Dates to Remember

• January 22nd – Road to CA Meet n’ Eat. From 12 to 1 pm on the back patio, Ontario Convention Center.
• February 5th – Guest Lecturer, Brenda Gael Smith, “Driven to Abstraction“
• February 6th – Workshop “Geometricks” with Brenda Gael Smith $30 via PayPal or Check
• February 16th – 20th, – QuiltCon
• July 2nd – IEMQG Quilt Challenge – ROUNDABOUT – its not to soon to get started!

Time to Renew your membership

Don’t let your membership expire, Its time to renew for 2022. The annual fee is $40 and provides access to free resources at www.themodernquiltguild.com For more information go to, “How to Join our Guild” in the Menu.

Block of the Month

Evie Rienstra, our new Block of the Month Chairperson, has just posted our first block for 2022 on the Block of the Month page. Her original Mondrian inspired blocks look fun! Go to our new 2022 Block of the Month page for all the details and a downloadable January block pattern.

Roundabout Challenge

This challenge is all about sewing curves, but don’t worry if curves are not yet in your toolbox. We’ll be sharing tips and tricks along the way. The Challenge rules are simple: incorporate some curves, use at least three solid colors, and make sure the sides of your quilt measure between 24 and 80 inches. We’ll reveal our quilts at the July 2nd general meeting.

Adding Words to our Quilts

IEMQG member, Patti Reyes, showed us three easy ways to add words to our quilts and she inspired us to experiment with the tools and techniques she introduced. She showed us how to super-size our printer fonts and then securely print them directly onto fabric. She also showed us how to trace super-sized fonts onto our fabric for embroidery and how to improve our handwriting on quilt labels, by tracing fonts. Visit the Tutorials page on this website to download her complete tutorial, “Three Easy Ways to Add Words to Quilts”.

Piecing Letters of the Alphabet

In Fresh Quilting Episode #302, We watched Laura Hartrich piece all the letters of the alphabet with just 3 easy blocks. Don’t forget that as an MQG member you have access to every Fresh Quilting episode and many more resources. Visit www.themodernquiltguild.com to take advantage of more great videos and resources.

QuiltCon Community Outreach Quilt Challenge: Angles

Road to California Submissions

We have several IEMQG members showing quilts at Road to CA. Don’t forget to look for these beautiful quilts!

Laura Greene’s “Wonky Log Cabin” and Patti Reyes’s “Scraptacular Nine-Patch” will be displayed in the SCCQG “SoCal Quilts 2022” Exhibit.

Show and Share

Here are a few quilts shared by our talented members. Don’t forget to share your quilts with us by sending a photo to iemodernquiltguild@gmail.com

Charity Quilts

Did you know that members who donate quilts for charity are entered to win a generous gift at the end of the year. Each donation wins you an entry.

This was the guild’s first in-person meeting since March 2020 – and it did not disappoint! It was such a huge pleasure to be able to reconnect with members again and to meet our new member, Jennifer. The meeting was to start at 11 am but with all the socializing going on we didn’t “officially” start the meeting until 11:40 am. Here’s a rundown of the festivities:

Mini-Mod Block Swap Show & Share

Those who participated in Berene Campbell’s mini-mod block swap shared their creative creations with those tiny 2″ blocks – truly remarkable:

PATTI

Carlene:

Barbara:

Laura:

Lynn:

Elizabeth:

Holiday Inspired Games!!

We played two games: “Never have I Ever” and the Bad Santa game. Congrats to Elizabeth for winning the “Never have I Ever” game. Apparently she’s the only one who’s made a wonky log cabin quilt (I think Laura has but she was already sitting down). A very fun game!

For the Bad Santa game, members exchanged sewing related gifts. All gifts were packaged in brown paper bags with numbers on them. As a member’s name was called they could either choose a bag or “steal” an already revealed gift. There were a few steals (bad Santas)! At the end, we all took home very nice gifts!

Unfortunately, we ran out of time to make the owl pin cushion. But Laura provided a quick demonstration and every member received a kit to take home. Laura graciously offered to demonstrate how to make the owl pin cushion at the next sit and sew on Monday, December 13th at 7 pm.

Show & Share

Our members have been SEW busy! Please enjoy what they’ve been up to lately.

Announcements

MEMBERSHIP – It’s time to renew for the 2022 year! The membership fee is still $40. Please see email sent on December 3rd for additional information. You can always email us at iemodernquiltguild@gmail.com with any questions.

FUTURE MEETINGS – The January meeting will be held on January 8th instead of on the first of the month due to the holiday. The January, February and March meeting will be via Zoom – stay tuned for additional details. We will announce whether we will meet in April at the Lake Mathews Community Center in Riverside at a later date.

MEET & EAT – We are planning to have the next couple of Meet & Eats at Road to California in January and QuiltCon in February. Details to follow.

FAREWELL – A fond farewell was relayed to Barbara. Each board member thanked Barbara for her year as President. As Barbara decided not to pursue another year, the board gifted her with our traditional IEMQG sweatshirt. THANK YOU BARBARA!!

A note from Becky Brekke: I want to thank you for allowing me to be your VP of Communications for the 2021 year. Due to personal issues, I opted not to run again for the position. I truly learned so much about websites and blogging! I hope you enjoyed my posts as much as I enjoyed putting them together for you! You will be left in capable hands with my successor, Patti! Cheers to 2022; I know it will be a great year for all!

Happy Holidays from the IEMQG!

First up at our meeting this month was to tour Sharon’s sewing space or “therapy” room as she likes to call it. We all enjoyed touring her large sewing room and seeing her vintage Micky Mouse collection as well. Thank you Sharon!

Next Laura showed slides on how to create her fabric postcards. Check your email as Laura emailed the instructions if you’d like to create them for family and friends for the holiday season. Thank you Laura!

Lastly, we toured Gayle’s sewing space. She took us through the transformation of dining room to sewing room. We love how she utilizes her space and that it also can be used as a guest room. Thank you Gayle!

Unfortunately, Patti was not able to present her “Three Ways to Add Words to Quilts”. However, she will demonstrate this at our January meeting – stay tuned!

2022 Executive Board

Congratulations to the newly elected 2022 Executive Board members. The new Board for 2022 is as follows:

• President: Candy S
• VP of Programs: Laura G
• VP of Communications: Patti R
• Treasurer: Gayle B
• Co-Secretary: Lynn H and Debi Gardner

QuiltCon

Just a reminder that QuiltCon FREE registration ends on November 30th. If you think that you may attend, it’s worthy of registering for your free entry into the event. This is a “perk” of your paid membership. Register through the website. and click on the QUILTCON tab.

Holiday Party (in person)

Our Christmas party will be held in person at the Lake Mathews Community Room starting at 11 am on Saturday, December 4th.

• Bring your own lunch.
• Bring a $15-20 quilt related gift in a brown paper bag folded on top (please do not staple or tape) for the Bad Santa game
• Bring your Show & Share, including your Mini Mod Swap blocks
• Wear holiday attire: ugly sweater, mask, etc.
• Water, coffee, tea, and a cupcake will be provided
• Activities: Bad Santa game, Never Have I Ever game, Owl pincushion project, Show & Share

We hope to see you in person next month!

This month’s meeting led by Laura (in Barbara’s absence) focused on revisiting favorite quilts from previous shows. Several members submitted photos of their favorite quilts. Laura shared two videos:

“The Best of QuiltCon 2020”: Discussion followed about the quilting, the lines and the shapes that express emotions in quilts. Discussion about the purpose of quilts: Is it to make something pleasing or to express an idea, feeling or emotion. What do you do when making a quilt?

The Best of QuiltCon 2018″: Discussion about the colors used and your favorite color palette followed.

Laura shared, “Abstract Design in American Quilts at 50: Journey to Japan Virtual Gallery Walk Through”: Discussion about the similarity and differences in quilts from Japan compared to local work followed. Some people like to read the title and artist statement to get a better understanding of the maker’s intent.  Some people just make quilts and realize the quilt is reflecting an idea or feeling they are felling as they work.  Gayle puts a bit of fabric from previous quilts she has made in every new quilt, to link the connections together.  Mary thinks each person will react differently to the same image in a quilt and that is the one of the wonderful things about art. Lively and insightful discussions followed.

International Quilt Museum (IQM): As a member of the IEMQG you have access to the online resources at the IQM in Lincoln, Nebraska. Go to the website and input the following information, User: iemodernquiltguild@iemqguild and Password: Qui1ts!

Survey Results: Laura shared a summary of the recent survey that 20 members responded to. Members identified benefits of having in-person meetings, zoom meetings, and a combination.  There was not a majority consensus on the kind of meetings we should have in the future. Members appreciate high quality teachers, amount to pay for the classes varied. Members were split on selling items no longer used but were more positive about purchasing other’s items to fundraise for the guild. Three-quarters of our members agreed to work on a community quilt for QuiltCon. Laura took an informal poll on an in-person meeting time as the board is considering changing from 2 pm to 10 am.  There was much discussion about times, dates, and ability to participate if things change.  The board will look at sending out another formal survey to all members, with closed-ended questions, before deciding about future meeting times/dates. The survey results are as follows.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SHOW AND SHARE – The board has unanimously reversed an earlier decision to only share Modern Quilts at Show and Share.  Moving forward, please submit any quilt you are working on regardless of the type, to help us get to know each other through our work and to celebrate the wonderful creations we each make. Show and Share quilt photos can be submitted anytime to the iemodernquiltguild@gmail.com.  Quilts that arrive by the Monday preceding the general meeting will be included in that general meeting.  Photos that arrive after that will be held until the next general meeting.

MEET & EAT – The next Meet & Eat is scheduled for Saturday, September 18, 2021. We’ll be meeting from 9 am – 1 pm. Bring your lunch, a chair, show and shares, community group quilt triangles and join your quilty friends at the SSgt. Salvador J. LaraCasa Blanca Library.

We are going to test this as a hybrid meeting, and here is the zoom link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85403466552?pwd=WHpnaGZ1KzlQVm9SZU9hZFYyN2RpZz09

OCTOBER GUILD MEETING & SAMPLER PLATTER –

October General Meeting, October 2, 10 – 11 am, Zoom (Note time change!).  Churn Dash challenge due (send picture of your quilt the Monday prior to the meeting to iemodernquiltguild@gmail.com.  You should still have plenty of time to finish your churn dash featuring alternate gridwork and negative space. Can’t wait to see what you all create!

Sampler Platter, October 2, from 12 – 3, zoom (hence time change above), email with link and PDF file for presentations will be sent prior to meeting.  Platter continues Sunday, October 3, noon to 3 as well.  The Sampler Platter is 15-minute lessons by well know quilt instructors from around the world.  Attend as many as you like courtesy of the IEMQG (we paid for members to be able to attend).

RETREAT AT VINA – We have two openings. If interested, let Barbara know ASAP.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE – We are in need two volunteers from the general membership to join Laura and Patti on the committee. Nominating committee will recommend candidates for President, Programs, Communications, Treasurer, Secretary, Charity, and possibly other positions. If you are interested, please contact Laura or Patti.

SPOTLIGHT QUILTERS FOR UPCOMING MEETINGS – Who would you like to see spotlighted?  A quilt Con favorite instructor, a You-tuber, Blogger, favorite author?  Let Laura know if you have someone in mind you would like to know more about.  Would you like to give a 10–15-minute summary of a quilter at one of our Zoom meetings?  Let Laura know.

See you all next month!!

Guild Mini Mod Swap

Berene Campbell of Happy Sew Lucky introduced the guild swap project. Below are the key points of her presentation:

• Fundraiser for scholarships to BIPOC, LGBTQ2SL+ and Indigenous people from Canada.  (Where Berene lives)
• Berene has spoken to many guilds and raised over $10,000 so far.
• She shared photos of two recent scholarship recipients.
• Donate $5 by pay pal to the guild or a check to Candy.  The guild will send one check to Berene.
• Additional donations can be made here.

Berene has designed the mini block patterns and the blocks finish at 2″x 2″. Some blocks are simple, like a four-patch or cross blocks, some are paper pieced and some are curved.

If you participate:

• You will select a color group (warm, cool, or neutral).
• You will select a background color (black, white, or gray).
• You will receive a set of patterns.
• You can get construction tips from Berene’s tutorials on YouTube.
• You will make six blocks for yourself, and six blocks for four others in your group, a total of thirty blocks.
• You will mail six blocks to each person, and you will receive six blocks from each person in your group, until you end up with thirty blocks.
• You can use them to make a small quilt, or any number of projects suggested on her website
• The projects are yours to keep.
• You will receive an email from the inland empire modern quilt guild asking if you want to participate.
• The email will include relevant due dates.
• You will select your colors and provide a mailing address.
• Once the groups are formed, you will receive all the directions, dates, and resources for help to complete your blocks.

The guild will have a show and share of the projects from this mini mod swap at our December meeting.

Announcements

RETREAT AT VINA DE LESTONNAC: As a reminder our annual retreat this year is November 8, 9, and 10. There are a couple of spots available – if you are interested in joining the retreat, contact Barbara to reserve a spot. We are taking reservations from non-guild members at this time as well.

QUILTCON COMMUNITY QUILT OUTREACH CHALLENGE: Our guild is making a group quilt to hang at QuiltCon in Phoenix in February 2022. To participate, contact Patti or Lynn to receive a package of fabric, triangle template, and directions. As a recap, each participant is making six triangles and returning them by September 18, at the next Meet & Eat. You can also return the triangles by mail. The layout of the triangles/hexagons will be a joint project at the retreat in November. For additional information please refer to the QuiltCon Group Challenge information packet

MEET & EAT: The next Meet & Eat is scheduled for Saturday, September 18, 2021. We’ll be meeting from 9 am to 1 pm. Bring your lunch, a chair, show and shares, group quilt triangles and join your quilty friends at the SSgt. Salvador J. LaraCasa Blanca Library (Note the meeting time has changed in order to avoid the extreme heat in the middle of the afternoon).

CHURN DASH BLOCK CHALLENGE: This is your opportunity to work with an alternate grid and/or other elements of a modern quilt! All that’s need to participate is a photo of your quilt top or finished quilt. All entries due by the Wednesday before the October meeting. Send a photo to Laura at the guild’s email address, iemodernquiltguild@gmail.com.

“See” you next month – stay cool!