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Now that I am retired, I am thinking about joining a Thursday one. I know the group works on children's charity quilts in the morning, breaks for lunch and works on their own things in the afternoon. I'm sure there is some kind of a business meeting.
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Originally Posted by patski
Hi, anyone out there part o a guild? What do you get out of being part of one?
Worth the time and money? Is it just about meetings or more? Most of us quilt in solitude, so getting together with other quilters every once in a while is good for our souls. We also have an annual quilt festival at a museum where our quilts hang for a month! http://www.quiltingboard.com/t-65456-1.htm |
I also had a bad experience when I was going to join a guild.It was so big, you were on a list & was supposed to join as an opening came up.A friend told me, they chose ppl from the list they were buddies with,that your name would be on there for yrs before you got in, if you ever did.
Not for me.My name describes me very well.I'd like the speakers & show & tell, but the Queen Bee syndrome is alive & well. Would love to have a small group of quilters such as you describe, but don't know other quilters.No prob tho, I'm used to it & gain so much from this board.
Originally Posted by tjradj
I do belong to a guild. The meetings are very formal and the attendance is usually around 200 people.
There isn't much camaraderie among new people. The old guard is a pretty tough clique to crack. I even served on our quilt show committee to try to fit in but all we got was grief from the 'old gals.' And yes, there are a few with the 'Queen Bee' syndrome. The reason I still go is because I'm exposed to new things. We often have guest speakers that have a new take on quilting art. Some are absolutely beautiful, and inspiring. I would not know about a lot of techniques and would not be challenged to try new things if I didn't go to my guild. NOW, I also belong to another club. There, we laugh, a lot. It's a senior's group. But they adopted me, even though I'm not 'legal' as a senior. LOL We sew. We stitch 'n bitch. And we laugh.. We support each other and we ooh and aah over each other's projects. We even 'do lunch.' There is no comparison of the two. |
I am in the melbourne modern quilters - what a fantastic group - supportive, sharing, not cliquey and open to all comers. I also sew with two other friends, just locally. If I couldn't find a group I liked, I would have started one.
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I belong to a guild associated with the local Extension Office. We have a Chairman and a Treasurer, that is pretty much the end of our structure. We meet once a month, have at least four UFO days a month. We talk alot, laugh alot, support one another, trade fabric, give each that piece of fabric needed to finish a project. Membership fluctuates, some join for a specific project and come to some UFO's, but we may never see them until another project interests them. There are ten to twelve members who are active most of the time, and at least nine who are active all the time. Because we are part of the Extension Office, information about us is included in the Homemakers monthly newsletter and we setup our UFO schedule two months at a time. We work on projects at our meetings and UFO days (9:00 to 4:00). We shop together, take road trips together, retreat together, we are the best part of being a family and friends. It is alot like this board.
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Sounds like what all guilds should be.Lucky you.
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I go just to see the sharing time. The quilts motivate me to get moving on my own projects (sometimes they motivate me, lol). There have been a few presentations that blew my socks off - and others, oh well - not into the artsy quilt bit.
So - yes, even if a guild is large (and the one I go to is large), and if inexpensive enough ($20 a year for mine), I think it's worth it. Ever thought of starting your own quilt club? Just to have a few quilters get together every month to sew & chit chat??? |
There are groups out there for everyone. You need to try different ones until you find what you like. Guilds and small groups are wonderful. Some are friendlier than others. It's always fun to quilt with friends, so keep looking until you find a group or guild that suits your needs.
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I love my Guild. We have a business meeting on 1st Wednesday of each month, with show & tell after the meeting. Sometimes in the afternoon we have a class, but not often. Also sometimes after meeting someone does a trunk show.
Then on 3rd Wednesday, we have 'Sew-In' where one of the guild members teaches us a project. We make quilts for charity through out the year, someone donates the fabrics, including the batting, or we can use our own fabrics. We take trips, have 3 parties a year, a quilt show every other year. Our dues are only $15.00 per year. All in all we have a great time, everyone is friendly & helpful. Did I say I love my guild? LOL |
I belong to 2 guilds one small local the other around 130 that I drive 90 miles for the one here is active for a
small group we have retreats where we just get together and sew and also classes sometimes local teachers sometimes we bring in name teachers the large guild has many activities with small groups every other year we have a large retreat with name teachers I have found that guilfs are what the members want and what they put into it I enjoy them both and have learned lots from them |
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