Quilting for Charity
| May 23, 2013 | Posted by Mary-Anne under Uncategorized |
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With the occurrence of recent news-worthy international events, you may have noticed a number of quilting-based charity/support drives advertised on Facebook and the net in general. We thought it timely to ask our members for their feedback about whether we should incorporate charity activities into our regular activities, and importantly, how this is to be framed and managed. As a modern quilt guild, we would be aiming to support and encourage the growth and development of modern quilting through art, education and community (as opposed to a generalised social sewing group). We would anticipate that our style reflects ‘Modern Quilting’ and as such would expect any donated items to incorporate modern fabrics and quilting styles.
Your comments to the following questions would be greatly welcomed on our Facebook page where a thread will be started/pinned : https://www.facebook.com/groups/MMQGuild/
• Who should be supported? Do you believe that we should support local needs, or a combination of local and international needs?
• Is it important that the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild be seen to support its sister guilds, both in Australia or internationally?
• Would you be willing to donate modern fabric, make blocks, assemble/quilt and finish quilts and/or donate completed quilts?
• How would you be willing to assist with charity projects? Should it be in response to an event only or an ongoing activity within the Guild?
• Would you be willing to participate in a sub-committee whose purpose is to set guidelines, manage donations and activities, coordinate these, research charitable avenues as they arise and other tasks?
What we did last Saturday..
| May 16, 2013 | SASDs, Uncategorized |
Another fantastic day on 11th May: sewing and feasting and chatting and cutting and laughing and book reading and shopping and sewing some more…..conversations topics were wide and varied – from Dr Who series threads, and the correct Tardis blue to the virtues of triple cooked chips and acrylic manicures and text quilting that pushes… more
Sunday Sit and Sew
| May 7, 2013 | SASDs, Uncategorized |
A lovely Sunday on the 28th April was spent sewing and chatting away – sometimes more chatting than sewing but does that matter? We have a lovely bunch of regulars who come to Sundays and it is always good to catch up with each other and especially eat lots of Jo’s own Melting Moments..yum! Sandra… more
Member Spotlight on ….
| April 27, 2013 | Uncategorized |
Over the next few months, MMQG will be highlighting members of the group; who they are and what they love to do. Our very first is the lovely and very talented Kristy. Kristy is a valuable member of MMQG – we regularly see her friendly smile at meets and she produces amples of really interesting… more
| April 14, 2013 |
The forum section on the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild website has been operating for around three years. It was set up as a means for members to communicate with each other but we have noticed that active usage has declined over time. It is now mainly used by members for participation in Bees, however as… more
March SASE & a New Sew-along
| April 7, 2013 | Posted by Mary-Anne under Uncategorized |
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Thanks to all who attended the SASE on 22 March at GJ’s. It was a great night; so good in fact that the hosts only got around to taking a couple of photos. There was lots of activity – Jo and Andrea M (under Alissa’s expert eye) were giving paper piecing a go
and Carolynn and Cathy B were taking a break from quilting and making bags.
Bec was making a gorgeous baby quilt in a chevron pattern and we welcomed two new members, Julia and Michelle. There was a lot of excitement about the Sewing Circle Tote sew-along that Cathy B has offered to host and we are all dying to get started on now that the pattern has been released.
Want to know more about the sew-along? Join the Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild Facebook page to see what’s happening. Just click the link below and send a Friend request:
https://www.facebook.com/melbournemodern.quiltguild.7
See you at the next event at GJ’s on Saturday 13 April. If you haven’t booked a spot, be quick as there is only 1 place left. If you miss out, you can always put your name on the waitlist.
Come to our SASE!
| March 12, 2013 | Posted by Bronwyn under SASEs |
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Our next event is the Sit and Sew Evening scheduled for Friday 22nd March at GJ’s Discount Fabrics in Brunswick.
At the moment there are seven members registered as attending which is not enough to justify running the session.
We hate to have to cancel events but unless we get at least 12 confirmed attendees registered by next Monday (18 March), we will reluctantly have to.
So if you were thinking about coming but hadn’t put your name down in Eventbrite,
please register as soon as possible so that we can enjoy a fabulous and productive night together.
The SSSS Retreat
| February 22, 2013 | Posted by Bronwyn under Events, Uncategorized |
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Summer Super Saturday Sewing – Boy did we know it was Summer!
23 members ‘survived’ the heat of day by enjoying 12 hours being surrounded by fabric and quilts and blocks and sewing and cushions and embroidery and food and drinks and guest speakers and prizes and quiz questions and fabric and shopping and eating and lots of drinking (water) – though there were a few wishes of favourite cocktails!
People started nice and early at 9am and most people were able to last right to the end. Once again GJs made up goodie bags full of fantastic things: A fat quarter each, an ergonomic unpicker, vilsofix, daisy head pins, sewline glue stick and more. Everyone received a door prize, made up as a little ‘gift’ that they could shop for downstairs – lots of thread, patterns or fabric of choice. What a treat!!
Our Guest Speaker Cathy Underhill came along to show us her very lovely quilts, along with her helper Kathryn. Cathy was great talking about her quilting journey from ‘country’ to ‘Kaffe’, from brown squares (which everyone loved!) to mosaic tiles, needle turn applique and free motion quilting, to now teaching, published quilts and celebrity photos!
Cathy’s quilts were just delightful and it was so special that what you may see on the screen on her blog (Cabbagequilts), we could touch and stroke in real life!! Cathy gave a quick but delightful demonstration of her free motion quilting, with lots of helpful pointers such as drawing the design first to get in clear in your head, and saying the design out aloud whilst quilting the strokes.
“I can draw well, but I can’t sew for sh**” quipps Cathy B. Thanks Cathy!
There were so many Cathys!! Cathy M. was a great help in organising donated prizes as well as being Quiz Mistress – putting up with all our inane questions about the questions! Louise was the winner and graciously shared her prize with others who helped her win 
We would sincerely like to thank our generous sponsors:
GJs Georgina and Sue for their donations and assistance leading up the Event, as well as right throughout the day and night. A generous discount on all shopping on the day was an extra bonus!
Also we would like to thank other sponsors:
Book Bonding Independent Bookstore
these businesses were very generous with their donated prizes to the MMQG.
We would love people to give us any feedback regarding the Event – please email admin@melbournemodernquiltguild.com for any suggestions or ideas regarding this event or for our next Event on October 12th 2013.
MMQG is on Facebook!!
’Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild ’this is a Closed Group – members only!
If you are on FB and would love to be a part of the FB Group, please just ask to be invited!
Summer Super Saturday Sewing
| January 23, 2013 | Posted by Bronwyn under Events, Retreats, SASDs, SASEs, Uncategorized |
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When : Saturday 16th February 2013 from 9.00am to 9.00pm
Where : GJ’s Discount Fabrics, 443 Lygon Street, Brunswick East 3057, phone 9380 2989
Cost : $50 for the day, snacks and drinks, door prizes and giveaways by the hour, a special 20% discount at GJ’s for the day (not valid in conjuction with loyalty card), AND a fabulous guest speaker ….
Cathy Underhill from Cabbage Quilts
Cathy is very keen to share her obsession for quilting, colour, texture, shape and design. “I do love how much blogging and social networking have changed my life, both in challenging me to become a better quilter, learning new skills from many talented people worldwide, and even to beginning my own stitch group of local bloggers!”
Cathy will be bringing some of her gorgeous quilts and doing a demonstration.
To secure your place for this event, you will need to click here to register via Eventbrite AND
prepay in full directly to GJ’s by no later than 1ST FEB 2013. Maximum of 22 places are available.
We will need a minimum of 15 attendees registered and paid in full by this date for this event to go ahead, so please don’t delay in registering for this very special day. You can do this by dropping in to the store personally or paying by credit card over the phone. (Cost of the day includes GST)
Please note the following fine print…we are unable to offer half-day rates or discounts and refunds will only be offered if the event is cancelled. If you have registered and paid and are unable to attend you may send a substitute as long as they are a MMQG member.
Attendees are asked to bring suitable lunch items to share, such as sandwiches, mini-quiches and salads. To ensure a spread of dishes for our feast please log on to the Forum under Events: Summer Super Saturday Sewing Retreat and let us know what item you would like to bring!
Please check the Forum under Events: Summer Super Saturday Sewing Retreat regularly for updates
To keep costs down this year and allowing for personal tastes/dietary requirements, there is no provision of any meals for dinner – food can be bought from many local businesses close to the venue – either eat in or out, though being able to get out and stretch your legs for the dinner meal may be invaluable with getting on with the last leg of the sewing night!
If you would like to help with organising any part of the day’s activities please email admin@melbournemodernquiltguild.com
It is going to be a fabulous day-into-night event and a great opportunity for some truly serious sewing!!
2013 – Here’s to a Great Start!
| January 16, 2013 | Posted by Bronwyn under Uncategorized |
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Happy New Year to all our members for 2013
We hope you have had a good start to the year, maybe recovering from Christmas excesses and NYE champagne?
Our 1st SASD on Saturday 12th Jan was fantastic!
We had a really lovely group busily recapping the past few weeks, chatting, sewing, eating veggo lunch together discussing the ins and outs of quinoa and freekah and veggie patch growing! All sorts of topics get discussed: from the latest laboratory equipment to best coffee machines to name spellings and of course quilty talk about latest fabrics, who’s doing which quilt along and a truly fantastic show and tell!
There was also a palpable buzz in the room about the Bee blocks getting made at the moment. Keep your ear to the ground for a new one starting soon
Our newest member to join us is Siska, who wonderfully pulled her ticket out of the bag for the first door prize! Lyn won the gift voucher – congrats ladies!
Carolynn’s smiling face doesn’t reveal the relief she felt on finishing this and 3 other complex blocks!
Helen’s crazy patchwork – one of many!
Catherine loves this little sweetie!
Her Super Saturday 2012 quilt – made from all the gifted fat quarters she got and turned into a fantastic quilt!
Alison hiding behind her truly stunning quilt for her nephew – the colours made us all go ‘wow!’
Alison’s beautifully sweet liberty hexagons
Cathy’s super sweet Riding Hood dress for her daughter
Siska (right) with her Memory Quilt – all blocks from a friendship quilting group in South Africa – Siska is hand quilting this whopper!
Wonky houses for Caroline’s Bee Blocks for Bee Bold Bee
Mark your calendars now for
Saturday 16th Feb – our first Super Saturday Sewing for 2013.
Another blog post is coming very shortly with all the specific details – please keep a close eye out for this one and get yourself ready to book and pay – there will not be a long window of opportunity to get your name on the list.
Many many people have said how much they enjoyed the last Super Saturday event in October, which is fantastic to hear
Numbers are limited though – if you missed the last one, do not miss this!
Friday 1st Feb is our next SASE @GJs in Brunswick – still places available!
