Thursday, March 26, 2020

Hello fellow quilters and social distancers,
Baltimore MQG has updates and activities regarding changes and activities. See below for the changes and opportunities to participate in our quilting community. Also please note that our April meeting has been CANCELLED as well as the rainbow square swap.

1. NEWS: APRIL MEETING CANCELLED
2. MASK MAKING OPPORTUNITY FOR A LOCAL NEED
3. VIRTUAL QUILT SHOW: please visit
4. INSTAGRAM SHOW AND SHARE USING HASHTAGS:

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Spring is in the air this March. So far 2020 has been very busy for our guild. There were four main events in the March meeting: Timna Tarr speaking, charity quilt reveal, one word challenge quilt reveal, and show & share. See below for some of the highlights.

Timna Tarr Speaker and Visit: Timna came all the way from Massachusetts to provide a "Map Quilt" workshop on Saturday and to speak at our guild meeting on Sunday. Timna is a professional long-arm quilter, but her personal quilts are also spectacular. She explained her fascination with squares, circles, and color. Here are some of her amazing works below.



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One Word Quilt Challenge- This month was the big reveal for the One Word Quilt Challenge. This challenge was a follow-up from our January mini-clinic on different methods of displaying text on  quilts. Our members were creative using stitching, applique, piecing, and painting. The quilts of all sizes showed a variety of talent and creativity.


Read below for details about each chosen word. See if you can match it to the artist
Breath - Kathy P. - This word reminds me of this essential tool in my toolbox for keeping anxiety at bay. It was her first time doing improv, inspired by Chawne Kimber
Breathe - Sue W.- The word breathe is a reminder for me to take a moment during stressful times of my day at work. I plan to hang this above my desk.
Clarity - Laura B. - I am focusing on refining my life, particularly my sewing life to only contain what is right for me and my family
Confidence - Emily S. - I chose confidence because I’m a new quilter and because I struggle with imposter syndrome at work, especially since returning after having my daughter. Used paper piecing, hand-written made fabric, and free motion writing and quilting.
Finish - Daniela S. - I chose Finish because my goal for 2020 is to finish my UFO’s. I also included a mini UFO on a finish line to represent my goal.
Focus - Jane S. I chose focus so I can have the quilt there to remind me to keep with something until it’s complete
Freedom - Janine F - I have struggled with “internal” freedom and felt creativity is central to who I am
Grit - Marisa K - I chose grit because it is how I work every day.  I dig in hard and hopefully make something better each day.  NO GRIT, NO PEARL
Injustice - Ruthie G. - This quilt is part of a block of the month with the National Quilt Museum.  There was controversy over including it because it was created by a social action group, making a statement about Trayon Martin.
Janteloven - Jenn P. A Scandinavian word meaning to not strive for perfection, don’t be boastful or try to better than anyone else.
Justice - Sue T. - I chose justice because I am particularly concerned with environmental, social, economic, and criminal justice reform in the US and around the world and wanted to highlight it.
Kind - Susan B - Because I think kindness should be the norm.  Bee Kind!
Mercy - Jeff P. - The song “Mercy Now” by Mary Gauthier pretty much says it all
Moxie - Mega B - I chose moxie because it represents the way I want to approach all aspects of life.  Lots of firsts in the quilt: first mini quilt, FPP letters, improv background, non vertical line quilting, more than one color thread
Piano - Marsha B. - I am a retired music teacher and my instrument is the piano. Being retired, now I can play whatever I want and am enjoying playing new music and music I have played for years.
Retired - Phyllis C. - I retired 2 days ago so this was foremost in my mind.  The background is a bicycle chain which I hope to do more of in retirement. Bicycling – not bike repair.
Savage - Megan P. - After a difficult year last year I have really thought about putting my own artistic goals first this year and making my own goals a priority.  I’m read to “attack” my goals and I’m all “charged” up and ready for action!
Thankful - Connie R. - I did my work in Hebrew.  It is the first word you say when you wake up in the morning.
Vote -Barbara S. - I believe that Americans, regardless of their political views should speak up through the ballot box.
Vote and *%@#! – Susie M. – I chose vote because I feel like this election is one of the most important regarding women’s rights, note the reference to The Handmaid’s Tale. I chose a coded curse word because that is how I feel sometimes when making a mistake in sewing
Woodlea - Mary S. - Means by the woods, my favorite things to do is walk through the woods – it is my happy place.





  
















 



















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Comfort Cases Charity Quilts - This month we wrapped up our charity quilts for Comfort Cases, a charity that provides a comforting gift to children entering foster care.


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Show and Share - Our members have been very busy. See below for all of the amazing talent our members have together.

Monica  made 4 amazing quilts recently. She made a charity quit, two matching fox quilts for twins, and a charity quilt
Jenn  used fabric from a guild to make a donated charity quilt (HST pictured)
Susie finished her crab quilt improvised from last year's members only workshop and pattern.
Phylis J. finished the top of her grid design quilt 

Laura B- made a 3in triangle from a class that she took. Laura also used half rectangles. This quilt is donated to Head Start
Pat S. completed a block of the month quit with half square triangles. With the left overs from the half square triangles she made a bonus pillow that she is donating to bingo! 
Ruthie G. finished a Woodstock quilt challenge for her first quilt. In her 2nd quilt she used a mat using marine vinyl and used fusion to add the colors along with mod podge and polyurethane; she also made a matching toaster cover! 
Phyllis C. made a baby quilt for a friend from high school for her granddaughter named Violet. 
Kim F sewed a charity quilt 
Sarah L. took a straight line quilting class from quilt con, she also took a precision piecing class for her second quilt 


Jane bought some fabric in Florida and made a wonky circle style quilt
Amy V.  made a lunch box, the pattern was bought on Etsy 
Janine F. finished a quilt her mom made by completing the binding (see squares on point below) She also made a black a blue quilt for her husband (not pictured)
Daniela finished her book quilt and made into a quillow for her daughter. It is an Angela Pingel design 
Emily completed her 2 mini quilts, a heart and flower 
Elizabeth T started her quilt 5 years ago and  now it is finished!! (far bottom left, blue with interlocking "watches")
Susan B. completed her white and green quilt  that was made of a neighbor's grandchild
Barbara used fabric and pattern from quilty box; this is her first big modern quilting project