How do you start a new quilting group/guild?
#22
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 5,007
Summer is coming. Collect names and towns (addresses if you can get them) from your county fair, area quilt shows, State quilt shows, etc. Then try to trace them in the phone book or online. Ask at the nearest quilt store about local area quilters and their location so you can contact them. I started one almost 25 years ago and it is still going strong.
~ Cindy
#24
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Central Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA
Posts: 7,695
In a small town, I have made a practice of finding the local coffee spot, and go have a long slow cup while I go through the fabric and pattern (which I just happen to carry in with me) that I am thinking about making. That always starts the conversation, and helps me find other local quilters. Good luck and remember to have fun.
#25
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 368
Three friends and I used to go on road trips to get fabric. We decided to get together once a month and I volunteered for the first meeting and made a simple lunch. Since I had room we added two more which is where the problem began. We had originally agreed to stay small, to share hosting and to do sack lunches except for special occasions. All of a sudden one of the new gals invited a friend without asking first. Then no one else wanted to host and lunch was expected. We stopped for the summer and never resumed. All that to say be sure of the ground rules before you get started. What started as a wonderful time ended as nightmare which still hurts me.
#26
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle
Posts: 695
Great timing for this topic. I've been wanting to join or start a group for a long time. There is one lady at my church who asked me to teach her how to quilt. I said I'd love to, but I'm no expert. I can show her the basics. Now I want to put a notice in the bulletin to see if there are others who want to participate in a very informal group. I'm thinking once a month, at least to start. We'll see how it goes!
Good luck with your group!
Good luck with your group!
#27
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 5,007
Thanks, Anne...good luck with yours too. Please keep me informed on how it goes. I won't be starting my group until at least this fall, or later. However, I'm busy as a bee gathering my notes.
~ Cindy
~ Cindy
#28
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Lumby, British Columbia
Posts: 2,769
These are all good suggestions aren't they? When our group started we also carried information about our group on coloured paper. We did four notices to a sheet of coloured paper. We kept them in our purses in case we ran into people who might be interested. We also put them in every quilt store within a 75 mile radius. Have fun. A coffee pot and cookies helps.
#29
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Mendocino Coast, CA
Posts: 5,007
Yes, a coffee pot with goodies is always a plus. Music is good too! I'm definitely going to start informally and just see what happens. I'd like to have all the textile artists, weavers, sewers, quilters, knitters, fabric painters, etc. A "Textile Arts Co-Op." I'm thinking that one day can be set aside for each group, so there's enough space to spread out. (I wouldn't want the fabric dyers setting up next to the quilters on the same day.) I already have a large space to start in.
~ Cindy
~ Cindy
#30
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Seattle
Posts: 695
Good luck!
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