BNMQG Meeting
February 23, 2021
6:00 P.M.

Quilt raffle tickets
Tech Tuesday signups

The 12^th Zoom meeting was called to order by President Nancy Powell with 47 members and 1 guest present.  Nancy opened with a thanks to all of the members who virtually went to QuiltCon and for participating and sharing their information. 

Quilt Raffle – Betty Woodruff has been doing a lot of behind the scenes with tickets for the raffle.  The first quilt raffle recipient was drawn and it was Barb B.  The March quilt will be the brown log cabin.

Take a Chance Challenge – The February winner for the extra drawing was Marge Ehlers.  The challenge next month will be blue and hexagons. 

Kona Color Challenge – There will be a $1 registration fee collected when the challenges are turned in.  The rules for the challenge are:  wall hanging should finish up at 20” x 20” and have the Horizon color on the front.  A question was asked about using either a facing or binding and Kathy Cook explained and showed a faced wall hanging. Either binding or facing is acceptable. Details are available in the Member Area on this website.
All members are welcome to take part in this Challenge. Due Date for the Challenge: May BNMQG meeting.

Tech Tuesday – March 9 will be the next Tech Tuesday and it will be about EQ and applique

Poll 1   Would you be interested in a Tech Tuesday that includes one or more?
42%    1. Website tour and member area
24%    2. How to sign up for getting notifications of new posts
18%     3. Linking BNMQG calendar to your existing Google calendar
18%     4. Join BNMQG on Facebook and possible EQ group
33%     5. All of the above

*Poll 2    If we can find someone to give a Tech Tuesday on Cricut Cutting or Scan and Cut machines, would you be interested in attending?
15%     1.  I have a Cricut and want to learn more about using it
13%     2.  I have a Scan and Cut and want to learn more about using it
20%     3.  I don’t own one but an interested in learning more
53%     4.  Not at this time

*If you know of someone who could run a Tech Tuesday on cutting machines, please contact Nancy P.

Sew Days  On 2/6, there were 15 members who attended.  Our next Sew Day is Saturday, March 6.

Peter Byrne’s Workshop:  16 have signed up and there are 4 seats open as of the meeting. Workshop dates: (2 day workshop)  May 15 and 16 from 9 A.M. – 1 P.M. each day
Cost: $55 for members and $65 for nonmembers if seats are still available on March 1 

Maria Shell Workshop*:  sign up will open on March 22 for Maria Shell Workshop 
Workshop date: June 26
Cost: $50
*Our guild only gets 15 slots so sign up early

QuiltCon highlights We had a slide show of award winners.  There were many attendees who shared quilts from the show and of their personal experiences in classes. The slides are available as a PDF in the member area of this website.

Next month 

Cathy H.’s daughter, Laura Loewen will be giving the presentation of how to use your phone to take better quilt pictures. Quilt Photography in Your Pocket. Don’t have a ‘fancy’ camera but still want quality quilt photos? Learn the best tips and tricks for taking quilt photos on your iPhone. Discover where and when to take photos, how to edit, get app recommendations and demonstrations on how to get the most from your cell phone photos. All guild members welcome. Laura is the current MQG Modern Monthly photographer and has practiced photography professionally for over 10 years. Guest tickets are available for non-members for $5.50

Meeting was adjourned,
Respectfully submitted,
Paula Meiner

Meeting Recap for the January 26, 2021 Meeting of BNMQG

This meeting started even before the actual meeting.  We enjoyed an impromptu lesson on wool thread and darning by Laura Coia (SewVeryEasy on YouTube) who was attending our meeting as a friend of our speaker Peter Byrne.

There were 54 members and 4 guests in attendance.

Nancy started the meeting by giving an update on the Quiltfolk magazine article, thanking 25 members for participating in the photo session in cold January temps, thanking Kelly C. and Mark C. for the embroidery and Kathy C. for our very special BNMQG masks. Photos were shared and it was announced that the BNMQG article will be in the April/Illinois issue of Quiltfolk.

Peter Byrne was our speaker from Toronto, Canada.  Peter’s quilt titled ‘Starring You’ won Best in Show and my quilt titled ‘Cityscape” won Best Machine Quilting Frameless.  Twenty two quilts were shared along with his techniques of hover quilting and overlay quilting.  Good news for members who were unable to attend last night, Peter gave us permission to record his presentation and share it in our password protected member area here on our website for 2 weeks but then it will be gone forever!

New members – Kelly H., Bev D., Heather B., and Sandra M. were welcomed.  We’re so happy that you’ve joined us.

SEW Days have be scheduled via zoom.  Mark your calendars for these Saturdays Feb. 6 and March 6 from 10 am – 2 pm.  The zoom invite will be emailed to all members the week of the Sew Day– no need to sign up in advance.

Tech Tuesdays

• February 9^th – Carole Fay will be presenting Poly Draw with Electric Quilt at 11 am and again at 6 pm.  sign-up  (seats are filling up fast!)
• We’re looking for a person who would be willing to do a Cricut basics class on a Tech Tuesday.  Please let me know if you are interested.  Sessions are approximately 45-60 minutes long and we’ll take care of the signup and the zoom.
• Would you like to suggest a topic for a Tech Tuesday or share a topic in a Tech Tuesday, send Nancy P a text or email! 🙂

QuiltCon Planning zoom is on Thursday, Feb 11 at 6 pm. sign-up

• If you don’t mind sharing your QuiltCon registration schedule, please send it to Nancy via email to help organize and focus the planning meeting.  To check and/or modify your QuiltCon schedule, visit the registration page.
• If you haven’t signed up for QuiltCon, the registration site is now open again. 

Newsletters, starting in February, will now be posted as a PDF file in a Newsletter tab on the website, in the BNMQG group, and emailed to you.  Please read them for important information.  Make sure the device you want to read the newsletter on will open a PDF

Raffle:  We have 7 quilts to raffle and they have been posted on our website.  Purchase tickets for Quilt #1 now.  These 7 quilts are homemade family quilts that were donated by a member of our community.  Proceeds from the raffle will be used for BNMQG Charity projects. Please share this information with your friends and social media.  There is a post to share in Facebook on the Bloomington Normal Modern Quilt Guild page.

Take a Chance Challenge:  January projects were shared and Noemi B. won the extra entry into the final drawing this month.  The Roll for next month was #6 – PURPLE and #2 – Circles or parts of circles, wonky or not.

The Kona Color 2021 Mini Quilt Challenge rules and entry form were attached to an earlier email but they are now available in the Member area of the website under current projects.  Some of the Kona Horizon fabric (approx. 6”x20”) was handed out to members at the Quiltfolk photo shoot and more is available from Betty W.  You could do a drive by and pick up a piece of Kona Horizon fabricor if that is just not possible, contact Betty and she is willing to mail you a piece.

Show and Tell:  If you have Show and Tell in the future, please go to Facebook and find the current month’s Show and Tell photo album and add your photos.  Not a FaceBook user?  Not a problem, just email the photos to Nancy Powell or another member on Facebook and ask them to add them to the current month’s album.  Please limit yourself to 1 or 2 shares per meeting. 

This is the beginning of an exciting 2021 for BNMQG, so put the meetings on your calendar, plan to participate and think about joining a planning committee or run for an office in August.  Sandy Sanders and Debbie Phillips are on the Nominating committee.  You may be hearing from them, and please consider letting them know if you’re interested in an office.  You will have plenty of support if you volunteer.

Coming up:  In February, celebrate modern quilting and QuiltCon 2021 and in March, learn more about taking Quilt Photography with your cell phone with Laura Loewen from Colorado. 

The meeting was adjourned. 
Respectfully submitted,
Nancy P. (substitute seretary)

LINKS

Peter’s contact info:
Email: petersquilts@gmail.com   
Instagram:  @petersquilts & @hoverquilting. 
Facebook:  Peter Byrne
Website: www.peterbquilts.com

Tech Tuesday:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054fa9ad29a6f58-bnmqg3
QuiltCon planning meeting:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054fa9ad29a6f58-quiltcon
Raffle Quilts:   https://bnmqg.org/bnmqg-quilt-raffle/
Kona Challenge:  https://bnmqg.org/  and go to the member area

“Behind the Seams” with Peter Byrne.  

Hello quilters, my name is Peter Byrne. I am an international award-winning, published modern quilter and teacher with a deep passion for innovation and design. My strength is maintaining a fresh approach to quilting, with original designs and technical mastery.  

My goal is innovation, my passion is creativity and I am thrilled to have opportunities to share new techniques within the quilting community. While attending QuiltCon 2020, my quilt titled ‘Starring You’ won Best in Show and my quilt titled ‘Cityscape” won Best Machine Quilting Frameless.

After 30 years working as a stylist and salon owner I retired, and then had the time to explore new creative outlets. I started making quilt in 2009 and to further my quilting experience, in 2017 I joined the Toronto Modern Quilting Guild and when I walked into that first guild meeting, I had never quilted a quilt.  

It was at this time, I became a full time student of the craft and 2 years later, I designed and made Starring You. I’m very excited to share my quilts, dreams and ambitions with you and look forward to meeting you at my Trunk Show! 

Sincerely, Peter Byrne. 

Here are all the places you can find me!  

• Email: petersquilts@gmail.com   
• Instagram @petersquilts & @hoverquilting. 
• You can find me on Facebook under Peter Byrne
• I invite you to check out my website at www.peterbquilts.com

As always, Peter’s presentation is free to all BNMQG Members.  Guest tickets are available via PayPal here.

Newsletter November, 2020  
Next meeting – November 24, 2020 – zoom opens at 5:30pm CST

Happy November Modern Quilters,

We’re entering the 2020 holiday season – time for giving thanks for the blessings we’ve been given, time with family – via zoom or otherwise, making a turkey with all the fixins, finishing up those last minute gifts, and making time to reach out to friends with cards or phone calls.  This year has been anything but “normal” but I know many of you have taken advantage of some extra time to do more quilting and taken advantage of  taking classes via zoom.  I can’t wait to being able to get back together, seeing what you’ve made, and learning from each of you.  Kathy Cook’s Temperature Quilt presentation was informative and inspiring and has me looking for a block to make a temp quilt myself!

November’s Special Guest

I’m looking forward to Rebecca Bryan’s much anticipated workshop on Nov. 21 and her presentation at our November meeting on November 24. 

Rebecca Bryan is giving her WORKSHOP on Saturday, November 21 (before our guild meeting) from 9 am – 3 pm.  There are a couple of spaces available.  Signup quickly! It’s $46.50 for members and $60.00 for non-members!   Prep and Supplies are available at:  Design Improv with Triangles – Pre Workshop Prep and Info There are handouts and worksheets to print before the workshop available on that page.  If you want her book, order it quickly

Rebecca’s LECTURE/TRUNK SHOW will take place during our November 24^th meeting.  Members are free to attend this presentation.  Invite some friends to join us for this great program.  Guest tickets for the trunk show are available for purchase for $5.50.  To learn more about Rebecca Bryan, visit her website – BryanHouseQuilts.

The 8th Zoom meeting of the Bloomington Normal Modern Quilt Guild was called to order by President Nancy Powell.  53 members and 12 guests were in attendance.  (Noemi can give you these numbers)

Poll 1 – What do you know about temperature quilts? 

1. I have one or are making one now.        6 members      12%
2. I have seen some but haven’t decided to make one.        12 members   24%
3. I have heard of them but would like more information.    17 members   35%
4. A temperature quilt refers to one that is light weight  for warmer months and heavy for colder months                     0 members     0%
5. I have not heard of temperature quilts.        14 members   29%

PROGRAM :  BNMQG member, Kathy Cook, presented a program on temperature quilts.  A temperature quilt is a quilt that records temperature for 1 year using 365 or 366 blocks in colors that are chosen to represent a specific temperature. 

After the program, there was a question and answering period.  A page of resources for temperature quilts is available in the members area on the website Continue reading →

Hi Modern Quilters,
Welcome to FALL as it adds a brand new color palette to the world around us.  Do you have a favorite color palette?  A palette of color adds the WOW to a quilt.  It sets the mood and tone of your quilt.  This is even more exciting when choosing your own colors for your own quilt.  It’s especially fun when designing and creating a Temperature Quilt as you will find out this month with the presentation at our October meeting.  It’s going to be a HOT presentation even if it’s cold outside!

This month we welcome our own Kathy Cook who will explain Temperature Quilts!  Come and find out what that is, where to get information to make your own, and be inspired to be creative.  There will be a special exhibit of Temperature Quilts at QuiltCon 2022.  I know I’m looking forward to learning more about Kathy’s quilt and many other, very different Temperature Quilts.  It might even add a little science into the mix???  So be COOL, come to the Zoom meeting and invite a friend or two.  This event is FREE to BNMQG members.  Guests are welcome to join us for $5.50. Find guest tickets on our website – BNMQG.org .

The travel isn’t long.  The weather isn’t a problem.  ZOOM is really easy (just ask anyone who has attended our meeting via zoom).  Lisa B. does an amazing job of running the behind-the-scenes stuff.   AND if you still haven’t joined us for a meeting via zoom and you’re still intimidated by the technology, email me.  We can have a private zoom (it probably would only take 10-15 minutes) in the days before the meeting so you can see how easy it is.  We want all of our members to be able to attend our meetings and it’s so much fun to see each other’s gorgeous faces. Continue reading →

Temperature quilts are becoming more popular every year.  Did you know there will be a special temperature quilt exhibit at Quilt Con 2022? There’s plenty of time to make one and enter!

We’ll explore these topics as we view over 40 beautiful temperature quilts.

• choosing colors and a block
• finding data
• unique layout
• helpful resources to get you started

Come to the BNMQG October Zoom meeting and be inspired to make your own quilt!

As always BNMQG members are free, non-members can purchase a guest ticket using the PayPal button below for $5.50.

Hope to see you on October 27th At 6pm CST. 

Nationally known quilter, teacher, and author Rebecca Bryan will be giving a lecture/trunk show at the November 24, 2020 BNMQG meeting on Zoom at 6 pm.  This meeting and trunk show is FREE to all members.  Guest tickets for non-members are available for purchase ($5.50) using the PayPal button below.

$5.50 Guest Ticket for Rebecca Bryan’s Trunk Show at BNMQG November 24, 2020

WORKSHOP info

Rebecca Bryan will be doing a Modern Triangle workshop for the Bloomington Normal Modern Quilt Guild on Saturday, November 21, 2020 via ZOOM.  Develop your design savvy through this fun, interactive virtual workshop. You’ll learn to design your own triangle blocks by experimenting with graphic elements such as line, texture, scale, and framing. She will teach you two of her “go to” quilting techniques while sewing through experiments in graphic design.

Each attendee may choose to work with either or all of the three types of triangles: equilateral, right triangle (also known as the Half Triangle), or isosceles.  You may want to purchase her book but it is not required for the workshop.

View the Supplies and prep .

At the time of this post, there are 4 seats available for this WORKSHOP via Zoom and it is open to

• BNMQG Members –
  • $46.50 (PayPal)
  • or send a check for $45 with a note to BNMQG, PO Box 154, Normal, IL  61761
• Non-Members  $60.00  (PayPal only)

Enrollments will be taken in the order they are received. What happens if the workshop is sold out?  Send an email to BNMQG@hotmail.com and ask to be put on the waitlist for the workshop.  You will be notified if a seat becomes available.

Purchase a ticket to the workshop below:

BNMQG Member Ticket BNMQG Member Ticket for Rebecca Bryan’s WORKSHOP on November 21, 2020

Non-Member Ticket Non-Member Ticket for Rebecca Bryan’s WORKSHOP on November 21, 2020

Next meeting – September 22, 2020 – zoom opens at 5:30pm CST

Hi Modern Quilters,
Did you attend The Great Wisconsin Quilt Show virtually?  This Quilt Show was awesome as well as free! 😊 Wisconsin PBS did a fabulous job of providing a quality quilt show experience, great lectures, vendors, and more.  Bill Kerr had a lecture on great Quilt finishes;  Weeks Ringle- Palette Building: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why;  Tammie Bowser – How to Sew Art the Easy Way (making portraits); Lori Kennedy – Easy Machine Quilting, and Judy GAUTHIER – Sensational Quilts for Scrap Lovers were among my favorites.

I hope you’ve joined the Take a Chance Challenge.  The photos are starting to show up and the projects are awesome.  So glad to see that last month’s talk has been embraced by members of the challenge.  There are some great interleaving examples making their way to the Shutterfly Challenge site.  We’ll share the projects at the next meeting and roll for the requirements of our challenge for October.  It’s not too late to join the challenge but time is running out.  Signup, joining the challenge website, and posting of photos must be done by 2 pm on Tuesday, September 22.  The grand prize is $250 right now.

The rest of 2020 is full of great programs and we’re starting to book into 2021.  Will we ever meet in person again?  I hope so but we’re taking advantage of opportunities to book speakers we never could have if we had them come in person.  Hopefully you feel like you’re in good hands to continue to be inspired and quilt on!

This event is FREE to BNMQG members.  Guests are welcome to join us for $5.50.

Guest Tickets for this event are no longer available. 

Continue reading →