Guild History Quilt, with the 36 green leaves signed by the charter members. The leaves on the vine border came from the cloth used to make the first quilt project, a sampler quilt. It is hand appliqued and quilted.
History
The Quilts ‘N’ Things Quilt Guild was organized in 1988 and the first meeting was held in January 1989 with 33 charter members. At that time, quilting guilds were uncommon. The WVU Extension Office helped establish the bylaws and continues to provide facilities for the Guild meetings. The activities of the Guild are planned and carried out by committees: Program, Travel, Hospitality, Telephone, and Special Projects. Individual members volunteer their time for the yearbook, scrapbook, library and webpage.
Of the 33 charter members, 14 remained active members of the Guild at the time of the 20th anniversary of its founding, while ten of the charter members were deceased.
In 1997, an evening guild, Quilts “N” Things Too, was formed for quilters who could not attend the daytime meetings. As of 20th anniversary, there were 33 daytime Guild members and 26 evening Guild members with a combined membership of 59.
Mission and Membership
The Guild strives to establish educational programs and communications lines among members, stimulating thought, exchange of ideas, as well as enhancement of individual strengths. The group is dedicated to the preservation of quilts that have historical and cultural value. The art of present day quilted items is supported and encouraged so that these items may become our heirlooms of tomorrow.
Membership is open to those interested in preserving the art of quilting, and members range from beginners to advanced quilters.
Programs, Retreats and Annual Challenges
Trying out new techniques and applying our skills to make beautiful and useful objects is part of the mission of the Quilts ‘N’ Things Quilt Guilds monthly meetings include demonstrations or interesting programs. Workshops are scheduled from time to time for more involved projects like garments, purses, decorative items, mystery quilts, etc.
The Travel Committee provides information about shows, shop hops, and other events of interest to members, and also sets up the annual Christmas outing.
Over the years, the guild has planned at least three quilt retreats, and individual members have gone on retreats sponsored by other organizations. The March 2009 Retreat was an “all-nighter” held in Gallipolis at the St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. July’s “Quilting in the Country” is becoming a new tradition, hosted by one of our members.
Each year a member proposes a challenge. In 1995, the first challenge was to make a certain quilt block during summer recess and bring it back to the group in September. A drawing was held for the blocks. This proved so popular that the same challenge was repeated over the summer for several years. Then the frequency of the quilt block challenge was increased from annually, to quarterly, to monthly. The goal to provide each member with enough blocks to make a quilt was achieved in 2000.
Since that time, different challenges have been proposed: some of the most recent have been to make a small quilt based on a greeting card, use flannel in a quilted item, using various blocks in a quilted item (for example, Nine-Patch, Double Irish Chain) and the 2012 Challenge, make a project that uses only two-colors.
Awards, Exhibits, and Quilt Guild Shows
Many of our members have been winners at the annual CEO’s “Harvest of Quilts” Quilt Show, held at the WV State Farm Museum on the first weekend of October. Some members have won state and national contests.
Three of our members, Marjorie Rogers, Lucille Fowler and Lethia Bumgarner, were invited at different times to provide the entire show at the Bob Evans Farm Museum in Rio Grande, Ohio. Guild members provided quilts for an extended exhibit at the same museum, held November 2003-January 2004.
Contribution to Community
The accomplishments of the Guild in the last 20 years are numerous. Some of the notable contributions of its members to the community have been:
- 54” Wall quilt top to Pleasant Valley Hospital (PVH) Charity Ball, bringing in $455
- Flower garden quilt top to PVH Charity Ball. Finished quilt sold for $2,000
- Card Tricks Quilt to Cameo Ladies. Raffle made $700
- Field and Furrows version of “Log Cabin” pattern donated to National NE 4-H Ladies forum in 2002
- “Quilt of Hope” for WV Breast and Cervical Cancer Diagnostic & Treatment Fund
- 6 Red, white & blue quilts for WV service men and women injured in battle, recovering at the Walter Reed Hospital in Maryland
- Lap robe raffled to buy Christmas gifts for service men and women serving overseas ($550)
- 40 Ditty bags for service men and women in Iraq
- 26 Cancer turbans distributed to various hair salons and local Cancer Treatment Centers
- 25 tote bags and pillows for breast cancer “Reach for Recovery”, distributed to Holzer Cancer Care Center (This is an on-going service project)
- 24 Boo-Boo Bears to 3 fire departments and Mason County Emergency Service
- 20 Baby quilts to Pleasant Valley Hospital
- 34 Baby quilts to refugees in Kosovo, Action Youth Care, PVH and Branches
- 15 Lap robes to 3 nursing homes
- 18 Baby quilts to Homeless Shelter, Branches and Human Services
- 56 Stuffed animals to City Police, Sheriff, Fire Departments, EMS, Branches and the Homeless Shelter
The guild has made monetary donations to TV stations, Mason County Vocational School “Teen Parenting Program”, Tu Endie Wei Garden Club, Main Street Banners, and sent pieced blocks, fabric, etc. to UFO Orphan Project in Texas. Several members are involved in the Mason County Quilt Barn Trail Project.
