Thursday, July 21, 2011

Ready for MQG

Our new Des Moines chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild is off to a good start. The third meeting is today! Oh boy!

I'll be taking these along with me to distribute to members who signed up for the "Habitat" fabric challenge. Fabrics were mailed to me (as program/education co-chair), for free, from Free Spirit. I cut up and sorted them. Each bundle is six fat eights of fabric that challenge-takers will sew into a small quilt. Only solids can be added to these prints. Challenge finishes are due in September.

Don't these fabric bundles look tempting?

Our chapter's July MQG challenge is to make a name tag. For inspiration, I had only to look to my bookshelf for a long-ago purchased Carol Doak book, "Easy Paper-Pieced Miniatures" (no longer in print). I even have foundation papers to go along with the book.

I've never foundation paper-pieced such tiny pieces. It took much longer to sew than the size might suggest. To "finger press" as I went along I used a wallpaper seam roller to flatten the seams. It works great!

I chose a font and printed my full name on paper. I traced it and added a free-hand drawing of a palm tree. Then, I hand embroidered all of it, finishing that part by coloring the tree with Derwent Coloursoft pencils. Of course wouldn't you expect my name tag to have something related to palm trees?

Since I don't like to wear a name tag that hangs around my tummy, I sewed a short length of grosgrain ribbon to the back, and on the opposite side a hook and eye for ease in putting on/taking off.

I'm all set for our meeting. If you're in the area, I hope you'll join us!

7 comments:

  1. Linda I love your name tag - it's so you! - and I love the idea of a shorter ribbon with the hook closure. My guild ordered, many years ago, name tags with magnet backs and I still have it. But I'm switching guilds in October (going from evening to daytime) and I want to make one. You've given me a great idea! blessings, marlene

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  2. Linda, your name tag is great and I love the tiny triangles and of course the palm tree! Enjoy the evening meeting in your group.
    Edith

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  3. Love your name tag! The fabric challenge looks like fun!

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  4. Just have to ask...Have you seen the latest quilters gadget to make your block seams lay flat? I went to a local Quilt Guild show a few weeks ago and one of the vendors was selling a small wooden mallet to smack your seams with. I thought I would fall over. I know this is not a new technique. Seamstress' have been using a wooden clapper to hit thier seams with for ever. The part that got me was a small wooden mallet (kind of like you would use to crack crabs with) was actively being marketed as a quilters tool. I'm sure any little wooden mallet would do...just like your wallpaper roller, which I have seen for sale at quilt shows for twice the price as it is at the hardware store.

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  5. I wish I could be there. I was so excited to join. But Lincoln, NE was calling....

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