simplecomforts

I meet with 7 other women every Thursday at a nearby church. We quilt from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. We always have 2 quilts being quilted. 1 quilt is made and given to the Baptist Childern's Home in St Louis,Mo. The second quilt is a member's quilt. We take turns bringing in our quilts to be quilted by the group. We also go to St Louis every year to watch the quilts that are made from all over Mo, auctioned off by the Childern's Home. We've gone to Quilt shows together and to shop for material for our new quilts. We always have fun,fun,fun

quilt3311

You could do blocks and then if everyone made two and use one to make a donation quilt. Some churches permit auction of such quilts, some donate them to needy families or families who have a fire or tragedy of some sort. Your ideas sound good although an hour might be a bit quick once you get going. We meet from 10AM to about 3PM --every other month we have pot luck -on opposite meetings we have brown bag. We do a fun raiser quilt every year and donate to local charities. Food pantry, foster care, homeless shelter, Center for Survivors etc. The other group I belong to makes kids quilts. The hospital there is a center location for kids who have been abused. When they come in they can pick a quilt and wrap up in it. They then get to keep it. Its amazing to hear how those quilts wrap their little bodies and souls. One of our members is a nurse in that unit and she said it brings tears to her eyes to see them wrap up in the quilts.

MaggieLou

I think one hour is too short. By the time you discuss any business issues and show and tell, etc. you're out of time. I would start with at least two hours so people could bring something to work on then go from there. If the time needs to be increased later it can. My quilt guild has a business meeting once a month with show and tell and a program with a visiting speaker then just a work meeting another day where you can bring whatever you're working on.

heylulu

I started a group a year ago and we now have 12 members unfortunately can not accomedate more as we are in a small seniors hall...we meet twice a month on a wednesday all day...we have beginners and others so we help the beginner..show then techniques. have a block of the month on the go at present or you can just do whatever you wish......we are starting back at the end of sept.....theme christmas......we also take turn making lunch which usually is soup and dessert....this is the time we exchange out thoughts on different things......if is great as many of are group are widows with no family near by,,,,,,hope your group flourishes like ours ...good luck

annacw

hello! such a great thing to be involved with.... best to you in your efforts....
we started a quilting group almost 2 years ago now at our church.... our goal was to make quilts to give away to those who needed to feel the love of God through our hands... it's a ministry, which is wonderful....
we chose, after some thought and prayer, to make quilts for the homeless in Lawrence, MA... and donate through the Lazarus House Ministries (shelter, food bank, soup kitchen, transitional living, job training, thrift shop, etc....)... the decision was made by consensus....
since then, we've donated 90 quilts, first having them blest by the priest at Mass.
we quilt every Tuesday afternoon from 1-4 p.m. we also have one evening a month (6:30 to 9 p.m.) for those who can't make the afternoons. all quilts have labels that say "made especially for you with love by the St. Joseph Quilters, Salem, NH" and the date. they're anywhere in size from lap/crib to queen-sized.
we stop during July and August with the Tuesday afternoon meetings but keep the 3rd Wednesday night of the month in tact.... making "special projects" that our members can give as gifts from them to family, friends, etc. (beach bags, special pillowcases...)
we also take periodic "field trips": Lowell Quilt Museum, a shop hop, and a special fabric outlet (so far, anyhow!).
all decisions are made in concert...
i coordinate email and send links to patterns, materials, quilt collections, instructional videos, etc....
it's a loose community, but we have produced huge numbers of quilts, including a "hearts and flowers" paper-pieced, queen-sized, every-member-made-several-squares quilt to raffle for two overseas ministries... and another queen sized quilt to benefit the church....
we accept fabric donations of ALL sorts (only cotton, tho'); our Church gave us some money to get a bolt of warm 'n natural batting... we bought an inexpensive iron, ironing board, and have gotten donations of cutting boards and rotary cutters... we usually use our own cutters, tho', and always come with our sewing machines....
frequently we pick up additional backing material (we try to always back our children's quilts with flannel) on our own, have gotten some fabric from a local shop, and occasionally tap our own stashes...
our primary goal is to enjoy our faith community with one another... we giggle A LOT, talk quite a bit, occasionally have workshops for the members given by other members (we have some wonderful quilters in the group who have a lot to share...)
we love having coffee, enjoy sharing cakes, cookies, etc....
it's just a fun, fun time! we have more and more and more people wanting to, and actually able, to join us....
we just let people know when and where we meet both in our bulletin and on our web site....
i think someone needs to be the communicator, and we have someone who takes care of finances... others jump in to organize trips, help with teaching new quilters, fix one another's sewing problems, show and tell our creations (we're great cheer leaders!), share resources we've discovered, and raise issues we need to settle, making suggestions.... everybody has a gift, and we count on one another to use them for the ministry....
would love to "chat" more, but i've already written too much.... there's a lot we've learned, and i can't remember it all....
blessings on you and your work for God's people.... enjoy!!!!
anna

tuppermern

I live near Monroeville & am definately interested in this! I agree with everyone else, tho------one hour doesn't seem like enough time.......especially for someone just learning! I'll be watching this thread----------thanks!

Mary Lou

annacw

even for our once/month meeting for those with day jobs, we say 6:30 to 9, but we usually close the doors at 10! i agree.... we need longer than an hour... anna

Baba71

I'd love to join you but I'm in IL.

AbbyQuilts

Thank you everyone for all your help and suggestions.
Those thta have repsonded here and in my PM all are very much apreciated.


About this hour thing.
I know an hour is not much time. I thought an hour because like most people now days if it is to long they wont come.

I think I am going to leave it up to the quilters maybe have an initial meeting to see what direction they want to go in. Since this will be all of our ministry. I am thinkign 2 hours will be the min and probably where it is and of course if someone can not be there for the full 2 hours then they can just pop in.


I am really looking forward to this. My mind is just swirling with ideas.
I would liek to do a block of the month with bible blocks and a story to go with them. I have to google it I think I saw one somewhere before.


tuppermern: You are more then welcome to join us. Although its not in Mornoeville. My church is in Ardara just south of Trafford. But I live in Monroeville and we could car pool if you like :P

Again thank you everyone you have given me a lot to think of.
Please keep the suggestions coming if you think of more or if someone has something to ad.

Thanks !

mjsylvstr

sounds like fun...but I am sure that those meeting will be a lot longer than one hour.........

Our little group use a church hall also......we all are not members of that congregation but all are welcome.

We begin by brown bagging it and have a quickie lunch with chat.....and then we try to get to work..

We have a few ladies a bit more experienced than the others and we have learned a lot from them.

We meet every Thursday around noon and our quilting begins soon after.......we have met a lot of new friends and fellow quilters.....

we do have a few who don't quilt but they are willing to use the ripper and press for the others so that we all give to our charitable projects.

Hope this gives you a few ideas........