January – February 2015 - MN Contemporary Quilters

M INNESOTA C ONTEMPORARY Q UILTERS
NEWS
J ANUARY —F EBRUARY 2015
WWW.MNCONTEMPORARYQUILTERS.NET
J ANUARY 26 MEETING — O FF -B EAT S AMPLER
Q UILTS —S USAN S TEIN
6:30 P . M . T EXTILE C ENTER
Going wild with a new surface-design technique? Wanting
to make all your favorite blocks but not line them up in nice
neat rows? Got some orphan blocks, screen prints, or other
collections that need to be corralled into a great wall hanging? See lots of examples of sampler quilts that let you be
creative and crazy.
Above—One of a Kind Birds
Left—Fire through a Screen
F EBRUARY 23 MEETING —M EMBERS ’ S ALE
6:30 P . M . T EXTILE C ENTER
Our February meeting features a members’ sale. Tables cost $10. Items for sale should be fiber-related, including fabric;
embellishing materials, such as yarn, embroidery threads, beads, or foil; threads; supplies for surface design, such as dyes and
paints; books, tools, patterns, etc. Please sell items that you would want to buy as a contemporary quilter. To participate,
please contact Peggy Wright and pay the table fee at our January meeting or before February 15th by mailing it to Peggy
Wright, 1438 Stanford Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105. For questions, call 651-698-2760 or email: [email protected].
NEWS
P AGE 2
MCQ Board
CHAIR
Tina Hughes
651-645-0945
[email protected]
VICE CHAIR
Zeeda Magnusson
612-825-4755
[email protected]
PROGRAM
Peggy Wright
651-698-2760
[email protected]
EXHIBITS
Barb Bonifas
763-568-7746
[email protected]
Sally Mortenson
651-675-9836
[email protected]
MEMBERSHIP–
TREASURER
Leah Doherty
651-636-5723
[email protected]
WEBMASTER
Peg LaSota
612-824-9460
[email protected]
SPECIAL EVENTS
Rose Allen
651-227-4708
[email protected]
Joan Carver
651-649-1071
[email protected]
F ROM THE MCQ C HAIR —T INA H UGHES
Happy New Year and welcome to 2015! I'm honored to serve as the president of MCQ this year, and
I'm looking forward to a very fun and interesting year. We have some new MCQ board members this
year and we'll introduce them at an upcoming meeting. Many thanks to Lavonne Batalden who served
as president last year.
I hope everyone had a fun holiday season with their family gatherings and good food. Now that we've
finished all of that, it's a great time to take stock of our lives, especially our quilting and sewing
lives. Perhaps you want to tackle one challenge this year—learn a new technique, increase your skills
with a technique that you already know, try a new color, use different fabrics in your quilts or sewing,
try to keep a 4- by 4-foot area clear in your sewing space for a year, do the MCQ challenge, introduce
yourself to someone new at one of our monthly meetings, or the perennial favorite—finish a UFO.
I hope that you will include in your plan for the year, participation in our 2015 challenge, "Inside, Outside, Upside
Down." It's always fun to see the creativity, and our challenge
exhibits are very well received wherever they go.
New this year MCQ is donating all of the money raised from
our 2-Bit Bags to the Textile Center in order to buy a sewing
machine for the youth summer classes. Bring lots of money to
the meetings to buy your chances.
Onward and upward to a new year of fascinating programs,
excellent show-and-tell, and the camaraderie of people exploring creativity together.
See you at our meetings!
Right: Tina Hughes’ entry in A Common Thread
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Wanda Shelton
651-487-7197
[email protected]
HOSPITALITY– RETREATS
Nancy Condon
651-235-7820
[email protected]
SECRETARY–SUNSHINE
Janet Hovde
651-487-2744
[email protected]
LIAISON TO TEXTILE CENTER
Tina Hughes
651-645-0945
[email protected]
Please send comments and submissions to
[email protected]
Next Board Meeting
February 4th, 6:30 p.m.
Peg LaSota’s house
Q UILTING R ESOLUTIONS 2015
The beginning of a new year can be a time of goal-setting or resolution-making. Here are quilting goals
for 2015 from some of the MCQ board members. May they inspire you as well.
Leah Doherty—My resolution this year is to finish the quilt tops I made in 2014 and the ones I have
"forgotten" hanging in my closet, and during the Wapo retreats this year I am going to piece some of
the pile of projects I have gathered over the years.
Peggy Wright—My goal is to submit work to juried shows and generally to show my work. I did
submit three pieces at the end of December to a fiber art show, to hear February 17.
Joan Carver—Since I get bored following patterns, my goal for 2015 is to abandon all pretense of
being "a quilter" and concentrate on improv projects that may have no functional value save feeding my
creative juices. And, I want to start the grandson's 2016 graduation quilt by September....or else just
plan on the midnight sewing.
Tina Hughes—My resolution is to do the best that I can leading the two groups that I'm committed to this year—MCQ and the Textile
Center Board, great groups with excellent people and I want to serve them well. I anticipate being more pressed for time and will need
to grab my chances at creativity when I can. I'd like to be more bold and spontaneous when designing and sewing. I won't have time to
overthink, and I hope to have more fun while being bold.
Sally Mortenson—I will learn 3 new techniques. I will use 50 yards of my stash, by making things, and not by giving it to others.
Rose Allen—I plan to explore quilting strategies that make it possible to quilt a large quilt in sections on my domestic sewing machine.
Wanda Shelton—Each Sunday I plan to make a 4” by 6” block for a journal quilt. Each block will represent one or more things that
defined the week. How far behind am I?
J ANUARY —F EBRUARY 2015
P AGE 3
T WO -B IT B AGS —J OAN C ARVER
Two-Bit Bag Sewing Machine Challenge—A special "Thank You" for your enthusiastic support of our Sewing Machine
Challenge. November 2-Bit Bag activities reached a new level with $106 collected. All goes toward the purchase of a new
sewing machine for Textile Center Summer Camps. Throughout 2015 2-Bit Bag funds are dedicated to this project. So gather
your quarters, there's going to be lots of fun working toward this goal.
January 2-Bit Bags will present a "Board Bonanza" of items produced by members of MCQ board. There may be mini art
quilts, coasters, pot holders, pin cushions and scissors covers, or perhaps handmade chocolates or a one-of-a-kind quilt pattern
each fashioned personally by an MCQ board member. But you won't know who produced which until each bag winner is announced!
In February 2-Bit Bags is on winter vacation, but the Sewing Machine Challenge is not. The member sale table rental fees will
go toward the Sewing Machine fund.
M EMBER S URVEY —J OAN C ARVER
MCQ Member Survey—We received great response from the brief member survey handed out at the last meeting. Thanks to
all who participated. The survey was designed to learn what you want from your MCQ membership. You provided information about programming and special events, and you let us know what activities you like best. Generally, you told us the
organization is doing a good job and you let us know what else we can do.
So, the board members are committed to implementing your suggestions and ideas in 2015 whenever possible. Watch and
listen for announcements of activities or programming that start with "You said in the survey that you'd like......., so here it
is." 2015 is going to be a great year!
F ROM THE T EXTILE C ENTER —T INA H UGHES
By the time that you read this, the "Common Thread" exhibit will have opened in all of the galleries at the Textile Center. This
year’s exhibit includes the most entries in the history of the TC. Many MCQ members have submitted work. It's a fabulous explosion of textile and textile-related art from TC members and guilds. Please visit it often to take it all in.
Karl Reichert is settling into his role as the Executive Director. He's always excited to meet everyone who comes to the TC, so
stop in to his office to say "hi" when you visit.
Thanks to the great generosity of many donors, the Textile Center surpassed their fall fundraising goal of $50,000. This is such
an endorsement of the work done to support guilds, members, working artists, students, and everyone who loves textiles.
MCQ will be donating $150 toward art quilting books for the TC library. More news about that to come.
S PECIAL E VENTS : S HOPPING P ARTY —R OSE A LLEN
F EBRUARY 11, T WIN C ITIES Q UILTING
Celebrate winter! Save the date: Wednesday, February 11, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Twin Cities
Quilting, 1085 Dionne Street, Roseville, MN 55113, 651-340-8263
What’s Happening? MCQ is hosting an evening of fun for quilters. There will be snacks, door prizes, sale prices
on purchases, and the opportunity to make and take a giant snowflake (a small fee for materials is payable to TCQ
that evening). No pre-registration. Just show up for the fun!
P AGE 4
H ATS O FF !
NEWS
MCQ S MALL G ROUPS P ROFILE —S ISTERHOOD 9/37
The small group Sisterhood 9/37 formed about a year and a half ago as a result of the signups indicating an interest in belonging to a small group so all our members belong to MCQ.
A larger group met, and the major difference was the interest in a daytime versus evening
meeting time. Sisterhood 9/37 members are the nine who wished to meet in the daytime.
As a result we are quite geographically dispersed. Our name came because nine of us collectively own 37 machines. That number is probably no longer correct as new machines tend to
show up in our homes—and none disappear. The group is pretty democratic in leadership,
but Leah Doherty does a great job keeping us informed and is a good contact point.
We meet monthly in member’s homes so the number cannot be much larger as most usually
attend. We meet from 10 to 2 on Tuesdays with a potluck lunch or a lunch out at a local
restaurant. Our activities vary from month to month but always include show and tell—
sometimes to get advice about a project. Some meetings are based upon trying out a new
technique a member is willing to teach or perhaps something no one has tried, such as resist
dying, eco-dying, permanent marker dying, foam printing, drawing quilting designs, etc.
We have gone on field trips to exhibits and shops. We have done a couple of small challenges around an idea. We did a group challenge for the Cycles challenge and are working on
one for 2015. The group has also had an aspect of a service project. Last year we made 12
quilt tops that were tied and bound for Lutheran World Relief. We are currently working
on four quilts for a room at Camp Wapo, and we hope to deliver them at the spring retreat.
It is always difficult to say what holds a group together. We all joined at the same time and
the chemistry seemed to work. Of course, respect for what others do and contribute is important. If you wish to start a small group, I would recommend putting yourself out there as
willing to do so with any parameters that are important to you. It is easier to join a person
than a sign-up sheet.
Jan Schmidt holds the group’s 2014
Cycles challenge piece
2015 C HALLENGE —I NSIDE O UTSIDE U PSIDE -D OWN
Entry forms are available on the website. Forms are due in April and finished quilts are due at the May meeting. Have fun making
quilt art through exploring the possibilities of this unique theme. How diverse will our entries be?
MCQ 2015 E XHIBITS —S ALLY M ORTENSON & B ARB B ONIFAS
A Fun Way to Volunteer for MCQ Each month Exhibit Co-chairs Barb and Sally pass a clipboard for members to sign up to either hang or take down our exhibit of challenge quilts. This is a short volunteer commitment—only one to two hours. Volunteers
get to see all of the challenge quilts up close. Each time we hang the exhibit, we notice something new about the colors, design and
construction of the quilts.
Volunteers also get to spend time with other guild members. Often our time to chat with each other is limited during a meeting.
We have fun choosing the layout for each exhibit, and sometimes have some challenges hanging the quilts. We would like everyone
to volunteer at least once during the year to either help hang or take down the exhibit—particularly if you have a quilt in the exhibit.
Exhibit locations are around the Twin Cities. Sometimes we install or take down the quilts during the week, and other times we do
it on the weekend. This year our challenge exhibit will appear at eight venues.
We hope you will sign up the next time the clipboard is passed a meeting. Please contact us if you have questions.
Found: Pink bath towel in the exhibit bins. Please claim. Contact Sally Mortenson, [email protected], 651-675-9836.
NEWS
P AGE 5
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T IME TO R ENEW
H ATS O FF
Congratulations to these MCQ members who have entries
in the Textile Center’s member exhibit, A Common
Thread. The exhibit fills the Textile Center’s interior
space and will run through February 28th with a closing
reception on Thursday, February 26th, 6 to 8 pm.
Please welcome these new members of
MCQ:
Carol Mashuga
Pat Teiken
Barb Endres
Sunny Kline
Susan Antell
Mary Ellen Calderwood
Nancy Condon
Edith Dalleska
Sharon Englund
Katherine Simon Frank
Janet Hovde
Tina Hughes
Nancy Mambi
Barbara Otto
Ann Poulson
Ann Ribbens
Wanda Shelton
Susan Stein
Peggy Wright
Wendie Zekowski
Renewals are due
from the following
members:
February
Rose Allen
Nancy Condon
Chris Daly
Catherine DeMars
Sharon Englund
Lynne Heuton
Mimi Holmes
Anita Jain
Joyce Kvaas
Kristin Lawson
Wendy Lazear
Peg Lindberg
JoAnn Maus
Claire Caughey
Most
Maureen Ohland
Willie Piccard
Susan Stein
Peggy Wright
January
Debbie Boyles
Sharon Castle
Kathy Faust
Janet Hartje
Darla Keller
Annearle Klein
Peg LaSota
Sally Mortenson
Vivien Smith
Anne Tiller
Above: Crust & Core Sample of the Stash—Wanda
Shelton, photo by Emma
Peacha
See the back page
for dues information. Join or
renew today!
Left: Peony—Peggy
Wright
T EXTILE C ENTER G ARAGE S ALE
The Textile Center Garage Sale is coming again soon.
Donate, downsize and clear the clutter from your work space. Rid your
studio of unfinished projects and materials that are no longer of interest to
you.
Shop and revitalize your stash with bargains, unusual finds, uncommon
materials, and other fun items to play with.
Funds benefit the Textile Center—win, win, win!
Minnesota Contemporary
Quilters Newsletter
January - February 2015
M INNESOTA C ONTEMPORARY Q UIL TER S
N EWS
T EXTILE C ENTER , B OX 8
3000 U NIVER SITY AVENUE SE
M INNEAPOLIS , MN 55414
The MCQ Challenge Exhibit Cycles is scheduled for the following venues:
White Bear United Universalist Church, Mahtomedi
January 11—February 15
Roseville City Hall, Roseville
February 28—April 11
Stillwater Hospital
April 13—late May
E VENTS & D EADLINES
February 11—Shopping Party,
Twin Cities Quilting
February 26— Textile Centerclosing reception for A Common
Thread
March 27-30,—MCQ Spring Retreat, Camp Wapo, Amery, WI
2015 Inside Outside Upside
Down challenge entry forms will
be available at the January meeting and online, forms will be due
in spring 2015, and quilts are due
at the May meeting
Textile Center Librarian
Hours
Quilts for exhibition can be dropped
off at the Textile Center Library only
when Nancy Mambi is there:
Monday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Tuesday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
MCQ meetings are held the fourth Monday (3rd Monday
if fourth is a holiday) at 6:30 p.m. at the Textile Center,
3000 University Avenue SE, Minneapolis. No December
meeting.
Membership information: Annual dues are $30, or $35 if
you receive the newsletter by postal mail. Renewals are
due on the anniversary of when you joined. Make checks
payable to Minnesota Contemporary Quilters and mail to
Leah Doherty, 2110 Rosewood Lane S, Roseville, MN
55113. Email [email protected] with address changes
or for membership assistance.
Meeting reminders—Please wear a fiber nametag to be eligible for a prize to be
given when the spirit strikes. Bring show-and-tell items., including works in progress. Bring a quilting friend or neighbor to visit the guild and join the fun.
Fall Wapo Retreat—October
Volunteer opportunities—MCQ is your guild—what is your role in it? Volunteer work is rewarding and fun! Be a board member and help steer the guild. To
volunteer at the library, contact Nancy Mambi at the Textile Center to schedule
training. Have an idea for a project or group? Contact any board member to discuss it.
September 2016—MCQ Workshop with Sue Benner
Free table—Unclaimed items you bring for the Free Table are still yours. Don’t
force cleanup on the Textile Center or the members who leave last.
April 11—Textile Center Garage
Sale