Our story

Who are the Phoenix Modern Quilt Guild?

The National Modern Quilt Guild has been around since 2009, with the Phoenix chapter establishing itself in 2012. We have grown and evolved into a group of 110+ members from across the valley, country, and globe with a variety of interests and talents – and we can’t wait for you to join our group!

Learn more about membership

We are a diverse welcoming community coming together to educate and share the passion of quilting by supporting each other, giving to our community, all through the love of Modern Quilting

The PHXMQG’s definition of modern quilting is taken directly from the definition provided by the national branch of the Modern Quilt Guild:

Modern quilting is a new and rapidly growing movement in the quilting world. A group of quilters applied their current tastes and points of view to this traditional craft and shared their work online. Their fresh approach and new designs attracted sewers and quilters and the modern quilting movement was born.

Modern quilting, like all art, changes, grows and adapts from quilter to quilter as they find their own voice. Modern quilts reflect each quilter’s personality and personal style, and as the movement has grown, a modern quilt aesthetic, a set of principles that define and guide the movement, is beginning to emerge.

Modern quilts and quilters may:*

  • Make primarily functional rather than decorative quilts
  • Use asymmetry in quilt design
  • Rely less on repetition and on the interaction of quilt block motifs
  • Contain reinterpreted traditional blocks
  • Embrace simplicity and minimalism
  • Utilize alternative block structures or lack of visible block structure
  • Incorporate increased use of negative space
  • Are inspired by modern art and architecture
  • Frequently use improvisational piecing
  • Contain bold colors, or trend color combinations and graphic prints
  • Often use gray and white as neutrals
  • Reflect an increased use of solid fabrics
  • Focus on finishing quilts on home sewing machines

(*The above list is meant to act as a guideline. The list in no way is the ultimate definer of modern quilting as it is an evolving art form unique to each individual quilter.)

Modern quilting has its roots in rebellion, in our desire to do something different, but simultaneously its feet are firmly planted in the field of tradition. Modern quilting is our response to what has come before. We are quilters first, modern quilters second. There are however, characteristics that set modern quilters apart from our traditional and art quilting friends.

Modern quilters are a diverse group of individuals, young and old, experienced and novice, yet each of us feels the need to differentiate ourselves as modern quilters by how we work, the fabrics we choose, and the aesthetic of our quilts. We create in a way that supports our individual creative needs and our lifestyle preferences. Modern quilters resist the imposition of hard and fast rules for making a quilt. We pick and choose traditional techniques and methods that work for us and at the same time feel free to redefine or reinvent what is possible and allowable in making quilts.Modern quilters have embraced the new options available in textiles: bold colors, graphic prints, larger scale prints, and Japanese fabrics. Much like the Amish quilting tradition, many modern quilters are also exploring quilt designs made exclusively with solid fabrics or with just a hint of print.

The Internet has played an integral role in the development of modern quilting. Through blogs, online tutorials and social media the modern quilting community interacts, providing inspiration and friendship for each other. This has helped the community grow at an astounding pace, providing feedback and support at a moment’s notice.

In many ways, modern quilting has taken us back to the basics of the early quilters, when women of the day used the colors and styles of their time to express themselves creatively while finding friendship and community along the way.

Membership Benefits

National Modern Quilt Guild membership
  • Purchase of PHXMQG membership gets you membership into The Modern Quilt Guild
    • Access to our online community
    • Access to our webinar series
    • Access to our MQG Journal pattern series
    • Access to our MQG Journal block study series
    • Opportunities to participate in inter-guild swaps and challenges
    • Discounted rates on conferences and events
    • Priority and early-bird registration on conference and event admissions
    • Discounted small business and personal insurance
    • Discounts and special offers with MQG sponsors and affiliated companies
    • Membership Card (virtual)
    • Pin
    • Blog Button

* above membership details can change, please check https://www.themodernquiltguild.com/join to verify current offerings

PHXMQG membership
  • Entry to all monthly membership meetings and sew days at no additional cost
  • Priority registration and reduced pricing for special events
  • Participation in guild Challenges, Block of the Month, Bee, Swaps, and other guild activities.
  • May vote in all elections
  • Ability to participate on committees

Make sure to check out our guild polices and bylaws:

Membership Cost

Membership is $45 for the calendar year , January to December of the same calendar year

How do I pay my membership dues?

Dues are purchased through our shop – click below

our board members

President

Erika Daniels

My mission in life is to encourage you to find the knowledge, confidence, and freedom to accomplish anything. Even if it does not involve quilting.

My mom and I learned to quilt from “Sewing with Nancy” and “Quilt in a Day”. I stopped for a long time, beginning again in 2013, joining PHXMQG in 2015. I love all types of quilts. Modern. Civil War. Traditional. Give them all to me. I do not make them all, I love them. I piece fast on my Juki, and quilt slow on my long arm. I help my mom with her quilts too; I finish piecing the tops she starts, then quilt them. I track every step of every quilt on a giant spreadsheet. I have a lot of WIPs. A LOT!

I grew up in SoCal, detoured to Hawaii and Utah, and landed in Arizona in 2005. I live in SE Scottsdale with my husband (who rescues old quilts from garage sales) and two terrible terriers. I spend my work days as an Agile Coach.

Vice President

Michelle Jensen

TBD

Secretary

Kristin Floyd

Kristin took advantage of the Pandemic in early 2020 to discover her love of quilting and fabrics. She learned from a friend, took a class at a local quilt shop and has quickly become obsessed! (Is 3 sewing machines too many?!) Her favorite quilt during her first year was the Tula Pink 100 block City Sampler. She made this into a King Size quilt & it’s on her bed today. Kristin looks for new ways to grow her sewing skills, with new patterns & techniques, and even some embroidery. Prior to quilting she spent decades with paper crafts, making cards and scrapbooks. By day, Kristin works as an IT Analyst at Mayo Clinic. While she is new to PHXMQG, she is looking forward to sharing her gifts of organization and her love of quilting with the guild and the community.

Tech Chair

Elisabet Hannafin

TBD

Tech Chair

Candace Lannon

I think I have been quilting off and on since 2007. I learned from some beginner classes at the old 35th Ave Sew & Vac (anyone else remember their old location? lol) I enjoy dabbling in different quilting techniques, but I am always looking for new easy ways to tackle quilting problems. Especially if there are new gadgets or technology that I can use. You can also find me playing with machine embroidery, knitting, temari making, photography, baking and gardening. You will mostly find me helping run the virtual side of our meetings. I pay for my fabric hoard by being a Program Manager at GoDaddy.

Contact Us

Have any questions about our guild? What to know more? Interested in attending a meeting as a guest? Click below to contact us