Last night guild members and guests met at McTavish Studios. A favorite part of each meeting is Show and Tell! 

This month we had bag makers, an opportunity to see Jen's mini quilt she received as part of the MQG Mini Quilt Swap, beautiful quilts, circles from the guild Zoom demonstrations, and other fun sewing projects!  Two quilts were particularly touching - Leslie's quilt is her sister's heartbeat and Rachel was gifted a family heirloom - a Dresden Plate quilt. 

​Celebrating present and past makers!

The Lake Superior Modern Quilt Guild (LSMQG) invites the public to its first ever quilt show to be held throughout the month of March.

The LSMQG’s Modern Quilt Walkabout quilt show will be held March 1-31 in two locations in the Lincoln Park Craft District. This free exhibit of modern quilt artistry will be on display at Duluth Pottery & Tile, 1924 W. Superior St., and Enger Lofts, 1832 W. Superior St.

“We hope the creativity of our work will help people see and appreciate quilts in a whole new way,” said Leslie Hughes, chair of LSMQG’s quilt show committee. “By showcasing the artistic possibilities of nontraditional quilt design, we are trying to excite, inspire and educate both quilters and non-quilters throughout our community.”

In addition to the quilt exhibit, the public is invited to two special events:

• An Open House to kick-off the month-long event will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 2 at Duluth Pottery & Tile. Meet our quilters, view the quilt display and share some refreshments.
• Interactive displays and demonstrations will be available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 18 (National Quilting Day) at both Duluth Pottery & Tile and Enger Lofts. Talk to our quilters as they demonstrate quilting techniques and try your hand at quilt design on our design board.

​This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, thanks to appropriations from Minnesota State Legislature’s General Fund.

Guild members started the year our right!  Welcome to our newest members and visitors! Thank you to Louise for sharing about "Why I Quilt".  And all the items from Sew 'n Tell... WOW!  Here they are:

​October 10th is World Mental Health Day, which is a great day to celebrate Mental Well-being and also to take special note of mental health in our own lives and of those in our community.  A day to specially reach out to others and ask “Are you ok?”. 

Jane Bernauer, a member of the LSMQG, recently share a great project that she has been working on related to mental health.  The project itself is the Remembrance Project through Social Justice Sewing Academy in California. Volunteers are given the names of people whose lives were taken by community violence, race-based violence, law enforcement, and gender or sexuality based violence. Quilt blocks are then created based on these individuals.  The blocks will be displayed throughout the country during community activism events to remind the world that their lives mattered.

Jane was given the name of Alfred “Abuka” Sanders because he was from Minneapolis, MN. She researched him online and also spoke to his son now 27, who was only 7 when his father was killed.  Here is Jane’s block and Abuka’s story as it relates to mental illness. 

The green ribbon as shown on the quilt block represents mental health, however mental health issues were just one small part of who Alfred “Abuka” Sanders was. A 29-year-old father of four young children, Abuka was well-loved in his neighborhood where he was legendary for helping his elderly neighbors. He was an entrepreneur, a local musician, and a community leader with a warm and positive presence. However, on the morning of November 1, 2000, police accused him of driving erratically and confronted him in the alley near his home. In spite of the fact that the officers had been advised that Sanders was a possible crisis candidate, thirty-three shots were fired at Abuka who was unarmed and had committed no crime. He died at the scene. Sanders’ death was one of a cluster of deaths that prompted the Minneapolis Police Department to pursue mental health crisis training for officers.  Mental health training for officers and members of the community is crucial to ensure that we all can take care of our community in the best way and safest way possible.

Remember to reach out to family, friends or community member if they don’t look themselves. And don’t forget to reach out to others if you need help.  Asking for help is very courageous and very important.

September Agenda!
*Demonstration:  Bindings!
*Announce a Guild Retreat for Members in January 2020 at the "Crafters Sanctuary"
*October Rummage Sale Details; LSMQG members only.
​
Below is a recap of our inspiring August LSMQG Meeting!

*Upcoming Fabric Challenges: Riley Blake, our guild modified for LSMQG; and a Summer PHOTO Challenge for a modern rendition. Prizes!
*Charity Quilt activities: very generous people in our guild!
*Demonstration on sewing fabric Bag Handles with ease and style!
*Show-n-Tell Wonders!
*Sew In: Sat., May 18th....
*Wear your Fabric Nametag! Drawings!

Well, Folks … Mother Nature's 'April Fool's' joke came a bit late, but she wins... QUILT GUILD MTG CANCELLED for Thursday, April 11, 2019.
 I recommend we Sew and bring the project to Show at the May 9th Meeting... just hunker down and think 'it's pretty.'  (gag) … or be inspired by the Snow Quilt!