July/August 2021 Meeting Recap

 

Our July and August meetings were both in-person meetings held at the Westminster Presbyterian Church. It still seems like a bit of a novelty to see our members in person. 

Our member spotlights were Liz Upchurch in July and Heather Wilson in August. We appreciate Liz and Heather taking the time to answer questions and participate in this program. The member spotlight is a great way for us to get to know our fellow KMQG members better. 

 

The Smoky Mountain Quilters 40th Anniversary Ruby Jubilee Quilt Show was held July 30th and 31st. The KMQG sponsored the Modern Quilt category. Several of our members entered quilts in the show. It's always exciting to see friends' quilts in the wild!

The 2021 Modern Mini Quilt Challenge has been introduced! Architecture themed quilts (based on a photograph) are due at our October meeting.

The theme for the Community Outreach Quilt Challenge for QuiltCon 2022 is Angles. A committee has been working on a design and we will be having a sew day in September to assemble the quilt top. 

At our August meeting, Elizabeth Rea presented the next in our Elements of Modern Quilting Series, Use of Negative Space. Our next presentation in the series will be in October.

July Show and Tell

Elizabeth R

 

Caryn H

 

Rosalind W

 

Heather W

 

Jo H

 

Sandy R

 

Sarah E

 

Misty B

 

 

Christy C

August  Show and Tell

Jane D

Sandy R

Elizabeth R

Rosalind W

Emily D

Pat P

Jo H

The guild is always looking for volunteers for our Member Spotlight Feature and Featured Freebies presenters. If you are interested in participating in either of these please send a message to modknoxville@gmail.com

The next meeting is at 10:15am Saturday, September 18th, at the Westminster Presbyterian Church.

September Member Spotlight: Sherry Kasper🔦

It's time for the September Member Spotlight. This month we're learning more about KMQG Education Coordinator, Sherry Kasper.

How long have you been quilting?

44 years, oh my goodness!!


Who or what inspired you to start quilting?

I starting sewing as a child-- first doll clothes and eventually my clothes. In 1978 quilts started getting more attention due to Good Housekeeping's Great American Quilt Contest, where Jinny Beyer's innovative Ray of Light won Best in Show and launched her career. That contest sparked my interest in using my sewing skills to make a quilt. When my husband and I moved to Colorado Springs as newlyweds, I discovered a quilt shop within walking distance of our apartment and signed up for a beginning quilting class.


Tell us about the first quilt you ever made.

My first completed quilt was a baby quilt for my daughter. I made it with four inch squares in primary colors and yellow gingham borders and tied it. Back in 1979 we had no idea of the gender of our babies before birth, so they were all primary colored quilts. She loved the quilt so much that the fabric shredded in many places. One time while visiting her grandmother with the quilt in tow, my mom made the quilt "a new set of clothes," another array of primary colored, 4 inch blocks.


What is your favorite quilt you’ve ever made?

My favorite quilt thus far is one is a flying geese quilt made in fall colors that I made for my husband in the 1980s. I machine-stitched the geese, hand-stitched the border fabric between the geese, and hand-quilted it. Why is this quilt my favorite? First, because he loves it, which makes me happy. Second, the color choices were not conventional; I substituted a peach for a cream background to the geese, and it works. Finally, it is technically the best sewn quilt I have made. The geese have points, and I still marvel at the hand quilting. My hands could not do the same today.


What kind of sewing machine(s) do you have?

Bernina Virtuoso 153 Quilter's Edition

What is your favorite sewing tool or notion?

My sewing machine.


Who is your favorite fabric designer?

Whoever has the right color and design fabric I need for my project.





What are your favorite colors to use in quilts?

Having just looked over all of my quilts, it seems like I like jewel tones: turquoise, blues, reds, greens. But, I think some of those color choices reflect the fabrics available when I was making those quilts. Fabrics today are much brighter, and I think that aesthetic will appear in my upcoming quilts.


Describe your quilting style in one word.

Modern traditionalism


What other hobbies do you have?

Hiking, reading and knitting.


What is your favorite movie?

Casablanca


What is your favorite book?

This question is hard. I have many favorites. Today I will say The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd..


Who is your favorite author?

Today I will say John Irving, but it could change.


If you could have dinner with one legendary person, living or dead, who would you choose and why?

Janet Yellen. Weird answer, but I am a female economist. I would love to talk about her journey as an economist in a very male profession and what it has been like to help lead the world economy.

What is your favorite food?

Italian food


Coffee or tea?

Coffee


Sweet or savory?

Sweet


If you were a dessert, what would you be and why?

Anything made with dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is delicious, and, in moderation, it even has some health benefits.


What is your dream job?

Teacher, and I am so blessed, because I got to be a teacher.


Where is your dream vacation destination?

Any place with mountains to hike.


Which is your favorite season?

Fall

If you won millions in the lottery and had to selfishly spend it on yourself, what would you treat yourself to?

A trip to Italy in first-class seating on the plane and planned by someone else.


Do you prefer the beach or the mountains?

Mountains


When was the last time you did something for the first time?

In 2018, I served as an economic advisor to a candidate for Congress.

If you'd like to connect with Sherry, you can find her on Instagram. KMQG is on Insta too - we'd love it if you'd stop by and say hi!