2026 Community Outreach Quilt

A few of our members were fortunate enough to go to QuiltCon this year in Raleigh.

Thanks to these folks for representing our guild.

Quilt Alliance: Go Tell It!

For our February program, eight of our members shared quilts and the stories behind them.

We heard about grandma’s well-loved quilt; a mom’s gift to her daughter; a quilt gifted to a friend on the birth of her baby; a quilt that was hand-quilted over several years; and a mystery quilt that was rescued.

All of these stories were captured on video by Linda Pumphrey of Quilt Alliance. It was a real treat to hear the stories.

Check out other Go Tell It! stories on Quilt Alliance’s YouTube channel.

Upcoming Program: Quilt Alliance

Do you have a quilt that you are willing to share with the world? On February 17th, we have invited Quilt Alliance to join us. 

Quilt Alliance digitally records Quilts and their stories in a national registrar.

We are looking for that quilt which has a special meaning to you. Do you have a quilt that inspired you to take up quilting? Please share it with us! 

 

 

Upcoming Destash

This is a reminder to bring your destash items to the April 21^st meeting. We’ll be collecting fabric for the Quilt Show’s Guild Store.

Partial projects are welcome, too!

Handmade items may be better suited for the online auction. 

As you tidy up your space, consider donating fat quarters or yardage to the sale. Please mark fabric with size info and price according to this chart:

Fabric Yardage               $2 - $6 per yard

Fat Quarters                    $1each unless labeled

Charm pack 5”                 $5 - $8

Layer Cake 10”                $15 - $25

Jelly Roll                           $15 - $25

Scraps*                           $0.25 - $1 per oz

*In a clear plastic baggie, smaller groups sell best

Books/Magazines            10-50% of retail

Notions                            10-75% of retail

Other Stuff                      10-50% of retail

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!