Fiber Artist and Quilt Designer

On Saturday, September 7 th, Maddie Kertay will be opening her new quilt shop called SPOOL.  Not only will she have all of the wonderful fabrics, notions, and patterns she has been stocking, but she will have some special guests there.
One of her special guests is Rose Hughes, fiber artist and quilt designer, who will be sharing her work with a trunk show in the afternoon.

Check out Rose's website at   www.rosehughes.com

This should be a very fun day.

Member Monday — Sharon Griffith

Today's Member Monday and Logo Block feature is Sharon Griffith and here is her story.

"I did not come from a quilting background. Actually, my Mom and Grandmother were crocheter's. I do have about five of those very heavy crochet blankets that I really do still put out in the winter and enjoy.

The very first time I started sewing was with my daughter when she joined 4-H in 1989. I went and brought her a Brother sewing machine that she shared with me. We learned how to sew through the 4-H program. At the end of the year, she had a wonderful idea to sew me a satin party dress for the Christmas party that we were having at work. Well, after that experience she continued to sew clothes and I started watching the Eleanor Burns show….lol. She had a beginners class and every week she posted a new lesson on TV and that is how I made my first quilt. I will never forget it. It was her Tulip pattern and it is gigantic. When I look at it now, I think, “oh my Sharon what were you thinking”. The fabric was broadcloth on the back and well my husband loves it. I look and it and just cringe. Since then I have taken classes in all different things that have to do with all kinds of fabrics, fibers, paints for fabric etc. You get the picture.

When I moved here from Florida, I met up with what soon was to be my appliqué teacher, Vicky. For the next 7 years all I did was appliqué. I still do appliqué, it settles my soul for some reason.

Then “modern” came along and I just loved the freedom that I felt with it. I thought wow I can cut crooked and slice the corner if I want. I can even use all solids if I want to and that is where I am at right now. Modern keeps drawing me in because there is always something new to it. With piecing and appliqué, you piece a quilt and/or you appliqué, but with modern you can be so versatile and that is what I truly enjoy about it. You can piece, you can appliqué, you can use solids and you can even make your own pattern. When it is quilted it looks like no one else’s. The fabrics are different most times, the cuts are different and most definitely the quilting is different so it is truly your own quilt. I feel even if it is a pattern, since there is so much quilting done on a modern quilt in most cases it still looks like one of a kind and I like that."

What a nice way to learn to sew…with your daughter. Thanks for sharing Sharon!

Sharon's Logo Block is featured in the ChattMQG Header.

Pam

Survey says. . .

Remember the survey you took at our last meeting? Well, the results are in and very interesting. Of the 29 attendees, 24 surveys were returned. Pretty good response!

Here is what you had to say:

• Most of you came to the ChattMQG through the referral of a friend or out of curiosity. You like meeting at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month, and you think our meetings are "super duper" enjoyable!

• You want to participate in workshops, block exchanges, sewing days and challenges. You are interested in sharing our guild's work through Quilt Shows and Community Outreach. You want to learn more about the modern aesthetic, improvisational piecing, designing your own quilts, and free-motion quilting.

• You think we share enough information and prefer to receive that information via our blog and email. You want us to share more information about online resources, block challenges, and quilt shows.

• You think we should join the national Modern Quilt Guild and you are willing to pay local dues.

My favorite responses came from the question; "What about our guild keeps you coming back?"

"Fellowship • Community • Inspiration • Interesting

• Informative • Energy • Friendly

• Like-minded friends • Challenging

• No pressure • Sharing"

I think that says it all!

Thanks for participating.

Pam

Member Monday — Janet Suber

Today's Logo Block and Member Monday feature is Janet Suber. I asked Janet to share her quilting story and this is what she had to say:

"I was raised in a tradition of sewing and quilting. My grandmothers and great aunts made quilts out of necessity - using remnants from the local mills where they lived. I have several of their quilts that I treasure.

My mother sewed all of our clothes, and she also sewed for customers. She gave it up when she had one customer who wanted her to make the same double knit pantsuit over and over again in different colors - it was the 70's! (And BTW - I have several double knit quilts from this era that I adore - they are indestructible!)

She also quilted from time to time - mostly for special occasions. When I was 16, I made my first quilt - a Grandmothers Flower Garden, hand pieced from Mom's scraps. Mostly I chose scraps from clothes she had made me over the years. I hand quilted it using a lap frame. It went with me to college.

Over the years I also quilted from time to time - lots of baby quilts for friends. I kept sewing as well - mostly home dec. Over the last several years I began doing more quilts again - at first mostly using scraps.

I came to modern quilts a couple of years ago when I started re-modeling my den in a mid-century modern style. I loved what I was seeing - these were not the same old patchwork I had done in the past. And the fabrics! No longer limited to calicos, pastels and earthtones!

I started visiting quilt stores and picking up fat quarters of fun new fabrics and have built up a pretty good stash. Ok - I probably have more fabric than I will ever use, but it all fits neatly into a corner of my sewing room. But I do admit, sometimes I think that Mom, Grandmothers and Aunts are all rolling their eyes at me."

Janet once told me that quilting was in her soul—now I understand why. Thanks for sharing Janet!

Janet's Logo Block is featured in the ChattMQG Header.


Pam

August Meeting Recap

What a great turnout we had for our August meeting—29 quilters!

Sandi started the meeting, welcoming all the new and familiar faces.

Everyone turned in their Tall Ship blocks, and Debra won the lottery! This is Debra's second win. She collected 27 blocks. That is the most blocks that have ever been contributed!

Gayle introduced the block for September, Japanese x and + block.

She has asked that we use light to medium gray fabric for the eight 2-inch squares that make up the background. It is not necessary to use diagonal cut prints in the corner squares, but you may, if you want to. Click here for the tutorial.

Show and Tell was AWESOME!

Debra brought her Celtic Knot top, her first win from the March lottery.

Ana, one of our new faces this month, shared two beautiful small quilts.

Jackie shared her scrappy quilt. Check out those circles! I believe she told us they were made using reverse appliqué.

Denise shared her Madrona Road Challenge block quilt. She quilted this using the Quilt-As-You-Go (QAYG) method.

Veronica shared this beauty. And, of course, she did a great job on the quilting.

Sandi brought Jean's quilt, an original design.

Jean has submitted photos of this quilt for consideration to an upcoming show.

Sandi shared her Lawn Chair quilt. This is going to one lucky friend as a birthday gift!

Ava shared her Jelly Roll top. What a beautiful way to use those jelly rolls.

Janet brought three tops—her Jelly Roll Race top from the Knoxville MQG retreat, her QuiltCon souvenir top, and her "Brown Bag" challenge top from her Choo Choo Quilters guild.

Robbie shared this fun, little quilt. She received these blocks from her dear friend, Judy Casteen.

Sharon brought her Garden Fence top. She won these blocks from our May lottery.

Gerry shared two of her quilts—an adorable child's quilt and the second quilt she ever made.
I believe she said she made it in the early '90's.

And last, but certainly not least, Gayle shared her Teacup quilt. She used a layer cake to make this quilt and was determined to use every inch of fabric—I think she was successful!

What an impressive show of quilts!

Janet went over the information handed out at our last meeting regarding membership to the national Modern Quilt Guild. During an open discussion, she shared the advantages and disadvantages of joining, becoming a 501(c)3 organization, and the necessary steps for application. Those steps include; electing officers, developing and adopting by-laws, acquiring an EIN (Employer Identification Number), and opening a bank account. While most of those in attendance are in favor of moving forward, everyone is encouraged to share any questions or concerns they may have.

A survey was passed out during the meeting. This survey was developed to determine the guild's future development and goals and a chance for our members to share their opinion. We haven't had time to throughly read through all of them. As soon as we have, we will let you know the results.

Christy Clark, from the Choo Choo Quilters Guild, was another new face at this month's meeting. She is traveling around to all the area quilt guilds asking for volunteers to help with the AQS QuiltWeek in Chattanooga, September 10–13, 2014. We will keep you posted as more details become available.

Sandi announced that the September 14th and October 12th meetings would be at:

Bernina Sew-N-Quilt

5950 Shallowford Road, Suite A

Chattanooga, TN 37421

at 10:00 a.m.

It was a fun and inspiring meeting. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Pam

AUGUST MEETING

The Chattanooga Modern Quilt Guild meets on the second Saturday of each month and this month's meeting is August 10 at 10 am.

Our meeting place has changed!

We are meeting at

WALLY'S RESTAURANT
6521 Ringgold Road
East Ridge, Tennessee
This restaurant is located immediately off I-75 near the Cracker Barrel.                                    

***Please note this is Wally's in East Ridge!!!***

Please bring your Lottery Blocks of the Tall Ship pattern.

Don't forget your Show and Tell!!

Maddie Kertay has asked for quilts to hang in her new shop, SPOOL, during the months of August and September.  If you are interested in sharing your quilts, please bring them with you to the meeting on Saturday or connect with Maddie  maddie6@bellsouth.net directly for dropping off your quilts.

Janet Suber and Pam McCallie will have the program on the next step to our membership with the National Modern Quilt Guild.  Please read the MQG materials that were given to you at last month's meeting and have any questions/comments ready that you might want to share.

Grab a friend and come for a morning of inspiration, fellowship, and education about Modern Quilting!!