Hello, Modern Quilters!  President Kathy Cook opened April’s meeting by thanking the Hospitality Committee Chair LeeAnne Fritz and volunteers Barb Haab and Barb Stevens for the yummy snacks.  Kathy also encouraged members to visit the Modern Quilt Guild website for new blocks, quilt pattern, and new episodes of  Fresh Quilting. There is a lot of information and inspiration available to all of us members!

Kathy also thanked Connie, Marilyn, Celeste, Joan, Teresa, Carol Lou, Ann G and Nancy P for Quilt Blocks.  These will be made into a quilt top and sent to a Newfoundland Senior Home whose residents recently lost everything in a fire.  The Home is across the street from modern quilt blogger Devoted Quilter. How kind of all of you to send some quilty love to these seniors.

Treasurer Ann Groonwald  reported that 39 members were present, which is nearly 2/3 of our current membership of 65 members. There were three visitors and one new member.

Signups for the second annual BNMQG retreat are ongoing. The dates are October 6, 7, 8 – be sure to check your calendars! The place is Camp Cilca in Cantrall, IL. The cost is $45 per person per night, $145 for all three nights.  Each room has two twin beds and one full bed, and an ensuite bath.  Two mini classes are included.  Sign up at the August meeting or before to ensure you get a “swag bag” of goodies!

Be sure to bring cash for May’s De-Stash Sale!  Items donated by members will be for sale – there’s sure to be something you need.  Bring a guest who might enjoy shopping for goodies and experiencing the fun of our Modern Quilt Guild!  Proceeds go to help our Guild fund our charity projects. Thank you, Lori LeVar, for heading up the committee.

The beautiful Poolside Tote is the workshop to be taught Saturday, June 10^th by Donna Lee.  This spacious bag is sure to come in handy for carrying pool goodies or quilt supplies. There is still space available!  See Donna to sign up.

The Sewing Days for May and June have been cancelled, as there are many quilt tops that need to be quilted.  Sewing Days should resume in July.

Member Announcements:  Viv Browning thanked members for going on the Gems of the Prairie bus trip to the International Quilt Festival on April 6^th.

This year’s Modern Mystery Quilt began this month, with lots of enthusiasm and many members planning to participate. Designer Sue Kaiser gave information on fabric requirements and what to do for Step 1. This is a four-month project, ending in July.  Those who’ve seen the final result say it’s a great quilt! Check the member section of this blog for more details so you can get started!  Thanks, Sue!

Our winners, besides all of us who attended 😉 , were Betty Woodruff for Block Lotto, and Laurel Wolber? for the Fabric Raffle.  The door prize survey showed that (1)  the members who have attended past QuiltCons have loved it, (2) a few are hoping to go to Pasadensa, California for 2018, and (3) many members are “saving their pennies” for the 2019 QuiltCon in Nashville!   Barb Stevens won the door prize drawing.

Block Lotto for May is square…in a square… in a square!  Ann G has specific fabric squares cut to build your squares around.  Blocks will measure 12 ½ inches unfinished.

For directions, click here.  Let Ann G know if you weren’t at the meeting to get the squares and would like to participate.

Show and Tell:

After another exciting show and tell, our program began.  Laurie Baker, editor of Modern Quilts Unlimited magazine shared her pictures from QuiltCon 2017, held this past February in Savannah, Georgia.  It was exciting to see the quilts that were exhibited- all 300 of them!  Laurie noted that handwork is one new trend in modern quilting, along with quilts featuring maps.  Solids remain very popular.  Laurie then drew a name to win a one-year subscription to Modern Quilts Unlimited –  the winner was Linda Bartels.  Many thanks to Laurie and Modern Quilts Unlimited for presenting the program and a wonderful prize!

Looking forward:

The May meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 23.  It will be a hands-on program of designing postcard quilts.  Ann Unes will present the basics and some design ideas. Materials will be provided, and sewing machines and irons will be brought by volunteers.  Each attendee will be able to make two postcards, one to take home and one to use as a random act of kindness by BNMQG.  Bring your favorite scraps if you like!  Hope to see you there!