Summer is winding down, which means one thing around here: a new BQG quilt season is just around the corner!  (OK, we concede it could mean back-to-school as well, but priorities, right?!)

We are pleased to be welcoming several new members to our guild this year: we had so much interest that we decided to increase the overall membership number so that more people can join the fun J.

The first meetings of the year are:

• Tuesday, Sept. 3^rd 7-9pm
• Wednesday, Sept. 4^th 10am-2pm

Both meetings are held at Centennial Hall.  New members: you are welcome to attend one or both meetings!  For those of you who completed projects over the summer, bring them in for Show & Tell, always a highlight of our meetings.

Members: More details will be coming your way soon via the guild newsletter: watch for it on Friday, Aug. 30^th. Please contact Josée at joseequilt@bell.net if you do not receive your newsletter by Sunday night.

Beaconsfield Quilt Guild hosts a major show every 2 years and the 2019 show celebrated the 40^th anniversary of the guild.  It was held May 3-5 and was a resounding success from every perspective:

• 200 quilted items were on display including bed, lap and art quilts plus smaller pieces
• Workshops and lectures were on offer as well as some vendors sharing their wares
• Over 600 visitors attended the show during the course of the weekend.

One highlight was the ‘tree forest’ that greeted visitors on arrival: Several members took part in a challenge to create a vertical panel with a tree theme.  These were displayed on either side of the entrance to the show, giving the feeling of walking through a forest path.

This show was a judged event and the winners were:

• “Best in Show” went to Beverly Marsh for “Halo Medallion”
• “Viewers’ Choice” was awarded to Michelle Bik for “Elephant and Flowers”

In addition, Caitlyn Hebert won the Joyce Keays quilt which was a draw for Guild members only.  Finally, the show quilt, which was displayed at the front-of house, was won by Joanne Davis.

As the saying goes “many hands make light work”: many volunteers worked countless hours to prepare, set up and take down the show.  In addition, many sponsors supported the show… thank you to everyone as each contribution was appreciated. Sincere thanks to our show organizers, Sonya Houde and Debby Soll for a job well done!

It is our hope that everyone who volunteered, attended a workshop or lecture, displayed a creation or visited the show came away with a new skill, new knowledge or fresh inspiration… and we look forward to doing it all again in 2 years’ time!

Sponsors:

Fasken Martineau, Baylis Medical, Francis Scarpaleggia (MP), Greg Kelley (MNA), Carter Décor, Saints Rugby Team, Centre Vétérinaire de Beaconsfield, Centre dentaire Beaconsfield, Spawsy’s, Quilt Bees, Ron’s Fabrics, Giroux Sewing Centre, Lindt and Sprungli, CIBC
PLUS several anonymous sponsors for a variety of things

This month, our day programmers showed us how to design a block using an art print. Participants had fun creating colorful paper models and everyone is looking forward to seeing the fabric version of those blocks at our next meeting.

In the evening meeting, guest Claire Haillot gave an in-depth introduction to Electric Quilt 8 (EQ8). Claire is an experienced quilter and speaker, and has been using Electric Quilt for years. She demonstrated how this powerful quilt design program can put your computer to work for you, speed up the design process and save more time for sewing. She finished up by showing some of her quilts. If you would like to learn more about EQ8 Laura MacDonald has a few classes at Quilt Canada In Ottawa from June 12-15.

Carole, Franca and Claire showed off their mystery quilt blocks and Lucie shared a colourful quilt:

Check out Allison’s bright mini quilt design:

The day meeting this month featured a guild development grant recipient. Lucie talked about the highlights of Ricky Tims’ Quilt Luminarium which took place in Burlington, last May. She showed a few of Ricky’s tips and techniques, some of his quilts, and shared some of his anecdotes. A few lucky winners left with samples of Ricky’s fabrics.

The evening meeting was treated to a technology tour of sorts: highlights and demonstrations of all sorts of websites and tools available online, from pinterest to Bluprint (formerly Craftsy) and Spoonflower along with several others. The Resources page in the Members section has been updated to reflect the new sites and links that were shared.

There was a draw again this month for those who entered the ‘website tour’ quiz.  This month’s lucky winners were Roxanne Savard (non-slip quilting mat) and Pat Bradley (stack of neutral fat quarters).  Congratulations ladies!

On Saturday February 16^th, sixteen quilters came to spend the day at the annex for a Quilts of Valour sew-in. We completed two quilt tops and four quilters are working on a quilt of their own. There was one more quilt top done with the 9-patch blocks left from last year’s sew-in. So, we should expect a total of at least 7 quilt tops for our veterans.  Great job ladies!

Here’s some eye candy shared by our members during Show & Tell at the day and evening meetings, plus the Quilts of Valour sew-in:

Dianne Robinson shares a striking two-tone quilt.

Terrie Vorsteher explains one of the Mystery quilt clues.

Bright graphic quilts for Quilts of Valour: fantastic work ladies!