Am I a joiner?

As I sat at the TMQG table last Saturday at the Quilter's Guild of East Texas quilt show I was tickled by the irony. Me, who has never been a "joiner", recruiting others to join the TMQG. *giggle* I enjoyed visiting with the ladies who stopped by the table. We were all on a "fabulous quilts high" with extremely beautiful quilts everywhere we looked. Heck, I even enjoyed visiting with the guy who told me about his gallbladder and how his bad one reinforced his belief that he has native American blood. Don't ask...it's a very long story.

So, about this joiner thing... Yeahhhh, I don't usually. I'm not sure if it stems from my aversion to taking on responsibilities, or my desire to always get my way in all things. Neither of those traits work well in a group setting. I get frustrated because it's so obvious to me that my way is always so right! Hahaha! I started thinking about our current members and who needs to change to better fit what I think they should be in the group. There's Rhonda, the president. The organizer. Always planning and doing. Ugh! She needs to lighten up! Well, wait. Better rethink that since nothing fun would happen if somebody didn't plan it. How about Kate? I'd change her name to Pollyanna because she's always cheerful and positive. Gag!!! But, that sure did help when I messed up my gravity quilt cutting. Hmmmm. Maybe having a Pollyanna isn't so bad. And as I went down the list of members I realized we all bring different strengths to the table, and different talents. Individually we're decent folks with different paths, but together we're a force of creative nature! My favorite trait of the members of the TMQG is their patience with my kind of crazy. 😁 Whew!!!

That brought me back to me. (But, it's always all about me!) I was welcomed into this group at a time when I needed a new interest and new friends. I've made some lovely friends, learned so much I didn't even know I didn't know, and had great fun. I look forward to time spent with (as my family calls you) my "quilty buddies." The TMQG just gets better and better! If anyone reading this is considering being a part of TMQG but afraid you might not fit in, visit us three times and then decide. Because, we've been waiting for you!

-Angie Clemons

Choose Kind...

Choices

We all make a bazillion choices every day. From the mundane (what's for breakfast?) to the important (is this fabric best for my next quilt?) to the life altering (how do we treat this cancer?). Sometimes there are consequences to our choices. As members of an organization or group it's imperative to remember that choices made regarding the group will affect the entire membership. There's no room for personal agendas, negativity, or selfish decisions. The Tyler Modern Quilt Guild has made choices we can live with...we choose inclusion, we choose fun, we choose kind.

It's important to be kind. Not just to others but to ourselves. I don't know about y'all but I can be hard on myself. I have a hard time living up to my own expectations. It spills over into my quilting and I start judging my own work based on how I see the beautiful projects my friends do. It's true that I'm not as skilled as some others, but it's also true that I really enjoy the creative process. Completing a project gives me the feels in my soul. I will continue quilting and sewing. I do it just for me. I can already see improvement since joining the Guild. Turns out those ladies so much more skilled than I are also teachers, helpers, and morale boosters! Yea!!!!

The TMQG is a safe place where we can learn, practice, experiment, and grow as quilters and sewists. Don't let the word "modern" throw you off your path to this group. We support and promote ALL styles and types of quilting. We encourage you to visit if you want to spend some creative time with like-minded people. For instance, you may want to be a member of the Big Guild but can't take off work for morning meetings...join us! Several of our members belong to both. You interested in art quilts? Cool! You teach us what you know about art quilting, or we'll add you to that bee and you can learn with us! In addition to quilting I've learned about bag making and how to use my serger for making garments. 

Oh, by the way, I may need to borrow some matches to light a fire under my...uh....self so I'll start sewing these gravity quilt blocks! Ack!!! 

Until next time, happy quilting!

-Angie Clemons

Choose kind.

Small Business Saturday

Tomorrow is Small Business Saturday. Lets take this opportunity to tell our local stores how much we do appreciate them and how much we count on them being there. Here are a few. Go show them your love tomorrow.

Tyler and Longview

A Nimble Thimble  FB—https://www.facebook.com/ANimbleThimble/  WEB—http://www.animblethimble.com

Sharman’s Sewing Center  FB—https://www.facebook.com/SharmansSewingCenter/

WEB—http://www.sharmanssewingcenter.com/  - LONGVIEW and TYLER

Crafts & Quilting Etc. FB—https://www.facebook.com/rrshopgirl/

WEB—https://craftsandquiltsetc.com/

Athens

Needle Niche FB—https://www.facebook.com/pages/Needle-Niche/148342788585228

ADDRESS—905 E. Tyler St.,Athens, Texas 75751 - Phone (903) 670-3434

Mineola

Stitchin’ Heaven FB—https://www.facebook.com/stitchinheavenquiltshop

WEB—https://stitchinheaven.com/

I am sure I have missed a few so feel free to add in the comments local stores that we can support instead of going to the big boxes. 

Sewing Yoga - by Angie Clemons

Yo Quilt friends,

Pretty sure I've created a new form of yoga at my sit-down quilting machine. I get on a roll and instead of stopping to reposition my hands I find myself strrrretched across the table and quilt (which is not what I'm supposed to be doing). If I drop my scissors I bend and stretch trying to reach them without having to get outta my chair. The power button is at the back of the machine. Being short means I get another stretch in my routine as I reach for the button. I know I can't reach it with my left hand but I try it every stinkin' time, so I have to go at it again with the right. Grrr! The bobbin is located under the machine table so I almost stand on my head to put in a new bobbin. The end of the quilt yoga routine is determined by whether or not my thread tension was good or a struggle. When it's good I end my session with a peaceful "sighhhhhh". When it's bad I might chunk my quilt, my chakras, and whatever else is nearby across the room.

Rhonda Chapman taught a Bionic Gear Bag workshop last week and it was great! What a good, patient teacher!! And, wow, did she ever need that patience. Ha! People keep asking if I'm going to make another. Maybe someday, but not today. It's a lot more work than the wristlet and placement bags I usually make, but way more cool. 

Serger workshop is Saturday, October 27. Can't wait! We also have a couple of charity sew days coming up to work on the quilt for Quiltcon. We need all hands on deck to knock out that bad boy. Annnnnd, the monthly meeting is set for the 4th thurs (October 25th) where Kate and Rhonda are planning to demonstrate how to make zipper pouches in the hoop on their embroidery machines. Boggles my mind!

Fall is finally here! Whooooooop! Is there anything better than working on a quilt and sipping a cuppa hot tea (or coffee or wine) when the weather is cool? And I'm my case, while also watching college football on tv. Bliss.

Join us on Sew Day or as meeting!

TMQG Summer Activities - by Angie Clemons

Hello! This has been a HOT summer, but not as hot as the sewing, embroidery, and quilting machines belonging to our members! The crazy high temps have made it ideal to stay in the air conditioning to sew and create. The TMQG has kept us inspired by hosting Sew Days, workshops, and providing great instruction in guild programs.

This week, Susan Gutierrez (president of TMQG) did a great workshop on making a jelly roll rug. Participants purchased the pattern by Roma Lambson of RJ Designs and were guided and assisted by Susan.

Next month member Rhonda Chapman will do the same with the bionic bag (purchase pattern here).  

Vice President of Programming Teri Morris lined up some great programs this summer which included a trunk show of fantastic quilts by member Beckey Prior , and instruction for a simple and quick method of binding quilts presented by member Kat Drinkwater (founder of Covered In Love quilt charity benefitting patients in hospice at UTHealth/Tyler). Member Melanie Dossey gave instruction and tips for free motion quilting on our domestic sewing machines, while this week Tricia Harvey (vice president) gave a tutorial on small piecing for creating the QuiltCon Charity Quilt as well as a presentation on what constitutes Modern Quilting. 

Several "end of the year" events are being scheduled, including our Christmas gathering. This year each member will make a decorative holiday pillow for a gift exchange.  It's always amazing to see what our talented members create. We will also have some business to tend to with the annual election of officers for the Guild. Anyone interested in taking a leadership role should contact one of the current officers to be included on the ballot. (Contact and membership information is listed on this blog.) We welcome input, fresh ideas, constructive criticism, and mostly... participation.

I must say, as a beginning quilter, that I have received so much instruction from the many knowledgeable and experienced quilters in the TMQG, as well as unlimited encouragement. Sew Days are my favorite days of the month. There is something so comforting, so inspiring, and so downright FUN in sewing and creating with like-minded people. We welcome new members as well as visitors to all meetings, sew days, and special events like workshops and classes (some include a small fee to cover expenses).

Now, don't let the term "modern" throw you off. We mostly prefer modern fabrics and patterns, but we occasionally throw in some traditional quilting as well as applique and art quilting. We also like to create other crafty items like bags, pillows, and other items. We promote and encourage sewing and creating in whatever form you prefer. At the risk of being repetitive...it's sew FUN! Don't take my word for it - come sew with us. I warn you - it's addictive!

Sincerely,
Angie Clemons
Member since 2017

TMQG booth at Quilters Guild of East Texas Quilt Show

The Quilter's Guild of East Texas so kindly allowed us to have a booth this year at the 2018 Azalea Quilt Show.  We were so excited to have the space to promote our guild and let quilter's know about the modern quilters in town.

 We decorated our booth with mini and small quilts made by members of our guild and with a few lawn chairs from my porch. :)  
There was a wonderful turnout for the quilt show and our volunteers stayed busy all day Friday and Saturday talking to people about modern quilting and the Modern Quilt Guild.  Thanks so much to Amanda Hines and Heather Grant for the promotional materials from the MQG for our booth!!  We gave out tons of cards and got so many emails to add to our newsletter list that we ran out of spots on the paper to write them!

Thanks to all the volunteers from our guild who manned the booth to promote our group.  And a special thanks to Ruben Gutierrez, Ben Harvey and David Harvey for helping with set up and take down.

Quiltcon 2018 Pasadena California

Quiltcon 2018 has come and gone. Our guild was lucky to have four members who were able to go.   And of course, our first Quiltcon Charity Quilt.

I think each of us noticed different things about Quiltcon this year.  Like the increase in big stitch hand quilting, the use of variegated threads for quilting, and even some quilts that were tied.  I was able to go to a leadership panel where I learned so much about other guilds.  And as usual, the classes were awesome.

Here are just a few quilts that I particularly enjoyed.  I hope I have the credit page for each quilt and I will post those as well.  For more Quiltcon quilts, please check out https://www.quiltcon.com/.

 I didn't get the credit page for this lovely tied quilt.  So sorry to the maker.

 I think my very favorite was the "I am Enough" quilt by Jessica Levitt.  It's a sentiment most of us need to hear but never do.  We need to practice telling ourselves this as well as telling others.