Holiday Party Round-Up

I'm so so sorry I missed the holiday party, but Bianca was great and sent me some pictures. It looked like you all had a fun time, and the ornaments were wonderful!

And WOW what fabulous show & tell quilts.  Are there quilting elves?  I could use a few to finish my projects!!

See you all in the new year,

Karen

Party This Thursday

I hope everyone can join us for our holiday party this Thursday!

December Party

Thursday, December 12

6:00

Dowd YMCA - 7th Floor

Bring a dish, dessert, or appetizer to share

Fun things you can join in:
- December BOM
- Ornament Exchange
- Upcoming Inspired Mini Swap (Complete forms this month, items due in February)

December Block-of-the-Month
Join in the fun of the monthly BOM.  For each block you turn in you get a chance to win them all.

Block:  Magic Hourglass
Tutorial:  http://thehappyzombie.com/blog/?p=457
Color Scheme:  Yellow, Rusty/Orange With White Background
Due:  December Party


December Ornament(s) Swap
We will be swapping ornaments at the December party.  Anything handmade...  fabric, fiber, yarn, clay, paper, anything!  For each ornament you bring you will get to swap for another handmade ornament.

Interested in next year's Sari Bari auction?

There were several members that expressed interest in working on quilts for the Sari Bari auction.  Beth P. let me know there was a post on the Sari Bari Facebook page yesterday saying that if anyone wants to participate in next year's quilt auction to email quiltauction (at) saribari (dot) com to get your name on the list.

Don't forget the Sew-In this Saturday.  Hope we have a good turnout!

Sew-In & Links For Holiday Items

Our November Sew-In is coming up in about a week (Saturday, November 16).  I think I will work on some Christmas ornaments and other holiday items.

November Sew-In

Saturday, November 16

1:00 - 5:00

Dowd YMCA

7th Floor Conference Room (larger room to right of elevator)

To help inspire us and give us great ideas, Elizabeth B. sent me the links she shared at our last meeting.

Handmade Holiday Links: 

258 Crafts for Christmas: 

http://spoonful.com/christmas/christmas-decorations

Christmas Button Tree: 

http://balzerdesigns.typepad.com/balzer_designs/2010/12/christmas-button-tree 

DIY Christmas Decorations: 

http://www.countryliving.com/crafts/projects/craft-ideas-for-christmas-decorations-1209#slide-1

Wreaths: 

http://www.marthastewart.com/359024/christmas-wreaths

Decorations and more: 

http://www.hgtv.com/handmade-holidays/package/index.html             

http://www.allfreechristmascrafts.com/

Kid-Friendly: 

http://www.parents.com/holiday/christmas/crafts/

Inspired Mini Quilt Swap/Challenge

At our meeting last week Xandi announced our next swap/challenge.  Get INSPIRED and bring your inspiration piece to the December party!  Here is the information sheet she shared.


December Party - Sign up and bring inspiration piece (photo, picture, fabric, color, etc.)

February Meeting - Mini quilt is due

Inspired Mini Quilt Swap/Challenge

Our next swap is one I’ve seen other MQGs doing – you bring in an inspiration picture, and someone else makes you a mini quilt (any size) inspired by your prompt. Here are some possible inspiration pieces:

·       a photo you’ve taken

·       a picture from a magazine

·       a printout from art.com of your favorite Monet

·       a picture your kid drew

·       a piece of fabric

·       a color palate

·       photos of the décor in the room where it will hang when done

…or something else. Your partner isn’t COPYING your picture (unless they just want to), they are using it as a jumping off point.

This one takes some thought, so you have a long time. Bring in your picture and this form on DEC 12^TH. The mini quilt we be due FEB 27^th. That’s 2.5 months.

Judging? I have a little fabric prize -would you like this to be a judged challenge? We would be looking at the favorite interpretation of the inspiration piece, not at your quilting skills. If not it can be a raffle for participation. Vote below, majority rules. And don’t not participate because you are afraid you will be judged – you can always say you do not want to be considered when you show your quilt.

Xandi

Name ___________________________________________________

Email ____________________________________________________

I’d like this to be a judged challenge ______

I don’t want this to be a judged challenge ______

Ideas for future swaps:

THANKSgiving

At our meeting last week I was struck by how much of the meeting centered around giving...

-  to those we love in our recent swap
-  to women oceans away in India (Sari Bari)
-  tote bags to Red Cross volunteers
-  new book for the guild library (Thanks Diane M.)
-  a quick and easy stocking pattern/demo (Thanks Elizabeth B.; pattern link below)
-  and a surprise turnaround for some donated blocks

I've always known quilters have great hearts but this fact shone brightly last week.

http://fabricworm.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-stocking-tutorial.html

SWAP FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE

We had the reveals for the items we made for our swap partners.  Here is a recap of this fun swap!

Elizabeth B. made adorable elephants for Kelleigh's twin godchildren.
Free pattern and tutorial at Birch Fabrics

Kelleigh, our resident bag EXPERT with a capital "E", made a beautiful Aeroplane bag for Kim's mother.     Pattern for sale here - SewSweetness blog

Kim made the most "amazing amazing amazing" (my son's description) Yoda/Darth Vader pillowcase and a matching bedside book caddy for my son.  I wish I had recorded his reaction when I gave the items to him, priceless.  He has told me several times since then how much he LOVES his items!! Thank you Kim!
Free Star Wars blocks from QuietPlay blog & Craftsy store
Free bed book caddy pattern at Sew4Home site

Yoda

Or flip it over to the "dark side"

I (Karen) made a pink Buttercup Bag for Beth P's granddaughter.
Free pattern at Made-By-Rae blog

Beth made a beautiful wall hanging from Indian fabrics for Sue's sister that has been battling an illness.

RED CROSS BAGS

This program wrapped up this month with 4 more bags being turned in.  We will be donating 20 bags to the Red Cross for their volunteers.  Way to go CMQG!

A SURPRISE TURNAROUND

OK, I hope I get this story right because it is a GOOD one.

Back in September there was a stack of units on the counter with a note that said something like "Free- take if desired".  They were quite lovely and I wondered who brought them and why the person had donated them.  Well, at the end of the meeting the blocks were still on the counter back with the library books, so Elaine N. (our librarian) packed them up with the books and took them home.

This month Elaine brought the blocks back...   in the form of a FANTASTIC BABY QUILT for Elizabeth B.!  You see Elizabeth was the person that originally donated the blocks.  She said she had stared at the blocks for so long and did not know what in the world to do with them.  Now she can use the quilt to cuddle up with her baby.  How sweet!

Thanks Elizabeth, thanks Elaine... this made me SMILE!  

Have a great week,

Karen E.

Ideas and links for ornament swap

Hi CLT MQG! 

Here are some free tutorials you might like to use for our ornament swap in December. Remember your ornament can be anything crafty – knitting, beading, papercraft, etc. You only see sewing represented below because that is all I am familiar with, but do whatever makes you happy!

Can’t wait to see them!

Xandi

 

http://www.elsiemarley.com/pattern-for-a-half-eaten-gingerbread-man.html

http://myfantastictoys.blogspot.com/2009/11/felt-christmas-ornament-tutorial.html

http://www.favequilts.com/Quilted-Ornaments/Scrappy-Christmas-Tree-Ornaments/ml/1

                                  

 http://www.favequilts.com/Quilted-Ornaments/Fabric-House-Ornament/ct/1

 http://www.favequilts.com/Quilted-Ornaments/Vintage-Baubles-Felt-Christmas-Ornaments/ct/1

  http://heatherkojan.blogspot.com/2012/10/christmas-bunting-ornament.html

http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2009/12/131-give-a-hoot-for-the-holidays.html

http://mysparkle.blogspot.com/2010/11/matryoshka-doll-ornament.html

       http://www.stayathomeartist.com/2011/12/mistletoe-pomander-ornament.html

Look who is on Sew Mama Sew today!

CMQG member Beth P., Sari Bari and the gorgeous quilts are featured on Sew Mama Sew today!!

There is a great slideshow featuring the quilts that will be auctioned starting November 1.

Check it out here:
http://www.sewmamasew.com/2013/10/2013-sari-bari-quilt-auction-raffle/

Beth showing her gorgeous Sari Bari quilt at our past meeting.

Upcoming Programs & Dates

I have SO MUCH to share from the meeting last night that I will need to break it out into several posts.

I'll start with some key dates and upcoming events.

November Sew-In
Saturday, November 16
1:00 - 5:00
Dowd YMCA
7th Floor Conference Room (larger room to right of elevator)

Bring your machines or a hand project or just come and socialize.  This is a great way to meet new people and get to know members.


December Party
Thursday, December 12
6:00
Dowd YMCA
Bring a dish, dessert, or appetizer to share

There will be NO meeting in November due to the Thanksgiving holiday and our next meeting will be our potluck get together on Thursday, December 12.


December Block-of-the-Month
Join in the fun of the monthly BOM.  For each block you turn in you get a chance to win them all.

Block:  Magic Hourglass
Tutorial:  http://thehappyzombie.com/blog/?p=457
Color Scheme:  Yellow, Rusty/Orange With White Background
Due:  December Party

Congrats to Beth P. for winning the lovely assortment of aqua and gray blocks from October's BOM.


December Ornament(s) Swap
We will be swapping ornaments at the December party.  Anything handmade...  fabric, fiber, yarn, clay, paper, anything!  For each ornament you bring you will get to swap for another handmade ornament.

I love to hang handmade ornaments on my tree, and it's even better when I know they are made by friends!

Xandi has put together a list of fun ornament ideas and tutorials.  I will post that on the blog in the next day or so.


OK, that is it for now.  More to come in the next few days about our other meeting topics and the Swap For Someone You Love items and pictures.  

Boy oh boy you should have seen my son's reaction to his swap items from Kim.  He L-O-V-E-D them!!!

Happy Weekend,
Karen E.

Class in Chapel Hill

Thimble Pleasures quilt shop in Chapel Hill is hosting a trunk show and class with Carolyn Friedlander.  They have a few spots left and asked us to share the information with you.  Carolyn's style is quite modern and I LOVE her fabrics.

"The Grove" Class Project

From the shop...

Hi-

I wanted make sure the Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild knows that modern quilter, Carolyn Friedlander (designer of Architextures fabric) is going to do a workshop here on November 16 and we have a few more spaces left. She is teaching her pattern called “The Grove” and will be giving us a sneak preview of her new pattern and fabric line coming out in November. Here is a link to her class: http://www.thimblepleasures.com/module/class.htm?classId=45540. 

If you would be willing to post this in your announcements, we would very much appreciate it! Here is Carolyn's website:

http://carolynfriedlander.com/

Thank you! Please let me know if you have any questions.

Karen West

Thimble Pleasures

225 South Elliott Road

Chapel Hill, NC 27514

919-968-6050

http://www.thimblepleasures.com

Class info can be found here:
http://www.thimblepleasures.com/module/class.htm?classId=45540

Meeting THIS Thursday 10/24

Don't forget our October meeting will be THIS Thursday 10/24 at 6:00 (due to the following Thursday being Halloween).  Hope you can make it.

Dowd YMCA

400 East Morehead Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

704.716.6100

Conference Room #4

Take the elevator to the 7th floor,

Take a left out of elevator and the room is at the end of the hall.

Xandi has a few reminders for our ongoing and upcoming swaps:

Swap for Someone You Love is due (I'd like each person to stand up and say who they had, their inspiration/pattern/thoughts, show what they made)

Next round of swapping for Block in a Bag is due. Make sure to bring your bags, let me know if you have any questions.

Swap for next meeting is handmade Christmas ornaments - does not have to be quilting - any kind of crafty endeavor people are interested in. Bring in as many as you like and take home as many as you bring.

Foothills QuiltFest: October 11-12

Passing along information about an upcoming show...

Foothills QuiltFest 2013 is coming our way Oct. 11-12 at the LeGrand Center, 1800 E. Marion Street in Shelby, NC, a new venue for the 10th bi-annual event. The new location will allow even more quilts, three times as many vendors and lots of special demonstrations. 

On Saturday, Oct. 12, Leah Day, an internationally known free motion quilter and teacher, will give a lecture at 11 a.m. and demonstrate her quilting skills throughout the afternoon. Leah, who lives in Cleveland County, has taken her quilting skills to worldwide fame via her blog “The Free Motion Quilting Project.” Show organizers, the Foothills Quilters Guild, are expecting their biggest show ever with more than a hundred quilts showcasing the talents of quilters from throughout the foothills area. Eighteen vendors including scissor sharpening and sewing machine repair will be available on site during the show. Admission is $5 which includes Leah’s lecture and demonstrations on Saturday. 

Show hours areFriday, Oct. 11, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 12, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 

For more information go towww.foothillsquiltersguild.org.

This, that and one beautiful cat

THIS
Elizabeth B. has emailed the current directory to all 2013-14 paid members.  If you have paid your dues and did not receive your directory via email please contact us and we will make sure you get a copy.  Click here to contact us http://charlottemodernquiltguild.blogspot.com/p/contact-us.html


THAT
The Sew Modern Retreat has been scheduled for April 3-6, 2014 in Blowing Rock.  Joyce Mullis is planning the retreat again this year and complete details can be found over on her website  http://heartsdesirecreations.wordpress.com/modern-guild-retreat/.  We will also have brochures and more information available at the upcoming meeting.




AND ONE BEAUTIFUL CAT
My last blog post was about CMQG member Karen Ponischil and her upcoming classes.  Karen recently learned that her quilt, Princess Daphne, has won an Honorable Mention in the upcoming IQA show in Houston.  Karen actually had TWO quilts accepted into the show.  Wow!!!  Congrats, Karen. The quilts are truly amazing!

Details about the show and a list of winners (including Karen!) can be found here:
http://www.quilts.org/home.html

You can read more about Karen's entries and see a picture of Daphne on Karen's blog here..

Classes

Want to learn from an award winning quilter... how about someone that lives nearby... how about someone that is a member of our guild!

Karen Ponischil is now teaching at Mary Jo's in Gastonia and here are her upcoming classes:

Machine Quilting Basics - Free Motion Quilting

Learn curvy and angular machine quilting techniques.
Oct 16th:10am-2pm & Nov 16th: 3pm-6pm

Feathers, Feathers, Feathers (Machine quilting feathers)
Nov 7th: 10am-2pm

Dimensional Postcards
Oct 24th: 9:30am-2:30pm & Nov 15th: 9:30am-2:30pm

Applique Poinsettia Wall Hanging
Oct 25th: 9:30am-2:30pm & Nov 16th: 9:30am-2:30pm

If you haven't checked out Karen's website you should run over there NOW!  Her quilts are amazing and award winning.  Be sure to click on the ABOUT tab at the top to learn more about Karen and see the juried shows where her gorgeous quilts have been shown.  

Karen's site:

http://karenponischil.com/

Mary Jo's site:

http://maryjoscloth-design.blogspot.com/

September Meeting Recap

Here is a quick recap of our September meeting:

- A BIG welcome to the 6 visitors we had!  We hope you will return and join us.

- Liz H. won the block-of-the-month drawing and it was a jackpot - 21 BLOCKS!

- We collected 16 bags for the Red Cross volunteers.  Way to go ladies.  Our deadline for donated bags will be the October meeting and then they will be delivered to the Red Cross.  Thank you to everyone that has participated so far!

- Vickie and Jen T. quilted and did the binding on our donation quilt - THANK YOU!!!  This quilt will be given to the Dowd YMCA for their upcoming auction.

- Beth P. talked about the Sari Bari quilt auction she is participating in again this year.  The auction will be held in November and is for a great cause.  The quilts she showed are stunning in person.  Here is a link to complete details of the program http://www.saribari.com/about/

- Bianca gave an update on here recent trip.  She had just returned from Africa where she helped with the Fashion & Compassion program.  She spent over a week helping women learn to sew and create items.  Some of the items may be for sale in the Charlotte area and I will update you as we get more information.

- Elaine has been doing a great job with the guild library and showed 3 new books.  One is by our fellow member Dee!  Check it out (pun intended).

- Our program was Handmade Holidays - Part 1.  Elizabeth B. gave us a nice handout of online tutorials for gift ideas and then Jen B. enlightened us on what is a Turtle Mop.  It is such a CUTE little thing that can be used to mop up spills around the house.  Thanks ladies!

p.s.  Diane M. did a great post on her blog about the program and included the links to the gift tutorials. Go check out her blog and the links http://oquilts.blogspot.com/

- The Swap For Someone You Love items will be due at the October meeting.

-  October's BOM is:

Block:  Fresh Lemons 2 Color Star
Colors: Gray & Aqua (Cindi, our BOM Captain, made a sample to show.  Thanks!)
Link For Tutorial:  http://www.freshlemonsquilts.com/?p=1709

Have a wonderful week.  If you ever need to contact the guild you can click over to the blog and use the CONTACT US button at the top right.
http://charlottemodernquiltguild.blogspot.com/

Karen E.

September Mtg - Handmade Holidays Part 1

I hope everyone can make it to our September meeting.  If you are new and have been thinking of checking us out, then COME ON DOWN.  We would love to have you join us!

Thursday, September 26 at 6:00

Dowd YMCA

400 East Morehead Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

704.716.6100

Conference Room #4

Take the elevator to the 7th floor,

Take a left out of the elevator and the room is at the end of the hall.

Our Program Committee has been hard at work planning some great upcoming programs.  The September program will be:

Handmade Holidays Part 1 - Gift Giving

Jennifer B. will demonstrate how to make a "turtle mop" great for mopping up spills in the kitchen and customizable with all kinds of fabrics!  Elizabeth B. will be sharing a handmade gift idea sheet with tutorial links.  

September BOM - St Louis 16 Patch

The block-of-the-month for September is an easy one.  Two fat quarters make two blocks and they go together quickly.

Block: St Louis 16 Patch (Sew With Sass blog)    

http://sewwithsass.blogspot.com/2013/04/quilts-st-louis-16-patch.html.

Color:  Modern Scrappy

Have a great weekend,

Karen E.

Swaps

Our wonderful Swap Captain, Xandi, would like everyone to know the following:

1.  September Meeting

The Block in a Bag swappers should bring the bags they have to the meeting to pass on to the next person (the same person they gave to last month).


2. October Meeting

The Swap for Someone you Love is ongoing and will be due at the October meeting.


3. December Party

We will be swapping ornaments.  You can make any style you want and as many as you want to swap. 

Here are some of the ones swapped last year.

Have a wonderful week,
Karen E.

Red Cross Tote Bags - Want a really easy version?

I have not been very motivated to sew lately.  I think the hustle and bustle of the summer zapped my creativity.  However, after the meeting the other week I was inspired to come home and get sewing!  I love the sew-n-tell and hearing what you are making, patterns to try, books to see...

I decided to start by making a tote bag for the Red Cross program.  I wanted a tutorial that was EASY, quick and makes a nice size bag.  A little "googling" on the web and I found this tutorial:

http://www.thelongestyear.typepad.com/EasyToteTut.pdf


Easy - check
Quick - check
Good size - check

A couple notes if you use this tutorial:
- I used interfacing on the exterior, lining and straps.  I like bags with some structure to them.

- Step 5 shows the "boxing" of the corners.  She does not specify a distance, but I used 2.5" up from the point and that worked well.

It feels good to be sewing,
Karen E.

Two smiling faces - Handmade dolls

I thought periodically I would feature a pretty sew-n-tell item, a book, notion or other item we see or discuss at our meetings.  Today I want to feature some adorable dolls made by Joanie.  She brought the dolls to the August Sew-N-Tell and the detail and workmanship are incredible.  You can read more about the dolls on Joanie's blog and Etsy shop:

Joanie's blog http://joanieinnc-quiltershaven.blogspot.com/

Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/JoaniesTrendyQuilts?ref=pr_shop_more

p.s. I goofed on the due date for the next BOM block-of-the-month.  The 16 patch block is due at the SEPTEMBER meeting.

August Meeting Recap

Our August meeting was held last week and we had a great group of quilting fans (24 members and 8 visitors).   Jenn T. and Vicki from The Quilted Thimble Cottage gave a presentation about their shop and a neat tool for making easy flying geese.  Thanks ladies!

Also, a HUGE thank you to Vicki for volunteering to quilt the Dowd YMCA donation quilt.  The top was made by Joyce M. and the ladies that attended the spring Sew Modern retreat.  This quilt will be donated to the Dowd YMCA for their fund raising auction later this year.

SWAPS
Xandi (Swap Captain) kicked off 2 swaps.

The first was the Block-In-A-Bag program.  This month was the first exchange of bags and I can't wait to see these blocks at the end of the exchange.

The second swap is the Swap For Someone You Love (swap items due in October).  I have Beth's 4 year old granddaughter as my swap recipient and I can't wait to sew something girly girly!


BLOCK OF THE MONTH (BOM)
We have a new BOM Chair, Cindi.  She will be selecting the monthly BOMs, themes/colors and running the BOM program.  Thank you Cindi! Remember for each block you turn in you get a chance to win all the blocks submitted that month.  I LOOOVE the block for September.

Block: St Louis 16 Patch (Sew With Sass blog)    http://sewwithsass.blogspot.com/2013/04/quilts-st-louis-16-patch.html

Color:  Modern Scrappy
Due:  September Meeting


RED CROSS BAGS
Woohoo, bags are already being made and turned in for the Red Cross.

One of the beautiful bags already turned in!

If you can help, the American Red Cross needs tote bags for their volunteers.  These volunteers assist veterans and they need to carry various supplies with them.  The bags should be big enough to hold a 3 ring binder.

You may use any pattern/fabric/style, but here is one the Red Cross shared with us http://mamaspocketbook.com/freebies.htm.

The bags will be due at the OCTOBER meeting.

UPCOMING DATES/EVENTS

September Meeting: 
9/26/13 at 6:00 - Dowd YMCA

BOM St Louis 16 Patch


October Meeting: 
10/24/13 at 6:00 - Dowd YMCA

Red Cross Bags Due
Swap For Someone You Love Due


Have a great weekend,
Karen E.

Meeting This Thursday

I hope everyone can make the meeting this Thursday 8/29. 

Dowd YMCA

400 East Morehead Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

704.716.6100

Conference Room #4 - 7th Floor

Jen & Vicki from The Quilted Thimble Cottage will be our featured speakers. 

Xandi (Swap Captain) asked me to remind everyone that 1) we will re-launch the Swap For Someone You Love, due at the end of October and 2) Block in a Bag will start, so people should bring their fabric kits. 

Hope to see you Thursday!

Calling all Long-armers...

With the exciting news of finding a permanent home for this upcoming year, we have to get busy with a charity quilt due October 1 for the YMCA Silent Auction.  Thanks to Joyce and the ladies at last April's retreat, we have a quilt ready...it just needs to be quilted.

Any of you lovely ladies with the beautiful long-arms willing to quilt our charity quilt?  It's all so that we have a place to call home.  :)

Please email the guild and let us know so that we can get it to you as soon as possible.

Thanks so much!

August Meeting traffic update...

We just wanted to let you know that there is a Panthers Home Game the same day as our August meeting (how dare them!)  :) 

Please note that traffic and parking may be a little difficult.  Allow enough time so that you can arrive safely to the meeting.

Drive safe and we look forward to seeing you in 2 weeks!

Dates For The Next Year

Good news!  For the upcoming year we have arranged to hold our monthly meetings at the Dowd YMCA.  The meeting space is nice and the location is very central which makes it easier for members coming from various areas of town. 

We hope to see you in August!

Dowd YMCA

400 East Morehead Street

Charlotte, NC 28202

704.716.6100

Conference Room #4
Take the elevator to the 7th floor,
Take a left out of elevator and the room is at the end of the hall.

Unless noted below, the meetings are held on the last Thursday of the month:

2013
August 29
September 26
October 24 (* not the last Thursday due to Halloween)
December 12 (* not the last Thursday, Holiday Party)

2014
January 30
February 27
March 27
April 24
May 22
June 26
July 31

July Recap & Swap Information

Our July meeting was held last week at the Dowd YMCA.  What a great view of downtown!

Keep an eye on the blog for information on where we will meet in August.

Thursday, August 29

6:00-8:00

Our program will be presented by Jen & Vicki 
from The Quilted Thimble Cottage

http://www.quiltedthimblecottage.com/

SWAPS
-  Handmade name tags were swapped.

-  Xandi has graciously agreed to take over the role of Swap Captain.  Thank you Xandi!!

-  Xandi sent out an email to those signed-up regarding the Block In A Box swap (renamed Block In A Bag).  This will kick off in August.

- Our next handmade swap will be Swap For Someone You Love.  Sign ups can be made by emailing Xandi at ahamilton8@nc.rr.com or she will have forms at the August meeting.  The swap items will be due at the OCTOBER meeting.  (p.s.  My 10 year old is so excited about this swap and thinks it is an awesome idea!)


BLOCK OF THE MONTH (BOM)
-  There were 9 blocks turned in for the July BOM and the patriotic lot was won by Jen T.

- A quick show of hands revealed the guild is interested in continuing the BOM program and our next BOM will be be announced at the August meeting (due in September).

STAR DONATION QUILT
- A star donation quilt was made by the guild and quilted by Susan A. (thank you!!).  The quilt will be donated to Carmel Presbyterian Church to be sold/raffled at an upcoming event held by them.  This is to thank them for letting us use their facilities for various meetings and sew-ins.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS
- To continue on last month's FAVORITE THINGS topic we played Bingo and several members won some of the great items: Frixion Pens, Seam Rippers, Wonder Clips, Magnetic Pin Cushions...  As for the rest of us, we just loved getting a chance to eat Smarties in July.

- We also played Left-Right-Center. Cindi and Jen B. walked away with 30+ fat quarters each!  Lucky girls :)

AMERICAN RED CROSS - TOTE BAGS
- The American Red Cross contacted us asking if we could help them with tote bags for their volunteers.  These volunteers assist veterans and they need to carry various supplies with them.

- So far we have over 12 people volunteering to make totes.  You may use any pattern/fabric/style, but here is one the Red Cross shared with us http://mamaspocketbook.com/freebies.htm.  The bags should be big enough to hold a binder.

- The bags will be due at the OCTOBER meeting.