This was a busy year for our guild. We continued to grow our membership, share and learn new skills, and give back to the community.
Founding member Tricialyn led the guild in informative lectures focusing on Design Elements, including Texture, Color, and Scale. These topics were discussed as a group and integrated into guild challenges and activities.
We exceeded our fundraising goal this year, raising money through sponsor baskets, mini quilt raffles, and boutique sales. We are excited about putting those funds back into the guild this year in the form of speakers and activities. Thank you again to all of our generous sponsors.
We also far exceeded our goal for charitable activities, donating 25 completed quilts to 9 different local and national charities. In addition to finished quilts, we donated fabric and quilting materials to local charities and we have a head-start on 2019 with some unfinished quilts. Plus, at the end of the year, the guild made over 50 tote bags for the Bill Wilson Center to be given to at-risk youth throughout the coming year.
Focusing on our commitment to ongoing education, the guild sponsored three workshops in 2018. First, Sherri Lynn Wood taught a structured improv technique in her Improvising from a Score Workshop. Continuing on the improv theme, we learned to piece and layout curves in Karen Foster’s Improv Abstraction Workshop. We wrapped the year up with a Beginning Fabric Dyeing Workshop with Lynn Koolish. Additionally, we held member-led demonstrations throughout the year that included Reverse Applique, Wefty Needles, and Surface Finish Techniques.
On top of all of this, we participated in our first quilt show, showing a collection of modern quilts at the semi-annual Piecemakers Quilt Show! This was a thrill for the guild as we were able to showcase modern quilting at a traditional quilt show. Now that we’ve got a taste for it, we definitely plan to do more shows in the future.
Overall, it was a great year and we are excited for an even better 2019!