The guild�s first quilt show was called �Kaleidoscope of Fabrics�. It was held at White Oaks United Church in London on Saturday, March 24, 1984. Cost of admission was $1.50 per person. The show included a merchants� mall and quilting demonstrations. A tea room was sponsored by the White Oaks United Church Women�s Group. We have held a number of quilt shows, at various venues throughout our twenty-five years. We feel these shows provide a great opportunity to showcase the various talents and techniques of our guild members. Quilt shows provide a great connection with the public who come to know that quilting is alive and well and ever changing. From the traditional to today�s modern fiber artists, we have it all!
The location of our guild�s meetings has moved over the years. From White Oaks Public School, Home Economics/Family Studies Room in the beginning, to Jalna Branch Public Library, to Boyle Community Centre (1991), to East Lions Artisans Centre, to Maitland Street Baptist Church (1994), to Trinity Lutheran Church (Dec. 1994) to St. George�s Presbyterian Church (2000) which is where we are located today. Why move? To accommodate the size of our growing Guild! We�re not just growing, but getting better with age. In 1990, we introduced a designed and engraved name tag for each member. We started a guild library, and went green, by sewing quilted mug totes to encourage members to bring a drink container, thereby reducing the number of styrofoam cups in the landfills!
In the first 25 years of the Guild, we have enjoyed over 70 guest speakers, some of which came with trunk shows and some gave workshops on their special techniques. Our guest speakers are too numerous to mention, but some include: Carol McLean of Woodstock; Judy Burlee, Past President of CQA; Kathleen Bissett of Waterloo; Pat Menary on Miniatures; Jean Hillis on Medallion Quilting; Lu Farnell & Willi Powell with Quilts of Worship; Chloe Truman on Embellishing Clothes; Rosemary Makhan; Tom Coolen on Sewing Machine Care; Lee Ann Merla, Occupational Therapist; Wendy O�Brien, a Stratford Textile Artist; Arlene Whiteman of Goderich; Janet Wilson, author of �Selina and the Paw Quilt�; Denise McKenna; June Klassen on Celtic Quilting; Angela Krotowski and the CBC Quilt; Renske Hellmuth of Waterloo; Carol Miller, Breast Cancer Survivor�s Quilt; Judy Lyons, Quilt Appraiser; Aline Chan on Japanese Quilts; Rita Budd; Cynthia Tomaszewski; and Robyn Pandolph. Each and every guest speaker left the members with inspiration and a desire to try new techniques.
Guild activities and guest speaker workshops have included traditional quilt blocks, totebags, reversible jackets, quilted vests, eyeglass cases, mug totes, kitchen accessories, notebook covers, stationary keepers, stenciling, Quilt Canada favours, machine quilting techniques, trapunto, paper piecing, etc. Other guild activities include the Children�s Quilts which are made by members and donated to local groups (ie. Children�s Hospital, etc.) for children in need. Our first challenge was held during the 1990-91 guild year where our president challenged all the members to make a quilt/wallhanging using a particular theme. Now each year, the challenge is presented to members at the beginning of the guild year and is due at the May meeting, with prizes going out to Viewers� Choice.
Our first drop-in night was held on the fourth Thursday of the month, starting in March 1995. It was held in the Common Room at Maisonville Mall. Drop-in night consisted of members who wanted to work on their projects, to ask for help with quilting problems, or just to enjoy an evening with other quilters. We held our first retreat at the Elmhurst Inn in February 2000. The Carriage House at the Elmhurst Inn was used by the members as a sewing room where we could sew/quilt from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon and actually get something accomplished! In 2005, the guild started up a Quilt-til-You-Wilt Day at the Stone Ridge Inn by Highway 401 and Highway 4. This is a great day for those that can�t get away for a weekend retreat. Our getaways are great times to make new friends, share and learn new techniques. At the end of each membership year, we hold a banquet dinner to celebrate the wonderful year. Guild members enjoy a lovely dinner and listen to a wonderful guest speaker. Prizes and fat quarters of fabric are given out throughout the evening as members say goodbye for the summer.
Since the 25th Anniversary of the London Friendship Quilter�s Guild, our guild is moving forward into cyberspace. We wish to reach quilters and fibre artists around the world and hope they peruse our website and our blog. There, you�ll find information about our guild�s history and what we plan for the future.
If you just finished reading the history of the LFQG and you would like to be a part of the future of our guild, please come out to one of our meetings.
We meet on the second Thursday of the month from September to June at 7:00 pm at St. George�s Presbyterian Church, 1475 Dundas Street East, London, Ontario, Canada. |
