Submitted by Ann U., Secretary

The meeting was called to order by President Noemi B at 6:00 pm. She thanked our hospitality volunteers, Erin B, Lisa F, Stormy H and Mary W.

Noemi also introduced the business part of the meeting, stating that there were items that needed to be presented before the break, so members could get more information on our new community service Quilting Bees, and also do the survey, visit the library and sign up for the Kona Mini Challenge for 2026.

First, Nancy P gave a program update. In April, the program is Heart Beat Quilt Design Night, where members work together to choose completed blocks and lay them out into a design. A variety of colors have been used, so each quilt will look very different. Some volunteers will hopefully take the blocks home to put the top together. Others will volunteer to quilt the tops, making the process a true guild effort. We will also show our 2026 Kona Mini Challenge quilts using the color Wander.

In May, Radha Weaver, of @sewingthoughfog, will give a lecture on Upcycling, and our 2026 Upcycle Challenge will kick off.

June’s meeting will feature Daisy Aeschehoug of Norway give her talk “Anatomy of a Curve.” The next day, June 24, she will teach a workshop, “Giant Nested Circles.”

Nicole M then gave the Community Outreach committee report. Besides the Heart Beat Quilts, they will also teach how to make some ornaments for Christmas in July. These ornaments will be finished at home and brought back for a Christmas tree to be decorated by BNMQG for the BabyFold’s Festival of Trees in November.

Kathy C then presented a new Community Outreach project, BNMQG Quilting Bees. Those who participate will be in a group of 6-8 members, and will make quilts by making blocks from their stash.

When they start, each group will decide how often quilts will be done. The charities to receive quilts are the Cancer Center, Normal Police Department and Bed Blitz. Each month or so, one of the group becomes the “Queen Bee” and she decides which charity the quilt will be made for, its size, the block design, the size and number and colors of the blocks, and how many blocks each person in her group needs to make.

The blocks are turned in to her, and she puts it together and makes sure it gets quilted and bound. It is then turned in to the Community Outreach committee to be given to the charity.

At that point, a new Queen is chosen from the group and the process is repeated. Each Bee member gets to be a queen. This effort will help BNMQG create a larger impact in the community, and will enable the members to work together and get to know each other better. Members can ask questions and/or sign up during the break.

Noemi B announced that the next Sew Day is April 11 from 9-3, in person at the church. All the Sew Days through August will be in-person. The other dates are May 9, June 13, July 11 and Aug 8.

Sip and Sew Nights are via Zoom on the 3rd Tuesdays from 6-9 pm. Drop in to chat and sew! The next is April 21. Other dates are May 19, June 16, July 21 and Aug 18. Zoom invitations are sent out ahead of time by VP Sheila R.

Nancy P reported that our mini quilts have been in Florida and a member there saw the exhibit and posted videos on the BNMQG Facebook page. Our Julep quilts will be shown in Cleveland, OH on April 23-25, then be returned to Nancy. She will bring them to the meeting when she gets them back. Our Nocturne quilts will be displayed in Springfield, MO in June before they are sent to tour with Original Sewing and Quilting Expo for the 26-27 year. See Nancy at her table to sign up for the Kona Challenge. The cost to enter is $2.

Membership- Tonya K said we currently have 92 members, but that due to our Bloomington Library exhibit, we had guests and new members at the meeting. She welcomed them and reported that we had 32 members attending in person and 10 attend via Zoom.

After the break, Program Chair Nancy P presented the member-created presentation “What is Modern Quilting?” Nine members highlighted a category of quilts from QuiltCon 2026, each showing five quilts as examples of their design element/category. The MQG states that “several characteristics often appear which help define a modern quilt. These include but are not limited to, use of bold color and prints, high contrast and graphic areas of solid color, improvisational piping, minimalism, expansive negative space and alternate gridwork. ‘Modern Traditionalism’ or the updating of classic quilt designs is also seen in modern quilting.”

• Improvisational Piecing – presented by Karla M. QuiltCon Category Description: Quilts must be pieced improvisationally (without a defined pattern or template).
• Minimalism – presented by Marge E. QC Category Description: A design approach defined by extreme simplicity, clean lines and a “less is more” philosophy, often featuring expansive negative space to highlight key design elements.
• Modern Traditionalism – presented by Dawn P. QC Category Description: Modern traditionalism generally refers to any quilt that has a traditional pattern, block or design as its foundations combined with one or more modern design elements.
• Expansive Negative Space – presented by Kathy C. QC Category Description: Quilt design incorporates a creative use of negative space integrated into the composition of this quilt.
• Piecing – presented by Lisa B. QC Category Description: Quilts must be machine pieced and reflect a strong or innovative use of piecing.
• Applique’ – presented by Laurie S. QC Category Description: Quilts include either machine or hand layering of fabric where primary focus is appliqué.
• Handwork – presented by Shirley P-G. QC Category Description: Quilts include at least one element of handwork, including hand piecing, embroidery, hand quilting, etc.
• Small Quilts – presented by Vicky M. QC Category Description: Quilts must have a total perimeter of 119” or smaller. The quilt can be any shape.
• Group/Bee – presented by Noemi B. QuiltCon Category Description: Quilts in this category must be made by three or more people.
• Youth – QuiltCon Category Description: Entrants who are 18 years and younger at the time of entry, may use a quilter who does not meet age requirements.

Nancy also shared some Portrait Quilts and quilts with social commentary.

After, Noemi B presented the evening’s survey results, what is your favorite Modern Quilting element? It was a tie between Improv, and Negative Space with modern traditionalism also favored. The winner of the drawing was Julie C.

After Show and Tell, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 pm.