According to the worldwide Modern Quilt Guild, the characteristics of a modern quilt are:

• the use of bold colors and prints
• high contrast and graphic areas of solid colors
• improvisational piecing
• minimalism
• expansive negative space, and
• alternate grid work

In the world of quilting, nothing is really “new”, it’s mostly taking something that’s been around awhile and making it your own by putting a new spin on it. A modern spin if you will. This year, our longtime member Sherre is presenting us with a challenge to lean into our modern side and create something “new”. She is planning to introduce to us every month a traditional quilt block and invite us challenge ourselves to give it a modern makeover. Of course you can stick with the tried and true and make a traditional block too, it’s your quilt! First up, is the good old Churn Dash quilt block that has been around for centuries.

And the challenge is two fold, make two of your modern (or traditional) blocks and donate one. At the end of the year we will gather as a group and sew the extra blocks into quilts to be donated in the community. I call that a win win. It’s a great way to get excited and get the creative juices flowing again for the new year! And a chance to do good in the community.

So who’s up for the challenge? I know I am! Be on the lookout for what we create!!

Back to business, in December we held our elections and last night we welcomed Marti as our new President, with Helen continuing to lead as the Vice President. Thank you for your dedication and support of the guild. Rebecca and Katie are manning the financials, thank you and to Jenn for her role as Recording Secretary. Thanks to everyone who volunteers to take on a position on the board or a committee, including Eileen and Mary Jane (Community Outreach) Brooke (Sunshine), Brandy (Programs and Sew-ins) Deirdre (Social Media) and Susan (Membership). It’s great to see some new faces getting involved in the workings of a guild in addition to the long time position holders. Thank you everyone.

Let’s get to the good part, show and tell!

We had a super special guest last night, my friend Kiersten! Kiersten is the longest running student at Old Spool who is now a full fledged quilter, bag maker, selvedge collector and who works part time at the shop. Her enthusiasm for the craft is palpable and there is nothing better than seeing the next generation dive in. Kiersten and I bonded over our love of fabric selvedge one day when I stopped in the shop and was sporting a tote bag I made using my selvedge Selvedge, is the edge of the fabric, woven slightly differently and there are markings woven into it to help sewers and quilters match fabrics. Selvedge, however, has become an art form of its own of late and finding creative ways to use it has become a whole nother branch of sewing. Check out Kiersten’s bag

And a bag wasn’t enough for her, she’s actually making a quilt

It was a short meeting, and a long blog post. So much good stuff! It’s all fuel for creativity. Thanks for being here.