Swap Info

Keep on reading if you're interested in participating in swaps for the retreat.  You make take part whether or not you signed up during registration.  If you want to do the Secret Sewist Swap you must fill out the Google Form by Feb 20th (do it before QuiltCon if you are going). We will be having two different swaps this year at MOD.  You can take part in one, both, none at all, but I can assure you that they are both going to be amazing! Last year, we swapped tote bags using Essex Linen from Robert Kaufman with great success! It was like Christmas morning when everyone received their bags.  The two swaps are: Modern Mini Quilt Swap There are no official signups for this swap - just bring it to the retreat and you'll come home with one!  The exchange is random so you are not making the mini for anyone specific.   You will make a mini quilt that is 15" square (it's okay if it's a half an inch larger or smaller - don't worry- but try to keep it close). You use your own fabric to make this swap item. It must be quilted and bounded. It must have a label on the back so your recipient can find you and thank you! It can say something as simple as "Made by (your name)", and if you want, you can commemorate the event ("Mid-Atlantic Mod Swap 2015"). It must have corner pockets for hanging on the top corners of the back.  A small board will be provided already cut to size so when you go home all you have to do is stick a command strip on the back and you’re ready to hang!  This is a video tutorial on how to make the pockets:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEJBiRh6zWY  They are added before you bind the quilt.  Please use 4” squares to make your pockets. Again, you do NOT need to bring a yardstick or board to hang it.  We will provide these. You can make anything you want, but please keep in mind this is a modern retreat. For example, no appliqued baskets of flowers, Sunbonnet Sue, etc. Some ideas for you: using solid, bold fabrics, improvisation, a modern block surrounded by strips, several blocks pieced together in modern fabric, low volume fabrics as a background, etc.  You might want to make something functional that your recipient can hang in their house. Please bring the quilt wrapped or in a paper bag so it is not visible and without your name on the outside.  You can post pix of your mini on Instagram etc before the swap (tag them with #midatlanticmod), but if you do, try not to show people how yours is wrapped so everyone is surprised when opening them.  Inspiration: https://www.flickr.com/groups/freshmodernquilts/ Here is a mosaic with some ideas from Flickr: 1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/threekitchenfairies/6874882666/in/faves-57775022@N03/ 2 https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchindye/3542028067/in/faves-57775022@N03/ 3 https://www.flickr.com/photos/terriaw/3565913647/in/faves-57775022@N03/ 4 https://www.flickr.com/photos/spottedstonestudio/6121339758 5 https://www.flickr.com/photos/threekitchenfairies/6831086032/in/faves-57775022@N03/ 6 https://www.flickr.com/photos/9112391@N02/7085300299/in/faves-57775022@N03/ 7 https://www.flickr.com/photos/ktelschow/6874584780/in/faves-57775022@N03/ 8 https://www.flickr.com/photos/7526162@N07/5414311252 9 https://www.flickr.com/photos/stitchindye/4620213716 10 https://www.flickr.com/photos/charlottenarunsky/7378835802 11 https://www.flickr.com/photos/flopinator/6829814975 12 https://www.flickr.com/photos/jenib/6872482392   Secret Sewist Swap (read on for sign up link)   This swap goes on for three days: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (morning/early afternoon before the person you're sewing for leaves).  You will be assigned a particular person and you leave something for them each of the three days!  Be sneaky and leave the gift at their sewing station when they’re not looking.  We'll have name tags on our spots because you might not yet know this person. :)  You will be sent the personal information of your assigned sewist after sign-ups are complete so you can sew specifically for them. At least one of the days has to be a significant handmade sewn gift. Examples: pouch(es), fabric basket(s), pillow cover, sewing machine mat, sewing organizer, mini quilt, tote bag, etc.  The more unique, the better! For the other 2 days, smaller handmade gifts are appreciated but not required.  Something small like a key fob or lanyard, mug rug with a mug, something in their favorite color and/or tailored to their interests, etc. would be nice.  You could also include any other crafts you do (knitting, jam, candles, lip balm, etc.) but you still need your one sewn item.  If you want to leave generic notions, fabric, or chocolate for your partner in addition, that's great, but you must also try to leave them something unique that you think they will love. There is no set dollar value for the gifts because it’s impossible to value our time.  People tend to be generous and leave small group of gift items each day.  You are totally welcome to spoil your sewist and it will likely be very appreciated.  If you want to make something sewn or crafted for each day, go for it!  But be aware that the requirements are at least one hand sewn item and a gift every day that includes unique, thoughtful, or fun items.  So, for example, if you make a twin sized quilt, other hand sewn items and include a dozen fat quarters and several spools of Aurifil, it’s very likely you’re not going to get the equivalent in return.  We just don’t want anyone to be disappointed, but have fun spoiling your sewist! You can only participate if you will be there Friday, Sat and Sunday.  You're not required to leave a gift on Thursday, but feel free if you're both there. The swap is anonymous on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, you must leave your name! Then your Secret Sewist can come find you and thank you. :) Sign-ups for this swaps are via a Google Form: http://goo.gl/forms/skuAXpveZR Please follow this link and fill out the form even if you already indicated during initial registration that you were interested.  The information will be passed on to your Secret Sewist. We need this form filled out by Feb 20th (so, before you go to QuiltCon).  *Here is a Pinterest board of some ideas and tutorials you could follow: https://www.pinterest.com/quiltyhabit/mid-atlantic-mod-secret-sewist-swap/ *Here are some pictures from Instagram of some similar secret swaps: Link: http://websta.me/p/830519006845785644_50629148  Link: http://websta.me/p/828306882075287313_241176782  Link: http://websta.me/p/683392021556167194_303135 Here is a mosaic of some ideas for your hand sewn item (some of the pictures include extras): 1. inside sewing case, 2. Hanging Hoop Wall Pocket Swap, 3. Zip Organizers from Zakka Style, 4. Rainbow hexie sewing machine mat, 5. Rainbow swap recieved from mandalin18, 6. Thank you Marcia!!, 7. BotanicsMiniQuilt4, 8. Eeeeekkkkk!!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE! @singallyouwant you knocked it out of the park! Thanks so so much for such an amazing gift and super sweet note. I am so honored that you made this amazing bag for me and can't wait to use it right away! Xo post #sewsouth sw, 9. for Dana, 10. Saskatoon Modern Quilt Guild Mini Swap 2014, 11. Solids Squared Pillow, 12. Circle of Kites, 13. Drunkards Path for Amber aka One Shabby Chic - PTS 6, 14. Saskatoon Modern Quilt Guild Mini Swap 2014, 15. Rainbow Bright Mini   We can't wait to see what you make to swap! Happy sewing!

Workshops and Activities

Hey all.

Less than 3 months to go until MOD!

We wanted to remind you that workshop sign-ups are still open.

Please visit our Workshops page to see some of the wonderful offering we have.

You can go to Eventbbrite site and sign up for workshops there.  You will not have to pay at that time, but you are committing to pay in cash at the time of check-in at the retreat.

We have news coming soon regarding other activities like swaps and progressive quilts, so pay attention here and to your email.  It's shaping up to be another fantastic weekend!

MOD Registration Opens Sunday

This is just a reminder that Mid-Atlantic MOD Registration opens this Sunday, November 30th at 7 PM Eastern time.  There are a limited number of spots available for general registration.  All the information can be found on the Registration page here (click the link at the top).

Details for MOD 2015

Details for MOD 2015 Registration and Workshops have been posted.  Please click on the links at the top of the page for more information.  Early registration (for hosting and sponsoring guilds) starts on November 9th and general registration opens November 30th.

Save the Date MOD 2015 & Call for Instructors

Hey, everyone!  We are thrilled to be able to announce that Mid-Atlantic MOD will be happening again next year!  We had so much fun planning and attending this event that we went right to work planning for the next one.  The preliminary details about the event are below and more information will be posted soon on the About page and in a future blog post.

When:  April 23-26, 2015
Where:  Doubletree by Hilton in Lancaster, PA (same hotel as the 2014 retreat)
Registration:  We plan on opening Early registration for sponsoring guilds on or around November 1, 2014 and general registration will then open about 2 weeks later.  Final details will be posted in the next few weeks.
Pricing:  We are still working on the final pricing details.  Members of sponsoring guilds will receive a discount, so check with your officers about sponsoring MOD.

If you would like to keep up-to-date about MOD events, please sign up for our mailing list by clicking the Mailing List tab at the top of this page.  Also, we would like to hold workshops similar to what we did last year and we are looking for people interested in teaching workshops.  Please see the details below.  If you were an instructor last year, please note that we are making some improvements to the workshop programming.

We are searching for instructors to teach skills workshops of 1.5 hr in length at MOD.  We are hoping to fill 6 workshop teaching spots, depending upon interest from attendees.  The class size will be 5 to 15 people.  All instructors will be paid for workshops they teach on a per-student basis.  Attendees will be required to pay for workshops upon registration at the event so that the instructors will be paid regardless of whether or not the student ultimately shows up for the class.

Instructors may sell materials (e.g., supply kits, patterns, etc.) during their workshops.  If the instructor plans on requiring that students purchase materials from them (e.g., a materials fee), they must explain the fee in the proposal and must indicate what is being provided for the fee (for example, if your workshop requires that the students purchase a pattern, indicate the price of the pattern).  Instructors will be required to provide a complete supplies list by March 1, 2015.

If you are interested in being an instructor for the Mid-Atlantic Mod retreat, please click on the Instructor Proposal Form link at the top of the page.  If you have ideas for multiple workshop options, please complete the form separately for each workshop option you would like us to consider.  Workshop proposals are due by October 3, 2014.

Survey Winner

Thanks to everyone for completing our post-retreat questionnaire!  We randomly selected a winner, and we're excited to say congratulations to Sarah Bond of the Philadelphia MQG for winning the Oliso Smart Iron!  Here is a photo of Sarah with her prize!

Retreat Followup

Hi, All!  We sent out an e-mail to all registered attendees for the 2014 MOD event providing some final "follow up" pieces of information.  One of the items in the e-mail was a link to a post-retreat questionnaire we developed to get your feedback to help us plan for the next one (you know there has to be a next one!).  We will be giving away an Oliso Smart Iron to a randomly chosen survey participant.  So go fill out the form and provide your feedback right now!  The questionnaire is open until midnight Wednesday night.  If you didn't see the e-mail from us last week, then check your junk mail.  If you still can't find it, send us an e-mail and we will forward the information to you.  Good luck, and thanks for any feedback you provide!