Minutes from 6/13/26 SCTMQG Meeting
Thank you Joyce K for taking notes
Kate
Retreat and Class attendees should pay their funds at the beginning of the meeting because Nancy, our Treasurer, is leaving early today.
Brenda
Listed the names of everyone who is registered for the fall retreat.
Kate
The September extended sew will be moved from the September meeting to the October meeting. This includes the Sew-A-Thon and any other extended sew activities. The September meeting will happen as usual but we must be out of the room by 12:30pm.
Please remember to sign the attendance book at every meeting. If you are a new member, place a check in the box labeled NEW.
There are two signup sheets being passed around; the Fall Retreat and the zoom class in November.
Today is Hang a Quilt Day. Everyone make sure to display a quilt in celebration.
We’re doing a Fat Quarter drawing today. For every FQ you bring to the meeting (maximum of 5) you will receive a raffle ticket. The ticket will be drawn at the end of the meeting and the winner gets all the FQs. The bag for the FQs is being passed around the room.
Dawn
We are starting the meeting off with an icebreaker. Each member will tell the group what quilt projects they are planning to work on over the summer and if they have any special travel plans.
Kate
At the February meeting kits were handed out for the Sew Powerful purses project. To incentivize members to make more of the bags, there will be 3 prizes;
1) one prize for the member who makes the most bags-possibly a gift card to Cotton Candy
2) Everyone who makes a bag will enter their name into the drawing for the next prize
3) You will also receive a raffle ticket for each bag you complete and you will be entered into another drawing
The pattern and videos on how to make the bags is on the SCTMQG website. We can work on the bags together at the October Extended Sew. The guild has extra interfacing and webbing to make the handles. If you need those supplies, contact Michelle P, Kate, Terrie, or Suzanne. We would like all the completed bags back by the end of October and the prizes will be given out at the November meeting. For more information on the Sew Powerful organization, go to their website at sewpowerful.org.
Members
Several members talked about their experiences at the Spring retreat in May. Comments included:
Lots of room for everyone to work
Great atmosphere with music and conversation
Beautiful relaxing property
Good food
The retreat was held at the Incarnation Center in Deep River, CT. Everyone had a single room with shared bathrooms. 15 members max can attend. The retreat is always the 3rd weekend in May and the next one will be held on May 13th-16th 2027.
Brenda
The Fall 2026 retreat will be on Saturday, October 3rd and Sunday, October 4th from 9am-5pm at the Fairfield Firehouse. The cost for both days is $150 for members and $175 for non-members. The cost for one day is $85 for members and $95 for non-members The maximum number of attendees is 24 and as of the 6/13/26 meeting there is one Sat/Sun spot left and 2 Sunday only spots left. Ironing and Cutting stations will be set up. There will be ongoing drawings with lots of prizes to be handed out; most of which were donated by members. There will be a Blind Auction where you can bid on a project but you only get to see a small part of what you are bidding on. The Firehouse is near the beach so that’s a nice place to take a walk or eat your lunch. You can bring your lunch or get something at the numerous local restaurants. For more information about the retreat go to the SCTMQG website. We will be starting a retreat Wait List as well.
Kate
The 2026 Quilt Con challenge will be “Pick a color scrappy challenge”. The color blue was chosen and the quilt needs a minimum of 10 different blue fabrics. Kits were passed around that contain 4-5 blue fabrics. Your block must contain at least 2 of those fabrics and we ask that you use at least one additional blue fabric from your stash. Any blue fabric will work but we want the fabric to REALLY read as blue. We are looking for improv blocks of either Wonky Log Cabins, Wonky Courthouse Steps, or Wonky Churn Dash along with strip sets or curves (think Cindy Grisdela’s class). The blocks are due at the August 8th meeting. Please return any unused fabrics from the kit when you hand in your completed block. The finished block is 10”. Any blocks submitted after the August 8th meeting will be used in a future charity quilt. We have the library on Tuesday, July 28th from 10-1 for anyone who would like to work on the challenge that day. Kate showed some of the blocks that have already been completed and mentioned that applique is an acceptable technique on your block.
Terrie and Suzanne (not in attendance) asked Kate to remind members to bring their completed charity items to the July meeting. We are currently making Twin Size or smaller quilts for Columbus House and juvenile pillowcases for the CT Children’s Medical Center and the Elizabeth Seton home.
Programming
We have Rachel Derstine’s “Keep it Simple But Pack a Punch” virtual workshop scheduled for November 7th from 9am-3pm via Zoom (from your home studio). If you are interested in attending, please sign up by the July meeting. The cost is $50 for members. The cost for non-members has not yet been determined.
We are starting an “Upclycled Round Robin”. You will put your fabric and your notes describing your likes and dislikes into a box. Another member will take the box and complete a block for you. You may use old clothing, scraps etc. but no stretchy fabrics or knits. If you would like to participate, bring your box to the July meeting. If you would like more information, email Sue Ortoleva at susanortoleva@yahoo.com. You can also see more details on the SCTMQG website.
For the 250th USA Anniversary Challenge we have completed 2 quilt tops. The 2 quilts were shown at the meeting and we are looking for members who would be willing to quilt them. One of the quilts will potentially go to a Homes for the Brave house and the other one will be displayed somewhere but the location has yet to be determined.
If you have completed your “Something in the Air” challenge, we would love to see them.
The new challenge is “Art inspired by Nature”. You will complete an 18” quilt using any technique. For more details, see the SCTMQG website.
Toni will be teaching us how to make Ann Wood’s handmade mushrooms. You must purchase your own copy of the pattern. Ann is fine with you making and selling the mushrooms as long as you give her credit.
Kate
Postcards with information about our group were passed around. Anyone who has a location where the postcard can be displayed can take some and display them.
Treasurer’s Report from Nancy
Our checking account has $11,942.79 as of 6/12/26.
Our major expense was $4500 for the Incarnation Center for the Venue and Lodging for the Spring Retreat. Additional expenses of $378.34 are for ink cartridges, FQ’s for Show and Share, Quilt Con entry fabric and miscellaneous items for raffles.
Thank you to Brenda for handling the acquisition of the batting for our charity quilts.
We received payments for the Fall Retreat from 16 members amounting to $2270.
Brenda
If anyone needs batting to complete a charity quilt contact Brenda. She requests that you let her know the Monday or Tuesday before the monthly meeting.
Fat Quarter raffle
The Fat Quarter raffle was done and Amy S won all the FQs.
Show and Share
We had the Show and Share and lots of beautiful creations were shared. Anyone who showed a piece of their work took a FQ from the basket.