Friend too please!
 

After see the post from Seattle, I would like to put "out there" that I am also looking for a friend. I am in Springfield, IL & I have thought about going to the local quilt guild, but I am not very good (terrified) at meeting new people in such a large group. Is there a member here on the board I could get to know a little here, & then maybe go to a meeting with? P.S. I am 48 yrs. & I have been sewing 40 years & quilting for the last few years.

Sure wish we lived close - I love to quilt with friends but hate large crowds - even if i know most of the people. My friend that used to go to the guild with quit going, so I did too.

Sorry I do not live closer (I am in Maryland) but I had to share my experience with you. Several years ago I was in your position. I wanted desperately to belong to a group of quilters but was terrified about going to my local quilt guild alone. The first month I chickened out but the second time I held my breath and marched on into the meeting ALONE. It was the best thing I ever did. The president greeted me and introduced me around. the people were so nice and welcoming I felt right at home. Remember these ladies LOVE the same thing you do and all QUILTERS are wonderful people....So march on

wish we lived closer - I'm out on Long Island. I find even walking into my LQS alone very intimidating! I know I can pretty much hold my own in my quilting, but you kind of get that feeling that your work isn't quite 'good enough' and others will be judging you, so I tend to stay in my comfort zone (my home studio). Hey, we can be 'virtual buddies' !!

Have you checked out any local quilt shops to see if they hold "open sewing" days? Usually you just work on your own UFO's. That is a good way to start small and not be so overwhelmed.

I live in south Mississippi but let me tell you what happened to me. I did belong to a guild about 45 miles away and drove there once a month for 6 years, then gas, well you know. I had not belonged to a guild for a while when a friend told me that there was one locally that meet the third Monday of the month at 6:00 pm. I went and joined, three months later I am vice president in charge of the programs. So far I've come up with some good programs but I have until October before the next vp takes office. Next month we are going to play quilt bingo, I can't wait.

I seem to be the closest here so far. I live in the very northeast part of Missouri. I am new to the area and would love to find a quilting friend. I wish we were closer sounds like we are looking for the samething.

Reginalovesfabric, I just wanted to pass on an idea our VP of programs had at our guild. At least once a year, we organize a school house quilt meeting. So instead of bringing in a speaker, we have 4-5 members do a simple demo at a table. Members can move from table to table learning something new. Since I have been quilting for only four years or so, I always learn something at the school house meeting.

We are also trying for the first time, an ice cream social meeting and during this time, members will rent a table for $10.00 to sell some of their extra stash, tools, etc. I'm anxious to see how that goes over.

Would be friends but Australia is a bit far away. Would you like to be my Internet friend?

Wouldn't it be great if somewhere on the QB there was a section for meeting new friends? For finding email friends or local buddies. Q-harmony? ...LOL. I bet a lot of folks would like that.

sounds like a good idea!

My mother who has been making quilts for a long time lives just a 1/2 mile from me so she is my quilting buddy. We dont get together to sew but we talk a lot about what we are working on. She also does my quilting after I have make my tops. How wonderful it that to have someone so close. If anyone lives near me in Iowa that would like to get together we could start a group here.

Contact the guild and see if they have any sort of program for interested new members. my guild has a position called "mother hen" who takes newbies around and introduces them to different people and shows them all the different things going on in the meeting. It really helps new members meet others and become acclimated and familiar with all that is going on in the guild.

This board is a great place to meet friends. A yr. ago somebody wrote that she wouldn't be writing on here anymore because she had recently lost her husb., was so deeply grieving & nobody understood what she was going through. Since I had recently lost my husb. & was in a very deep place, I immed. PM'd her to let her know she isn't alone out here.
We have become very dear friends & hope to meet someday. We both learned that we weren't going crazy because of the way we were feeling & are healing together. Being a nurse, my impulse is always to help somebody else feel better so in helping her, I've helped myself.
It's amazing how people on this QB reach out to ea. other.

Pat (RN-retired but nurses never really retire)

Pat that is so very beautiful! So glad to hear that your hearts found some solace in your newfound friendship!

There are a lot of wonderful people here on this board!

MrsK - It looks like you might have started something here.
I do hope one of us pops up in your home area!

Check with your Local Quilt to ask if there are any small-not guild-groups that would accept new members. MAH suggestion to try open sewing at your local quilt shop is an excellent idea.

That would be great. I too would love to find a quilting buddy.

Where in Iowa are you? I'm in Council Bluffs which is SW Iowa.

Mrsk, I just sent you a PM. I'm not far from you.

Hi MrsK....I am in Yorkville which I suspect is a bit far to meet on a regular basis but we can be internet friends if you would like. I may be to much older than you to be of interest. (I am 71 and a widow) I have grandchildren and I love to quilt. I moved here to be near my "kids" after Joe died and it has been a real experience. I recently found a wonderful group at the "Farm Bureau"..meets every Wed. and is a real quilting Bee. I have learned something every single week and I find myself looking for the next Wed. It is the nicest group of women and I was told at the first meeting "No one gossips here!" Isn't that just wonderful?

I came to Il from the NJ/NY area and never thought I would end up in the middle of a cornfield but I did and I am loving it. Lots more quilters here than I ever met in the Metro area. Only drawback is the lack of great fabrics I used to find at Estate Sales. I prefer '30's quilts so I loved finding stashes of fabrics in attics!

Have a great day and maybe we can meet at a quilt show in the middle sometime if you would like. Schaumburg is hosting a show April 4-6 at the convention center...see details on www.sevingexpo.com

I know exactly where you are coming from. As president of our guild, I started what we refer to as "Meet and Greet". As you enter the meeting place, we have a sign in sheet for both members and guests. One of our members is assigned as the "Greeter' for the night or I myself do it. I first introduce myself and ask where they are from and what interests they have other than quilting and how they heard about our guild. Depending on those answers, I know exactly who to introduce her to. One of our members love to travel by rv and this one guest had the same interest. Guess who are the best of buddies today?

I guess what I am trying to say is, there is always someone who is just waiting to have a new buddy in the quilting world. You will not find anyone more outgoing and willing to meet another quilter than another quilter.

Take a deep breath, walk in and say "Hello". You'll be glad you did. Good luck! I'll be thinking of you.

Maybe go to the quiltinggallery.com and you can find bloggers from Illinois (there are quite a few). Maybe one of them is close to your location.

Where on Long Island are you Debbie?

When I moved to NC from New England, I had to meet everyone! I also don't like big crowds. But I got the phone numbers for officers in the local guild. I called the VP & she said the members were all a bit wacky so I went. They were all very welcoming. They had 'show & tell' during the meeting. One lady showed a beautiful wall hanging of Father Time & the woodland creatures. It was well above my ability or even my desire so I thought this group would not be for me but they also had an open sewing group on Tuesday mornings - come when you can, sew what you want. I went & really got to know the quilters there. I keep joking to the first quilter that she almost scared me off. I'm truly glad that I went.

I have been looking for a friend also. Houston is a large city. I also get nervous in large crowds. If anyone in the area would like to be my friend please let me know. Evelyn

Being an introvert myself, I do understand how you feel. I would suggest that you get in touch with someone from the guild via email if that is an option. I used to handle membership duties for my spinning and weaving guild. If a new member got in touch with me before a meeting, I could make sure to meet her at the door to welcome her and find someone at the meeting who shared her crafting interests - we have spinners, weavers, quilters, knitters, etc... and there was always someone who was happy to make the guest feel welcome.

Don't let your nervousness keep you away from a group of people who more than likely feel like old friends by the end of the meeting.