Prepping for Mancuso

Prepping for Mancuso
by Pilar Rivera, PMQG Member

How many quilty projects do you have going on at the moment? In the Philadelphia Modern Quilt Guild, there are plenty opportunities to work on multiple projects at a time. Group quilts, individual projects, guild challenges- there is always something to keep our quilty hearts happy!

One upcoming event that has kept us busy is Mancuso's Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza, which runs from September 14^th – 17^th in Oaks, PA! This Mancuso quilt show features workshops, lectures, a quilt competition, and special exhibitors like the PMQG.

The Philly Modern Quilt Guild’s entries focus on modern quilts and modern traditionalism. We will showcase the pieces our guild has crafted and organized over the past three years. Keep an eye out for The Color Challenge mini quilts, Round Robins, Bee quilts, PMQG and MQG Challenges.

The Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza runs from September 14^th – 17^th at the following address: 

The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
100 Station Avenue
Oaks, PA 19456

Quilty Inspiration

Quilty Inspiration 

by Pilar Rivera, PMQG Member

Where do you find your inspiration to create? Is it from viewing architecture in the big city? Seeing dappled sunlight while walking through the woods? For quilters, inspiration can be found anywhere from tiled walls, architecture, food, to nature!

Here are a few hashtags to check out on Instagram, for some quilty inspiration this week.

Inspiration from architecture and hardscape:

#wallstoquilts
This is a hashtag used almost exclusively by a resident of Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood. This features great local architecture and colors of our neighborhood.

Photo from Instagram, @a_golden_whale

#tiles
Tiles are basically just quilts in ceramic form, right? These patterns are begging to be made into quilts.

Photo from Instagram, @_roomonfire

Inspiration from nature:

#mypubliclands
There are 190 million acres of National Park land in the US. Go visit one- take a hike!

Photo from Instagram, @wanderingwheatleys

#woods
Who doesn't enjoy a walk in the woods?!

Photo from Instagram, @stevint

 Inspiration from food:

#foodtography
Self-explanatory...YUM.

Photo from Instagram, @mamaframboise

#foodie
Fresh bread, and veggies, and cheese...oh my!

Photo from Instagram, @suusvanvenrooij

The Hexi Craze!

The Hexi Craze! by Pilar Rivera, PMQG Member

Here at the PMQG, we love hexis! We also love guild challenges. They provide an opportunity to create something outside of our comfort zone, try out new patterns and techniques, and share a common goal as a guild. Perhaps the best part: recent challenge pieces are eligible to be shown in the Mancuso 2017 show!

Our most recent guild challenge was called Show Us Your Hexis!, where guild members could bring any current hexi project, finished or unfinished to show off at the meeting. This challenge had less specific guidelines than, say, The Paint Chip Challenge from 2016...Everyone at PMQG seemed to already to be working on their own hexi project, since they are so versatile, easy, and trendy! So, we decided to allow any current hexagon project, finished or unfinished, into the challenge.

Hexagons are very popular right now in the modern quilt scene, and you can find great hexi patterns and projects on Pinterest and Instagram. One popular hexi quilt-along is Glorious Hexagons, which began in January 2016 and will continue till the end of time for some of us (the project is gorgeous and time-consuming).

Below are just a few photos of PMQG member hexi projects-in-progress.

Glorious Hexagons project
Photo courtesy Bobbi Penniman

Glorious Hexagons project
Photo courtesy Elise Bowers

Glorious Hexagons project
Photo courtesy Maryellen Grysewicz

Hexagon Table Runner
Photo courtesy Stephanie Wood

Glorious Hexagons project
Photo courtesy Pilar Rivera

PMQG Takes On QuiltCon!

Can't get enough of QuiltCon? Neither can we!
Here's another post by a PMQG member about the trip to Savannah, GA.

PMQG Takes On QuiltCon!

By Kari Day, PMQG Member

The PMQG was well represented at 2017 QuiltCon East in Savannah, Georgia as many members made the trip down. It was a time to reconnect with friends made at past shows and Mid-Atlantic Mod Retreats. There were plenty of lectures to attend and classes to take. The message board with people looking to exchange classes was quite lively!

Winner of Best in Show, bling, by Katherine Jones
Photo courtesy MQG blog

But, of course, the best part was the display of quilts. There was wonderful inspiration all around. Winner of Best in Show, bling, pieced and quilted by Katherine Jones, was a true beauty that was technically astounding and glittered under the lights even though it was made of cotton.

The progressive quilt, Organic Mid-Century Mod, from Mid-Atlantic Mod won third place in the Group and Bee category. PMQG members Nicole and Michelle were part of the group that created this quilt! 

Organic Mid-Century Mod, from Mid-Atlantic Mod
Photo courtesy MQG blog

Sarah was a first-time instructor and her students were in for a fun treat – Releasing the Geese! She also had a quilt hanging in the show, Tiger Moon, Tiger Melon, that those of us at the Guild fall retreat watched as it grew from a few interesting pieces to a finished top.

 Release the Geese! participants work on their paper piecing
Photo courtesy Sarah Bond

Sarah Bond with her quilt, Tiger Moon, Tiger Melon
Photo courtesy Sarah Bond

There were several "Andrew sightings" as he and Chad were hard at work behind the scenes helping the show, lectures, and classes go smoothly. A shout-out to PMQG members Ruth and Elise, who were SUPER Volunteers. 

There was plenty of shopping with the vendors at the show, even for those of us who vowed not to be tempted! A number of fabric companies had free goodies to give away, and displayed the new lines coming out soon. The shops along the riverfront lured us in as we strolled to dinner or to a favorite ice cream shop.

PMQG members gather at Tubby's in Savannah, GA
Photo courtesy Kari Day

PMQG members gather at Tubby's in Savannah, GA
Photo courtesy Kari Day

We had a PMQG group gathering at Tubby's Seafood Restaurant where we all compared notes on quilts at the show, places we had visited, and famous quilters we had seen.

The next QuiltCon East will be in Nashville, Tennessee. A Guild Road Trip anyone?

Quiltcon 2017

This month approximately 20 of our members attended Quiltcon East.  Quiltcon is a Modern Quilting convention held every year on alternating coasts.  This year it was held in Savannah, GA.  

Our members consisted of crew, volunteers, teachers, exhibitors, award winners and attendees.  They took classes on paper piecing, alternate gridwork and hand sewing.  They attended lectures and demonstrations.  They were given the opportunity to walk to show floor and shop at the vendor booths.  

They also experienced all Savannah had to offer as well as other local areas such as Tibee Island. And of course, you can’t visit Savannah and not enjoy the delicious dishes and local flavors.

Here are a few photos to enjoy from the event.  

3rd place in Bee or Group Quilt Category went to the Mid Atlantic Mod progressive group consisting of Philadelphia MQG members Nicole Folino and Michelle Kochan as well as members of neighboring guilds:  Laura Bennett, Jess Levitt, Neva Asinari, Colleen Wiest,Ashley Bander, Jessie Aller, Robin Tilsworth, Janet Schoenfeld and Tracy.  We thank Jess Levitt for her incredible direction and Laura Bennett for backing, quilting, binding and submitting!!

Member Sarah Bond’s taught her amazing flying geese class and had this lovely quilt on display at Quiltcon. 

We even had a fun Philly MQG meet up at a local river front restaurant!

You can see all the winning quilts on the Modern Quilt Guild Site by clicking here.

The next Quiltcon will be held February 2018 in Pasadena, followed by Nashville in 2019.  If you are interested in becoming a member of the Modern Quilt Guild, please contact us via email.  

Hope to see you there.