Another fun meeting for the Jersey Shore MQG. Brooke was kind enough to volunteer to put together our blocks for the quilt we are donating to the latest smart home recipient of Team Shamrock/Tunnel to Towers. Eileen quilted it on her longarm using an edge to edge design called “bayside”. We were striving for a low key beachy/serene vibe and I think we’ve nailed it but you decide.

It will be on its way to its new home next week!

Last month, I suggested we have a monthly block lotto and it was well received. Our first one was this month. We all made ‘double plus’ blocks, scrappy version and the winner, Rosemary C took home 32 blocks!!! Just fabulous! Stick around for next months sailboat version

Sherre gave us some good advice about squaring your quilt, the proper way to add borders, and assembling a backing. She also gave us some insight into how to prepare your quilts for a longarmer There were some very enlightening moments for us in this monthly program.

Eileen inquired if anyone would care to join her in making some quilt blocks to send off to a shop owner in Germany who is assembling quilts for displaced children from Ukraine. Also very well received and she will be collecting them at the May meeting. Any 12 1/2” block in blue and yellow, the Ukrainian flag colors.

We have a sew-in on the 23rd which will be a free sew, work on whatever you like! This is a good opportunity to just come and hang out and get to spend some quality time with your fellow members. And shop, of course!!

Here’s a little show and tell for your viewing pleasure. Happy sewing!

Sherre had a few finishes from a virtual retreat she attended with GE Designs!

Take note of our mini quilts hanging in the studio, which were gifts for our lovely host Julia, a token of our appreciation for sharing her welcoming space with us, we are so grateful.

Back to our regularly scheduled sewing, see you next month!!

Generally speaking I think we should establish a few things about the monthly Block Lotto. I’ve been looking at what other guilds do and here’s what I’ve come up with.

– monthly instructions will be for a 12 1/2” unfinished block. Exceptions will be for smaller blocks that when sewn together will finish at 12” I.e. (4) 6 1/2” or (2) 6 1/2” x 12 1/2”. (My reason behind the large block is that when you win you will have something substantial to create a top)

– one block = one entry except in the case where you need multiples to make a 12 1/2” block I.e. (2) 6 1/2” x 12 1/2” or (4) 6 1/2” and then (2) 6 1/2” x 12 1/2” = one entry and (4) 6 1/2” = one entry.

– you are encouraged to make as many as you like every month but at least one.

-if you are unable to attend the meeting when blocks are due, please make arrangements to get them to someone or to bring them the following month.

– once you win, we should expect to see your completed quilt top or quilt within 6 months to a year.

– in fairness to all of the participants, once you win you will be expected to continue participating; however, you won’t be eligible to win again until the following year.

Have fun and enjoy the process!! Brooke and I will be alternating months to come up with blocks. If you have an idea for us by all means email me or Brooke and we’ll be sure to include it. My goal is to present you with fun blocks with a modern aesthetic and maybe some new or alternative techniques for us to try. I have been scouring the MQG website and their “block study” segments and you can expect to see me taking full advantage of these freebies. I strongly encourage everyone to get on the MQG website and take advantage of the resources and webinars, these are free to you with your membership and there is a wealth of information on there. If you’re having difficulty navigating their website, reach out to Brandy for guidance.

Happy sewing!!

The Jersey Shore Modern Quilt Guild is always looking for ways to serve our community and in keeping with that we collaborated with member Julia, owner of Old Spool Sewing Studio, in a day of sewing for others this past Saturday, March 26th. Julia recruited young sewists and together with our members we made over forty zipper pouches for The Village NJ, a closet for foster families to “shop” for all of their needs located in Point Pleasant NJ. We also collected travel size toiletries to fill the pouches from members, the young students and the community and in the end were able to donate a huge tub to Jackie from The Village along with a monetary donation from Julia. It was a wonderful day of sewing, we were so impressed with the skills of the young people and I’m not sure who had more fun, them or us! Thank you to everyone who participated!!

A few finished pouches, we were so impressed with these kids!!

The Jersey Shore MQG in collaboration with Julia of Old Spool Sewing Studio will be holding a sew for others day on March 26th. We will be assisting Julia’s young sewing enthusiasts in constructing zipper pouches which will be filled with trial size toiletries and donated to the Village NJ in Point Pleasant, a closet for foster families.

https://oldspoolnj.com/events/kids-sew-for-others-day-ages-9-1215-115pm-copy/

A quick virtual hiatus and we were back in person in February, yay! It was a fabulous meeting, so much fun!! Seeing everyone’s UFOs and their stories and reasons why they’re not finished was really entertaining. But we’re gonna get them done, after all there’s some $$ on the line.

We’ve got some fun new things happening in the coming months. Block lottos, fabric challenges, sew-ins and bag making. I’m particularly excited for the sew-in with Julia’s students, making toiletry bags for a local organization. That will be a fun day and for a good cause. We’ve also got everyone making blocks for our donation quilt for the next “smart home” recipient of Team Shamrock/Tunnel to Towers. And Brandy received quite a few blocks for the donation quilt she’s making for a family who lost their home and pets in a fire.

Now that Pam and Julia schooled us in using a serger maybe we can all get together and take a garment making class. That would be fun!

And now the parade of projects.

Two of Natalie’s UFOs that she’s ready to finish.