I’m sure we all remember the original Nintendo Entertainment System. But did you know that for a very short time Nintendo thought about selling a knitting peripheral? It was shown only once in public (at the 1987 Consumer Electronics Show) and demonstrated to then-president of Toys R Us Charles Lazarus. Think of the possibilities if the video game generation had been brought up on knitting as well! (via HERE and HERE)Continue reading “Now You’re Knitting With Power!”
Free Craftsy Quilting Class
Craftsy is a website where you can take online courses from knowledgeable instructors. They currently have a handful of quilting classes including classes taught by Angela Walters , Lola Jenkins , and Elizabeth Hartman. Craftsy is offering a free mini-class from Elizabeth Hartman titled Creative Quilt Backs. Nothing beats free and you’ll get a taste of what Craftsy classes are like and whether you’d want to pay for other classes.
Winter Tree Block Exchange
For those of you who signed up for our Winter Tree Block Exchange, here are the rules:
- Finished block size – 12 inch finished block (12 1/2 by 12 1/2 unfinished)
- 1/4 inch seams
- Fabric type = 100% cotton of quilt quality
- White or neutral background
- Look = scrappy and you can use solids and/or prints
- Not every block you make needs to be identical
- Blocks should be in the style of the modern esthetic
- Make one block for each exchange participant (including yourself)
- Date due = October 8th guild meeting, which is the distribution date
Here are some great links for Winter Tree Block inspiration!
- This is the quilt that started it all.
- These were HER inspiration blocks.
- This is the Bee Happy group Flickr pool. Scroll down the page until you get to the tree blocks. Pretty cool!
- No idea how to start? Here is a tutorial for a simple improv tree block. You’ll need to read through the house part before you get to the tree.
- Very cool WINTER, I mean winter! No leaves! Anyway click here for a really cool block tutorial.
Have fun!
Maureen
Third Annual Action Kivu Fundraiser!
Alissa Haight Carlton, one of the founding members of the Modern Quilt Guild, posted on her site about a wonderful nonprofit that helps women who are victims of the conflict in Eastern Congo by teaching them to sew at a sewing workshop. Action Kivu is run by Alissa’s twin sister, Cate. Alissa is currently running a fundraiser on her site. The fundraiser runs through the end of the week. Click here to check it out. If you donate not only will you be helping out a great cause, a great cause that involves sewing, you can be entered in multiple giveaways as well.
August Meeting (August 13, 2012)
Date: Monday, August 13th
Time: 6pm to 8pm (superbuzzy open at 5pm)
Location : superbuzzy (directions)
In addition to our other fun activities, we will be discussing the various types of batting available for our quilts and other projects. A huge “Thank You!” goes out to Quilters Dream Batting for providing samples for our meeting!
Don’t forget to thank Becky and Susan for bringing treats for our meeting too!
Also, don’t forget your blocks (and the vacation photos that inspired them) for our August block challenge. The August challenge was to create a block based on a vacation photo. 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!
It’s not too late to mail in your entries for the Quilt Con Block Challenge. They must be postmarked by August 15, 2012.
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Postscript: Karen Anderson Abraham’s visit
It was so wonderful to see everyone at our last guild meeting, and I’m sure you were all as inspired and motivated by her visit as I was! I followed up with Karen after the meeting regarding some of the bloggers she mentioned as current inspirations of hers. She was kind enough to email links to those folks, and I wanted to share them with you all here.
Maura Grace Ambrose blogs at Folk Fibers, and, as you’ll see after previewing her recent posts, she is currently working with dyeing techniques, hand quilting, and using vintage or repurposed textiles in her work.
Karen credited Jolene of Blue Elephant Stitches for her outstanding Granny Square Quilt Block Tutorial, as well as excellent general piecing tips and tricks.
Lastly, Karen also wanted to point out Kati’s modern quilting projects featured on her blog, From the Blue Chair. Her catalog of completed works is incredible, and I’m sure you’ll find even more inspiration there!
So, it’s time to sit back with a yummy beverage and enjoy the work you’ll see on these wonderful blogs!
2 links from last night’s meeting.
Here are two links that were brought up during last night’s meeting. The first is a link to last night’s (spectacular) presenter’s website blooming poppies. Karen Anderson Abraham blew us away with her amazing quilts. The second link (HERE) is the complete workshop catalog and lecture schedule for QuiltCon 2013.
July Meeting (July 9, 2012)
Date: Monday, July 9th
Time: 6pm to 8pm (superbuzzy open at 5pm)
Location : superbuzzy (directions)
Join us in welcoming our guest speaker, the talented Karen Anderson Abraham, for a meeting filled with modern quilt inspiration! Don’t forget to bring your “Improv with a Limited Palette” challenge blocks.
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!
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July Block Challenge – “Improv with a Limited Palette”
Our July Challenge was envisioned by the super talented Karen Anderson Abraham. All members who attended the June 11th meeting received a bag containing strips of fabric donated by Kelly Stevens of superbuzzy. (Thanks Kelly!) The fabrics provided were Kona solids in Quilt Con Block Challenge colors. Your challenge is to create a small cluster of color with a white border** and sashing. Karen suggested that the blocks be 12.5 inches square.
If you click on the photo below, you can easily see how she has designed 4 separate blocks. Notice how she pieced the colored shapes with the white to form a rectangle that is easily framed with the strips of white to make a block that is 12.5 inches square. A big THANK YOU to Karen for allowing us the use of her photos in this post!!