Saturday, August 25, 2012

Intro to Art Quilting taught by Julia Pfaff


[65] Introduction to Art Quilting Julia Pfaff Tue, 1 – 4 pm, Sep 11 – Oct 16 (6 sessions)
Studio School, 2nd floor
$165 (VMFA members $145) | Enrollment limit: 8

This course is designed for both the novice who wants to learn how to make a quilt and the experienced quilter who wants to break away from using patterns to design their own innovative pieces. Covering the basics of quilt construction, this class focuses on personal expression and contemporary design with participants creating a small one-of-a-kind quilted wall hanging. Most work is done on the sewing machine (students may bring their own portable sewing machine, but it is not required). No quilting experience necessary.

Just in case anyone is interested!

Monday, August 6, 2012

Cyndi Souder Sept 21




At our September meeting (September 21st) Cyndi Souder will be joining us to share her presentation called:


It's Okay to Write on Your Quilt

Why should all the words on your quilt be confined to the label?
In this lecture, we'll explore how to add words to your quilts by using your
 sewing machine, paint, ink, and beads.
Go on! It's okay to write on your quilt!

Then on Saturday, September 22nd, Cyndi will be providing a workshop called "Trees" which will run from 9 - 4 at Mt. Pisgah in the Christian Family Life Center (CFLC).

 Trees
Create your own tree quilt with free form rotary cutting and easy machine pieced curves.
 Let the fabric do the heavy lifting.
 Great for all levels.
60.00 for members, 75.00 for non members
(membership to RMQG costs 25.00)
 
Sign up at here:  Sign Up Genius

Look forward to seeing everyone there!!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The Mafia is Coming!!!

Living in Richmond, VA offers everything a big city should -- wonderful museums, vibrant night life, a variety of festivals and of course the James River. Why, we even have a MAFIA!! A "craft mafia" that is!

Kelly McCants of the Richmond Craft Mafia will be at our next meeting of the Richmond Modern Quilt Guild on Friday, July 20th. Her book, Sewing with Oilcloth: 20 Patterns that make sewing with oilcloth easy, fresh and fun is full of ideas on using laminated cotton, and chalk cloth
to create projects from baby bibs to home dec, from party decorations to garden aprons -- the possibilites are endless.

Don't miss out on this opportunity to expand your modern sewing repetoire and at the same time meet a truly awesome artist!

Friday, June 1, 2012

Karen Sievert workshop

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know that we are going to open up the Karen Sievert workshop, Color, Color, All Around, to nonmembers as well. The price for nonmembers will be $50. Though, for only ten dollars more, they could join the guild as well and get the class too, so why wouldn't they?

If you have friends who are non members but who would like to take advantage of this very special opportunity, please let them know!

The date for the workshop is Saturday, June 16, from 10 to 3 at Mt. Pisgah.

- Cheryl

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Blog updates

Hi everyone, Cheryl here. I've been very lax about updating the blog, and I apologize about that. Of all the bazillion things there are to do, it seems like it's the one to fall to the wayside. I'm hoping to get all board members updating on a regular basis. But the silence over here does not mean that we aren't out here and doing lots of fantastic things!

We have a Facebook ad running, which is generating interest! I'm hoping to see lots of new faces at the upcoming meeting. If you have friends who might be interested in our group, please bring them to our meetings!

I'd like to hear from you about where you would like to see our group go in the next few months. I, for one, would love to see more about the modern quilt movement -- the aesthetic shown in the work of many of the founders of the parent group, The Modern Quilt Guild. To that extent, we've added member Candy Parker to the board to help bring us closer to that group. She will be reporting on the goings-on of the national group at our meetings!

Speaking of the national group, are you aware of QuiltCon? It's the first annual conference put on by the MQG and even if you can't go, you can be a part of it! We're going to be sending our blocks in to represent our fantastic group of sewists. You can find all of the information on the QuiltCon page. We'll be having sewing days at Quilting Adventures on June 2nd and 27th. See their calendar for details! They even have put together bundles of the official QuiltCon colors to make our blocks with!

And don't forget that Karen Sievert is coming in June! She'll be doing a trunk show at our regular meeting on June 15th and then will have a workshop the next day, June 16th. We are able to provide this class to members at an unheard-of class fee of $35 (and a kit fee of $6 payable to Karen on the day of the class). You don't want to miss this opportunity! Check out this link on Quilting Adventures' blog to see a beautiful version of the workshop quilt!

Finally, also in June, we will be revealing our final quilts in our current swap. So much fun! I can't wait to see mine!

Happy Quilting!


Thursday, February 2, 2012

New Round Robin!

RMQG January 2012 Challenge/Exchange

THE word, YOUR word


Come up with a word -- a single, descriptive word -- that will help you define your dreams, goals, and aspirations for the year 2012.

This word will form the foundation of your center block, both figuratively and literally. Your block should measure 11" x 14" and should contain your written word but also images and graphics that further illustrate your word, e.g., growth could be represented by a seedling, a child's measurement chart, a city map, etc.

When the block is passed, the group member will add two 6" x 14" strips to either side of the center block, once again building on the word itself and the images it evokes. The main block is due at the February meeting. We will pass projects four times with the blocks being returned and revealed in June.

The completed piece will make for a lovely table runner, wall decor, the beginning of an even larger effort, or wherever you like -- your choice! Finishing it in June will allow for the projects to be developed at your leisure over hte summer and returned to the group for a future show and tell -- what fun!

There will be a check out log for the blocks each month so that we will always be able to track the location of a block at any given time. Please continue to be considerate of other participants by either delivering your block each month or sending it in with another member or guest.

Thank you all so much for your wondrous support in this effort and keep coming up with those beautiful creations that make all our members simply beam with delight!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Swirly Girls visit NYC

(The RMQG Board asked us to share our trip to New York on the blog and we took 200 pictures, so I'm going to split this post into two parts - Susan Emory)

Christine and I took the train from Richmond to Penn Station in NYC.  We love taking the train and would highly recommend it! We have stayed at the Affinia Manhattan Hotel during our last two trips to New York. It is right outside Penn Station, so you get off the train, walk across the street and check-in. It couldn't be more convenient!


Here are some pictures of our room. I really like the modern wallpaper.




Here is the view from our window:


After checking in at the hotel, we took a cab to Purl Soho (http://www.purlsoho.com/).
This store is fantastic and their website and blog are too.
I found several tutorials on their blog that I will be working on.




I keep resisting the urge to take up knitting and it's shops like this that are hard to resist.
The staff was super-friendly and the place was packed!

I put on the blinders to get through all of the yummy yarn and headed to the quilting section. I bought some fabric and Christine picked up some wool, a pattern and some silk thread.

Here are some more shots:




Next we cabbed up to Tinsel Trading Company (http://www.tinseltrading.com/).
This store has an amazing history - you should definitely check out their website.


Tinsel Trading inspired the book "Treasured Notions" by Kaari Meng from French General.


I don't even know if there are enough words to describe this bright, shiny, vintage, inspiring store -  so check out the pictures:


This place is a crafter's dream and we didn't leave empty handed...
I bought buttons (I need an intervention) and Christine scored some spools
of metallic thread and other goodies.

After the inspiration overload that afternoon, we went to Macy's and shopped before heading to dinner. We ate at Tir Na Nog, an Irish Pub, near our hotel (http://www.tirnanognyc.com/).  A woman on the train recommended this local favorite and she was right - it was delicious and a great atmosphere. It would have been perfect if the older couple sitting directly behind Christine hadn't been making out the entire time...

So there you have it, day one in NYC.  In my next post I will tell you about our day at Michael Miller Fabrics, as well as visiting The City Quilter and Times Square.

Have you been on any quilting-related trips lately? We would love to hear about it, and see pictures, of course!  Post any time on our Facebook page, or email richmondmqg@gmail.com.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Don't Look Now Applique Bee

The first meeting of the Don't Look Now applique bee was held on January 8th.  Everyone got right to work tracing and fusing their projects. Here they are:

Ann's Love Birds pattern. Love the fun, bright flowers:


Catherine's Little Monsters pattern. Naturally, Catherine will be adding scotty dogs, and not monsters, to her version. Can't wait to see it in black, white and red!


Cheryl is very ambitious!  This is her Meg's Garden pattern:


Debbie chose a pillow project. Here is her pattern, How Does Your Garden Grow?:


Here is the beginning of Debbie's pillow. She is using a creamy linen background and gorgeous dyed fabrics. She is inspiring all of us to make this pillow, too.


Shirley is doing a great quilt with flowers and cats. Her pattern is Rainbow Lollipops:


I chose a smaller project - just a pillow for me. Although, I won't be surprised if it turns into a wall hanging. My pattern is called Memories:


Here are my fused shapes. Can't wait until next time to start stitching them down!


Thanks to Shirley for sharing the photos!

Ask anyone who was there and I bet they will recommend starting or joining a bee - we are having the time of our lives!!

For more information, or to start a bee, contact the Bee Keeper, Becky Miller at radford83@comcast.net.

Have a wonderful weekend - Susan

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Fantastic January Program

Julia Pfaff is coming to Richmond Modern Quilt Guild
and you're invited!
 
Please join us for a presentation by local quilt educator and studio artist, Julia Pfaff. She will be giving her lecture "Making It Your Own" at our January meeting at Mount Pisgah Methodist Church, 1100 Mount Pisgah Drive, Midlothian on Friday, January 20th.  Meet and Greet begins at 6 p.m. and the meeting and presentation will start at 6:30 p.m.
 
Julia will explain how to incorporate Bedouin cross stitch embroidery, copper plate etching, Japanese Shibori and embroidery from India into your projects. This inspirational lecture will take you on a journey from the temples of Greece to a fabric printing studio at VCU. 
 
Julia will also be providing information on her "Drawing with your Sewing Machine" workshop on March 17th - you won't want to miss it.
 
Non-members are invited to attend one meeting, at no charge, before joining RMQG. Come and check us out!
 
For more information, please contact richmondmqg@gmail.com.

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