Modern Quilting: DIY Discourse

Check out this thesis about modern quilting:

This study explores the modern quilting movement from the perspective of members of the Modern Quilt Guild (MQG), a new guild that includes both online and in-person elements. Twenty-six members of seven MQG’s across the United States were interviewed. The interviews focused on the factors that draw participants into the MQG as well as how the art/craft debate shapes the experiences of modern quilters. This study concludes that modern quilting is both an attitude and an aesthetic. The attitude of modern quilting encompasses common themes among participants like the lack of rules dictating their quilting practices and an open and inviting atmosphere at meetings. The attitude portion of modern quilting was present to some degree in all participants of this study. The current aesthetic of modern quilting emphasizes clean lines, minimalism, and solid fabrics, among many other characteristics. All the participants of this study did not embody the aesthetic of modern quilting. The results suggest that all participants are drawn to the guild due to the attitude of modern quilting whereas only some participants are inclined to join due to the aesthetic of modern quilting. The aesthetic of modern quilting does not appear to be tied to the art/craft debate in that most participants did not link the differences between art and craft to their own work. The study also illustrates the excitement, motivation, and enjoyment that surrounds MQG membership for the participants of this study.

Name tag ‘block challenge’

Here are some links for inspiration/help for our January name tag challenge. Your challenge is to create a quilted name tag. Feel free to use any technique for your name tag from piecing to appliqué to embroidery. There is no size limit or shape constraint, so use your creativity to create something that showcases your style as a modern quilter.

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Have fun! I’m very excited to see everyone’s name tags in January.

November Meeting (November 12, 2012)

Date:   Monday, November 12th
Time:   6pm to 8pm (superbuzzy open at 5pm)
Location :  superbuzzy  (directions)

In addition to our regular line up we will be discussing our upcoming elections and our by-laws. Members: please read through the copy of the proposed by-laws that you received with your meeting reminder email. Come to the meeting with any questions you might have. We have set aside time for discussion and voting on the by-laws.

Don’t forget your blocks for our November block challenge. The November challenge was to create a quilt block inspired by Gee’s Bend. The block should follow the “modern quilting aesthetic”.

Please RSVP by leaving a comment.

We might be short on chairs for this meeting. If you can bring your own portable chair it would be greatly appreciated!

superbuzzy will be open at 5pm to give you a chance to browse and pick up any last-minute goodies!

Meeting Minutes!

Postscript: Alissa Haight Carlton’s visit

I hope everyone enjoyed Alissa Haight Carlton’s presentation as much as I did. During her presentation Alissa mentioned some of the guests that have spoken at the Los Angeles Modern Quilt Guild. Since not everyone knew who they were I’ve provided a list with links to their blogs so you can learn more about them.

Denyse Schmidt

Anna Maria Horner

Jay McCarroll

Elizabeth Hartman

Angela Walters

Lizzy House

Jacquie Gering

If you’d like to know more about Action Kivu, the non-profit organization run by Alissa’s sister that helps women who are victims of the conflict in Eastern Congo by teaching them to sew at a sewing workshop, please click on the button below.

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 If you didn’t attend our September meeting or you need a refresher course on Gee’s Bend click HERE to see a gallery of Gee’s Bend quilts. Click HERE for a blog post on our site with more information about Gee’s Bend.

A couple of quick links

The Houston Modern Quilt Guild will be hosting a Modern Quilt Guild meet up at International Quilt Festival.

mqg meetup quilt market2012

Spoonflower is sponsoring a sweepstake to send two people to QuiltCon. Click on the picture below to enter (it’s a Facebook link).

Click on this banner for a twitter link to the same sweepstake:

Sign up for the Modern Quilt Guild’s newsletter HERE. It will help you keep up with what’s happening with the MQG.

Two recent quilt-related stories in the Ventura County Star

VCSTAR

I can’t believe I missed these two stories that ran in the Ventura County Star! The first article is a behind-the-scenes look at Generation Q, the quilting magazine that started off as a free online then Kickstarter-backed project. The people behind it are also local-ish! Click HERE for the article (and don’t forget to pick up a copy).

The second article focuses on online craft classes and mentions both Craftsy and modern quilter Elizabeth Hartman (both previously mentioned on our site here). Click HERE to read the article.