Quilt Guild Programs

[Cynthia A.]

What kinds of things does your quilt guild/quilting group do that are really fun and excite/motivate your members? Maybe we could share some of these ideas to give all of our groups a real shot in the arm to re-energize our members.

[Cynthia A.]

Great idea!!! Our local, small, guild could use some new ideas also!

[Judy M.]

My guild had an apron challenge in May--we all wore our aprons to the meeting and voted on our favorites. August we had a "hot" nametag challenge--anything that denotes heat. For September we're all wearing Hawaiian and saying goodbye to summer. We also decorate the tables we sit at at different times of the year. You should see the costumes at Halloween! It's probably the most fun-loving bunch of women I've ever seen at a guild! (BTW, it's the Los Angeles County Quilt Guild) One really good meeting that I especially enjoyed was a trunk show by a friendship group in the guild. Judy in Torrance

[Judy M.]

Every January, in lieu of our normal monthly meetings, our quilt guild has a charity sew-in. Other than our biennial quilt show, I think this is the activity that gets the most membership participation. Members form teams of about 6-10 people, including a team leader. Each team brings sewing machines, cutting tools, ironing tools, etc. to create quilts in an assembly line fashion.

Usually the charity and a particular quilt block is selected by the charity committee, then blocks made by guild members are collected throughout the year at monthly meetings. Battings and fabrics for quilt backings are often donated.

This year, each team chose a different quilt block and some quilt tops were made by team members prior to the sew-in. A total of 53 quilts were made to be donated to orphans in Honduras. (My team used the rail fence block and I've posted one of the quilts that I helped make on my profile.)__________________________________________________ ___

Here's another idea. Last year, I initiated a slice quilt group within my guild, which I named "Slice Capades". There are many ways to approach a slice quilt. My group of six decided to use an original art print from one of our group who is an accomplished artist. We enlarged the print, divided it into six approximately equal pieces and selected our pieces at random. Each of us saw only our piece and not the entire picture. We each secretly recreated our piece/block, six times, using whatever technique we wanted. By a certain due date, we completed our six blocks and exchanged them, such that each of us had the whole picture. We were all supposed to complete putting our blocks together, layering and quilting to create six completed quilts in time to meet the due date for displaying them all together in our guild's 2009 quilt show. (A photo of my slice quilt is on my profile--it's a picture of a red barn.)

[Judy M.]

I like the idea of a slice quilt! Certainly makes the brain tick! ....... :wink:

[Judy M.]

Nancy, the slice quilt is a brilliant idea!!! Judy in Torrance

[Cynthia A.]

Our circle (attendance ranges from 15 - 25 at any given meeting) implemented a "Topic of the Day." We draw a topic from the hat (ex: piece of fabric, pattern, quilting book, web site, favorite tip, sewing notion, non-traditional tool used for quilting, web site, etc.) and we discuss and/or bring item to next meeting. One of our most successful topics was "book read for pleasure" -- even our most reticent members eagerly participated in the discussion! There are many, many different topics that you could think of and the randomness of the pulling out of a hat adds a bit to the fun. Any other ideas for other topics? This has been a good way to get participation and to share ideas/info.

[Cynthia A.]

charm square exchange

blotto block raffle... make blocks, each block is your name in the hat ... have a chance to win a collection

auctions for dontated and special items, quilt tops,ect

Mystery quilts.... directions and supply list are published in the newsletter that comes out each month. Those that participate make the blocks in installments... We present the quilt tops at SHOW AND TELL and prizes are awared.

Various challenges are offered by the board.... Sharyn Craig's new books has a lot of ideas similar to what we used.

This year's challenge .... PAINT CHIPS... based on your name you find paintchips in the colors based on you initials... Make a project using those colors ( as close as you can to the paint chip.) The quilts are then displayes and VIEWER CHOICE prizes are given out.

We host two quilt retreats a year where you can bring projects to work on from 9am til 9pm... design walls are available. POT Luck for meals.... Fee is based on numer of quilters divided in to the hall rental ..... We are thinking of having another retreat to make 3 in a row.


CHRISTMAS IN JULY.... several vendors brought in Christmas fabrics to preview and sell. Christmas music played, Christmas punch and cookies were served. We worked on Christmas presents/ gifts / projects for several hours. There were also several ornaments that could be made...pattern, directions and supplies.

Shop Hops.... After contacting stores... we have a sign up for members .... then groups of ladies go from shop to shop... buying fabric..quilt stuff. It is more fun to shop in a group... sometimes we rent a bus.

FOUR CORNERS.... MODULES are set up in the auditorium where a skillled member demonstrates a quilt techinque to the other members. People observe the demo x 15 minutes then move on to the next station.

Last time I gave instruction for Ricky's 3d Flying geese... someone demonstrated how to get and accurate seam allowance.... a class on color wheel was discussed.... Machine maintaince was also shown.



UFO CHALLENGE... you register your UFOs AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.... WITH EACH COMPLETION YOUR NAME GOES into a drawing.. at the Christmas party prizes are awarded.