doesn't really sound like my idea of a fun day

i would find a differant location and set up some ground rules

lol, sounds like your group lost connection somewhere along the line. I would either get together with those who are serious about the group and why it was started. Friendships are to be made between quilters that last. Helping Each Other is the theme. If that is not the understanding then those not willing to participate with that in mind need not join in. Just my thoughts.

Not if it isnt fun. Not worth it...life is too short.

I agree that you should set some rules and meet at different places. I also agree that meeting once a month is a good idea. Two other ladies in our church have ask that we get together once a month to work on our projects. We have decided to meet at different places. We will not begin for a couple weeks due to waiting on one of the ladies to move back to our town. I so excited and cannot wait to begin. I pray that things do work out for you. I say that if someone shows up drunk that you should ask her to leave.

"One of the ladies showed up drunk and fell off her chair and we had to call an ambulance.. ."

Honey, you're still calling her a 'lady'? You don't need that trouble! I don't have any good advice, but if they want it started up again, I'd make sure it was in SOMEONE ELSE'S HOUSE or hall...

I thought those things only happened in these h'ar hills:) I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you.. it's just that this is about the most surprising situation I've heard about a quilt group -- at least there was entertainment!

rusty (i consider myself a hillbilly but i bet my forefathers kept all their white lightnin' at the still and didn't attempt to bring it to granny's quilting party!)

Our group meets in the dining hall of the church, and it is the most fun and best comaraderie of any to which I've belonged.

It's most distinct advantage is that there are no rules and no "responsibilities." Here's how it works and works so well.

It's strictly BYOP (Bring Your Own Project). There are tables and electricity available, so bring the whole sewing room if you wish. While others may be there to help you carry it in, be prepared to do it yourself just in case.

We have a definite start time and an approximate (within an hour) wrap-up time. Everyone cleans up their own mess and someone always pitches in to take down the ironing board and drain and put away the iron. If you're late arriving, you'll likely miss lots of what the others have brought to show and less time for your project, but come on anyway. You've only shorted yourself, but sometimes lateness is unavoidable.

It's also BYOL (Bring Your Own Lunch). Somebody / anybody will notice that it's about noon and start setting out the lunch bags from the frig onto one of the empty tables. We take 30-45 minutes for lunch and continuing great conversation.

We help each other. Show different things we're working on, share pattern modifications, help newbies, share our disasters (some of our best laughs) and help with other life events as we may be personally led - or not.

No obligations, but just great sharing. We wouldn't have it any other way. Lovely times for all of us.

Those who attend all chip in a buck or two toward the church's utilities and when we begin to see a winter slow-down because of all the snow birds who return to Florida, we retire it to one of our homes for the winter months. Pretty much the same basis.

Someone usually undertakes getting out email notices, but there are others who will gladly fill the gap if needed. Nobody ever has too much to do if anything at all.

I have enjoyed some of my greatest learning experiences with this group as well and had the joy of introducing a couple newbies to the addiction.

Just stay loose and don't take yourselves too seriously.

Since your first quilting group was not able to meet your needs I might suggest that you talk to a few of the members that you relate to and ask if they would like to start something small, with some of the rules that have been suggested. We have a group of 5 or more ladies and we get together once a month to sew. With a small size group you can meet in homes and the hostess provides lunch, we rotate from house to house depending on individual schedules. Recently we have started taking road trips; even make a point to go to destinations that are not quilt stores. The sewing is great but more than that I love the friendships that we have developed. Good Luck and don't give up!!

Since it was a weekly thing, perhaps u can set aside one week for " group " things and a week for personal items" break it up a bit....

My group meets each week in a different person's home. We bring our own simple lunch (a sandwich or yogurt). Hostess provides coffee and tea and dessert. We work on individual projects but help each other if needed. We meet from 10 to 2 PM. No one talks negatively about anyone . I know how lucky I am !

Set guidelines that everyone must agree to.
I suggest reading the book "The Necklace". It's an easy read, and you can apply it to starting up your group.
Good luck.

I totally agree!

yes, but not at yourn house and make up some ground rules.

I did write one book. The name of it is Little Willie Won't Go Home. Maybe I should title the next one," The drunkard's Path"

I'll have to read that one.

And maybe make it a potluck lunch?

I agree with the other ladies, I have a small group but we set up a calendar and each person takes a turn and they do the lunch and dessert, this way it is not all on you. I would not invite the person that drinks or I would let her know that there will be no drinking before the get together if she wants to join you.

Cookie

Fist meeting? Out for lunch!

If you move from house to house, then the quilt that gets quilted is the person whos house it's at. That way everyones quilt get quilted. Or you can meet (we meet at a resturant/bar that has a meeting room), we do it Sunday afternoons. We can each bring our own things to work on, or we can work on things together. We also have room for our machines if we want. The only thing we have to do is clean up our own mess. And everyone gets something to drink. So the business gets some money. They also give us deals on special snacks, so some of us get something.

If it was up to me I would suggest rotating sites. I would also say that bring a sack lunch so we don't spend so much time on the food part and in case some folks are dieting. If you still want to have it at your house just say I don't want to take up the space for the floor frame.
But to be honest, they were all there, they saw how it went and I think they are just taking advantage of you. And frankly it doesn't sound like you were really having any fun, so why bother.

You asked if you should start up a quilter's club. This didn't really sound much like a club. Clubs usually have guidelines or rules set and agreed to by the members, everyone helps in the work and prep and cleanup and rotation is a big thing unless it is held in a public location. Are there membership fees?

My biggest reservation is that none of your problems are solved at this point and unless you decide to change and fix those issues as a group, it is a no brainer.

The other big question I have is.. does your CLUB have a focus.. like making quilts for battered women or for some other cause besides their own personal gain? That is when and how a club bonds and supports each other equally is when there is a goal for the group or the club.

Can you tell us a bit about this book you suggested?

I attached a link to Amazon to view the book. Of course there are both positive and negative reviews. As I previously said, it is an easy read.

http://www.amazon.com/Necklace-Thirt...9124068&sr=1-1

thanks MOMof4

Or who ever brings lunch, stays to help clean up! (And no drunks. How could she plan to sew if she was 3 sheets to the wind?) Just asking....

I am involved with a group who gets together once a month. The day of the month was set ahead of time and worked for everyone. If someone can't make it for some reason we don't change it. We rotate houses, everyone brings their own lunch and the host provides coffee, tea and a dessert. We all work on our own projects and if someone needs help whoever has the best knowledge of what she is doing is the one who helps. It all works out great!

I belong to a sewing group that meets at our Library the second and fourth Thursday of the month. I've made some very good friends there, and really look forward to going. We each bring what we want to work on, and we met in the evening from 6 to 9 PM. We each try to help each other if needed, or we work on our own thing. One of the ladies there is also a teacher, quilting and has classes for all us newbies . I've taken three classes and am looking forward to the fourth. I 'm thankful that the Library provides us a place for us to meet, make new friends and quilt till our hearts content. So maybe you could suggest a place like this instead of in your home all the time. Just a suggestion.

Choose a location where people do not have to go unless they are able or wish to and have a rule that everyone bring their own lunch and you will probably have less hassle.

With all due respect, it sounds like a good premise for a situation comedy!

Oh do I understand how you feel , for 10 years now I have had sewing/quilting at my house every Wednesday night admitily with onoy 4 ladies they all expect it set up ready and never stay to clean up .....yes two of them bring supper but I prove the coffee and every thing else they may need they all think my sewing room is their own and if they have forgotten something it is Oh ! can I borrow , I never get it back , then about 4 months ago I changed it to every twoweeks , went down like a lead balloon . So staring from next week we are going to take urns ... lets see how that lasts , hard part is we all get along ok never had a cross word and I do love sewing with them ,but not at my house all the time.

I belong to a group that gets together two days a month. On a weekend. We bring our own machines and do our own work. IF they have a quilt to quilt they could do that them selves.

The Drunkard's Path is a great idea. I sort'a gave our local gathering of the stitch'n witches a rest for a while and got rested and re-inspired by spending my time with a few friends. We call ourselves the "Wordsmiths". Our little club veered way off course when a couple dominate babes marched in. Looks like it's righting itself now. Nearly everyone does some quilting but we encourage everyone to come with some kind of work just for the fellowship and the practice at being civilized with one another.

I think that sums it up. You ended the group for a reason, and unless those reasons are addressed then nothing will change and you will just be frustrated.

How about a girls night out. Like go to the movies meet for lunch one week. If it's the friendship you need and to me sounds like it is try this for a little while. Everyone goes dutch!!! We all need to get every once in awhile.Then you could enjoy each others company with the hassle free. And no clean up after words. So then the ones that come can come if not meet up with them another time. I hope this helps.

Yes, only if you set up a new system: Assign everyone a number (drawing out of a hat works well). The first month, you meet at number one's house. She provides the lunch menu with each person providing one dish, and everyone stays for the clean-up. The next month, you meet at number two's house, etc.
Depending on how long you "meet," the first half could be to work on your own project(s), and the second half could be for group quilting of a completed project. The group would have to decide how you figure out who's. The style of the (hand) quilting would be at the descretion of the person who pieced the quilt; if it's not your quilt, you don't have a say in how it's quilted.

As with other groups, it may be necessary to produce a "rules of conduct" and have everyone sign before they are allowed (back) into the group.

Good luck; I hope you can come to some terms that work for you.

cd

I have been quilting with several ladies for 19 plus years at a local community school. We pay $45 dollars for 10 weeks. All we have to do is designate one of us a teacher and we all do our own projects and sometimes do something together like at Christmas time or other holidays. No fuss, no mess and no hard feelings. You should look into it. I used to get together one other night a week at my husbands aunts house. It started out as a lovely get together with all of us working on our own projects with tea and cake. Then the aunt resented the tea and cake time and complained that it was for quilting and not for a tea time etc so little by little it became an unpleasant expereince for all. I like the school setting I have always had with a diffrent group of friends.

I belong to a group of 18 or so women who meet at the city senior center. Not many rules except: only quilting, no children , no charity sewing, no dues , no officers, just fun & then we go out to lunch! What a great group. We've been doing this for about 5 yrs with no problems.

good idea. :thumbup:

ditto AND only invite the ones you want.