Thread: Looking for ideas for guild meetings

I will be president of our guild next year and could use ideas for programs, projects or just fun things you do at your guild meetings that I could incorporate for our guild. Also this is a whole year away but what do you do that is fun for your Christmas guild meeting. Always your help and ideas are greatly appreciated.

I thought the post about a wallhanging challenge was interesting. I forget what the exact title was, (under the Yum Yum Tree ?) but each person brought a yard of fabric they didn't want. At the meeting the people were grouped in colour families I believe and then the yards were divided and they had to make something with their pieces.

Quarterly block. One member picks a block, makes it, and then passes out the pattern. Those interested make as many blocks as they choose. Then all names are put in the tin, and drawn. The winner gets all the blocks. Your name is added as many times as the number of blocks you made. It's a lot of fun.

One of the most fun meetings at our guild was "Quilt Bingo". We were supposed to make and bring our own "cards" using 2 1/2" squares. Black (free) in the center, first row red/pink, second yellow/orange, third green, fourth blue, fifth purple. various themes, floral, novelty, metallic, stripe/plaid, dots, ect. Then the bingo numbers called were "red stripe" or "blue floral" ect. There were donated prizes for getting bingo. After the game, all the cards were gathered up and they made charity quilts with them (sashed with black, stunning). There were even extra blocks made that you could buy one to play if you didn't make any to bring, and you could play as many as you made/bought. It was a blast.

We usually have a speaker at our meeting, and there is a program committee that arranges it. If you are a small guild, try to use your members (or local quilt shop owners) for programs. Surely someone collects antique quilts, or can demonstrate a technique they have learned. We generally do not have a December meeting but a potluck is always popular. How about a "quilty" item gift exchange with a $$ limit, just number them and draw numbers.

I know what not to do. A few Christmas ago, someone had the bright idea to get people to get to know each other and mix it up a bit. Everyone got a fabric swatch as they entered which matched a table fabric swatch. The idea was to get to know other people. Wrong. It was not fun not to sit with my friends and talk to them about their Christmas. Don't get me wrong. The idea would have been fine at another "table" meeting. Just not Christmas.

A few fun things that have been mentioned is have a cookie contest, a postcard swap, an ornament exchange.

Host a fabric exchange, or fabric/book "yard" sale.

We are a small group with many varing levels of experience. A couple times a year we have a guest speaker/teacher. The rest of the year the members will present/teach/demo a new technique. At our Christmas party we play dirty Santa and fat quarter craps. Spouses are invited. Ladies it is lots of fun watching the men play the games.

Originally Posted by jeaniedrain

At our Christmas party we play dirty Santa and fat quarter craps. Spouses are invited. Ladies it is lots of fun watching the men play the games.

Can you explain how "Dirty Santa" and "fat quarter craps" work? I'm no gambler, so clueless here.

I have also done a reading where items go left or right and at the end of the story the item you have is the one you get to keep. Something like, Jeff went to the store. He had to make two left turns (item moves twice to the left). Once he was on his way, he remembered he need to see a friend, so he went right to the door (item moves once to the right), etc. I believe you can goggle left/right stories and will find many to use.