Happy New Year!

To all our members, may you have a bright and productive year making all the beautiful, modern things that you do.

We look forward to seeing you at our meetings and events, and we hope they bring you joy! 

Here’s to learning more, sharing more, and connecting more.

Guest Speaker
Radha Weaver

The guest speaker at our January meeting will be Radha Weaver, a textile artist, sustainability educator and small business strategist based in San Francisco.

Her expertise and passion for sustainability was fueled by a 15-year career in the apparel industry where she travelled the world, visited denim factories in China and Bangladesh, and unfortunately had a front seat to the rise of fast fashion. She used to create new jeans but now she helps keep those same jeans out of a landfill through classes and patterns to help Quilt Your Jeans.

"I created Sewing through Fog in 2021 to reconnect with my first love and family tradition—the art of sewing—in the foggy city I call home. Leaving a 15-year career in the apparel and textile industry (and a front seat to the rise of fast fashion), I was craving craftmanship, handmade, local and zero-waste where possible.

And then I found quilting, where my sewing and textile knowledge naturally led me to make quilts as art, as apparel, as functional decor; mixing vintage and upcycled textiles, turning scraps back into fabric.

And I realized my unique expertise and passion could be shared and, just maybe, inspire you to use repurposed and upcycled fabrics in your quilty projects."

Photos Sewing Through Fog

Bear Paw Block

This block is a modern take on the traditional bear paw quilt block, i.e. modern traditionalism in modern quilting. It is based on a free Redford Quilt pattern by Meghan Buchanan of thencamejune and @thencamejune on Instagram.

It does not have the traditional cornerstones in the centre and it uses skinny 3/8″ sashing. You can read about the pattern on her blog and there is a link to download the free pattern if you would like to make one for yourself https://thencamejune.com/blogs/blog/redford-quilt-the-teddy-bear-one

Fabric Colours
For this block lotto we are going to use the same colours as on the blog and we are aiming for a cheerful, scrappy look. You’ll need:

• bright and modern pinks (can be peachy/orangey/reddish), yellows, and softer-medium blue/turquoise
• quieter low volume fabric
• solid fabric for the inside sashing

Block size: 14 3/8" square (unfinished). One paw is 7 1/4" square.

 Block instructions 

Photo below by Then Came June

5 Pro Tips for Upcycled Denim Art by Radha Weaver

A pair of old jeans can transform into a sustainable gift, or a cool piece of modern art!

"Don’t be scared to experiment with your upcycled denim art! There is no wrong way to upcycle denim and the right way is whatever works best for you."
Radha Weaver, textile artist, sustainability educator and small business strategist based in San Francisco.

1. Tools matter
2. Try a traditional pattern
3. Use all the parts
4. Embrace the fray
5. Decorate with bold thread

Don’t know where to start? Check out the detailed tips here.

🌶️ Hot Tip: Radha will be our Guest Speaker at our online meeting in January.

Photo by Radha Weaver

👉 Reminders 

NEW WIP registration is now open: All work must be started before, and registered by our March 17, 2025 guild meeting. Each WIP costs $2, payable in cash at our March in-person meeting. Enter as many WIPs as you like. When your registered project is finished, take a photo and email it to Edna
wips@vancouvermodernquiltguild.ca
We will draw a winner at our November meeting to receive a CASH prize! 🤑

Show ’n Share Photos: Send us your quilt pics, we’ll post them on our IG. Email photos@vancouvermodernquiltguild.ca

Sew Good Quilts: If you have any quilt tops, backs or finished quilts to return to Megan, please bring them to the meeting or get in touch by email.
sewgoodquilts@vancouvermodernquiltguild.ca