Portland Modern Quilt Guild

Head on over to our new blog

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 13:42:00 +0000

We've moved blog hosting, so please join us on our NEW blog at:
portlandmqg.com

Plus update any bookmarks/links you have to direct to the new site.

April 2015 Meeting Reminder

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 22:40:00 +0000

We can't wait to see you again and celebrate our FIFTH anniversary. Can you believe it's been that long? And look how far we've come! We will be celebrating this Thursday with cake (provided by the PMQG) and lots of other snacks and goodies (provided by you). Plus we'll be sharing our Ode to Tools! We couldn't be the quilters we are without them, right? Come tell us which have been life changers and life savers.

When:

April 16, 2015

7:00 p.m.

Where:

St Andrews Church

806 NE Alberta St.

Portland, OR 97211

The meeting will be in the community center, which is behind the main church building. There are two parking lots.

What’s in store:

Anniversary party!
Ode to Tools
Delightful desserts and snacks
Excellent giveaways
Post-meeting socializing at the Radio Room

Don’t forget to bring:

Food to share
Favorite tool(s)
Name badge
A mug for coffee or tea
Your quilts for show and tell, of course!

Guests

Guests and non-members are welcome at the guild meeting. Guests are free for the first visit; $5 for each visit after that.

Modern Domestic Discount
Modern Domestic is celebrating their fifth anniversary, too, so stop by and wish them well before the meeting! As usual, they will offer PMQG members 20% off their purchase on Thursday. They'll also be open until 7 p.m at 1408 NE Alberta St.

We hope to see you on Thursday!

Sisters Quilt Show -- Call for Submissions

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 16:11:00 +0000

It's time to get our exhibit for the 2015 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show together.

We have room for 12-16 quilts depending on size. We have a panel of 5 judges who will curate our display.

Please submit a photo of the quilt top with the finished size by Friday, May 1st. (The quilt does not need to be finished - just the top ) We will let everyone know the following week.

Entries must then be registered with the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show by June 1st. That can be done online at their web site.

Please submit your photos via email or snail mail, with the size included, to the PMQG attention: Cris Pera

March 2015 Meeting Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 14:07:00 +0000

Retreat Door Prizes

noreply@blogger.com (PMQGevents) — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 06:02:00 +0000

I received the most wonderful box of books in the mail from Potter Craft! Sadly they're not for me to keep, but we'll be giving them away as door prizes this weekend at our second ever PMQG retreat this weekend. If you're an attendee you'll have a chance to win one of the following books or many other lovely prizes donated by PMQG sponsors.

Quilting on the Go by Jessica Alexandrakis is full of "English paper piecing projects you can take anywhere." Since English Paper Piecing (EPP) can make use of such small pieces, I appreciated the section on "Making the most of scraps." Other tips I found useful were the pages dedicated to creating a travel tool kit, since having a dedicated set of tools to grab sounds much smarter than my current flurry of racing around the house, desperately trying to find needles, templates, and everything else needed for EPP.

Although it seems like many people I know (myself included) utilize EPP for hexies, I feel like I know fewer people that use other shapes such as triangles, diamonds, half hexies, squares, rectangles, and more shown in this book. Seeing templates in these less common shapes along with projects made from them is inspiring and opened my eyes to some new possibilities with EPP

I felt that the resource section at the back of the book was especially good, with several pages of black and white quilt patterns that could be copied and used for color placement practice, and a plethora of actual size templates.

Several projects caught my eye, especially the Tanuki Striped Throw. This throw is made from a puzzle piece combo of two diamonds and two squares stitched together to make a larger unit. I love the creativity of combining these different shapes together!

Glorious Patchwork by Kaffe Fassett is full of the vibrant colors and patterns that we expect from Kaffe, set in fun quilt layouts that enhance the beauty of the fabrics used.

Glorious Patchwork is arranged by color schemes, and although I usually think brights when I think Kaffe, it was fun to see a variety of color palettes represented here. The book starts with a section on pastels, and even though I wouldn't normally consider myself a pastel fan, I really enjoyed these quilts. One of my favorites from this chapter, the Herringbone Baby Quilt, actually uses leftover pieces from one of the quilts earlier in the book, and I really love that "use it up" philosophy.

Following chapters are Circus, Leafy Gardens, Antique Stone, and Renaissance. Of course I was drawn to the brighter colors of the Circus palettes, but it was also fun to check out all the color schemes and the different patterns represented. This book also contains many templates in the back as well as patterns for foundation paper piecing and other quilting resources.

Dare to be Square Quilting by Bob Davis has the perfect combination of whimsical design and tips for efficient piecing. The quilts are designed for beginners and every pattern in the book is made up of squares and rectangles. I love the owl on the cover as well as the skull pattern (called Basket Case), but I also really enjoyed the more abstract pattern Two Left Feet, which consists of lines that seem to double back on themselves to form open squares and rectangles. Moving through the book, there are also patterns for a whimsical stag and a giant alarm clock.

After the section on quilts there are smaller projects which, due to their construction of squares and rectangles, have a great modern, clean look to them. Pillows, table runners, placemats, and aprons are represented, as well as one of my favorite projects in the book--the Gridlock Grocery Getter shopping bag. This would be a great book for anyone starting out or who likes to make fun, pictorial quilts, or anyone who likes the clean lines and negative spaces of modern quilting.

Modern Log Cabin Quilting by our very own Susan Beal is definitely a guild favorite and a great one for every quilter's library. This book celebrates a basic block and so many wonderful, creative layouts and alternate ways to use it.

Even though I've had the chance to review this book before, it was fun to read through it again to see what I've missed. The Modern Cross pattern that graces the cover is a beautiful classic for full sized or baby quilts that is a great pick whenever you need a simple, beautiful quilt. One thing I was excited to find was a pattern for a t-shirt quilt. Several people have been asking me lately about them, and besides a vague idea about the need for interfacing, I really had no idea where to start!

Another quilt that jumped out at me was the Northwest Modern Quilt. It does look very modern with its large expanses of negative space, but after examining how it was put together (starting with a rectangle rather than a center square) it surprised me what a different look it was from a "typical" log cabin block. Besides a great variety of quilts, Modern Log Cabin Quilting also contains patterns for napkins, coasters, pot holders, pillows, and more.

While not solely a quilting book, Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts has a wealth of information that any fabric lover would enjoy, in a large, beautiful, coffee table worthy book.

At almost 400 pages, this book contains so many tips and patterns on a range of sewing related topics such as fabric, setting up a sewing area, applique, embroidery, quilting, dyeing, and fabric printing. The books is organized with chapters on Basic Techniques followed by projects arranged alphabetically (to name just a few--animals, bags, clothing curtains, flowers, pets, pot holders, slippers, wall decor). As you might imagine, the back of the book is full of tips and techniques. There is even a cd included that contains templates and patterns.

It's pretty difficult to pick a favorite out of so many patterns, but two projects that I really like are the Cross Stitch Silhouette tote and the Bird Embroidered Pillows. I like that the needlework techniques are shown incorporated into finished projects (tote bag and pillow for these two). Sometimes when finishing a needlework project I can't think of anything to do but frame it and put it on the wall, so I enjoy these kinds of useful patterns and ideas.

Thank you so much to Potter Craft for providing these great retreat door prizes, and good luck to all of our attendees!

February Mini Quilt: Paper Piecing

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 14:03:00 +0000

If you haven't tried paper piecing yet, now is the perfect time! You can find lots of paper piecing tutorials and patterns online with these quilters/designers:

Penny Layman: sewtakeahike.typepad.com

Charise Creates: charisecreates.blogspot.com

Amy Friend: duringquiettime.com

Kristy: quietplay.com

Cath: wombatquilts.com

Sam Hunter: hunterdesignstudio.com

Teresa Coates: crinkledreams.com

Remember to keep your quilt under 36" wide/long to participate in the 2015 PMQG Mini Quilt Challenge.

February Meeting Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 00:35:00 +0000

It was wonderful to see so many of you at our meeting last Thursday! If you missed out or want to look back at the things we talked about, here's the PDF version of Elsa's presentation:

February 2015 Meeting Reminder

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Mon, 16 Feb 2015 05:12:00 +0000

AnnMarie Cowley

Don't miss out on this month's fabulous meeting with special guests: Cris Pera, Virginia Hammon, AnnMarie Cowley and Christina Lane and their mini trunk shows!

When:

February 19, 2015

7:00 p.m.

Where:

St Andrews Church

806 NE Alberta St.

Portland, OR 97211

The meeting will be in the community center, which is behind the main church building. There are two parking lots.

What’s in store:

Mini trunk shows and presentations
March's mini quilt challenge
Retreat updates
Small group sign-ups
Excellent giveaways
Post-meeting socializing at the Radio Room

Don’t forget to bring:

Your name badge
Your improv mini quilt
A mug for coffee or tea
Your quilts for show and tell, of course!

Guests

Guests and non-members are welcome at the guild meeting. Guests are free for the first visit; $5 for each visit after that.

Modern Domestic Discount
Modern Domestic will offer PMQG members 20% off their purchase on Thursday. They'll also be open until 7 p.m., so stop by before the meeting! 1408 NE Alberta St.

We hope to see you on Thursday!

Upcoming Events

Charity Sew
Thursday, February 26, 2015
10 a.m. to 4 p.m
Modern Domestic

Open Sew
Saturday, March 7, 2015
9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Fabric Depot
Bring you machine, tools, and projects for a fun day of sewing. Free for members, $10 for guests.

Scott Hansen Painted Forest Workshop
Friday, March 20, 2015
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
St. Andrews Church
$72 plus you will need to purchase and print PDF pattern with discount code before workshop

Book Review: Handmade for Baby

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 03:59:00 +0000

As crafters, we normally have a list of projects in progress as well as a list of ones we would like to start. I know for me that the excitement of a new baby, whether it's in my family or a friend's family, can definitely skyrocket a project to the top of my to-do list!

Handmade for Baby: 25 Keepsakes to Create with Love, by Charlotte Rivers and Emily Gregory, is full of fun projects to inspire you to create something for a baby in your life or your next charity project. Many of the projects include techniques or patterns that would work well for a child of any age or even an adult, such as the Hand Painted Storage Buckets or the Decorative Garland that would be great for a Baby Shower, as suggested, or for any party or room decoration.

The Hand Sewn Cushion shown on the cover is another project that would be a fun gift for anyone but would definitely be adorable in a baby's room. The addition of piping lends a sophisticated touch and the applique lends a bit of personality to the pillow.

Overall I would say that Handmade for Baby has a great combination of the whimsical and decorative, balanced with items that are not only beautiful but also useful. There are clothes for babies (hats, pants, booties, and a skirt) as well as wall decorations and bunting, cushions, a blanket and a quilt, toys, a soft book and quite a bit more.

While this book doesn't firmly fall into the quilting category, there is one quilt in it (a darling chevron quilt) as well as other quilter friendly projects such as an Applique Welcome Banner, the aforementioned cushion and storage buckets, and sewn Fabric Blocks. Beyond quilting, there are projects in many other mediums such as clothing construction, knit, crochet, painting, block printing, paper crafts, sewing with felt, and more. With cute projects and clear instructions, I think this is a great book to have in any crafting library.

The end of the book has a few great resources like sections on crochet and knitting basics. Following each chapter is an "inspiration gallery" which shows projects from that chapter with slight tweaks, such as changing the materials used or changing the finished size of a project to take it in a new direction.

Thank you to Interweave/F+W for donating copies of this title. Lucky winners will go home with this book at our February Retreat!

Jessica Darling Color Party Workshop Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 06:17:00 +0000

Our first ever PMQG workshop, held last month, was a smashing success! It was so much fun to sew with fellow PMQG members in a classroom setting! The room above the gym where we hold our meetings at St. Andrew is a perfect size for about 14-16 attendees and worked out well for our needs. It's bright and airy, with a nice little nook with a mini fridge, sink, and room for us to make coffee and tea!

Improv quilt by teacher Jessica Darling

So what did we do at the workshop? Each attendee brought a couple yards of a "party host" fabric (aka, a focus fabric). Then we added in a few various party guests and thought a little about what direction we wanted our quilt to go in. Or some of us may have just started gleefully sewing away! Everyone also brought a gallon sized ziplock bag full of scraps, which were spread out on a communal table. It was very fun to keep examining the scraps on the table and pulling out new pieces that could fit into our quilts!

Michelle M. with some of her blocks, the giant scale stars are so fun!

Meredith's blocks, love the bright colors!

Heather and some of her colorful progress

Mary Ann's Improv blocks

Lara's work, the butterflies are a great Party Host!

Anne M. with her beautiful bird blocks

Suzanne's blocks with AMH party host

Kazumi also went with some beautiful AMH fabric!

Lorraine's work, she made a mini quilt and sewed her first curves!


Blocks from Michelle F...she brought the fun feather blocks with her, she's speedy but not quite that speedy!

Elsa used super cute teacup fabric for her Party Host!

Colleen mixed funky birds in with her warm palette

Thanks to Suzanne for taking pictures! To see more pictures, please check out #pmqgworkshop on Instagram.

Our next workshop is Friday, March 20th and there are still spaces available. Scott Hansen will be teaching his Painted Forest pattern. The workshop is only open to PMQG members until March 1st, and if we have any spaces left at that point it will be open to the public.

Painted Forest by Scott Hansen

Book Review: Improvising Tradition

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 17:11:00 +0000

Just in time for this month’s improvisation theme a new book! Improvising Tradition by Alexandra Ledgerwood gives quilters a guide to easily develop improvisation styled quilts by using familiar traditional quilting patterns. Patterns like log cabin, coins, one patch, and rail fence are given modern makeovers using improvisation techniques.

The book is divided into three sections focusing on three improvisation quilting techniques: strip setting, strata, and splice-and-insert. First, she gives a tutorial with a clear overview of each technique.

Next, she clearly explains different design options then continues with step-by-step instructions in the subsection called “Here’s How”.

Afterwards, she follows up in each chapter with a variety of projects using each technique. There's a total of 18 great projects from full sized quilts to small coasters. (Great ideas for our mini-quilt of the month theme!)

As a bonus there are tips on free-motion and hand quilting. I especially enjoyed the explanation on her approach to the decision-making process of selecting a quilting design for a quilt.

New quilters will be able to dive in and get started on making beautiful modern improv quilts with ease. They will find the sewing tips in the beginning of the book very useful. Experienced traditional quilters will be able to use familiar skills to easily venture into modern improvisation.

I saw several projects I want to make, especially the adorable mini coasters using the improv strata technique.

This book is beautifully laid out and well organized with bold color photographs and clearly illustrated color instructions. It even has a helpful index, which is something you don’t see too often in many current quilts books. It’s a wonderful guide for modern and traditional quilters alike.

Thank you Interweave/F+W for giving this book to our guild to review. Someone will be the lucky winner at our next meeting! By Secretary Veronica

Scott Hansen Painted Forest Workshop Sign-ups--Now Open

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 19:15:00 +0000

Are you looking forward to March? Dreary March in Portland can be a drag, but I've got a way to lighten it up! Scott Hansen is coming to town and teaching PMQG members an awesome, colorful workshop! I've been intrigued by his Painted Forest pattern since I first saw it a year ago, and now we can all learn from the designer himself! As a fun bonus Scott will be selling patterns and other items at the meeting AND giving PMQG members a 15% discount to his online store through the end of March. The discount will be sent to guild members via email.

Read on for more details about Scott, his patterns, and details for his March 20th workshop with sign-ups opening this Monday, January 19th.

Have you met Scott? When I met him, he handed me a nickel that was painted blue (his company is named Blue Nickel Studios). You never forget a person that pulls a genius move like that! I know you'll have a blast with him when he comes to lecture and teach a workshop in March.

Here is a bit about Scott in his own words:

Scott is the Mad Color Scientist at Blue Nickel Studios which he runs from his rural home in the Pacific Northwest, sort of smack in between the Cascade Mountains and the suburbs of Seattle.

He has been quilting for more than half of his life now, and doesn’t see fit to change that any time soon. He has designed and created quilts for many fabric manufacturing companies and has had other quilt designs featured in many leading quilt magazines. He speaks and teaches locally and regionally, sharing his work and quilts. Scott is thrilled to be preparing to spend his third week teaching at the Quilters’ Affair program that is part of the world famous Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show in Sisters, Oregon this July. He is Community editor for Generation Q Magazine on the side, as well as working full-time at Costco to keep a bit of steady cash flow.

He still maintains a blog at www.bluenickelstudios.com even if he’s not sure anyone really reads them anymore and sells his patterns in his Etsy shop www.etsy.com/shop/BlueNickelStudios. You can follow him on IG at http://instagram.com/bluenickelstudios He’s there the most often.

In his spare time, he tries to maintain his sanity along with the house he built and acreage he thinks can still be the park he envisioned 20+ years ago. He is married to his wife of 25+ years, Linda, a talented mixed-media/doll-loving artist herself, and they have three young adult children, who give them all sorts of joy and challenges as they are stretching their wings to leave the nest. He loves God, his family, trees, architecture, gardens, color, cats, vintage and modern textiles, art, pattern, meeting new people, design, Christmas, fashion, his curly mustache, and a great many other marvelous people, ideas, and things.

What: Painted Forest Workshop (see description and supply list below)
Who: Scott Hansen of Blue Nickel Studios
When: Friday, March 20th from 9-5
Where: St. Andrew Church, 806 NE Alberta St., in the Oscar Romero room, which is up a wheelchair accessible ramp to the right side of the gym where we hold our meetings.
Price: $72 plus you will need to purchase and print PDF pattern with discount code before workshop

Class description:

Painted Forest 59 ½” x 60”

Intermediate

Have a blast making your own little forest in whatever colors you chose. Scott helps you make your own unique trees using a variety of blocks already mapped out and then you can arrange and rearrange the parts to “plant” them anywhere you want in your quilt. Autumn? Get your fall colored scraps together. A black and white forest on a backdrop of a variety of reds? Super Dramatic! A Winter forest with not a leaf to be seen? You can do that too! The sky’s the limit on these fun blocks.

Supply List:

Sewing machine with ¼ inch foot or at least your ability to make accurate ¼ inch seams, rotary cutter, cutting mat, and 18” or longer straight ruler (a shorter one would be handy too, but not necessary),thread, and other basic sewing supplies: seam ripper, pins, etc.

Highly recommended:

Finger presser for “in between” pressing (there is a lot of pressing needed in this project)

Small rotating cutting mat (there is a lot of trimming in this project)

Fabric list:

2 yards or more -- Assorted print fabrics for the “leafy” bits

1 yard -- Assorted solids or “near” solids for the branches and trunks

(each tree needs 2” x WOF, and there are 14 trees in the pattern)

3 yards -- Assorted background prints or solids (each tree takes less than a fat quarter)

Optional: Digital device to save your layout options

The workshop is now on saIe. Please fill out the sign-up form below. Workshop is open to PMQG members only until March 1st, then it will be open to the public if there are still unsold spaces. When we receive your sign-up form we will email a confirmation. If you for some reason do not receive an email confirmation within 24 hours, please send an email to PMQGevents@gmail.com

Price of workshop is $72, via Square only plus workshop attendees will need to purchase the pdf pattern before the workshop. Pattern originally $10 but will b $8.50 with the 15% discount Scott is generously giving guild members through the end of March. No refunds are given for cancellation unless your spot can be re-sold.

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January Meeting Reminder

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 23:34:00 +0000

Welcome in the new year (and a new PMQG board) at the first meeting of 2015! We’re excited to have guest speaker Jessica Darling with us bringing some color to the drab days of January.

When:

Thursday, January 15

7:00 p.m.

Where:

St Andrews Church

806 NE Alberta St.

Portland, OR 97211

The meeting will be in the community center, which is behind the main church building. There are two parking lots.

What’s in store:

Sign up for 2015 membership
Meet the new board members
Announcement about 2015 PMQG Quilt-Along
Update on Panty Raid quilt
Sign up with Sam Hunter with your UFO
Fabulous giveaways
Post-meeting socializing at the Radio Room

Don’t forget to bring:

Your quilts for show and tell!
New, clean panties for the Raphael House (each pair gets you a chance to win the Panty Raid quilt)
Your name badge (and get an extra chance to win a giveaway!)
A mug for coffee or tea

Guests

Guests and non-members are welcome at the guild meeting. Guests are free for the first visit; $5 for each visit after that.

Modern Domestic Discount

Modern Domestic will offer PMQG members 20% off their purchase of fabric and notions on Thursday. Modern Domestic will be open until 7 p.m., so stop by before the meeting! 1408 NE Alberta St.

We hope to see you on Thursday!

~CLOSED~ Submissions for PMQG Quilt Show--2014 Medallion Quilts

noreply@blogger.com (PMQGevents) — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 01:27:00 +0000

Happy New Year, guildies!

~~It's time to submit your 2014 Medallion Quilts for our PMQG Quilt Show that will hang at Modern Domestic in February~~. Submissions are now closed, thank you.

~~To submit, please send the following to PMQGEvents@gmail.com with the subject "Medallion Quilt Submission~~" Submissions are now closed.

Name and Email Address
Completed Quilt Size
1 picture of the entire quilt
1 close-up picture

We are doing our best to include all the quilts submitted, but size restrictions may not allow that. Submit your quilts from now through Midnight, January 9th. Notifications will go out on January 12th if your quilt will be included in the show. If included, please bring your quilt to our January 15th meeting at St. Andrew Catholic Church. If unable to make the meeting, please send your quilt with a friend, or you can make later arrangements with quilt show coordinator Rachel to get the quilt to Modern Domestic.

Book Review: Burda Style: Wardrobe Essentials

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 20:24:00 +0000

BurdaStyle Modern Sewing: Wardrobe Essentials
(Interweave/F+W; $29.99; November 2014.)

Hi there! Secretary Kelly here to bring you a review of something a little different than quilting: BurdaStyle Sewing.

Have you ever wanted to sew your own clothes? Have you seen all the amazing garment fabrics being produced by our favorite quilting fabric designers? Rayons, lawn, knits--they are all ripe for clothes sewing!

In this new release from BurdaStyle the book takes some of the confusion out of Burda patterns and explains construction steps with how-to's and diagrams. 15 projects are included, from a simple peasant top to a more advanced yet classic twill blazer and trousers. The designs are all very classic and could be interpreted over and over.

The book comes with a set of full printed patterns ready for tracing onto pattern paper.

Also useful is the step-by-step section on how to use the patterns, answering questions like like what size am I, what do all these crazy symbols mean, and how do I match up directional fabric?

I learned how to sew clothes before I started quilting, and yet I am still feel like a beginner. I think this book would be perfect for someone who has some garment sewing experience and wants to push their skills further.

Thank so much to F&W media for sending us this book! I hope who ever wins it at our upcoming meeting finds a new handmade wardrobe waiting for them inside!

Book Review: artfully embroidered: motifs and patterns for bags and more

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Wed, 17 Dec 2014 20:21:00 +0000

Artfully Embroidered: Motifs and Patterns for Bags and More
By: Naoko Shimoda
(Interweave/F+W; $24.99; November 2014)

Hello there! Secretary Kelly here to bring you a review of an amazing new embroidery book. I'll be honest, my embroidery skills are weak. I still have a WIP from 1996 of jungle animals waiting to be finished. (One day!) But this book makes me want to stitch all the things with simple yet stunning designs inspired by nature.

I like how this book is set up-- not only does it have gorgeous embroidery patterns, but it also includes a little pattern to make something with it. Bags, purses, and pouches are used throughout the book. Instructions are clear and well-illustrated for bag construction and for the embroidery stitches themselves.

Who can't see themselves in an adorable linen skirt with embroidery embellishments around the hem? I don't know, everyone should have a skirt like this!

I could have photographed every page of this book, but I restrained myself. The photos are beautiful, the projects inspired and I hope who ever wins this book at our next PMQG meeting will make me one of these little coin purses! (wink, wink)

Thanks so much to F&W media for sending us a copy of this book to give away. I hope all you stitchers check it out, it is one for your craft library.

Jessica Darling Color Party Improv Workshop--Signup

noreply@blogger.com (PMQGevents) — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:14:00 +0000

PMQG is thrilled to welcome Jessica Darling to speak at the guild at our January meeting! The next day she will teach an Improv Workshop all about color and mixing fabrics. See sign-up form at the end of this post to register for the workshop.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jessica at last year's Quilt Knit Stitch when PMQG member Violet Craft introduced us. She is bubbly and fun and vibrant and just kind of oozes cool, ya know? I'm very excited to kick off 2015 with Jessica as our first speaker AND the first teacher for our new workshop program!

Here's a little about Jessica in her own words:

Before she knew how to drive, Jessica Darling knew how to operate a longarm
machine. As a teen, she was greatly influenced by colorful graffiti/street art and album covers from her favorite musicians. She had dreams of owning a trend-conscious, funky quilting boutique that catered to her esoteric taste. She started remnants:fiber[culture] in 2012 and offered the Austin, Texas sewing community a unique alternative. The store has since closed, but it inspired Jessica to pursue teaching and pattern design. She started Homegrown- a division of Villa Rosa Designs, the pretty little postcard patterns.

When sheʼs not designing card patterns, she lectures and teaches about color and composition with a modern, edgy twist.

You can keep up with her rock-and-roll lifestyle and peep her constant works in progress

on her instagram- @jessicakdarling

thru her website- jessicakdarling.com

OR you can be friends and keep in touch

thru her Facebook page- facebook.com/jessicadarlingquilts

Check her patterns out at Villa Rose Designs

Still want more? How about some gorgeous pics of her colorful work?

And the description for the Color Party Improv Workshop:

Does color selection confuse and infuriate you? Are you unsure of your color combinations and intuitional color sense? Explore the art of intuitional and individual color stories by personifying your fabric. Everyone loves a party.

For this workshop, besides sewing machines and basic sewing tools, attendees bring 2 yards of a "Party Host" fabric that will be the overall theme for their quilt, as well as 3-5 yards of scraps that will be shared among all the workshop attendees (you may or may not get your scraps back). How much fabric is 3-5 yards of scraps? A gallon ziplock bag stuffed to the brim will work!

What: Color Party Improv Workshop with Jessica Darling

When: January 16th, 9 am to 5 pm
Where: St Andrew Catholic Church, 806 NE Alberta St., Oscar Romero Room (above the gym, to the right up the wheelchair accessible ramp)
Price: $72, Online Square payment only. No additional fees or pattern needed for this workshop

Refunds only given for cancellations if spot is able to be re-sold or if workshop is cancelled due to low attendance.

This workshop is open only to 2015 PMQG members through January 1st, 2015. After that date it will be open to non-members as well if we haven't filled the class.

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2015 Skill Building Block of the Month

noreply@blogger.com (PMQGevents) — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 20:44:00 +0000

We're excited to participate in Pile O' Fabric's Skill Building Block of the Month this year! This is an optional paid program that PMQG members can participate in with a group discount. This program is in addition to any program (like the 2013 BOM or the 2014 Medallion Along) that the 2015 Officers might put together.

This Color Wheel style quilt will help us develop all kinds of quilting skills and techniques as the year goes on:

All lessons will be online and a new lesson will be posted each month.Participants will need to be able to download and print templates as well as access the online classroom. There is a higher priced option if you would prefer to pay for templates.

The original price of the class is $45 for just the class, or $69 for the class plus printed templates, but we will be receiving a group discount. The discount we receive will depend on how many members sign-up. We currently are at a 30% discount! ($31.50 or $48.30 with templates) and only need 4 more people to make it a 35% discount! ($29.25 or $44.85 with templates). If more people sign up the price will continue to go down. (please note, discount will not apply to fabric kits).

To sign up, please email us at PMQGEvents@gmail.com. On January 1st I will send in our head count and receive a discount code to distribute. After you receive your discount code via email, you can visit the Pile O' Fabric website to register and pay.

Business Member Spotlight: Bill Volckening Quilts

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 20:12:00 +0000

Our business member for December is Bill Volckening, quilt appraiser extraordinaire (and subject of much envy after he won the medallion quilt raffle at the guild meeting on Thursday.) How does Bill know so much about quilt history? Find out below!

What makes your business special or different than others in your industry?

Most of my involvement with quilts has been philanthropic and related to my personal collection. I started my business in response to a variety of quilt-related requests from the community, and the business is my vehicle for responding to these requests. Much of the work is appraising and photographing completed quilts, both new and old, but I have worked with clients on a variety of projects.

How long have you been doing this?

Three years. I have collected quilts for 25 years. I also have a creative background, which includes study at Rhode Island School of Design, School of Visual Arts in New York (BFA in Photography 1988), International Center of Photography and New York University (MA in Studio Art and Photography 1991).

What’s the most important thing you’ve had to learn to do your job well?

If I do not have an answer, knowing where to find it or who to ask is key.

What do you see as a significant aesthetic trend right now?

Modern quilting, of course – geometric pieced quilts – and I see a lot of interest in certain kinds of antique and vintage quilts, especially improvisational design and mid-century modern. According to friends who went to Houston this year, handwork is making a big comeback. I think it may have something to do with being portable, something you can pull out of your bag on an airplane.

What’s the strangest thing a customer has ever asked you?

People have a lot of questions about their quilts, and they are usually very good questions. One request I receive fairly often is to appraise quilts from photos, but I must see the quilts in person to appraise them. People also ask if I am interested in buying when I am in the process of evaluating a quilt for an appraisal, but I will not engage in trade transactions when appraising. Oh, and Sam Hunter (of Hunters Design Studio) will appreciate this…I sometimes get asked to provide free “ballpark” valuations on quilts. In those situations, I offer verbal assessments with a per hour fee.

Any new products or services you’d like to mention?

In January I will be offering a webinar about quilt history with Quilters Newsletter. If it goes well, there may be a series of webinars. A new book will be available in April, possibly sooner. It will be a coffee table book about my New York Beauty quilt collection, published by Quiltmania in France. I am also working with another publisher on a potential series of pattern books using antique and vintage quilts from my collection as inspiration.

In addition to the special exhibits I am planning at QuiltCon and Pour l’Amour du Fil in 2015, I will be the featured guest at the Airing of the Quilts in Milwaukie in March, and will exhibit 1970s quilts at the Benton County Museum in Philomath, Oregon during 2015 Quilt County from August to October.

"Rick Rack Tiles" will be part of Bill's special exhibit at QuiltCon.

Why do you like being a business member of PMQG?

It is a simple way to support the guild and its members. I enjoy being a beacon for information about quilts, quilt history and the quilt marketplace. I also love meeting guild members who approach me with questions and queries. PMQG is an impressive organization, full of talent and creativity. Offering something unique to the guild makes me happy.

If you couldn’t work in the quilting/sewing world, what would your dream job be?

Antiques dealer during the rainy season, and Plein Air landscape painter in the non-rainy season.

Business Info

Bill Volckening Quilts
1220 NW 119th Place
Portland, OR 97229
Phone: 503-327-3202
Web site: www.billvolckening.com

Will Panty Raid for Charity!

noreply@blogger.com (PMQGevents) — Sat, 13 Dec 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Panty Raid Quilt Raffle

PMQG is really excited to participate in an event organized by our very own Sam Hunter of Hunter's Design Studio! One of our small groups has been making a quilt (a pattern of Sam's called Star Stuff) that they plan to raffle off at our January 15th PMQG meeting.

This is no ordinary raffle though! The proceeds are going to one of PMQG's 2014 Charities: Raphael House, a shelter for women and children escaping from domestic violence. And the proceeds aren't money, they are underwear! Used clothing might be fine when you are in need, but new underclothes are nice to have, whatever your situation.

To participate in the raffle (PMQG members only) and have a chance to take this lovely quilt home, bring new underwear (women or children's sizes) to our January meeting. Please think of picking some up when you are out doing your Holiday shopping!

Update with specific needs from the Raphael House website:

Clothing:
Due to space restrictions, we cannot accept any used clothing.

Women’s underwear and bras (new) - all sizes for women and teens, especially underwear sizes L-XXL
Children’s good, clean, casual clothing - especially boys sizes 5 to 16
Children’s underwear and socks (new) - all sizes

December 2014 Meeting Announcements

noreply@blogger.com (PMQGevents) — Fri, 12 Dec 2014 05:00:00 +0000

Here are the full announcements from the December Meeting. Slide show may take a moment to load.

Review: Kaleidograph, a fun design tool

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Wed, 10 Dec 2014 18:32:00 +0000

We have an interesting little package today that has design fun written all over it. The Kaleidograph is a simple sack of colorful cards with shapes cut out but when you stack and flip the cards then slide them into the holder fun things start to happen.

The kit comes with several solid cards and then a bunch of cut outs in different colors front and back.

Here's a few little designs I played with but the possibilities are endless! Quilt block inspiration here you come!

This kit is a circle and there is a hexagon kit too, visit their website to play with a virtual toy at - there is even a community to share the patterns you make.

This would be great for kids too!

Try one out at our next sew day and win one at the guild meeting tomorrow!

Thanks to Kaleidograph Design and Red hen books and toys for sending us the giveaways!

DIY Holiday Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 17:43:00 +0000

Are you the kind of crafter that dabbles? You might sew and knit and make jewelry? Well then F&W Media has a magazine for you. The premier issue of DIY Holiday is out with 25 projects to satisfy all your crafting impulses.

This magazine has super cute projects to make and give for sewing, quilting, jewelry making, knitting and crochet.

There is even a super cute retro quilt by our own Michelle Freedman!

Win one of three copies at our holiday meeting on Thursday, December 11—just in time to make some holiday gifts for yourself or others!

Good Luck!

Kelly

PMQG Secretary

December Meeting Reminder

noreply@blogger.com (Portland Modern Quilt Guild) — Sat, 06 Dec 2014 06:31:00 +0000

You could win this beauty on Thursday!

It's party time, people! Celebrate the end of the year with your quilting friends. We'll have a potluck, holiday sale, a fundraising raffle, and fancy door prizes. Plus the holiday swap, and the final results of our 2014 Medallion Along!

PMQG member Elizabeth Hartman will also present her new book, Patchwork City. (She'll be signing copies at Modern Domestic before the meeting!)

When:

Thursday, December 11

7:00 p.m.

Where:

St Andrews Church

806 NE Alberta St.

Portland, OR 97211

The meeting will be in the community center, which is behind the main church building. There are two parking lots.

What’s in store:

Holiday Sale: members will be selling fabric bundles, craft books, felted items, soap, pincushions, jewelry, and more.
Potluck Yumminess (see below)
Raffle Quilts: we'll raffle the medallion pictured above and one of our group Monaluna quilts (so gorgeous!). Proceeds benefit the guild. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. (PMQG members only, please.)
Holiday Swap
Excellent giveaways
Post-meeting socializing at the Radio Room

Don’t forget to bring:

Potluck item to share: last name A-M, bring a savory dish; last name N-Z, sweet dish
Beer or wine if you want (it's BYOB)
Your finished medallion quilt for display
Three skirt hangers to hang up your medallion
Holiday Swap gift if you're participating. It can be wrapped or not, but don't forget to include your name and your partner's name! Also if there's leftover fabric, return it to your partner.
Any quilts or new toiletries or household goods for Raphael House
Money for raffle quilts, the holiday sale, and/or 2015 membership
Your quilts for show and tell, of course!

Guests

Guests and non-members are welcome at the guild meeting. Guests are free for the first visit; $5 for each visit after that.

Modern Domestic Discount
Modern Domestic will offer PMQG members 20% off their purchase of fabric and notions on Thursday, plus 25% off Elizabeth Hartman patterns. Kona Solids will be $6.50/yard (instead of $8.50) limited to 1/2 yard cuts or greater. Kona FQ’s will be $1.75 each, instead of $2.50. Modern Domestic will be open until 7 p.m. on Thursday, so stop by before the meeting! 1408 NE Alberta St.

We hope to see you on Thursday!

An Improv Charity Project

noreply@blogger.com (PMQGevents) — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 23:53:00 +0000

We didn't have a charity sew this month, but we do have a fun little project if you want something quick and easy to work on in between larger Holiday projects! If you'd like to participate, please create a 12.5 inch block, improv style, out of bright fabrics. Bring it back to our December 11th Guild Meeting/Holiday Party at St. Andrew, or our December 14th Charity Sew at Modern Domestic.

Here's a fun block Cath made:

And four of them together: