windsor quilters guild

Last month we all got a chance to go back to school. Quilt University gave all of us a chance to learn about some interesting tools and some exciting techniques.  Donna Ward shared her special wave ruler, Linda Belair enchanted us with her 3D flowers, Mary Hall-Brooks brought new excitement to applique with her reverse technique, Vivian La Croix showed us some magic with her favourite rulers, Marlene O’Neil shared her secrets to perfect purses, and Ann Vossen took the fear out of paper piecing. Who new school could be so much FUN!

3D flowers

Scallops, Vines and Waves

Fearless paper piecing

Anatomy of a purse

Favourite rulers

Have you been missing all the hustle and bustle that getting ready for a quilt show requires? Well, we have great news our Quilt Show is coming up in May 2019. Anne Black, Barb Holmes and Donna Jones have volunteered to be the co-conveners for the show. The raffle quilt is well on its way to being finished and the girls are hustling around to get everything in place for the big event. The show will be returning to the WFCU venue and will feature a tea room and boutique. The shows theme “Bobbin’ Along” will feature mascot Sun Bonnet Sue. We are always looking for sponsors to help defray advertising costs and are pleased to announce that Northcott and Harmony Day Spa have signed on as sponsors. If you know of any other sponsors please let us know.

Watch this location for more Quilt Show updates!

This past year we enjoyed a presentation from “Quilts of Valour”. Janet Bergeron, the rep for Windsor/Essex and Don Oliphant, the Chatham rep explained that Quilts of Valour relies on quilters like ourselves to fill the need for quilt blocks, tops and quilts for veterans, injured Canadian service men and women, and to provide comfort and support for our servicemen in need. The organization had its beginnings with Leslie Zwaal in 2006 who was so impressed by the determination of our Canadian servicemen to fight not only for Canada but to willingly return to battle to be sure others could secure the freedom we have that she determined to make a quilt for every serviceman to show our appreciation for their sacrifice. These quilts presented at special ceremonies to veterans and servicemen do make a difference. Janet invited us to join them on “Sew Day” in Essex once a month or to go ahead and make our own blocks, or quilts which they would gratefully collect and complete. For further information on how you can help go to “quiltsofvalour.ca.

Don and Janet display two of the quilts that have been made for Quilts of  Valour. Janet thanked the members of our guild who have already participated in this very worthwhile venture by donating quilts, sewing blocks and quilting quilts.

One of the fun parts of guild is browsing the wares of our vendors. This years lineup promises to be no exception and we are pleased to announce the addition of a new vendor from Seaforth “The Cotton Harvest”.

Here’s what we can look forward to:

September – Heirloom Art  Studio ( Betty Ives)     October – Soft Impressions by Lisa (Lisa Hill)   November – Guild Garage Sale   December – Christmas Program    January – The Cotton Harvest (Trina O’Rourke)   February – Soft Impressions by Lisa (Lisa Hill)   March – Ella Quilts (Linda Maika)   April – Rose Cottage (Cheryl Barber)   May – The Cotton Harvest  (Trina O’Rourke) June – Rose Cottage (Cheryl Barber.

If you are looking forward to attending our first guild meeting of the new 2017 -2018 season we have moved to a new location and day. Please now plan to join us on the first Wednesday of the month at Royal Canadian Legion Hall, Branch 594, 5030 Howard Ave. Doors open at 9:00am. Business meeting begins at 12:00pm. Here’s what our new “digs” look like.

Remember the excitement you felt when you were back in grade school and the teacher asked you to share something for “Show and Tell”? Well, things haven’t changed much even though we are all grown up. We still love to share our quilting projects with our friends. Fall is sure to see a whole new set of projects the members have completed over the summer. Here are just a few of the beautiful and creative quilts that our guild members are delighted to share for “Show and Tell” at our monthly meetings. Enjoy!