Chair Yoga with Mary Alice Estes

Our January meeting was the perfect way to kick off 2026. 

Mary Alice led our January meeting in simple stretching exercises to keep our bodies limber. Sometimes the most exercise quilters get is the short walk between their sewing machine and the ironing board! 

Healthy bodies! Happy quilters!

August 19th, we’re thrilled to welcome Olivia Trimble for our August program, Quilted in Paint! Olivia is a nationally recognized sign painter and muralist whose recent work explores quilt-inspired compositions through a painter’s lens.

In this special presentation, Olivia will share her journey as a lettering artist and community advocate — and how traditional quilt patterns began to weave their way into her murals and paintings. With bold color, geometry, and personal meaning, her work bridges the world of fiber and public art in fresh and inspiring ways.

Learn more about Olivia and her art:
oliviatrimble.art
Quiltfolk Feature – Quilted in Paint

Whether you’re a quilter, a painter, or simply curious about the creative threads that connect art and community, you won’t want to miss this program. Guests welcome! See you there.

 DOUBLE WEDDING RING QUILT SEW ALONG

Sew along with the Northwest Arkansas MQG led by Julie Feinstein! See the monthly schedule in the image with 1 free optional sew together day with Julie.

We’ll be sewing the Double Wedding Ring (DWR) Quilt Pattern by Tara Faughnan — a modern take on a beloved classic. This is a great opportunity to play with color and value while sharpening your curved piecing skills!

Skill Level: Intermediate

Techniques: Precision Piecing, Curved Piecing

Quilt Sizes: 80" x 80", 96" x 96" – easily adjustable

🛒 Pattern Purchase (Required):

Buy it here https://tarafaughnan.com/products/dwr-quilt-pattern-pdf

PDF Pattern: $14 or PDF Pattern + Video Course: $38

April Quilted Fashions Program

 Taking your clothing from Common to Quiltastic!!!

What a fantastic program we had for our April meeting!  Members Sheila Bayles and Jeanette Arnhart gave us a fabulous presentation on the inspiration and evolution of their quilted fashion escapades!

NWA MQG Featured in QuiltFolk Magazine!

 April 1, 2025 marked the release date for Issue 34 of QuiltFolk magazine which explores the quilts and quilters of Arkansas!

This issue is extra special because it features our very own Modern Quilt Guild of NWA!  If you are as excited as we are, make sure to get your hands on a copy now using the discount code below for 20% off the purchase price!

The Founding and History of NWA MQG

March 18th Presentation

We had a fantastic March meeting where founding members Therese Ramsey and Hazel McFall (pictured above) gave a memorable presentation and trunk show recounting our guild's founding story.

A summarized version is below:

Therese had been a member of the Kansas City MQG which was led, in those early days, by Jacquie Gering in a quilt shop in Overland Park in 2010.  In her words, the excitement [of modern quilting] was palpable in that group!   However, after moving back to Arkansas in 2010, the local quilting community, at that time, could not provide the same level of energy and inspiration that she so dearly missed from the KCMQG. Therefore, in 2013, she set out to create a modern guild right here in NWA (and we're all so glad she did)!  The first meetings were held in the upstairs room of the Rabbit’s Lair quilt shop in downtown Rogers with an estimated attendance of 28 members.  Today, our guild proudly boasts a roster of 72 members as we continue to uphold Therese's original vision of an energized fellowship of quilters who inspire, challenge, and support one another.

To Therese and all the founding members who have forged the way for our guild, thank you!!

NWA MQG at QuiltCon 2025!!  

February  19th - 23rd

This year's QuiltCon was definitely one for the record books!  A whopping 13 members made the trip to Phoenix, AZ to represent the Northwest Arkansas Modern Quilt Guild!  Members are pictured above, showing off our QuiltCon Community Challenge Charity quilt.  This quilt was created as a collaborative effort by guild members during an improv round-robin, led by committee head Katrina Allen.  The proceeds from this quilt will benefit a local charitable organization.

February 18th we welcome Sarah Goer

 

 

Creating a Scrappy Slab (Lecture/Demo) virtual meeting on Zoom

Get your scraps out of your scrap bin and into a project! In this lecture/demo, Sarah will demonstrate her techniques for building a scrappy slab from scrap fabrics of any size. In addition to show and tell about numerous projects using these slabs, Sarah will outline a variety of ways for you to use scrappy slabs in your quilting. You will leave this lecture/demo ready to sew your own scrappy slabs at home.

Sarah Goer is a former middle school math teacher turned quilt teacher who is primarily inspired by geometry and architecture and loves bold, vibrant, saturated color. Much of Sarah’s work is created from a perspective of “planned improv,” working from a set of rules she creates for herself. In workshops, Sarah guides students to learn a set of parameters for their quilt design and decide when to follow or break their rules. All Sarah’s classes are taught from a perspective of creativity and curiosity, encouraging students to take what she’s taught and feel free to put their own spin on it. You can find Sarah's work on her website at www.sarahgoerquilts.com.

To join us check your member email or contact us at nwamqg@gmail.com for more information. 

January Recap: Inspiring Times with Fiber Artist Dani Ives

Our January meeting was nothing short of inspiring as members enjoyed a special program featuring local fiber artist and world-renowned "painting with wool" expert, Dani Ives. Dani shared her artistic journey, techniques, and passion for creating stunning felted paintings using wool. Her work blends nature, animals, art, and fiber in a unique and captivating way, leaving us all in awe of the possibilities within this medium.

Following the program, members had the opportunity to dive into a Color Study Needle Felting Workshop, where they experimented with wool, color blending, and texture. It was a hands-on, creative experience that sparked joy and artistic exploration. Everyone had a great time learning a new technique and creating their own small felted pieces.

A huge thank you to Dani for sharing her expertise and inspiring us with her artistry! It was a wonderful way to kick off the year with creativity and community.

Close up view of some of the pieces by our members:

Thanks again Dani!

October 15th - Everyday Stitches Jennifer Dick and Trish Price from Kansas City Program ($10 guest fee)

October 16th - Tinsel Tree Quilt Workshop taught by Jennifer and Trish of Everyday Stitches Details and sign up link.

September 17 - Samatha Krebsbach Program, Laser Cutting in Modern Quilting

September 18th - Quilted Shoes Workshop with Samatha Krebsbach. Details and sign up link.

May 21-22, 2024 - Cassandra Beaver (The (not so) Dramatic Life) Program and Workshop

So excited to have Cassandra Beaver visiting from Ohio to lecture and teach us a workshop. Visitors are welcome for $10 lecture fee. Contact us for workshop sign up links.

Cassandra is a mostly-modern quilter, pattern designer and quilting educator based in west-central Ohio. She holds a BFA in Painting and Theatre Design and an MFA in Scenic Design. Her award-winning quilts have been in more than 50 shows, numerous publications, and four of her quilts reside in the permanent collection of the National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. Cassandra’s designs and patterns use traditional and/or foundation paper piecing techniques to create dynamic and unique quilts that are inspired by nature, architecture, and art.

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Trunk Show/Lecture May 21, 6pm-8pm ($10 non-member fee)

Trending: Seeing and Developing Patterns in Your Quilting Practice

Approximately 45-60 minutes

How do you develop a quilting style? Do you even need to? What elements of your quilting come together to make your personal aesthetic? Inspiration sources, color choices, shapes, and quilting style all play a role in making our quilts a reflection of who we are. Throughout this trunk show, you will see the recurring motifs and patterns in my quilts, how these patterns create a body of work, and start recognizing the trends in your own quilts. This is an excellent trunk show choice for Modern groups and guilds.

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Workshop May 22, 9:30am ($35/ member plus the cost of the ruler($30-40) or $50/ nonmembers plus the cost of the ruler ($30-$40). Ruler to be purchased directly from the instructor.

Piecing Full Circles

3 Hour Workshop

Take your curved seams to the extreme by going full circle! During this class you will piece a top for a pillow or mini quilt using a Classic Curves Ruler with a twist!

Prerequisites: The ability to consistently sew an accurate 1/4″ seam allowance

Supply List: available with sign-up payment

Quilt Show - Online Quilt Auction

The online auction is open now!  A beautiful piece of modern quilting can be yours!  Our members have rolled up their sleeves and pushed their creativity to the limit in this show's auction - The Birthstone Challenge!  Participating guild members were challenged to design and create a one-of-a-kind mini quilt using only the color of their birthstone and a limited amount of neutral color.  Check out the awe-inspiring results and bid on your favorite!  Also included in the auction are a selection of other quilty, member-made items that you are sure to love!

Auction link:  NWAMQG Online Auction