Haikus, Mug Rugs, Group Hugs & a Big Bug

Haikus, Mug Rugs, Group Hugs & a Big Bug 
by Danielle Gallagher, PMQG Member

PMQG held its annual fall retreat in the Poconos in early November, & in spite of a few "Fawlty Towers" moments with the venue (under new management and experiencing some transition issues), a wonderfully stitchy time was had by all. After all, what could be better than a whole weekend with nothing to do but sew?

Friday night was basket exchange night - just a couple of the beauties!

Busy worktables of fabulous creativity

Our lovely vendors!

A fraction of the amazing work being done

people really come prepared...

Some drool-worthy stashes

The other kind of stache

Retreat fashion

Haiku poets in action

Mug rug exchange

Snacks, shopping about town, a few snow flakes, and a rather large visitor

a big group hug to thank the amazing organizers - Jordyn & Nicole. They did a wonderful job!

PMQG Member Spotlight

Jordyn Rush
Interview with Jordyn Rush, PMQG Co-President

Our blog will feature interviews with current PMQG members, so you can get to know us a little better! We're starting with Jordyn Rush, PMQG Co-President. You can find her on instagram: @fussycutting

Jordyn at the 2017 Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza

Q: What/who inspired you to start quilting?

          When I was young I always wanted to be a pioneer, making myself long skirts and sewing a bit. When I was in college I made a duvet cover and a futon cover so my dorm room would be cutely decorated.

          My first real quilt was made in 2009. I got a sewing machine because I was bored, I didn't enjoy my job at the time, and I needed an escape. My first quilt was a patchwork. It was made without a rotary cutter, just a pair of scissors and not really following the pattern, either. I still have that quilt and cherish it. 

          But, then I discovered the quilting internet....my first online tutorials were from Alison Harris at CluckCluckSew. I still enjoy her quilt patterns for fun and easy-to-follow instructions. From there I went off the deep end. While I was doing the easy pattern from CluckCluckSew, I also thought, "I really like that Dresden Plate my parents have...I'll make that!" To the internet I went, and those two quilts were both finished around the same time. I love my Dresden Plate and it is still one of the quilts I'm most proud of. 

          From there I found guilds. I've had to move for work multiple times and the first thing I looked up was where my local Modern Quilt Guild would be. I met the PMQG within a few weeks of moving to Philadelphia, and they welcomed me and made me feel at home. At my first meeting I was put in charge of a committee, and since then I've been Treasurer and now Co-President. I love my quilting friends and family at PMQG and the MQG.

Q: How do you organize your fabric and scraps? 

          All of my sewing supplies are stored on the landing of our stairs.  My fabric is organized in an IKEA Kallax shelf; everything over a yard is stored folded up and organized by color/size/collection. Sadly right now everything less than a yard is shoved into one cubby and, of course, on the floor! Must get cleaning, but that's not as fun as sewing!

Q: What color palette do you gravitate towards? 

          As everyone in the guild knows, I love aqua/orange/pink/blue. Pretty much all of my quilts are in that same general palette. My favorite combination lately has been mustard/berry/navy.

Q: What is the most challenging quilt you have attempted? 

          The second quilt I ever made was a Dresden Plate. My mom says I have always jumped in with both feet....

Q: What is your favorite quilting tool? 

          I'm pretty basic. I don't buy many fancy gadgets; I'm more of a figure-it-out-myself kind of gal. But I can't live without my rotary cutter, small mat, ruler and flatter!!

Q: What project are you currently working on? 

         I'm working on becoming a better machine quilter. I'm working between my domestic Singer and renting Long Arm time at a local quilt shop. I'm also working on finishing up a long overdue WIP [work in progress] of the Shimmer Pattern from, surprise surprise, CluckCluckSew.

Q: Do you name your quilts? 

          I only name my quilts when I have to....like for Quilt Shows, and it typically takes me forever to decide on a name.

Q: Do you label your quilts? How? 

          I sometimes put a label in the binding of my quilts, but not always.

Stay tuned for another Member Spotlight coming soon to the blog!

You're Invited to Our Annual Fall Retreat!

          The Philadelphia Modern Quilt Guild is hosting our annual Fall Retreat from November 10th-12th at The Chateau ​Resort and Conference Center in the Poconos.
We have reserved a number of remaining spots for non-PMQG members, and we would love for you to join us! Here is some info, below:

Hotel Information:The Chateau is located at the base of the Pocono Mountains at 475 Camelback Rd, Tannersville, PA 18372. Our room block has a rate of $116.10/night, for a two night stay, Friday-Sunday. More information about The Chateau can be found on their website here.

Retreat:The fee for non-members is $90 for the 3 days. Currently, all meals will be on your own with a local restaurant list provided. As always, snacks and goodies are always welcome!
We will be hosting an exchange of Retreat Survival Kits that will consist of the 1-Hour Basket with any assorted goodies that you wish to give to your recipient (tea, candy, chocolate, sewing goodies), spending no more than $15. If you wish to participate please indicate that on the registration page, and you will be matched up with a fellow attendee ASAP.
The sewing room at the retreat is the Seasons Ballroom, which has 2 walls of beautiful windows. The room will open at 9am on Friday, November 10th and will remain open until 4pm on Sunday, November 12th.
If you wish to join us please register here. Confirmation of your retreat will first be sent out on August 1st and then on a rolling basis, based on space available.
If you have any additional questions please email me at Jordyn.rush@gmail.com.
Click Here to Register!
We hope you can join us in November!

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.