Submitted by Ann U., Secretary

*Delay in posting is due to Webmaster (Lisa B.), not our wonderful Secretary (Ann U.) So sorry for the delay! Can’t wait to see everyone tomorrow night at the meeting!

The zoom-only meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm by President Noemi B. She asked Nancy P, Program Chair, to introduce the speaker, Charles Cameron of @FeltLikeSweets, whose lecture was titled “Color Value and Color Placement in Your Quilts.” Charles began quilting in 2018, and has had quilts in many national shows and QuiltCon. He is an engineer and feels his approach to color and value is guided by his engineering background. He feels that color and value have an inherent order found in nature, and he utilizes this order as a tool to enhance a quilt’s design. He gave a brief summary on color theory, noting that colors in the color wheel also use that nature-inspired order, and using that order helps make the colors “dance.”

Charles defined some basic color terminology: Hue is pure color, Tint is a hue with white added, Shade is a hue with black added and Tone is a hue with gray added. He said that most tones have the same color value as the hue they are based on. Color Value is the perception of a color relative to its neighbor.

When using a pattern, Charles uses color intentionally, such as grouping like colors together and using them in the order they appear on the color, wheel, or in some cases, sudoku fashion, where each color would be used in each position in a block once in the row and column it is in. He gave examples of each. In creating his own quilt designs, he has also limited his color palette to three colors in six values of each, kept in the same order throughout a quilt to add
movement. He uses PowerPoint to help him design his quilts and audition color placement, because it is simple and familiar to him. He encouraged each of us to try using color in these or other new ways to give our quilts more impact.

After a quick break, guild president Noemi B began the business meeting. First a vote was held on the updates to the bylaws, as required by the MQG. After stating changes made at the last meeting were in the version to be voted on, Laurie S moved to approve the bylaws as presented and Shirley P-G seconded. The vote was held by a poll and it was unanimously passed. Noemi noted that the Secretary would post and certify these new bylaws, with a copy being added to the Secretary’s records in the binder.

Programs – Nancy P announced that those who had participated in the Wonderfil Hand Embroidery Workshop in January were recently sent a link to re-watch the workshop and receive their coupon.

• At the March 24th meeting, the lecture “What is Modern Quilting?” will be given by members who attended QuiltCon this year, using as examples some quilts in this year’s show. Members who are helping with this should have gotten an email on how to prepare. BootCamp will meet before the meeting, beginning at 5 pm.
• April 28th will be HeartBeat Quilt Design Night and a display of the Kona Modern Mini’s in this year’s color, “Wander.”
• At May’s meeting on the 26th, Radha of @sewingthroughfog will present “Upcycling” and we will kick off an Upcycling challenge, due this summer.
• Daisy Aeschehoug, of @warmfolk and a frequent QuiltCon teacher from Norway, will present her lecture “Anatomy of a Curve” on June 23 in person and give a workshop on “Giant Nested Circles on June 24th. Nancy noted that the Chicago Modern Quilt guild will also have Daisy speak, so we will be able to share some expenses. Sign ups for this workshop have started and there are still a few places available. Sign up here.

Membership – Tonya K reported that 41 members were in attendance.

Fabric Raffle/Survey Question #1 – A survey was held for members, asking “If it were reinstated, would you participate in a monthly Fabric Raffle?” These were previously held to raffle off fabrics to be used in Block Lotto, which has been discontinued. The result was 66% said no.

Community Outreach – Nicole M reported that there are still blocks to be made for the HeartBeat quilts, and that she will bring the fabric and encourage members who are at the Spring Retreat to work on them. Others interested in working on the blocks should contact Nicole and make arrangements to get fabric. The blocks need to be completed by the April meeting. Nicole also said she and her committee are working on an ornament night in July (Make-and-Bring-Back) for our participation in the Baby Fold’s Festival of Trees in November.

Sew Days – Marilyn B said the next Sew Day is March 21 via Zoom. After that, all the Sew Days scheduled through August are in person from 9-3 at the church. The dates are April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11 and Aug 8.

Sip & Sew – February’s group was small but fun, Sheila R said, probably due to the fact that some members were at or traveling to QuiltCon. The next date is March 17.

Spring No-Frills Retreat – This is being coordinated by the board. There are currently 34 members attending with space for more. Look for a new email detailing arrival and unloading times.

Exhibits – Nancy P has collected quilts for the Bloomington Public Library exhibit opening March 1, but if you will have a mini done in this year’s color and are interested in having it in the exhibit, you can contact Nancy asap. Quilts will need a brief description and a sleeve on the back. The exhibit runs from the 1st – 31st, with a reception being held on March 7 from 1:30-3:30 pm. Cookies and water will be served. There is a sign-up genius to help put up, help host at the reception or take down the exhibit, with a link on the members page of the website. Nancy also said that the Julep quilts currently on tour with Original Quilting and Sewing Expo will be returned in May, and the Nocturne quilts will be sent out in June, first to a Springfield, MO show, then to Original Quilting and Sewing Expo for their quilt shows.

Survey Question #2– To help support BNMQG Community Service Projects and other guild expenses, it was suggested that we might begin having 50/50 raffles each month we meet in person. The question was “Would you participate in a 50/50 raffle? Results were 61% yes, 39% no.

Treasurer- Erin H stated that the Treasurer’s Report is on the Treasurer reports section of the website.

Show and Tell – Laurel B, Marge E and Nicole M shared quilts.

Noemi B adjourned the meeting at 7:47 pm.