Author: Rochelle Rosales, VP Activities
In addition to our monthly meetings and workshops, we have a lot of ongoing activities planned for members this year! While all are welcome to participate in all of them, the hope is that the variety will ensure that everyone can find at least one thing that appeals to them.
Challenges
This year we are hosting a Monthly challenge series as well as a Quarterly series. Both challenges can be started at any time through the year.
Monthly – Quilt Design Challenge
Participants will design a quilt each month utilizing modern quilt elements as described by The Modern Quilt Guild (MQG). These elements include:
- Use of bold colors and prints
- High contrast and graphic areas of solid color
- Improvisational piecing
- Minimalism
- Expansive negative space
- Alternate grid work
- “Modern traditionalism”
Each month a prompt will be introduced and discussed in a small group meeting. We’ll continue the conversation and share examples or ideas in a dedicated Slack channel as well.
The goal is to focus on one element each month to challenge our creativity and become more familiar with these design elements.
Quilts can be designed using any tool, from EQ to Illustrator to paper & pencil. Quilts can also be any size, but they should be complete and makeable.
As this is a design exercise only, finished projects are not part of the challenge, though we also look forward to seeing some finished projects in the future.
Quarterly – Photo Mini Quilt Challenge
Each participant will choose a single photo at the beginning of the year (or when they start the challenge). This will be their photo for the entire year.
Every quarter, we will provide a specific prompt that participants will use to make a mini quilt (20” max), based upon that photo. We’ll share our progress and finished quilts in a quarterly small group meeting and dedicated Slack channel.
Every quarter, we will provide a specific prompt that participants will use to make a mini quilt (20” max), based upon that photo. We’ll share our progress and finished quilts in a quarterly small group meeting and dedicated Slack channel.
The goal of this challenge is to explore a single subject in different ways, expressed in a specific manner as a mini quilt. At the end of the year, we’ll have a series of four mini quilts (1/qtr) all inspired by a single photo.
Exchange/Swap
Exchanges this year will take the form of a year-long Quilting Bee.
Members will be assigned to a HIVE and will make 2-3 blocks each month for ONE MEMBER of that group. Blocks will be based upon a design prompt (pattern, theme, etc.) and requirements (color, size, etc.).
The Hive consists of:
- Hive Leader – provides the prompt and receives all of the blocks for that month; changes monthly
- Worker Bee – makes 2-3 blocks each month, following the specific prompt and guidelines, and sends them to the Hive Leader
- Honey Bee – volunteer who can make blocks any month, but will not receive any blocks
- Beekeeper – forms groups, sets rules, identifies Hive Leader, fields questions, resolves issues, helps wherever possible (VP of Activities)
Groups will be formed in early February, and the first prompt will be provided at the February small group meeting.
There will be an information meeting on January 25th at 7pm to provide details and answer questions.
We will share blocks and review the next prompt at a monthly small group meeting and via a dedicated Slack channel.
NOTE: this is a year-long commitment and sign-ups are due by the end of January. Joining mid-year is unlikely. If you can’t commit to a year and just want to make some blocks, you can volunteer to be a Honey Bee who will make blocks if anyone misses a month or has to drop out.
In-person Events
We’re scheduling in-person events each quarter to get people together and gauge interest in meeting in-person again.
These events will be held locally, in Silicon Valley, but will be tied to at-home participation via Instagram and Slack, so that no one is left out.
We’ll start out with quarterly events, but we could schedule more, if there is interest.
Here is what we have planned so far…
- Q1 – Photo field trip – February 18th, 1-3pm (Palo Alto)
- Q2 – De-stash, Show & Tell, and Potluck
- Q3 – Hand-Sew Day and Show & Tell
There will be a dedicated Slack channel to share information about specific events and to suggest ideas for future events.
Sign Up!
If you are interested in any or all of these activities, members can sign up via the members-only Programs webpage. (This adds you to our roster for emails, invites, and the Slack channels.)
Not a member? Check out membership information on the Guild website.
For more information, email Activities at siliconvalleymqg.activities@gmail.com
Eileen showing off cutting arches using templates.
Kristine pressing her purple and pink arches.
Michelle-Nicholle stitching some curves on the machine.
Michelle-Nicholle’s arches laid out on the design wall with some full fans thrown in as well. (We love!)
Sarah shows off one whole pieced fan at the end of class.
Our design wall with a least one completed fan from every member in class. What a lovely bunch of molehills. We wanted to sew them up into a colorful quilt right then and there!