Friday, January 30, 2015


2015 NILAG PROGRAM SCHEDULE 

All meetings are scheduled to be held at the PNC Bank, 250 E. Roosevelt Rd, Wheaton Illinois, Lower level meeting room.  Please use the lower level parking area. 
Meetings are 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM. The bank opens at 9:00 AM.

In the event of a cancelation due to bad weather, this blog will be updated a minimum of 24 hours before meeting time.  http://illinoislongarmguild.blogspot.com/

 

February 7, 2015

“Share It Saturday” - Bring a show-and-tell item with your favorite OVERALL FILL . Small or large, computerized or hand-guided, first project or latest award winner, we want to ooh and aah over your work! NILAG is THE place where your quilting is valued & appreciated because we all understand the time, effort, and practice it takes to be a longarm quilter. Whether you have been machine quilting 1 month or 10+ years, we want to support and encourage YOU! Bring something to share (even if you’ve brought it before)!!
“Skillbuilder Saturday” - The Skill Builder for February uses both decorative fabric and plain fabric. Assemble these fabrics & a piece of batting into a sandwich, quilt it using whatever design you like, then use the quilted piece to make some kind of useful item . (Plain fabric on one side so you can see your quilting and the decorative fabric for the outside of your useful item.) This is a chance for you to sharpen your skills AND have some fun!
"What I Learned at MQX" - If you weren’t able to attend MQX (Machine Quilters Exposition) last September or haven’t been to a BIG conference/workshop/extravaganza, come hear from those who had a front row seat! They will share information on classes & presenters, tips, techniques, and observations about the show.

April 4, 2015
"Unlocking Your Creativity" - Ever dream of being able to create your own quilting designs? Are you convinced the Artistic fairy bypassed you when she was handing out talent? Join Patricia Simons from Quilters Rule in Wisconsin in a hands-on lecture/demo as she shows you how to move templates to create stunning designs that look complicated, but are in reality the simplest of shapes. These techniques can be used by all. Learn how to release the creativity inside you. ( Quilters Rule products will also be available for purchase.) http://www.quiltersrule.com/

 June 6, 2015
“Top 40 Freehand Overalls” - Are you looking to expand your free motion repertoire? Julie Lillo from Accomplish Quilting in Michigan will share with you, her favorite overall quilting designs, including swirls, pebbles, crackle, maze, triangular maze, and branching with leaves. Go home with new skills, new confidence and a sketchbook full of background fills! https://www.facebook.com/julie.Lillo

UPDATE: Temporary Location change for the June 2015 meeting.
The Helen Plum Library
110 Maple St
Lombard IL
Tel (630) 627-0316
9:30 am to 12:30 PM

August 1, 2015
“Take a Tour of my Quilting Studio--to see My Favorite Things!” - Pat Barry is set to take us on a photo-tour of her studio(s) at By Design Quilting! She will show pictures of her favorite quilting products (tools, templates, gadgets, supplies), explain the purpose of the product, the benefit to the quilter and how to use it. In many cases she will describe a low-budget alternative using household items that have been re-purposed. And what tour is complete without a trunk show? Pat will bring along some quilts in her collection. Pat is the author of the ABC’s of Longarm Quilting. In addition to teaching, writing and designing new products, Pat continues to do professional quilting. In 2014 a quilt she did, "Roses for Katrina" won Best Longarm Workmanship at the AQS Grand Rapids Quilt Show!  http://www.patbarryquilts.com/

October 3, 2015
"Fresh Ideas for Quilt Design" - Nancy Wick (http://www.imapiecemaker.com/ ) from Minnesota will share her insights and provide fresh ideas on how to conquer the quandary of what design to put on a quilt. Nancy will guide us through the process and we will learn how the design elements in the quilt, fabric, style, and purpose of the quilt may impact design choices. Learn about software options available on the market (including an iPad option, as well as several Windows-based options) to help audition quilt designs before taking a single stitch. Nancy is the author of The Quilt Block Book.
 
December 5, 2015
"Holiday Gathering of Quilters" - Join us for a holiday potluck brunch ! Feast, socialize, & renew relationships with fellow guild members. Festivities will include games, gifts, door prizes, Show & Tell, and sharing of August's skill builder projects. (This meeting is open to NILAG members only).