Thirty-one people gathered for the monthly meeting of the Central Florida Modern Quilt Guild on Saturday, November 8 at New Life Christian Church in Wildwood.
President Lynette K opened the meeting with a welcome and reminder of our purpose statement:
“The Guild supports and encourages the growth and development of modern quilting through art, education, and community.”
Membership Chair Dee A introduced our three visitors.
Treasurer Sandi K provided an updated account balance and explained that we are transitioning to budgeting by the fiscal year rather than the calendar year.
President Lynette brought up the topic of dues. The MQG is increasing dues by 10% this year. She proposed that we increase our chapter dues to $60 to ensure that we raise enough funds to cover our expenses. In discussion, it was pointed out that the chapter also now purchases liability insurance each year, where previously liability fees were added on to the cost of retreat, workshops, etc. Our chapter bylaws require that a change is proposed and is followed by a vote after 30 days. The vote will take place at the holiday party on December 13. Our current bylaws also require that dues are paid by December 31, so please come prepared to pay dues in December or to mail a check to Sandi (her address can be found in the directory on the Members Only page.)
Vice President Linda H announced that the Gainesville MQG is having an Airing of the Quilts on Saturday, November 15 from 10 am to 3 pm at the United Church of Gainesville.
Linda also explained that, because we don’t have any sew-ins during November or December, we will host two Sewacords – virtual sew-ins on Discord. These will be on Thursday, November 20 and Thursday, December 18 from 7 to 9 pm.
Sew-in Coordinators Donna P and Beth S announced that our next sew-in will be on Saturday, January 24 at the Pinellas Library (please note the location change.) No lunch will be provided, as there are many lunch options in the area. If you have any ideas for sew and learn topics or you’d like to present a short demo, please let Beth or Donna know. Donna suggested that perhaps some members might like to join in on Cassandra Beaver’s block of the month for 2026 and work on it at sew-ins next year.
Program Chair Mel T previewed upcoming programs: Dee A and Barb A will present Stash: A Quilter’s Legacy in January, and Mel will present Recycling and Upcycling in February. Please let Mel know if you have any ideas for future programs.
Mel also proposed that we consider participating in the Sumter County baby shower, an event that provides a variety of baby things to mothers in need. In the past we’ve donated baby quilts, and there was interest in participating again. Please bring completed baby quilts for donation or any other baby items (burp cloths, diaper bags, etc.) that you’d like to contribute to the January meeting. There is no size requirement for quilts.
Workshop Chair Jane G announced that there are no upcoming workshops, but a survey will be coming soon to gauge interests, spending limits, etc. for future planning purposes.
Retreat Coordinators Patti R and Judy D have 19 people signed up for this week’s Sleep at Home retreat at the Salvation Army in Lecanto. We will have access to the room from 8:30 am each morning until 8 pm. There will be a coffee maker, but please bring your own mug. Also, the quilt shop in Crystal River will be having a sale, so there may be some field trips there if there is interest!
Our retreat at Luther Springs will be held May 1 – 4, 2026.
Librarian Peggy L had lots of books and rulers available to check out. She reminded everyone that if you have a book or ruler you don’t plan to use, you can consider donating it to the library.
Peggy also has a variety of CFMQG logo merchandise for sale, or you can bring Peggy your own items to be embroidered for a fee. Several members have requested the logo on denim shirts, and she has asked that you bring her any items that you plan to take to QuiltCon by the end of January.
For our holiday party on December 13, please bring food to share and your own beverage. There is an optional gift exchange; if you would like to participate, bring a wrapped gift. There is a spending limit of $15 and homemade gifts are also acceptable.
Designing Through the Decades Challenge Reveal
Shloe K created this year’s challenge. She provided color palettes and design inspiration for each decade, beginning with the 1920s. Participants chose a decade and used at least one color from the palette to create their quilt. Thirteen quilts were revealed at the meeting.
Lynette K @netsyclay shared Flower Power Blast! Measuring 14.5 x 25″, it evoked the 1960s. Lynette was inspired by “flower power” and bright colors, and thought of the Smothers Brothers – “Sock it to me.” She used Carol Doak’s Easy Mix & Match Machine Paper Piecing book and Brenda Gael Smith’s Dreamlines, and walking foot quilted this on her Janome 9480 QC.
Beth S @blue_dragonfly5 revealed Genevieve, a 70 x 80″ quilt of original design. Beth chose the 1920s and was inspired by an advertisement for 1920s dresses. She used vintage linens that belonged to her mother and utilized raw edge fused applique to incorporate them into the quilt top. The quilt was custom longarmed by Teresa K and features a faced edge.
Beth S also shared Chicks, measuring 26 x 26″ and inspired by a newspaper article on a Peeps art contest. Peeps were introduced in 1953 for Easter. Beth used a nine-patch block design and raw edge fused applique. She quilted this with a walking foot on her domestic machine and finished the edge with a corded facing.
Betty S revealed Slinky, inspired by the 1940s. Betty thought of a Slinky, invented by Richard James and named by his wife Betty, in part because she and her husband are named Richard and Betty. Betty quilted this on her domestic machine.
Karen E @sunrayatplay created Ode to the 45. This quilt was also inspired by the 1940s and measures 75 x 75″. Karen’s design reflects the 45 record, which debuted in 1949. Colors from the 1940s used were “Canary” and “Poppy.” The “grooved out” curve within the circle is to represent the end of the 1960s, which is the decade in which the 45 peaked in popularity. The quilting motif is also a nod to 1960s’ “flower power.” Karen quilted this herself on her Baby Lock Tiara.
Sharon J @seamrippersharon shared Through Molly’s Eyes. Sharon created this 56 x 47.5″ quilt by adapting a Carolyn Friedlander pattern, Sessoms. This quilt honors Sharon’s grandmother, born in the 1920s. Sharon said, “This take on Art Deco architecture reminds me of her wisdom, her humor, her generosity, and her work ethic. She faced many challenges in life but didn’t let that define her. When she passed at 98, the world lost a beautiful soul.” Sharon modified the column on the left side of the quilt to represent the marquee of the Fargo Theatre, which she described as a quintessential symbol of the art deco movement. The theatre is still standing in Fargo, North Dakota today. Sharon quilted this on her Baby Lock Chorus.
Shloe K found inspiration for her quilt in a quilt made by her mother. Shloe shared that she was previously only aware of one of her mother’s quilts, but that she discovered recently that her cousin was in possession of another. When Shloe saw it, some memories of her mother making it resurfaced. When designing her challenge quilt, she put a modern twist on some of the elements in her mom’s quilt. Shloe’s quilt is pictured on the left, and her mother’s on the right.
Judy D shared a quilt top that she made from the Strips & Strings pattern, adapted by Debby Kratovil from a quilt by Mary Lee Bendolph, a Gee’s Bend quilter. Judy said that she enjoys piecing but finds quilting intimidating. However, she plans to tackle the quilting of this top herself.
Patti R @pattirose6 designed two quilts for the challenge. The first was Gatsby, a 44.5 x 38″ quilt inspired by a modified log cabin photo. Gatsby evokes Art Deco movement, which celebrates glamour and luxury using bold geometric patterns. She graphed her measurements and used fabric with gold metallic thread. Patti quilted this on her Janome M7 with a walking foot.
Patti’s second share was Retro Sunset, which measured 21 x 16″ and was inspired by the Bauhaus design movement, which was popular throughout the 1920s and was characterized by clean lines and geometric shapes. Patti used a combination of drunkard’s path templates and a drinking glass for the inset circles. She walking foot quilted it on her Janome M7.
Mary T created Psychedelic Trip. This 21 x 21″ quilt features raw edge applique and tulle overlay. Mary quilted this on her domestic machine.
Anne G @quiltingpickler made a 1970s-inspired table runner. It measured 50 x 16″ and she quilted it on her Janome Horizon 8200C. Anne thought of disco and lava lamps as she created this table runner.
Jane G @gonequiltinginflorida designed In Search of Peace. This quilt measures 36 x 42″ and is Jane’s first social commentary quilt. She chose the 1960s for inspiration and included golds and avocado colors. The peace symbol represented the tumultuous times of that period, and Jane felt that there are many parallels today. The broken and turned peace symbols on the quilt represent the fractured and complex nature of peace and the struggles to achieve the perfect ideal. This ideal, whole peace symbols, is represented in the background with hand-quilting and walking foot quilting.
Show and Tell
Anne G @quiltingpickler also shared two regular Show and Tell quilts. She created Rings Revival using Sew Kind of Wonderful’s Rings Revival pattern. This quilt measures 55 x 55″ and she quilted it on a Janome Versa 20.
Anne’s Shadow Play quilt measures 72 x 57″ and was made using Heather Black’s Grounded pattern from her book Design, Make, Quilt Modern. This was longarm quilted by Louise K.
Donna P @donnapquilts created a 62 x 80″ quilt as a gift for a rock climber. She used whole cloth for the background and created applique handholds and a rock climber. She quilted it on a Brother machine with a dual feed foot and used various weights and colors of gray to help add depth to the rock background.
Reminders
- Our next meeting is the holiday party on Saturday, December 13 at 10 am. Please bring a small dish to share; if participating in the gift exchange, also bring a small wrapped gift.
- No sew-in this month
- Sewacord – virtual Discord sew-in on Thursday, November 18 from 7 to 9 pm
centralfloridamqg.org 