Expo Excitement and More

We're less than a month away from the Northwest Quilting Expo so things are getting exciting! As the Pine Needle Quilt Shop is one of the drop off points for the quilts to be displayed at Expo our pile of entries grows daily. If you have registered a quilt to be displayed, hurry and bring it in to the shop any time before September 6th.

Check out our two workshops at the Expo as well:

This adorable Iron Caddy which is lined with heat resistant fabric so you can use it to carry your iron to classes and retreats and have your own personally ironing space as well (plus be able to pack up a still-warm iron when the day is done). Check out the Expo class listing for time and date and to sign up.

And, this sewing machine caddy organizer. The quilted pad includes handy pockets for thread snips, bobbins, marking pencils, etc. There's also a pin cushion so you always have a place to put you pins. Check out the Expo class listing for time and date and to sign up.

We had our Westside Modern Quilt Club reveal party Wednesday night. It was convivial as usual, and the quilts for our Transitions challenge are just spectacular. We can't wait for everyone else to see the exhibit at Expo. Club members were asked to reinterpret a vintage quilt (maybe a family heirloom) in a modern way. The variety both of starting points and interpretations is inspiring.

Our Fall catalog is just about ready to be mailed. We've got lots of new quilts and kits to entice our customers. Our new samples are already hanging in the shop and we're busily making kits to go with them.

Mark your calendars for Open House on September 15th and 16th! We'll have demos, our teachers will talk about their upcoming classes, and fabric designer Marcia Derse will be on hand Saturday to tell us about her fabulous new line of fabric, Treasure Hunt.

We can't wait to share a super September with everyone!

Westside Modern Quilt Club July 2017

Our meetings are pretty casual, and Geri seems to have a never ending cache of Oli and Lena jokes to start us off with a cheeky smile.

She also showed off some gorgeous digitally printed fabrics from P&B which we'll be restocking in September, and 100% wool dryer balls which are new to the store and perfect for fluffing up all your laundry without using dryer sheets. Geri also demonstrated that folding your quilts on the bias will help prevent creases and prolong the life of your quilts, especially when stored.

Next month (August) will be our annual pot luck party at the park, where we get to unveil our challenge quilts and turn them in for our exhibit at Northwest Quilt Expo, so of course the details are top of everyone's mind. The image below has all the important dates and information on what to submit and when. If you are submitting a quilt for our Transitions challenge, pick up an Expo catalog at the shop to fill out the entry form, or download it here. Make a copy of it before you mail it in to Expo and turn that copy in with your quilt. We'll be displaying a 14"x 20" (portrait orientation) "poster" of your inspiration quilt, block, or other image, next to your challenge quilt, so be sure to note the picture information below. Because there is no charge for this special exhibit unless you want your quilt judged, we ask that you have your poster created at COSTCO yourself and turn it in with your quilt (this simplifies coordination for us as well). Click the image to see it larger:

Business taken care of, it was on to the fun part. This month we were honored to have Annette McFarlane from our local Studio Art Quilt Associates pod bring a trunk show of 50 small art quilts for us to enjoy. These were small pieces which reflected the huge range of aesthetics and techniques employed by members of SAQA.

We're pretty confident in saying that everyone really enjoyed looking at all the pieces in the trunk show and learning the stories and techniques behind them. More than a few were inspired to go home and try some new things.

Show and Tell was lots of fun and very varied as well. 

Darlene brought a beautiful quilt that was a study in light and shadow:

She also surprised Geri with an oldie but goodie quilt she made from a Pine Needle kit designed by our dear friend and teacher, Sandi Rae.

Elisa brought two quilts. The first is a bubbly Christmas Wreath created to showcase equally exuberant long arm quilting inspired by a class with Rob Apell.

The second quilt is a vintage quilt she beautifully long arm quilted for a customer.

Virginia brought another quilt from her book on the US money system. This one is based on the African proverb that a bundle of sticks is stronger than a single stick. To reinforce the concept (and because she's runing out of time to complete the quilts before exhibiting them at Expo), she plans to have the quilt in a frame at the show so that anyone who wants can help quilt it.

Linda made this smallish quilt as a test for a king sized version she's making for her daughter as a wedding present.

Molly recently went on a knitting tour of Estonia and brought some of her purchases to share. The intricately patterned knits also inspired her to make a quilt with lots of mitten blocks, which she brought, in progress:

Diane showed us her exquisite Fire Island Hosta quilt from a Judy Neimeier pattern. You may recognize it as Dianne and quilter Kazumi Peterson won the President's award at the NW Quilt Guild show last spring. 

Debbie showed off a striking black, white, and red wall hanging of her own design...

and a black, grey, and chartreuse work in progress, hoping to get a little feedback on what direction to take it. We think she got some excellent suggestions.

Patty shared a sweet and simple grand baby quilt she's working on with a friend. The pink and gold is a little outside of her comfort zone, but we all think it's fabulous!

Janet made a super cute Elf Hat quilt, complete with ricrac in the border!

The prolific Deslie brought a box of roomy fabric bags she made to donate to Outside In. These will be great for filling with toiletries and needed items for the kids, and also uses up a bunch of fabric so Deslie can replenish her stash with new patterns.

Deslie also shared two fun quilts. We are partial to the one on the right which makes fabulous use of one of our favorite Anthology batiks.

Pat brought a quirky dimensional quilt which will be inspiration for another quilt she's been commissioned to make, based on the upcoming eclipse, and using a vintage bedcover from the Timberline Lodge on Mt Hood. We're curious to see where Pat's imagination takes her.

Remember that next month's meeting will be at Millennium Park, just down the street from The Pine Needle. If you've made one, bring your Transitions challenge quilts, the inspiration photo on poster board, and a copy of the entry form you will have already submitted to The Northwest Quilt Expo. See you then!

Westside Modern Quilt Club October 2016

Despite rainy weather we had a great turnout. Looks like after a few months off, we were all ready to get back into the swing of things again.

Speaking of the swing of things, we'd like to make charity sewing days, like the one Pam R hosted, a regular thing. The Pine Needle can accommodate small groups in the lounge and has started a sign up sheet for an informal sew afternoon that will meet prior to next month's meeting. Quilts made will be donated to CARES NW.

Also back for another year will be our challenge! At this year's Expo, our Tribal Winds exhibit was shown alongside an informative display of PNW Native American history and culture from the Historical Society. The combination was very well received, so we'd like to do something similar for 2017. Our theme will be "Then & Now" which we hope to pair with something from the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center. Lori and Lily have already volunteered to organize a field trip to the center for inspiration. Our challenge will be to take an older quilt -- perhaps from your family or collection -- and interpret it in a modern way. There will be no size restrictions. Stay tuned for more details in the new year.

Our speaker this month was Lori Friedman, who spoke about her work with the Oregon Quilt Project. The Project was started in 2009 by Martha Sparks and Bill Volkening and reorganized in 2012 as a project of the Willamette Heritage Center with a 10 year mission to train local museums on how to document the quilts in their collections, and to document quilts in private collections in Oregon.

Lori brought a fantastic crazy quilt she found at a thrift store many years ago and used it to illustrate how The Oregon Quilt Project documents things like the provenance of the quilt, it's design, colors, size, etc. Lori brought a few reference books and a collection of vintage fabrics and blocks which she uses to help date quilts. The documentation the Project creates gets added to the national Quilt Index, and given to the quilt's owner.

Lori strongly encourages everyone to label their quilts with at minimum a date and name for the benefit of future "quilt detectives" like her. If you would like to take it a step further and register a family quilt, or otherwise special quilt, with the Project, click on the link above and call the phone number to find out when and where the next documentation day is.

After Lori's engaging talk was Show and Tell. First up was Darlene who brought a quilt with a fun story. After purchasing fabric for a quilt, her daughter thought no, it needed to be a different color. Darlene used the rejected fabric to test out this Twisted Sister block, and wouldn't you know it, once finished her daughter loved the quilt and wants it back!

After investing much brain power into her Tribal Winds quilt, Deslie was ready for something quick and easy, so she used aboriginal Australian fabric recently added to her stash to add excitement to simple blocks and create a simple but satisfying quilt.

Cathy E brought a work in progress (WIP) which could be perfect for our upcoming Then & Now exhibit! She's taken a traditional basket block from a Baltimore Album quilt and deconstructed it. We know that Cathy does amazing machine quilting, so we are all waiting excitedly to see how she transforms those temporary blue likes with intense stitch.

Marjorie shared her beautiful Tribal Winds Heron quilt inspired by Susan Carlson's book. 

Linda B also shared her Tribal Winds quilt, this one inspired by petroglyphs in the Columbia Gorge.

Robin S shared her dramatic peacock quilt made with The Big Easy pattern for her daughter, initially as a wedding gift but sped up to become an engagement gift.

Finally, Lisa G brought her modern churn dash quilt which she had with her in order to find backing fabric, but was encouraged by the group to share!

Thank you to everyone for coming and sharing your inspiring work. We look forward to seeing everyone again in November -- on the last Wednesday of the month.

Westside Modern Quilt Club August 2016

Kristin here. Please accept my apologies for posting this so long after our August meeting and delicious pot luck. We've been busy at The Pine Needle getting ready for, and enjoying, our Open House, a visit from Mary Fons (just a few days away!), and Northwest Quilt Expo at the end of September! Phew, there's a lot going on!

Northwest Quilt Expo is a perfect segue into our August meeting wrap-up as the main focus of the meeting was the reveal of our Tribal Winds challenge quilts. Not everyone who has entered a quilt was present, and I did not get super photos, nor take good enough notes to credit each quilt accurately. So... I'll present an enticing peek at a handful of the challenge quilts, but encourage everyone who can to go to Expo on September 22, 23 or 24 to see ALL the Westside Modern Quilt Club's Tribal Winds challenge quilts in the cloth.

The quilts presented were exciting in their variety of subject matter and aesthetic. Everyone had a meaningful story behind their work, and there was a broad range of skill from first quilts or first time trying a technique, to old pros pushing their comfort zones. Several club members thanked Geri for challenging the group each year as it has really helped them (and all of us, really) to expand our horizons and to delve deeper into our quilt making. There is no doubt, the challenge quilts this year will be as wonderful and well received at Expo as the Pearl and Bridges exhibits of the last two years.

First, we needed sustenance for our quilt reveal. The pot luck spread was delicious!

Carol's abstract quilt is based on Tlingit baskets.

I think this one is by Janet. It represents canoes and Longhouses and many other little elements she remembers from visits to a reservation as a teen.

I don't have good notes for this one, but I think it's her first quilt! Or the first one she designed herself.

This quilt by Linda is inspired by petroglyphs in the Columbia River Gorge.

Lori's poignant inspiration was a not yet federally recognized tribe also from the Columbia River Gorge area.

Mallory's Raven and salmon quilt has interesting details like buttons and tiny symbols.

Mary Pat's quilt is inspired by a basket weaving design which represents eagles in flight -- a fine metaphor for the native american spirit.

Susan actually made two beautiful quilts. I particularly liked the graphic simplicity of this one which so plainly represents an elk tooth dress.

Again, we encourage everyone to come see the entirely of this special exhibit at Northwest Quilt Expo, along with all of the other spectacular quilts which will be on display. Be sure to stop by The Pine Needle's booths and say hi too -- we've got half the team at the notions booth and half at the fabric one so you know there's going to be some healthy competition going on between the two! See you there.

Westside Modern Quilt Club July 2016

Despite hot weather and a potentially warm meeting room, we had a nice turnout (and with fans, a comfortable temperature). Geri let us know about upcoming classes, and new fabrics. We have a fun floral in stock by Kathy Deggendorfer who might be recognizable from her posters for the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. We might even like the supporting fabrics better than the main floral! Geri also showed off a test copy of Quiltfolk, a magazine we hope to see soon from Michael McCormick (who spoke about his Gabby Quilts books last year).

One word for this month's joke: "Ew!"

We had our last challenge update. The reveal party will be August 31st at Millennium Park at 6:00. That means no Westside Modern meeting at The Pine Needle in August, but meet us at the park to see the quilts so many of you have been working on. Also, there will be no meeting in September as Geri and team will be working on and at the NW Quilting Expo. 

If you have a quilt for the Tribal Winds challenge, bring it on the 31st (bound and with a hanging sleeve) along with the entry form found on NW Quilting Expo's exhibit entry page. Please write "Westside Modern: Tribal Winds" in the notes section. You do not need to pay the $20 entry fee unless you wish for your quilt to also be judged as part of the larger quilt show. Please also bring a 75-ish word synopsis of the inspiration and concept for your quilt. If you can't make it to the August 31st reveal party, please turn in your quilt and paperwork to The Pine Needle before that.

On to Show and Tell, what fun!

Cathy showed off her hexagon quilt top. She's been working out a unique way to assemble her quilt without any hand sewing!

Darlene shared the cozy wool quilt she made for her brother. She quilted the feathers herself on her home machine.

Deslie showed off two lovely quilts she made from scarves she no longer wears. Simple and sublime. Of course, there was also a matching bag.

Elisa C shared the Gravity quilt she made in Pam's class. It has a gorgeous mix of computer and hand guided quilting. There will be a Gravity quilt special exhibit at Expo, so be sure to check it out.

Judith calls this her "Which Side is the Front?" quilt. One side is Storm at Sea and the other is an artful variation of the same blocks but with a somewhat different layout.

Marlene shared her Lone Star quilt with fun fabric choices. There's blueberry fabric in there which she had purchased in Maine (of course). Marlene also talked about working with her long arm quilter on choosing just the right computer-guided design, scaled to look like custom work, for the perfect mix of special and affordable.

Oops, I forgot to get the name of this lady who shared her lovely Log Cabin with a modern layout.

Our July Speaker was Mary Ann McCammon. She's a local art quilter who has traveled several times to Eldoret, Kenya to help the Beyond Fistula program there. Obstetrical fistula is a medical condition resulting from difficult childbirth. Women who become pregnant at a young age or who are small statured because of poor nutrition are at higher risk for fistula, and this condition is primarily seen in Africa and South Asia. Mary Ann shared with us some of the stories of the program in Kenya and the young women helped by it. A separate program pays for the surgeries which can help many, and Beyond Fistula helps with after care in the form of counseling, scholarships, and job training. Mary Anne's part, Quilts for Empowerment, is a vocational training program sponsored by Beyond Fistula. The quilting program provides obstetric fistula survivors with an opportunity to learn a new skill, gain self-confidence and earn income by making quilts. All of the quilts are one of a kind products made from African fabric and personalized with hand stitching using embroidery floss. Products include table mats, table runners, aprons, as well as decorative quilts that often tell a woman’s personal story through her stitching and choice of fabric. Mary Ann told us amusing stories of her time in Eldoret, and shared some of the stories of the young women she worked with, as well as photos of them and their charming quilts. She also brought a selection of little quilts for purchase. There will be a Fundraiser on November 20th at which guests can meet Christine Fox, the program director (and "den mother") for Beyond Fistula in Kenya. They hope to raise $12,000 for supplies through the sale of hand made quilted products and a silent auction. The Fundraiser will be held at the Wine Country Barn in Newberg, OR.