October meeting recap

Submitted by Carol B., Secretary

Bloomington Normal Modern Quilt Guild Met October 22, 2024 at Christ Lutheran Church with 38 members attending in person, and 17 members on zoom in attendance.

President Kelly C. called the meeting to order and thanked Barb S., Jean B., Nichole M., Barb B., and Carol B. for the hospitality treats. Kelly C. shared that we want our members to share fellowship, which is associated with people with shared interest. She indicated that we still need help for a sew day chair (next sew day is November 16 – sign up here), and a photographer for the newsletter. She announced that we will be voting for a possible no-frills retreat in Spring in the same location as our Fall retreat but that retreat would need a chair to arrange that.

Leslie S., Program Chair, reported that M.J. Kinman will speak at our December 3rd meeting on Gems and Joy. She will lead a workshop on December 4th on Bite Size Gems and there are 5 open spots – sign up here.

Karen Bolan will speak at our January 28th meeting on Engineer your Quilts with a workshop on February 1st – Design an Original Modern Quilt (zoom only – sign up here).

Teresa A. asked members to volunteer to fill empty slots in hospitality for the year. Sheila R. talked about the Monthly Mystery to be held via zoom on the 3rd Tuesday each month. Nancy P. and Noemi B. spoke briefly about the retreat with 54 members and thanking members who served on committees – swag bags, desserts, unloading help, stretches throughout the retreat, and the mini classes that provided directions and materials for sewing kits, shoe laces, scissor holders, and notebook covers, They thanked the food and hospitality committees and gave the guild a new flag for BNMQG to hang anywhere we meet. Nancy P. gave an update on the Kona challenge and encouraged members to sign up for the Karen Bolan workshop on Feb. 1 for ideas, help designing, and tips for constructing a mini quilt for the 2025 Kona mini quilt challenge.

The program was a series of mini-sessions in which our members moved in small groups from session to session. The sessions were: Cheryl A. showed how to make small open cubes to storage; Nancy P. showed how to hide threads so that they won’t show; Sandy F. showed how to make improve ¼ circles; Ann U. showed how to add embroidery stitches to a quilted piece; Melissa K. demonstrated making circles using freezer paper and Karen G. demonstrated how to make and attach sleeves to hang completed projects. Instructions for each demo are included on our Meeting Resources page.