With all due respect, I fail to understand HOW and WHY a cold shoulder could turn out to make sense. Unless the visitor is appearing cold. Sometimes groups that have been together for a long time tend to become a bit cliqueish. That always makes a newcomer feel unwanted. I think that's probably the reason that I haven't joined the guild in the next town from here and the group at the public library. I have a hard time joining a new situation.

Good luck. As Patrice suggested, give them another try.

I belong to a quilt "group", not a guild. We get together once a week, help each other and just enjoy our time. There is no real structure to it. We do have a lady that oversees it and teaches us a lot of stuff but no dues and no ridged rules. I have gone to a couple of guild meetings and found them to be to "stuffy" for my taste. I guess they are just used to each other.

The same thing happened to me. I never went back and I'm still looking...

Try the local library. Usually the people are in varied stages -- from beginners to experienced quilters. They seem to be friendlier more helpful with each other.

I joined the Guild I am with three years ago as a newer quilter. I would also suggest don't rule out another group, the one I go to is very friendly very willing to help. We meet once a month for the business meeting and then also weekly as "work days". On the weekly you can either bring your machine or any hand work or even nothing and just visit. A lot of times I have binding that needs put on, or a couple of years ago I started a grandmothers flower garden that is english paperpieced so may take that. Quite often it is nice to just go and see and get new ideas( the show and tell is wonderful). Many ladies do hand applique I love to see it but do not like to do it, (it kills my neck), some work on the project warmth quilts, some bring their own machines and piece their quilts, some attatch binding, some do embroidery, I have also traced patterns for machine applique. The work days is like a mini business meeting(10-15 minutes) show and tell and then is whatever you want to do, you can stay 10 minutes or 4 hours or more. Sometimes they set up reservations for lunch somethimes only 2 go to that and other times 40 or more.(I haven't done the lunch thing but maybe someday)
I started going as a way to get out and do something different and be around other quilters.(I am a stay at home mom of 3 boys)
I hope that you find one that is good for you, and as friendly and enjoyable as the one I go to.

This can happen with any group; church, quilt guilds, Weight Watchers, etc. I feel that it is up to a great extent to whoever is running the meeting to make sure that the new person is introduced and paired off with an old member, sort of like a hospitality chair. The group I belong to meets for 4 hours once a week; we break for lunch. Even if we don't have a project to work on, we are welcome to come and see what others are doing, stay for lunch and just chat if that's our thing for the week. Good luck on finding a group you like and feel comfortable with.

This is exactly why I quit the guild I belonged to. These women were cliquey and rude to newcomers. This wasn't the way I was taught so I moved on. The Show & Tell is great, but not if you aren't comfortable. Just my $.02 worth.

I now belong to a group of ladies that meet at the library once a month. There are about 15 of us. We are not a guild and there are no dues. Just a short lesson and Show & Tell. Everyone is friendly and we have a nice evening. Maybe you could start something like this.

Hey, you must be talking about the guild that meets here!!! All they talked about was how to do a quilt show. For next year!! I went by my self and talked to myself...had the best time ever.LOL

Have not went back.

The same thing happened to me about 3 years ago. I recently took a class at one of the more popular quilt stores this past February. The instructor called everyone by their first name; and even though I had introduced myself to her, she never once acknowledged I exsisted. Never once did she come over and see how I was doing. I am finding the internet is the only way to become a part of a "group". FYI, by no means am I shy so that is not the reason. I think "clicks" form and that is that. :cry:

I find it hard to accept that anyone could give the cold shoulder to someone like the folks we have on this forum. I look forward every day to reading posts here; they are so helpful, there is a broad range of abilities and experience, and everyone has always, without fail, been positive and encouraging. I figure none of us knows everything, and we're all "ignorant" of something - we just haven't learned it yet! If you choose not to go back, you may want to put the word out in your neighborhood or church that you are starting a group yourself. It may start very small, but you can set the tone of friendliness and helpfulness.
We sure like you!