salisaquilter

I would love to have you share what your Quilt Guild has done for monthly projects. We have a group of about 50 girls
some excellant quilters, others beginners. ;-) .. As Vice President of our Guild in North Carolina it is my job to prepare the program. HELP PLEASE :lol: :thumbup:

dkabasketlady

I don't belong to any guild, sorry!

GrammaNan

I am new to my first guilt but next week they are doing an Ice Cream social and a pot holder swap. I am looking forward to it. They had a raffle at the meeting and a table of magazines that other quilters no longer wanted and you could take what you wanted from it. HTH.

lclang

I am co-founder of the local Quilt Guild and we have had a variety of programs. If you have a sizeable budget you can get on the internet and find teachers who will come to you. We try to use some from our own state and it is even better if they are from neighboring towns. Trunk shows are always fun and often can be done by someone in your own guild for free or very low cost. Sometimes we have had some of our own members teach classes on jeans quilts, chenille quilts, quilts that use odd fabrics (plisse for instance) etc. We have had classes on making a folder to keep your blocks in after cutting but before sewing the pieces together so you can keep the pieces in the proper order, classes on table runners, pillow tops, printing pictures on your computer, making quilt labels. We have also done evening workshops on making cancer hats, quilts for the local NICU, Quilts for local Rape and Domestic Abuse group,scrap quilts, using jellyrolls,crazy quilts,etc. We have had owners come from area quilt shops and present a trunk show and offer their wares for sale. Whatever they sell is their payment for the program (usually they do real well, we are all collectors of fabric and patterns and tools). We have had a demo for how to piece blocks for a raffle quilt so we are all on the same page. The possibilities are endless. Perhaps a class on how to maintain your Featherweight or ask your people to bring in the instructions for their current machine to see where and when they should be oiled and how to maintain them in top condition. We try to have a couple of people that give professional classes each year and fill in the gaps with local or area quilters. Twice a year our program is simply a potluck dinner (June and December). We always have Show and Tell at every meeting.

salisaquilter

GrandmaNam .....Thank you, your post was very helpful... :D :D

salisaquilter

dk basket lady.......Thank you, Interesting plans. :D :-D

peaceandjoy

We do a charity raffle quilt every other year. Almost a year goes into the planning, making and marketing. Planning includes having a committee choose 2 or 3 patterns, followed by a vote of members. They then purchase fabric and prepare "kits." All members are asked to do a couple of blocks. Discussion is held on where proceeds will go (we've given it to a cardiac care unit @ local hospital, a hospice, this year was a local day care that many low-income families use). Blocks are assembled into top by the committe, tickets sold by members (who also go to a local bank, craft/flea market a couple of times). Usually, people @ place receiving the $ will also sell tickets. Longarm quilting has been donated sometimes, other times we've paid for it.

A very popular monthly activity has been "Strippers." Each month, members who want to participate bring the strip color for that month and they are swapped out. This past year was 2 1/2" strips, but they've also done charms.

October or November we have a few members from the program committee present quick/easy Christmas gift ideas. Some examples are bread basket liners, gift card holders, rice bags for the microwave, coasters, etc.

Our December and June meetings are held at a local senior living facility. We use their community room and it is a dish to pass and show and tell. Residents are welcome, and encouraged to bring anything they may care to share. Last year, a gentleman went back up to his room amd brought back a beautiful painting that his son had done and given him. The June one, although held indoors, is a "picnic" theme. At the December one, there is a gift exchange for anyone who wants to bring a handmade item - ranging from jelly to pillows.

We meet in a church dining hall, and this past year started doing a sew-in each month. Each month, a Saturday is set aside as a day for anyone who cares to bring their projects to work on from 9 - 3. Those coming bring a dish to pass for lunch. It's been great - lots of concentrated sewing time without jumping up to do laundry, answer phones, etc.

As posted previously, we also have LQS come in - maybe 1x per year. That's great fun - we get to see some new things and shop without going out again!

This year, we are starting to do more small charity projects. We'll be working on bags for children who are removed from homes by Child Protective Services as well as chemo caps for folks undergoing chemo. Free patterns are available for these on the internet.

If you have clever members, you might have somebody do a demo on household items that can be used for quilting. Sorry to say that right now, all I remember is using baskets/plastic containers to organize pieces for blocks...

We usually have an organized shop hop trip 1x per year, in conjunction with a shop hop that is going on "locally." Here, that would generally mean one of three or four hops in different areas - southern tier, CNY, Buffalo area or Rochester area. It's a little pricy - about $40 per person, which pays for the bus and tip for driver. It's not a huge bus - mabye 25 or so?

A "garage sale" or swap meeting - bring your no longer needed/wanted notions, patterns and trade or sell them.

I'll be watching to get some more good ideas!

Shelbie

The first thing you need to do is to get at least two more guild members to help you plan the program. This shouldn't be just the VP's job as the sucess of your guild year really hinges on the program. With 50 members you need a balance of speakers and hands on meetings. Canvas other local guilds to network with them and perhaps share a couple of top rated national speakers. That really helps to cut down costs for smaller guilds. Ask your members for speaker suggestions and book your speakers well in advance. Always have a back up plan in case of a last minute speaker concellation (it does happen!). You probably have some very talented members in your guild. Use them! If one can't do an entire presentation have 2 or 3 smaller presentations. A round robin (move every 10 minutes) tip or demonstration meeting works well too. Demos might include cutting techniques, quilt as you go etc. A quilt night featuring a particular quilt block or quick strip quilt using 2 1/2" strips for a special community project quilt makes for a good meeting night too. We had members bring a few yellow and blue strips, constructed nine patches and make three full size quilts and we have a guild of a similar size. There are endless possibilities. Keep it fun and varied, enlist some help and you'll have a great year.

salisaquilter

Peace and joy. Thank you , wonderful ideas. We where just in your area on a Seneca Wine Tour. I lived in NY most of my life but now in NC.

salisaquilter

Shelbie. Thank you. Appreciate your thoughts and the time. Copied your message for our meeting tomorrow