Last September I attended the inaugural meeting of the Oxfordshire Modern Quilt Guild. Whilst it's not particularly local to me, it was a chance to meet and sew with other people who shared a love of modern quilting. I had been thinking about setting up a group in the Midlands for a while so when I saw a post on IG I jumped at the chance.
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| Best in Show bling Pieced and quilted by Katherine Jones Chigwell, Tasmania, Australia Tasmanian Modern Quilt Guild |
Last Saturday we had our March meeting and of course the topic of QuiltCon came up. I had dearly hoped to attend this year and we had even tentatively planned a family holiday around it but then the girls decided to go to school ..... oh well there's always next year and the year after that and the year after that .....
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| Group and Bee: 1st Place Direction Optional Pieced by Stephanie Ruyle, Leanne Chahley, Karen Foster, Hillary Goodwin, Marci Debetaz, MR Charbonneau, Felicity Ronaghan, Debbie Jeske, Anne Sullivan, Kari Vojtechovsky Quilted by Christine Perrigo Denver, CO, United States Denver Metro Modern Quilt Guild |
I have really enjoyed reading some accounts of QuiltCon and thought I would share the links here for you if you care to read them. Also please let me have your links if you have read a good account.
Yvonne at Quilting Jet Girl
Kitty at Night Quilter
Jo at My Bear Paw
Jessica at Quilt Habit
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| Small Quilts: 2nd Place Cursive Pieced and quilted by Paige Alexander Easley, South Carolina, United States Greenville Modern Quilt Guild |
Whilst, of course, the event is all about the quilts the overriding feeling I get for the event is the people. We are such a diverse group of people spread far and wide geographically so to be able to meet and mingle with so many like minded people must be amazing. We have lots of Quilt Shows in the UK, see here for a list for this year, but nothing to rival QuiltCon in terms of the modern aspect. Excitement is starting to build about Festival of Quilts in August, entry forms are out, workshop and lecture booking will soon open. For the first time last year they had a Modern Category which was great. I am hoping more people will enter this category this year and make it a permanent fixture. I wrote a review about FoQ last year which you can read here.
The other Quilt Show with a dedicated Modern Category is the British Quilt & Stitch Village. I visited for the first time last and have decided to enter a modern quilt this year. It is based on the block I designed for the Cloud9 New Block Blog Hop last year.
The top is done but has yet to get quilted - I am hoping to get this on the frame this weekend with a view to quilting it next week. In other MQG news I am off on retreat! At FoQ last year I met a lady who had pattern tested for me and she is involved with the Jersey MQG. She invited me to their retreat and that is where I am headed next week. I am very excited to be going and looking forward a wonderful few days of sewing and quilting amongst others.
The pictures in this post come from the MQG website where there is a full list of all the winners. Of course, winning is not everything and quilt shows would not happen with people entering their quilts. Jess, from Elven Garden Quilts, recently wrote on the subject, On quilts shows and ribbons, wihch is really worth a read.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Great post Abi. I just loved Bling and everything about it. Normally the best in show isn't the best for me but this in my view a worthy winner. Yes I also dream of Quiltcon but it will be a few years for me unfortunately and possibly you with the harsh reality of school holidays but that said Quilt Con is usually around half term. I'm looking forward to seeing your new quilt and I will be at Uttoxeter just not sure which day. Oh I'm thinking hard about doimg a quilt for FoQ..... Have a great time on Jersey. Detailed post on that please!!!!!
ReplyDeleteBling is quite a quilt! I'd seen it previously on Jet Girl's blog post. Enjoy your retreat this weekend and good luck finishing off your modern quilt entry this next week.
ReplyDeleteOh how wonderful be going on retreat next week! I hope you have a wonderful time and I am looking forward to seeing how your quilt based on your block from last year comes together. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great quilt design from the blog hop, Abigail! Have a great time at the retreat! Thanks so much for sharing Cursive!
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm jealous that you're going on retreat. :) I can completely relate to big quilty goals getting pushed back year after year because of Life financial needs - been intending to get a longarm machine since 2011, but colleges, cross-country moving, health issues, major car bills have all pushed it back and back. I do believe this is the year it will finally happen, though. I hope you can get to Quilt Con soon.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your retreat Abigail! Lucky you to have all those Quiltcon quilts coming locally. I know they are going to Melbourne - I have my fingers crossed for Perth.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the British Quilt & Stitch Village show. Your quilt looks stunning! Can't wait to see it completed.
ReplyDeleteYour quilt looks amazing! Have fun at your retreat, it is always nice to get together with other quilters!
ReplyDeleteI love Bling too. I don't know of any modern quilt guilds in the north east, you are so lucky to have one in travelling distance, although it's a good travel if you are in the Midlands, not sure if I would do it. Lot's of info in this post Abigail, I had a great time clicking on the links, and found out so much I didn't know about. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I can get to Birmingham in August, if I do it would be great to meet up.
ReplyDeleteOh how lovely , a quilting retreat . Now if carlsberg did quilting .....
ReplyDeleteit's a shame none of my children live in Oxford any more , I could have popped into your guild
Have fun on your retreat! I can't wait to see how your quilt turns out based on your design from last year. That's very exciting!
ReplyDeleteI don't know where in the Midlands you are Abigail, but we have a guild! it's the East Midlands Modern Quilt Guild and you would be extremely welcome!
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