I went to the Bay Area Modern Quilt Guild Meeting on Saturday. I really like that group. Do I say that every time I go? Everyone is really, genuinely nice and I don’t feel like people are judgmental. Also, everyone seems to have a good time. I don’t feel like I make particularly modern quilts, but everyone seems to like the quilts I bring to show and tell.
I brought the Stars for San Bruno #1 quilt, which is almost finished (stay tuned for the unveiling). I have about a foot of binding left to sew before it is finished. I usually like to only show finished quilts, though I do show finished tops sometimes, but this quilt might be off to Tim and Rose before the next meeting. I hope so anyway.
The Board is doing such a great job with the meetings. We talked about the retreat. People showed their Farmer’s Wife and Alphabet Guild Challenge blocks. I made neither, but would like to catch up and try to do the Alphabet Guild Challenge blocks.
It occurred to me on Sunday morning while I was doing my morning exercises (great time to think) that I could use the Queen Street fabrics for that project. I was looking for a project for that fabric. Not sure as the prints are quite large. I could also use Sugar and Spice. That would be cheerful where Queen Street would be elegant.
I want to get through some of the sewing I have on my immediate to do list before I start more Sampler blocks.
There was some frustration with the Farmer’s Wife Sampler blocks. There seem to be a couple of problems: 1) color selection and 2) lack of rotary cutting directions. I also see a related problem to #2, which is that the author seems to have renamed the blocks, which makes them difficult to find in a standard block dictionary or program. I did see an EQ companion software product with all of the blocks drawn out, but it seems like not many of the members have or know how to use EQ7. Adrianne was particularly discouraged, so I offered to draw the next blocks for her. It will give me the incentive to draw them for myself and help a peep!
There was a lot of discussion of fabrics and I felt a bit out of my element. TFQ has really helped me wrap my head around lines of fabric and I can hold my own, but a lot of the fabrics discussed I had never seen. I only had a vague notion of some of the designers as well. Some more study is required, I guess.
I brought a bunch of my block dictionaries for people to look at. A number of people had bought the 501 Rotary Cut Blocks by Judy Hopkins, which I was pleased to see. A number of people are struggling with the Farmer’s Wife because of the math and I think this book will help. I can see that I had a very good quilt education. I admire the Modern Quiltmakers for learning on their own, but also think that learning in a group has value.
There was also a mug rug challenge. I did not participate…mostly, because I didn’t have a spare second this past month to sew.
Love the aqua!
I spent some time on Sunday drawing or finding the blocks for the Farmer’s Wife in EQ. I was able to put a project together of about 20 blocks. I sent them on to Adrianne so she could focus on the fun rather than struggling with templates. Don’t get me wrong. Templates have their uses, but most of these blocks are easy to rotary cut. I haven’t done all of them, but will get to it later this week.
The question of the month was: what part of the quiltmaking process do you struggle with?
I also love our BAMQG meetings and always leave feeling so inspired and a part of something bigger than myself and my own sewing, which I normally do by myself. I agree that everyone is very nice, loves to share and is non-judgemental. I love that! Everyone has their own style and it makes us a great, diverse group with lots to share.
I also agree with you on the fabric lines. I don’t know (or particularly care about) names and designers; I just know what I like when I see it. There are some in our group that are very involved in the fabric world and love to see what certain designers are coming out with, and I think that’s fine because it opens my eyes to things I maybe wouldn’t see normally. But if I see a really cute fabric by someone that nobody’s ever heard of, I buy it! After all, this hobby is for me and my enjoyment! To each his (or her) own!
BTW, I really love your Stars for San Bruno quilt. I’m sure they will love that quilt forever and appreciate all the hard work and love that went into it. Great job!