
• modern traditionalism
• We only have a few submissions, so if you've been wavering or putting it off, PLEASE consider submitting one of your modern quilts! Submissions will be screened by a committee of 5 volunteers from our guild, and there will be a checklist used to evaluate each quilt, based on the above criteria. Thanks! 

• Riley Blake MQG Challenge - fabric was distributed and you can bring your quilted item in through February. You can use any brand solids or other Riley Blake prints. The national deadline is Feb. 17. You can use the following to share your creation online:
• To show your process photos and see those of others: http://community.themodernquiltguild.com/groups/riley-blake-process-photos
• To show your final product and officially enter the competition: http://community.themodernquiltguild.com/groups/finished-riley-blake-challenge-photos
• Use the hashtag #mqgrileyblakechallenge on Instagram

Upcoming Events:

• Sewcial at Hopewell Train Station - tentatively Sun. Jan. 12, 9 am - 6 pm - room for 13 max. Look for an email - first come, first served.
• First meeting of the year! Tuesday, January 14, 2013

Meeting:
First,  we talked about the goals we had for 2014. Many people stated that they wanted to finish up WIPs or UFOs. Some said they wanted to do more "selfish" sewing with no deadlines (I personally couldn't agree more!).

• Our own Meg Cox gave a very informative, eye-opening lecture/demonstration on how to take the best photos of your quilts. She offers this lecture in more detail to groups.
• We shared completed bee blocks.

For Sandy

 For Carol

• Spotlight on Christina - she shared her journey of making quilts. This year, she finished upwards of 30! Wow!

 Show and Tell, Riley Blake Challenge:

 Kathleen

Neva

 Amy

 

 Neva again!

 

 Tatiana

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January Meeting

Tuesday, January 14, 2013

Pennington Quilt Works, 7-9:30

• Officer Elections
• Distribution of more End of the Year surveys
• Challenge: Riley Blake
• Secret Quilter Gift Exchange (see "News" above for more info)
• Share any blocks from Guild QAL (goal: make 6 to start) 
• More TBA!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

-Jess S.