Twenty members of the Rivers Edge Quilters met at the Don Ross craft room Dec. 7 for the final meeting of a successful year.
Members meet regularly throughout the year to work on a variety of projects for themselves and for the community. Sessions included making interesting items such as baked potato bags, curling iron travel cases, pillowcases, comfort quilts, quilts of various patterns taught by peers and fabric sales. To date, 54 comfort quilts and 100 pillowcases have been donated to local care homes, fire and emergency services and Interval House and 65 placements have gone to meals on wheels.
Several quilters joined the Battlefords Art Club for the spring show, Fantastic Fabrications 3 at the Chapel Gallery. Arlene Schwab was the recipient of the people's choice award with her quilt, Circle Dance. It is an interesting array of batik fabrics sewn in circles.
Three retreats were held during the year. These weekends allow members to spend long days stitching, snacking and socializing.
A Quilting 101 class was organized this fall with Judi Lloyd instructing. Ten members are nearing completion of log cabin quilts and will be anxious to bring them to show and tell in the New Year.
Each year, several members assist students in the John Paul II home economics class learn how to quilt. Many of these students have never sewn but, with guidance, accomplish quilt making.
Members have been challenged by their chairperson to complete all the UFOs (unfinished objects) in their sewing rooms. There will be a prize at the annual meeting for the person who finishes the most items from her list. We have had the privilege of seeing many artistic pieces as a result of the challenge.
The program committee has planned a calendar full of new interesting ideas of sessions in 2011. There are two guest instructors, a retreat at Harvelle House, trunk shows presented by our members and a variety of classes to prepare for.
REQ welcomes and encourages new members to join. We have a fun time sharing and learning from one another and participating in more formal classes. We are grateful to have a facility such as the Don Ross craft room to use. It provides the guild with the space required by many quilters, their patches and their equipment.
Season's greetings to all from the members of REQ. We wish you a safe and happy holiday season.
