May Meeting Workshop Information - Gatherer Crossbody Bag

At our May meeting we will have a fun workshop open to all members! We are going to make the Gatherer Crossbody Bag. The pattern, by Anna Graham of Noodlehead, is a free download from Robert Kaufman. See more info below!





The pattern is free to download at this link -- make sure you check out the list of supplies, which I have also copied below with some notes about what we will have available at the meeting.

Workshop information:
The workshop will be after our May meeting, on Saturday, May 21. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. You may arrive early, between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m., if you would like to set up your spot before the meeting. We will finish for the day by 3:00 p.m.

What do I need to do at home?
It is important that you come to the workshop with your fabric and interfacing already cut out. We will be focusing on Assembly rather than Cutting (see page 3 of the pattern). If you plan to make your own piping, please come with it already made as well. Finally, it is a good idea to go ahead and fuse your interfacing to your pieces before you arrive (see Step 1 on page 3)! If you have any questions, please ask Kate.

Pattern information:
We will be offering kits for $3 that will include the piece of leather and button stud mentioned in the list below. Our button studs are silver.

Supply list:
1/2 yard fabric for exterior
1/2 yard fabric for lining
1/2 yard fabric for piping (optional, if making your own)
1 & 1/4 yards fusible woven interfacing (Pellon SF101)
1/3 yard fusible fleece (Pellon 987F)
1 yard 1/2" wide bias tape piping (if not making your own)
2" x 4" scrap of leather, suede or non-fraying faux leather
button stud (8mm size cap is recommended)
(2) 1/2" swivel/lobster claps hardware (optional for attaching strap)

Tools:
Pinking shears
Water soluble pen, chalk pen, or Frixion pen for marking
Leather hole punch (Debbie, Stephanie, and I have some of these, so we will have some around to use if you don't already have one!)
Sewing machine
Small cutting mat
Rotary cutter
Pins, wonderclips, etc.
Iron
Any other tools you like to have with you

See more photos on Anna Graham's blog here or on Carolyn Friedlander's blog here. Carolyn altered the pattern a little, so check out her changes. Anna also has a great tutorial for making your own piping here. Here's a review by A Quilter's Table that has some great pics of her finished bag. Finally, I like to check Instagram for inspiration, so I recommend looking through the following tags: #gatherercrossbodybag, #noodleheadpatterns



Get excited for a great workshop!

April Meeting Highlights

Did you miss the awesome The Cloth Pocket pop up shop this month? Don't fear, Nicole and the lovely ladies from Austin always offer 20% off to MQG members, even online! Simply use the code MQGXOXO at checkout.



Programming Update
In May we will have our Gatherer Crossbody Bag Workshop, which is open to and free for all members. The pattern is free to download at that link -- make sure you check out the list of supplies! We will be offering kits for $3 that will include the piece of leather and button stud mentioned in the pattern. See more photos on Anna Graham's blog here! She also has a great tutorial for making your own piping here. Get excited for a great workshop!

Membership Update
Directories will be available at the May Meeting. Also, please remember that everyone who has registered and paid dues for 2016 has been added to view the HMQG Google Calendar. You do not have to have a gmail account to view it. If you don't, you should have received an invitation to install the calendar. Please use this tool - we think you will find it very useful! We are trying to keep everything up-to-date and will have important details there. It is just one more way we are communicating to you. Let Debbie know if you are having trouble with access to the calendar. grosskopf5@gmail.com

Fundraiser Booth
Please turn in your fundraiser booth items and keep an eye on the Wiki (found on theHouston page of the MQG website) to see new links posted for patterns for new items to make. Don't forget about the Grand Prize at the end of the fundraiser. If you need fabric to make items, Pam will be bringing some each month but your scrap basket can provide treasures too. Grab a piece of fabric and make a ______(YOU fill in the blank).




 


 

More great sew and tell can be found on our Instagram @houstonmqg or search #hmqgsewandtell

Have you missed out on any of the HMQG's Medallion Quilt Along?
You can download the full instructions, from the first block to the March/April additions here! We can't wait to see what you make, so remember to bring your progress to the next meeting, and tag your photos on Instagram with #hmqgmedallion.

• April 28, 7 pm - Dinner and drinks at PLONK! (1214 West 43rd)
• May 6, 7, and 8 - Spring Retreat at Deep Woods Retreat Center (details being sent to those attending)
• May 21, 10 am to 3pm - HMQG meeting and Gatherer Crossbody bagworkshop (details above)
• June 18, 10 am to 1 pm - HMQG meeting and That Modern Fabric Shop Pop-up Shop
• June 25, 9 am to 3 pm - Charity Sew-In Day

AND MUCH MORE! Be sure to check our Google Calendar for additional events and details.

Lee Monroe Workshop Details - March Meeting

We are very excited to be hosting Lee Monroe for a workshop on her pattern, Georgia's Dresden, at our March meeting, Saturday the 19th! Lee will also be giving a trunk show on Friday night 3/18 (with light refreshments!).

For those attending the workshop, Lee will give cutting instructions after the trunk show on Friday night. You will be able to arrive early on the day of the workshop (around 9:00 a.m.) and start prepping and cutting before the regular guild meeting starts at 10:00 a.m. The workshop will fill the rest of the day. Stay tuned for more information! (If you cannot attend the trunk show but will be attending the workshop, please talk to Kate.)

Please click here to sign up for the workshop! After you submit the form, there will be a link to pay via Paypal. You may also pay with cash or check. The workshop is $52 (Paypal), or a discounted rate of $50 for cash or check.

Contact Kate White with any questions!

Reminder - New Meeting Location

Important Announcement! 

Starting in February 2016, we will be meeting in a new location - the Trini Mendenhall Community Center. Our new space requires us to set up and take down our own tables and chairs. In order to make this process a little easier, we ask that you sign up to come a little early if you can for at least one meeting to help set up. We are also using this form for you to sign up to bring food and to let us know about any donation items you might have.

Kate will remind those who sign up in the week leading up to each meeting. Set up will usually be at 9:45 a.m. (before our 10:00 a.m. meetings). Please click here to take the survey. Contact Kate White with any questions!

January Meeting Information!

Did you know you can now follow the HMQG on Bloglovin? Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Our first meeting of 2016 is coming up this weekend, and the HMQG board is very excited about all the the exciting things we have planned for the guild this year!

The meeting is Saturday January 16th from 10am to 4pm

 **We will go over all business at the beginning of the day, and the rest of the day will be dedicated to the workshop.**

Here is the information that you will need for this meeting, as well as a supply list for the workshop. If you are an existing member from 2015 then you should have already received this information in our Newsletter that was sent last Friday. 

UFOs
Do you have some projects at the back of your closet that you've forgotten about? Maybe a couple almost-finished quilt tops that need some love? I know I do!

Our 2016 UFO/Unfinished Object challenge will run from January to June. Sign ups will be available at the January meeting. If you miss them, don't worry - just shoot Kate an email or post here. If you'd like, please bring 1 UFO to show off at the January meeting as we kick off this challenge!

You may enter as many UFOs as you wish. Projects started in 2015 are worth 1 point. Projects started pre-2015 are worth 2 points. For each item we need to know your name, the name of the project, and when you started it.

You must finish the projects and bring them to the June meeting in order to get the points! These points will be entries for door prizes. Please let Kate know if you have any questions. Let's finish some UFOs!

Flowering Snowball

Source: Sew Scatterbrained

Get ready for a fun workshop! At our January meeting Felice Regina will be leading a workshop on her Flowering Snowball quilt. You can expect to complete the cutting and piecing for a few blocks during the workshop. The supply list includes information for the full quilt. Felice has some cutting tips to share!

**Below is the supply list and prep required for the workshop**
Click HERE to download the PDF pattern for free

Fabric requirements:
See the PDF pattern for details about using FQs. Here are the alternative requirements for a scrappy version:
• Colored sections (Template A) - (120) 6.75" square scraps

• Low volume sections (Template B) - (120) 4.5" x 6" scraps

• Center diamonds (Template C) - (30) scraps. They're slightly bigger than 1.5" square.


Prep work at home:
Print the templates from the pattern and trace them onto template plastic or cardstock.

Supply list to bring:
• (24) FQs in 6 colors (4 FQs per color)

• (8) Low volume FQs

• (1) FE for Center diamonds

• Cutting mat

• Rotary cutter (small sizes like the 28mm are useful for cutting the curved pieces)

• Fabric Scissors

• Marking tool (water soluble, pen, chalk, and/or Frixion pen)

• Printed copy of the pattern

• Paper templates (cut out) + Traced Plastic or Cardstock templates (Felice will demonstrate cutting techniques)

• Iron + Ironing boards

• Sewing Machine (1/4" foot suggested)

• Pins

• Ruler

• Spray starch / Flatter / Best Press
 

This year is going to be great and we can't wait to share it with you!

HMQG Modern Meetup 2014

Are you heading to International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX this weekend? If so, be sure to stop by the Houston Modern Quilt Guild's Modern Meetup on Saturday night.

It is going to be a ton of fun, and the first 50 people to show up will receive a swag bag full of goodies. Below are just a few of the amazing companies and individuals who graciously donated prizes and goodies for the swag bags. 

These are just a few of the goodies that will be in swag bags or offered up as door prizes at the meet-up! Every quilter loves free fabric, so don't miss your chance to snag some for yourself.

We hope that you come out and join us for all the fun at the HMQG Modern Meetup!

Denyse Schmidt Florence Challenge {giveaway}

Denyse Schmidt's new line Florence for Free Spirit Fabrics

Great News! Houston Modern Quilt Guild members have been invited by Denyse Schmidt to participate in a really amazing challenge. She has mailed us fabrics bundles from Florence, her next collection for Free Spirit Fabric. This collection will debuted at Portland’s Quilt Market on May 17th and will ship in August. We have until July 15th to make something awesome. Denyse will display her favorites on her website and Facebook pages. I need 30 wonderful members to commit to producing something by July 15th and posting photos onto the Denyse Schmidt Florence Challenge Flickr group by July 15th. Also, look for a special DS Sew-In in the near future.


Who is ready for the DS Challenge???  This challenge is open to all members of the Houston Modern Quilt Guild so get your name on the Flickr list!  Contact Deirdre for more info.

And for fans of Denyse Schmidt not in the HMQG, we have a giveaway for you too!  We have set aside one fat eighth bundle of Florence for the person with the most creative idea!  Post your comment describing your idea and we'll pick the best one and mail you the bundle. You must commit to follow the same rules as the HMQG listed below. 

 Rules:

1. Your project must use Denyse Schmidt fabric from the Florence line provided by DS. You can of course swap among the group if anyone wants to change up the fabrics in their Fat Eighth bundle.
2. Quilt Shop Quality Solids can be supplemented as needed on the quilt top or as backing/lining etcetera but the work’s focus needs to be the new collection.
3. While there are no minimum or maximum size requirements, use your judgment to make sure that you are using a good portion of the fabric that was included in the bundle.
4. If you took one of the bundles you must post a photo of the finished item in the Denyse Schmidt Florence Challenge Flickr group by July 15th and be willing to loan it to Denyse Schmidt or Free Spirit for photos.

Denyse works with Free Spirit Designer Solids and pulled the following solids colors for Florence coordinates :White, Cream, Natural, Salmon, Tango, Red, Scarlet, True Red, Black, Manatee, Slate Grey,Dogwood, Chona Brown, Aqua, Bahama, Parrot Blue, Oriental Blue, Rocket Blue, Chartreuse, Apple Green, Slate

Kona Cottons she recommended include:  Aloe, Old Green, Spruce, Orange

Now if you are a member, please sign up! If you aren't a member but want to be an honoree just post your comment here with what you will make with your Florence bundle. 

Guild Announcements

Becca wows with her Rainbow Plus Quilt made from Kaffe Fassett shot cotton

The year is off to a bang!! We had a great January meeting with members and visitors showing off their skills.  There is so much going on I am going to just hit some of the highlights below.  If you need more information about any of our activities you can check our our guild flickr page or contact HoustonMQG@gmail.com.

January 28th Sew In

Where: St. Martin's Episcopal Church Room 210 (same room as our regular meetings)
Time: 3pm-9pm come and go as you need to
Cost: $5 to help cover the charge for using the room

Michael Miller Challenge (MQG)

Patty's challenge quilt!

Our guild is participating again in the Modern Quilt Guild's fabric challenge.  This time we received bundles from Madrona Road by Violet Craft for Michael Miller Fabrics. The object of the challenge is to create something lovely using just this line and other solids.  There are two different flickr groups.  One for WIPs and one for finshes!  Make sure to add one photo of your finished project to the finshes group! www.flickr.com/groups/2137282@N20/  This is where Michael Miller Fabrics and Violet Craft will be viewing and selecting. Make it a great photo!  Then bring your work to our February Guild Meeting on the 16th! 

Quilt Con

February 21 - 24 in Austin.  Our guild is a Gold Needle Supporting Guild and we hope to see you there!!  

WIPs/UFOs

We repeated our popular WIP/UFO show-n-tell at the January meeting.  Make sure to bring your finishes in for a chance to win prizes!

2013 Retreat 

Our retreat is the first weekend in May at the Deep Woods Retreat Center in Smithville TX (near Bastrop). It includes dinner Friday, light breakfast, lunch & dinner Saturday, and brunch Sunday.  We have this one weekend retreat planned and are looking at adding a second one because of so much interest.  Talk with Frieda if you need a weekend of sewing in the Hill Country.

Guild Member Patty Sloniger's Fall Quilt Market Booth

HMQG member Patty Sloniger of Beck and Lundy had an incredible booth at Market - here is her blog about it and more photos:  http://www.beckandlundy.com/2012/10/fall-quilt-market-2012-part-1.html

Here is her booth showcasing her new collection for Michael Miller, "Les Amis"!   The guild members that got to see it gushed about how wonderful it is.  She even includes a cool tutorial on her blog.  You can also see which guild members helped to get it all sewn up and ready for Market!  She has also donated a cool surprise from this booth to one lucky person who comes to our Festival Meet Up! 

Les Amis in full force!

Anna Maria Swag for Festival Meet Up!

New brochure we all get a copy of at Houston Festival Meet Up!

Fi and Anna Maria and a copy of the new book

Anna Maria's booth at Houston Quilt Market

 

 

So here is where I start gushing!  This past Sunday I was graciously allowed to work a booth for the Modern Quilt Guild during Houston's Market Show.  This means I got to see behind the curtain and into the realm of designers and industry awesomeness.  It did not disappoint!!  I met so many people that I have admired for so long - and they were all really kind and fun to talk shop with.  I shouldn't be surprised - but I was a tiny bit that they would be so generous with their time!  So, one of my favorite designers is Anna Maria Horner.  And she was at Market with her cutie husband signing books at her booth.  I invited her to come to our Festival Meet Up - and when she couldn't make it she donated 150 copies of her new brochure complete with an excerpt and pattern from her new book! Guild sister Becca purchased a copy of Anna Maria's Needlework Notebook and I got to peruse it - total eye candy and a must have for all needlepoint fans!  Join us on Saturday, Nov 3rd at 7pm at the  Lobby Bar of the Hilton Americas (attached to the George R. Brown Convention Center) - free needlework pattern from Anna Maria for the first 150!

new book back cover!!

Becca gets her turn to schmooze the Anna Maria!

Market Meet Up Was Awesome

Thanks to Modern Quilt Guild for helping us to throw such a great Meet Up!  It was so much fun to meet new and old friends and get really excited about Market & Festival.  There were wonderful door prizes - thanks to all the great sponsors! 


Yes, we have surrounded Tula Pink.

  


HMQG and Brenda from Pink Castle Fabrics

  

Becca, Deirdre, Tammy & Fi loving the Meet Up!

Come join us this Saturday - Nov 3rd for even more fun and awesome door prizes! 

The party begins at 7:00 p.m. in the Lobby Bar of the Hilton Americas

(attached to the George R. Brown Convention Center) and is Hosted by the

Houston Modern Quilt Guild.