Quilt Mom

Wish I were in your area. I'd love to help.

Fabaddict

Yes I belong to a guild. It is a very small one - current membership is 28. I like the small because we can connect with each other easier. I won't join a larger one because I find the large ones are too clicky and too many members are left out in the cold. We don't have a lot of money, but we do have very talented quilters. One just taught us Bargello. We do have a "formal" meeting then we get to take a "class" if we want. We arrange for some kind of lunch- salads, soup, pot luck and generally have a great time.

Quilt Mom

I am in two groups - one a guild, and one more of a bee, I guess.

The guild has its positives - we have a program nearly every month, do a show every year, contribute children's quilts for the local emergency responders to give out, etc.

The bee is small - about 10 people usually. We learn techniques, work on charity quilts, and take an 'each one teach one' attitude. I like this one a great deal.

I think you get out of a group what you put in, so go with an open mind, and volunteer to help where/when you can. Usually you meet a lot more people that way, and become a part of the group. You can help make the group friendlier to others, sometimes.

longerarmer

I go to own qiult meetings once a month we have about 25 in our guild.We have busines segment ,we have dimonstions,show and tell. We do charities quilts, and quilts for the fire and police department to hand out in emergency situation. We some times go in early and sew up some quilts for theme.I have learn a lot from the guild girls.

quilt3311

3 guilds. One is daytime meeting--twice a month--first is business meeting and a demonstation. 2nd is "workday" we either have a class or a guest trunk show.
2nd guild meets once a month at night-always a trunk show or demonstrations.
3rd is our State Guild--meets the last full weekend of July--classes, lectures, shopping at vendors and the annual business meeting (new raffle quilt is unveiled at this meeting)

Covered in Threads

I always hesitated in joining a quild - always pictured a room filled with older people sitting around a wooden frame with a quilt in place being hand sewn on until about 5 years ago. A new friend I made at a local craft show talked me into attending one of their meetings where they were learning how to do miniature landscape quilts and it's been a real joy to be a part of this band of merry people since. I've learned so much from all the talents within this group of people of about 100 or so quilters ranging in age from 9 to 80+. Mostly women, a few children and two or three men pop in off and on. And their backgroups are so diverse - teachers, lawyers, accountants, nurses, doctors, office managers, park rangers, full time moms, students, geologists, retired business owners and the list goes on.
We meet Jan thru Oct once a month on the 4th Thursday evening at a local church. We do share upcoming events, guild business, a trade table, another table that has adoptable kits to make community service projects from, show n tell and other things that come up. During the year we have a number of things going on with the Guild - hand sewing classes, workshops where we learn new techniques, trunkshows, well known quilt lecturers and open sewing days held on other days of the week at another local church and our only quilt shop. All of our community service projects are donated yearly to different organizations, this year the quilts, receiving blankets, pillowcases, walker pouches and backpacks went to one of our local Adult assisted environment, a service that houses special needs adults get back out in the working world, veterans at a local VA hospital and our pediatric ward at our local hospital.
We also have two retreats every year for the members, no planned projects just a great time to get away, spend time with a special friend and make new ones, sleeping in cabins located in a local forest, where we have someone else do all the cooking and sew as long as you want.
We also help in the organizing, displaying and answering of questions at our local county fair every year. Some of us also do demonstrations during the fair to get people interested and possibly joining us.
And then every other year our guild puts on a Quilt show in our local library and what a display that is.
As you can see there are many different quilds out there, you just need to attend one or two to see if it fits your needs.
I could go on and on but I did want to add one more little thing - I'm the current president of our Guild and if you do chose to join one I can't encourage you enough - get involved so you can help them grow and have a say on things that can be done to help your community through all of them and their endeavors and in what they can learn from each other.

inletjerry

Am #1 on the waiting list for our local quild. Will probably be after the new year before I get in because it depends on who pays their dues, we are at max members now. Can't wait to share all the knowledge thest people have.

MamaNan

I belong to two quilds near me. We have monthly meetings. We always have a short business meeting, show and tell and then someone gives a demonstration.
Once a month the clubs combine to have a sewcial or sew day or sometimes we will make a trip to a fabric store or quilt show together. About once a year we plan a three or four day retreat. This year we have rented three cabins at a state park and a group building where we will sew and socialize.

CoriAmD

I belong to this one right here, and It's the best one anywhere! Don't know how many members and we can discuss anything quilting related! LOL :)

2manyprojects

We here in central PA have a local quilt group, there are 2 guilds very close to us, but we prefer to say group, no dues, no real "boss" just a get together, discussion, show n tell and we are making quilts for soldiers.