Inspirational Quilting program wraps up

It's a wrap! The year-long Inspirational Quilting (IQ) program at the Choo Choo Quilters Guild concluded at the November guild meeting. The survey that was distributed to guild members indicated an overall positive response to the presentations, topics, activities and the Continuing Education exercises.

The Inspirational Quilting program presenters and coordinators are (from left):
Veronica Hofman-Ortega, Cristy Clark, Vista Mahan and Ginny Minninger (not pictured).

The textbook for the program, "Fearless Design for Every Quilter," by Lorraine Torrence and Jean B. Mills, proved to be an excellent resource and reference. "I loved the Fearless Design book—especially the introduction. There was so much positive encouragement," said a guild member. "The Elements and Principles of Design were listed and well explained... a good reminder of the essentials of good design," commented another. And, another expressed, "I finally “got” the concepts of value and symmetry."

Of the 13 topics found in the Fearless Design book, eleven were chosen and presented as part of the IQ program. Additional topics—Innovative Piecing, Threadwork and Surface Design—were added by the coordinators to provide information and demonstrations on these popular techniques.

The IQ presenters, Cristy Clark, Veronica Hofman-Ortega, Vista Mahan and Ginny Minninger were graciously applauded and thanked for all their efforts and hard work. Looking ahead to 2012, suggestions for program topics were discussed at the guild meeting and a list of the team assignments were distributed.

Show and Tell

A Halloween wall hanging comes out of the UFO pile.

A reminder that Cuddle Quilts, the guild's community service project, are due in January, 2012. Please complete as many as possible and bring them to the January guild meeting.

Cuddle Quilts made with blocks that came from IQ Continuing Education exercises.

Happy Holidays to one and all!

From the Choo Choo Quilters

Borders and Bindings program in October

Do you have any UFOs (unfinished objects) that need some inspiration to finish? Perhaps you have sewn rows of quilt blocks together and are stumped for ideas for a border. Bring any UFOs and works-in-progress to the October 17 Choo Choo Guild meeting for a program on "Borders and Bindings" and you might go home with a great idea or two to finish your quilt. In preparation, read Chapter 9 of the "Fearless Design" book, bring your sketchbook and something for Show and Tell to the meeting.

Then, on the heels of our Monday quilt guild meeting, is the slide show and presentation by world renown color expert, Kaffe Fassett, on Tuesday at 7 pm at the Girls Preparatory School, Chattanooga. Kaffe is a master of color and his presentation is sure to leave you with loads of inspiration and ideas on color, quilting and patchwork. If you don't have your ticket yet, visit www.bigsurarts.com to secure a seat. This is Kaffe's first time visiting the Chattanooga area, so let's give him a warm quilters welcome.

What could be better than two back-to-back evenings seeing and talking about our favorite topic—quilts??

Threadwork program

Threadwork program at August meeting.

In addition to "collecting" fabric, quilters also love collecting thread... at quilt shows, sewing centers, quilt shops, on line, or wherever they come across it. Self-proclaimed master thread collector, Veronica Hofman-Ortega, will be presenting the program on "Threadwork" at the Choo Choo Quilters August 15 guild meeting. The program also includes using photos as inspiration and working in a series.

The reading assignment from the "Fearless Design for Every Quilter" textbook is Chapter 7, "Using Images from Your Surroundings," and "Working in a Series" on pages 80-89.

Members are also reminded to bring items for Show and Tell and any completed quilt blocks for the Cuddle Quilt workshop scheduled for Saturday, August 27.

Texture, Harmony and Variety

Raise your Quilting IQ at the March 21 meeting of the Choo Choo Quilters. The program will cover more Elements and Principles of Design. A re-cap of previous topics from the Inspiration Quilting program, along with Continuing Education Exercises (homework), can be found by clicking the Inspirational Quilting tab at the top of the page.

For Monday's meeting, bring your homework exercises on Balance and Symmetry, your sketchpad and pencil.

Choo Choo Quilters membership dues are $20 for the year.

Balance and Symmetry in quilts

The Design Principles of Balance and Symmetry was the topic of the Inspirational Quilting program at the February Choo Choo Quilters guild meeting.

A study of asymmetrical balance was conducted using black squares of different sizes on a white background. Grayscale versions of painted masterpieces by Seurat, Vermeer and Turner (found in the Fearless Design for Every Quilter textbook) illustrated the concept of value and its influence and effect on asymmetrical compositions.

Using magazine photos of vintage and modern quilts, guild members identified the types of symmetry used in the quilts and discussed balance in both symmetrical and asymmetrical compositions.

An Amish quilt illustrates translational symmetry.

Cuddle Quilt Program

Guild members also celebrated the success of the 2010 Cuddle Quilt Quest. Large, zippered tote bags with quilt designs by contemporary quilters were awarded to the 18 members who produced the record-breaking 73 quilts. Thank you to Deb and Veronica for spearheading this effort! Volunteers are needed to issue patterns for monthly quilt blocks to continue this endeavor.

Linda's quilted Valentine she made for her husband.
See what chocolate can inspire??

Show and Tell

Linda showed us a Valentine quilt that she made for her husband. Her Team was also responsible for the meeting refreshments. Here is Linda's recipe for Ricotta Cake.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 13" x 9” pan.

Step #1: Use 1 box lemon cake mix, Duncan Hines ‘pudding in mix’ or similar type. Mix according to package directions. Put in pan and set aside.


Step #2: Beat together the following until smooth:
2 lb. tub Ricotta Cheese
3 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup sugar

Spoon mixture on top of cake batter. Bake approx. 1 hour. Serve with cool whip or sift powdered sugar on top.

Linda’s note: I made this once with a coconut cake mix and it was just as tasty. I bet any flavored cake mix would be good: strawberry, cherry, apple spice, etc. Oh, and chocolate too!

Laying the groundwork for Inspirational Quilting

With guidance from Lorraine Torrence's book, Fearless Design for Every Quilter, we'll begin discussion on the Principles of Design at the February Choo Choo Quilters guild meeting. At last month's meeting, we tapped into our right brain and began to train our eyes to see and work with line and shape. We'll continue to explore the relationship of these design elements and the Principles of Design as they apply to our quiltmaking.

For Monday's meeting, bring:
:: your sketchbook
:: the Fearless textbook
:: a glue stick

NOTE to new guild members: If your photo is not in the 2010 Choo Choo directory, please bring a favorite quilt to the February 21 guild meeting for a photo.

Just for Fun
Want to see if you are left brain or right brain dominant? Try these creativity quizzes. You might be surprised.

Right vs. Left Quiz 1
Right vs. Left Quiz 2



image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/vaxzine/2278300537/

"Inspirational Quilting" program begins in January

Most of us call ourselves "quilters," a title that conveys humbleness and modesty. We make careful selections and sometimes struggle with confidence about color, balance or design—yet we choke on taking credit for accomplishing something "artistic" when the work is completed. We often forget that through our quilted creations, we do tap into the “artist” within ourselves—either consciously or subconsciously.

The Choo Choo Quilt Guild is launching a program in 2011 to change some of this. The yearlong program is called, "Inspirational Quilting," and the goal for the monthly exercises planned is to learn to appreciate the marriage of the art and the heart that is enveloped into even the simplest of our projects. For centuries, our fore-mothers knew that quiltmaking served as an artistic outlet. Let us again be reminded of that.

The program begins Monday, January 17 with a lesson called “Learning to See Again.” For Monday’s meeting, please bring:

• a 9” x 12” (or larger) sketchpad,
• a pencil for drawing,
• your copy of "Fearless Design for Every Quilter" by L. Torrence and J. B. Mills; read the "Laying the Groundwork" section for the meeting,
  
• a willingness to relax, experiment, learn and grow.

Rest assured that what is learned through this series of programs will be applied to whatever style of quilting is your personal preference. Be prepared to check self consciousness at the door and surprise yourself! Come ready to experiment, play and learn.