About
the Loose Threads Quilters’ Guild
Organized in March 1988, we are a group of women from various backgrounds with a wide variety of quilting preferences who are always excited about new techniques.
Our meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of the month and usually begin at 10:00 a.m. with members arriving by 9:30 in order to visit, have refreshments and meet briefly in committees. The first Wednesday gatherings are traditionally our business meetings followed by show and tell. The second meeting of the month is dedicated to demonstrations, workshops or speakers. Most members leave between 11:30 and noon.
All members receive a current membership list that includes names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and birthdays of all members belonging to the Loose Threads Guild. Changes or additions to the membership list will be announced at meetings.
In the event of winter storms, check the Springford school district website (http://www.spring-ford.net/). Click on Special Messages and if the district schools are closed, the guild meeting will be cancelled. If there is a 2 hour delay, our meeting will be delayed 1 hour.
Election of guild officers is held in June with nominations taking place during the May meeting. This is a very informal process – usually whoever feels that they have the time, energy and inclination for the job, gets it. Terms begin in September, with the president, vice-president and secretary serving for one year and the treasurer serving a 2-year term.
The Loose Threads Guild has always been fortunate to be able to draw from its own rich resources of experienced and talented members for programs. We provide most of our own speakers, demonstrators and workshops, although outside speakers come to our meetings from time to time. All members are encouraged to suggest ideas for programs from any aspect of quilting: history, design, new techniques or perhaps a review of basics.
Along with our monthly programs, special occasions punctuate our yearly program schedule. A Holiday Brunch, with disclosure of “secret pals” and the annual challenge quilt revelation, is held on the first Wednesday of December. The “Quilters’ Tea,” held in March, is a delightful way to meet and network with other guilds. Held in August or September, the “Sleepover” is an opportunity to relax, have fun and build the spirit of friendship with other members.
Refreshments are served on a volunteer basis. We all take turns providing some tasty treat or drink. The hospitality coordinator will pass around the sign-up sheet periodically and then will print reminders in the newsletter. Goodies can be homemade or store bought. Supplies such as paper goods, coffee, tea and sugar are kept on hand at the church.
Our website is http://www.loosethreadsquilters.org and contains a variety of information about our guild such as upcoming programs, challenge rules, Tea details and charity projects. The newsletter is available on the website and at the first Wednesday business meeting.
The library is available for use by all members of the guild at the first Wednesday business meeting. We purchase books periodically throughout the year to add to our collection and gladly accept donations from our members.
Whenever there is a fifth Wednesday in the month we hold a basting day. We meet at the church and baste quilts on frames belonging to the guild. Member’s quilts are done for free, but we will baste other quilts for a fee.
The guild participates in a variety of charity programs that include children’s quilt projects, such as Quilts for Kids and Linus Quilts, infant condolence quilts and walker bags for nursing homes among others. Some program meetings during the year are devoted to these efforts.
Periodically, the guild works together to piece and quilt a raffle quilt. Proceeds from the raffle are donated to a charity chosen by the guild. The raffle quilt committee selects a pattern and color scheme, buys fabric and instructs members on piecing the blocks. Raffle tickets are sold by all Active members - both individually and at public functions. The winning ticket is drawn at the Quilters’ Tea in March.
The challenge has become one of the highlights of our holiday brunch in December. Each year the challenge committee decides on a set of rules and criteria for a special quilting project for guild members. New challenges are announced in December and members have a year to come up with their entry. Projects are kept secret and creators are not revealed until after the judging at the brunch. There are awards for a variety of categories that may include best interpretation, best appliqué, best quilting or best use of color, etc.
This activity is entirely voluntary, but is fun to take part in. Each December, a participating member draws a name of someone who will be her secret pal and anonymously sends remembrances to her throughout the year. At the holiday brunch, a small gift for the pal and the disclosure of who was pulling off all those surprises throughout the year really add to the festivities.
A quilt show, exhibit or new shop is fun to experience as an individual, but even better when shared with other quilting enthusiasts as a field trip!
In June and September there is a weekend retreat organized for a maximum of seven people at North Mountain Retreat Center located near Carlisle in south central Pennsylvania.
Held the second Saturday in March in the church hall, the Tea is our annual fundraiser and what we like to think of as THE social event for quilters in our area. We host a sumptuous brunch, display our quilts in a small show, and network in discussion groups with other quilters. Our guests choose from 8-10 offered discussion groups, each of which is led by our members. There are crafts for sale, show-and-tell by visitors and a drawing for Tea blocks. Other popular features of the day include a quilter’s garage sale, Chinese auction and book sale.
Work is done on the Tea throughout the entire year, from sending invitations to making table favors, all guided by the Tea chairperson who oversees and coordinates the various Tea committees. It is truly a group effort, but lots of fun and not nearly as much work as a major quilt show. The idea is unique to our guild and so popular with other guilds in the area that it is sold out every year.
Sleepovers began in 1992 and have been a huge success. We meet at a member’s house around 7 p.m. and begin with pizza eating as our opening event. Work is done on our own projects or “idea of the night” and break times always involve Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Though still termed a sleepover, the event has evolved into an “arrive when you want and leave when you choose” affair.
The ultimate goal is a fun, relaxing and enjoyable time. Sleepovers began as a tribute to a dear friend and one of the guild founders Phyllis Cunningham. This event serves to remind us of the value of friendship, the importance of tolerance, and the reality of what brought us together as a group.
Each month a block of the month is included in the guild newsletter. The format varies from shorter 3-month projects to yearlong undertakings. Members are encouraged to participate.
This committee oversees the remembrance of members, usually by sending a card or flowers when ill or hospitalized, or when there is a death in the immediate family of a member.
This committee, headed by the Vice President, receives new member applications, maintains an up to date membership list and keeps a waiting list if membership exceeds our upper limit of fifty.
Revised Sept 2008