Monday, March 23, 2026

March 21 2026 meeting minutes

 

LAQ Minutes: March 21, 2026 …..taken by Sue Green

Ronda brought a car-load of sewing supplies from her neighbor who is moving.

Members spent a good 30 minutes rummaging through the magazines, notions, fabric etc.

Formal meeting started at 9:40

Lynne mentioned the presentation that will be held at the Eppson Center on April 10, starting at 6:30 pm. Scott Schell will be talking about insects that can affect our fibers.

We had a group introduction around the table.

Financial report from Michaella: Our funds are about $3,500.00

Joan spoke about our retreat in May. She asked who was coming for one day or possibly two. She spoke about making Hospice quilts. Members volunteered to bring fabric and other supplies. We brainstormed design and piecing. Mary said she was saving some bags of fabric for just this purpose. We all agreed that we would just be making tops at the retreat and the backings and quilting would be done later.

It was decided that we would have a regular meeting in April anyway(aside from the retreat). It would be a show ‘n Tell, get to know each other….

May meeting on felting: Joan would be showing how to “shrink” wool and would bring her little machine. Cathy (other presenter) would do some felting using needles. Sue may run the meeting because of absences.

Uncommon Threads Gallery Showing: 2027 Tentative for August 20,21,22. We are considering a new space for the showing: The Collective on 2nd street. Most loved the venue, much bigger, better parking, more exposure, opens up more possibilities with the “space” in the middle. The cost could be $ 1,400.00, maybe less. It was mentioned that it’s really not a fundraiser for us but a demonstration of our talent and exposure for the group. We just need to be able to fill the space? Can we do it?? Should we consult Sharon about the space and how art would or could be displayed. Judy said we could actually use the ceiling beams to hang a quilt perpendicular to the wall as a little room divider.

The lighting seems good there as well.

Michaella started an introduction to her Thermofaxing/Foil application presentation. We all got our glue rubbed out early since it takes time for the glue to dry.

Show ‘n Tell:

Sue showed her forest scene with coyote, continuing to practice thread painting.

Barbara had a little mermaid swimming in the ocean. I thought it was great for her first thread painting attempt!

Maureen showed us 3 quilts, all made from hand dyed fabric. She tried a new Hunters star pattern. She also showed us a 20” x 20” dyed fabric with circles on it from a couple years ago. It was lovely…not finished yet.

Micaella is practicing her Inktense painting. She quilted together two printed pieces of fabric with flowers and leaves on it. Then she quilted the two pieces together following the fabric design. Then, colored in the flowers etc. with the pens. Beautiful!!

Mary challenged her “hate to hand sew” challenge by making a lovely embroidered flower on a piece of her dyed fabric. She then cross hatched the whole thing with large basting stitches.

Next Challenge project: Barbara passed out 2 color cards (from paint store) that we need to create something using those two colors. Each color had 3 “hues” of that color.

Lynne took a fabric with a scene on it and cut it into small squares. Then she put all the squares back together again with small spaces in between and “window paned” the entire piece. She sewed tule over the entire piece.

Ronda used chenille to make strips for grass at the bottom of a flower she has yet to create growing out of the grass.

Everyone got up around 11:30 to finish their thermofaxing/foiling design. We all left with samples.

Ajourned and clean up around 12:15.

Thursday, March 5, 2026

February Minutes- Sorry these are late!

 

Laramie Art Quilters
Meeting Minutes
February 21, 2026 – 9:30 AM

Attendance (19):
Brett, Ashley Hope, Jodie, Sarah, Paige, Michaella, Mary K., Judy McBride, Marilyn Sinclair, Roberta, Lynne, Barbara, Andrea G., Cathy Wissner, Judy Knight, Sue, Ann L., Regan, Harper, Carmen, Ronda


Experiments – Due in March

Members are encouraged to try a new technique or ingredient for fabric. The goal is to play and experiment—there is no pressure and projects do not need to be finished. Bring your experiment to share during show and tell.


Book Sale

The Albany County Book Sale will take place at the beginning of March (Friday–Monday).


Hospice Quilt Planning

LAQ has been making quilts for Hospice House for the past 10 years, with over 70 quilts donated. These quilts are matched with patients, and after the patient passes, the quilt goes home with the family.

  • Barbara coordinates this effort. Please let her know if you have quilts to donate, and photos are appreciated.

  • Preferred quilt sizes: approximately 55"–75" (full-size quilts are generally not needed).

  • If you would like to make just the quilt top, Mary K. is willing to quilt them.

  • LAQ provides batting and backing fabric when needed.

  • LAQ labels are also available to attach to completed quilts.

  • Hospice has a pediatric space, so quilts made with children’s fabrics are especially welcome.

  • Barbara recently completed a quilt top that Mary quilted.


LAQ Retreat

April 30 – May 2
Hosted by Joan in Fort Collins

Members gather to share techniques, work on projects, and learn from one another. Everyone is welcome.

  • Last year the group went out to dinner a few times.

  • Michaella is looking for a few volunteers to help organize this year’s retreat.

  • Joan has a long-arm machine in her basement available for use.

  • Members are encouraged to bring unfinished projects (UFOs) or work on Hospice quilts.

  • The retreat is a great opportunity for both beginners and experienced quilters.


Dye Days – Show & Tell

Members shared examples from recent dyeing experiments.

Notes shared:

  • Dharma Trading Company sells clothing and fabrics suitable for dyeing.

  • Michaella washes fabric using Synthropol.

  • Fabric is treated with soda ash, then dyed using Procion dyes.

  • Rinse first in cold water, followed by a rinse with Blue Dawn dish soap.

Several members brought dyed fabrics to share during show and tell.


Upcoming Guest

May 18 – Methodist Church

Guest speaker: Lydia Dameskins
Topic: Teaching experiences while working with Semester at Sea cruise programs.































Friday, February 20, 2026

February 2026 Derwent Inktense Demo notes

 

February 2026 LAQ demo

Derwent Inktense Pencils and blocks


Random notes gleaned from various videos

- Pencils are cleaner to use, but less versatile.

- Blocks can be messy, depending on the application method

- Once the Inktense is on the fabric, it is permanent.

- Can be added in layers (dried in between)

- Use fabric medium if you are going to wash the fabric and want more permanence and/or light fastness

- Write down what colors you are using!!

- NOTE: Inktense also comes in a pan set, like watercolor paints.


Ways to apply Inktense to fabric:

1. Apply to dry fabric, then wet.

- When using pencils, color in the direction you want (sympathetic or similar shape)

- Doesn’t need to be colored solid

- Then “liquefy” with water, aloe vera gel or fabric medium


2. Wet the fabric, then apply ink

- Wet the fabric with water, aloe vera gel or fabric medium

- Apply Inktense directly or with brushes.



Stiff brushes work a bit better, especially for blending.

White blocks are more opaque than the white pencils.



Some videos for further exploration:


This gal is using very wet fabric with Inktense. I have some examples and might be exploring this during Dye Days this summer. The Youtube Channel is “From my blue desk” and is called “Derwent inktense on fabric-custom backgrounds for slow stitching”


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8nIbRe3f1E



Helen Godden has several great videos on YouTube using Inktense on unwashed fabric. She uses the Inktense similar to painting on a prepared canvas. She doesn’t use any gel or medium; she uses water only.