Quilt Guild Programs
 

I was asked to be Chairperson for my guild's programs. I have been looking to book teachers for the programs/workshops. They are all booked up usually two years in advance. The ex program director has booked many of them for this year two to three years ago! I am okay until mid 2017. Anyone know of a good program quilter that is available for mid 2017 - for all of 2018 please pm me. We have exhausted most of the local teachers and trunk shows from members. Any good ideas on quilt programs?

Wanted to add if anyone thinks they would like to teach or do a lecture now is the time to practice on my guild and make some money too!

It might help if people knew were you were located - - ?

My guild did a tool show. Everyone brought their old favorite or new tool/gadget and showed how it was used. I was surprised at the new rulers I hadn't seen before.

location? And what is your budget (meaning can your guild afford to pay travel expenses?). We are in the KC area and have had several great programs from from quilters that are within easy drive time--if you are close enough, PM me and I'll send you their names.

One we did last year and plan again this year is a member UFO challenge--our president offered a prize for a UFO (over 5 yrs) finished up and entered into our guild show. We had a lot of fun with this program as everyone was encouraged to bring a UFO and tell it's "story"--there was a baby quilt that the recipient is now 35! And one member in her 70's had blocks that had been started while she was in high school! One member had a project that she'd started in a guild workshop years ago and lost the pattern--several could help her with that. Just a real fun program and no cost.

Could you ask your local sewing machine tech to do a program about sewing machine care and maintenance? I've had a lot of fun doing that for our local guilds.

Other programs we've had at guild are, the Local Quilt Shops come and present their store. And a quilt appraiser came and talked about how to value and preserve quilts.

Location and details would help. Can't give suggestions if we don't know where and $$ issues.

For me, I love when our program is a sit and sew. My opinion of teachers is the trunk show doesn't really interest me, I personally would rather learn something, and since my finances are really tight, I cannot afford to buy any of their stuff. JMHO

My location is Southern AR and the budget is generous, paying for travel is not a problem. The problem is all I have contacted are booked several years in advance.

I had luck looking for speakers by looking at guilds in other cities like Houston and reading their newsletters.

They are still building the page but Texas Association of Quilt Guilds (north Texas) has a page of teachers under resources. http://taqg.org/teachers/

Grace Errea was a good speaker and we contacted her about 6 months out to fill a gap in our schedule. http://www.amazingquiltsbygrace.com

Try Cindy Needham. She is fantastic and she travels.

Are there any local teachers in your area? Or people that do fantastic "show and tell" at the meetings?

Or maybe an "off-topic" such as "How to use one's library"

Sometimes people do not value "local" talent as much as someone that has come from further away. I think we miss out a lot with that mind-set,

AR is not Arizona. LOL I am getting pms about teachers in the Arizona area.

You might try Kimberly Einmo. She was at our guild last year teaching a class, and I know she travels.

http://www.kimberlyeinmo.com/

You might also try contacting Crafty teachers.

Contact other guilds close by or visit to see what they are doing and exchange ideas. How about having a judge from your local fair. You learn alot as to what judges look for when judging a quilt. In our town, there is a modern quilt guild, so we had someone visit and explain the difference between traditional and modern quilts. Not much different, but you can take a traditional block and give it a modern twist. We also have chance auction. Members bring quilting or sewing related items which are tagged with a number and matched with a solo cup. Members then buys tickets to deposit in the cup for the item they hope to win.

Our guild is small and with limited finances, so we (about 25 of us) take turns signing up yearly for the monthly meeting.

Members are in charge of the program and if we can bring in a speaker that's fine. We've about exhausted the local speakers as we only have $50 for them. They are usually quilt shops that present a new technique or tool that's a current and popular trend, giving them advertising and some sales of what they present.

So we do our own lessons on certain patterns, any type of sewing, applique, historical, travelogues, etc. and then (with receipts) are given up to $25 for printing or copying, or supplies, etc. The program does NOT have to be about sewing or quilting. One member, on a recent trip across country, visited the town of Hamilton MO. That provided a wealth of info about the Missouri Star Quilt Company and that town's history by Jenny Doan and her family. One of our meetings is a Christmas Dinner paid by the guild; someone has to make those restaurant arrangements. Another is a salad/dessert potluck for our organizational meeting and someone has to arrange the paper products and beverages, etc. Ornaments, placemats, shortcut techniques, the making of portable ironing boards, styluses, purses, cake decorating, etc. have added to our knowledge. This system has worked out very well for several years and sometimes two can do the program together as co-presenters. "Those who sew together, grow together." and WOW! have we grown!
Good luck.

This past month at my guild everyone who wanted brought a UFO that they were hung up with. We were arbitrarily divided into breakout sessions of 4 or 5 people, and we discussed possibilities for finishing each UFO in the group. There were great suggestions. At the end each group presented its best ideas for everyone to see and discuss. Everyone loved the program and wants to do it again some time.

This is an exciting opportunity for you! Our Guild has had several really good teachers come to Alaska, and sometimes we are able to network with other Guilds up here so we can share expenses. Our Education Chairs have been getting teachers with different specialties so that there's a little something for everyone, and we usually have two days of classes with a trunk show open to the public the first night. Some to try: Susan Else (soft sculpture), Anelie Belden (Thoroughly Modern Dresden), Joan Shay (Petal Play), Joan Ford (Scrap Therapy), Deb Tucker, Bonnie Hunter, Jacquie Gehring. Have fun!

Thanks everyone.