This month’s meeting (Thursday 9/12) is a busy one!

Local quilt artist Lorie McCown will be presenting a trunk show of her art quilts. If you saw her quilt exhibit at the Fredericksburg Library last year, or follow her online, you know we’re in for a treat! Here are just a few pieces to whet your appetites. Her use of color and the way she incorporates recycled fabrics into her pieces make for some powerful work.

The Block of the Month, led by Linda, is due at the meeting. This is our first paper-pieced block. It’s always fun to see the different colorways people use, and one lucky winner will get to take home all the entries.

We have a booth at the Expo at the end of the month, where we will spread the word about our guild, raffle off our lovely quilt (a fundraiser for our guild), and display members’ modern quilts. If you haven’t yet signed up for a shift at the booth, there are still a few openings, and volunteers get free admission to the show! Sign up here.

The raffle quilt is here:

If you’re planning to have a quilt in our exhibit, remember to include an artist’s statement (short and sweet is fine) and a hanging sleeve. We can’t wait to see all the quilts you’ve created over the last year or two. You can drop them off at this week’s meeting or at the sew-in on Saturday, or contact us at fredericksburgmqg@gmail.com to make other arrangements.

Finally, we have reserved the library on Saturday, September 14, from 9:00 to 4:00, for a sew-in. Drop in and out as your schedule allows, bring your sewing machine, handwork, or whatever you’d like to work on, and meet and greet other members. See you there!

A few updates as we look forward to our June meeting on the 13th!

First, did you know that the Guild hosts virtual sew-ins twice a week? They are scheduled for Mondays from 1-3 and Thursdays from 6:30 -8:30. Log on and join the discussion for advice, feedback, quilty news, and anything else that comes to mind. You can work on whatever you like, handwork or machine. Drop in and out as your schedule allows. All members are welcome. Members, check your email for the link.

Second, don’t forget to bring your first Art Block of the month (BOM) to the meeting. This is the project that Carolyn is leading for us, based on Jane Davila’s The Art Quilt Workbook (available at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library). The Art BOM should be 9 x 12 using your choice of theme and color palette. You may make more than one piece if you desire. We would like to display your creations at the quilt expo this September.

Attached are examples made by Carolyn using the theme of flowers and colors found in nature.

Finally, we have plans afoot to create a modern quilt to raffle off at the expo. This is a fundraiser for the guild as well as a fun group project. We are basing it on this design by SwirlyGirl Quilts, but with our own color palette. We plan to start working on it at our in-person sew-in on Saturday, June 22, from 9:00-4:00 at the Salem Church Library. You can work on whatever you’d like at the sew-in, but we would love you to join us in creating it. More details at the meeting and at the sew-in!