Coachella Valley Quilt Guild

 Happy Summer Everyone,

As I finish out my presidency this coming June, I look back over the past two years and am amazed at the changes we have made in our guild and the way we are doing things.  I also realize that things will continue to evolve as we go forward in consolidating a new way of doing our meetings and classes and get togethers with each other.  Who thought two years ago that our snowbird members and members outside the Coachella Valley would be able to join us year round? 

 It just took a friend asking me if we would be doing Zoom meetings and the willingness of members like Annie Houston and Heather Keenan to create those Zoom meetings.  Then there were the six members who had planned on opening their sewing spaces to guild members during a Studio Tour in June 2020 who were willing to try it using a PowerPoint presentation via Zoom since the physical presentation wasn’t possible.  A big thank you to Pat Siegel, Leslie Gardiner, Janna Calkins, Kathy Dunham, Mary Gorfine and Kathy Markley for making those first Zoom meetings possible.

The quilting world seems to have embraced Zoom and YouTube presentations making it possible to have speakers and teachers share their expertise from around the world.  At times it has seemed overwhelming but it has worked.  As we go back to meeting in person (which is so wonderful to see members again beyond the computer screen), we need to take advantage of what virtual meetings also have to offer to us.  There are pluses and minuses to being in person or virtual.  It is wonderful to be able to access things in one’s own sewing space but it is also great to have the teacher in person to really see what you are doing. I am looking forward to seeing how the incoming Board takes advantage of all we have learned these past two years.

So as I say good bye as the president of the Coachella Valley Quilt Guild, I want to say thank you to everyone who served on the board with me and to those who have supported the guild on the various standing committees.  They have really gone the extra mile and I appreciate the work they have done.  

I also want to say thank you to all the members who were willing to try the Zoom meetings and activities.  It is challenging to try something new like this — but remember it does keep that mind active and going — just like creating quilts does. So keep learning and keep quilting.

Kathleen Herring, President

Summer will soon be upon us. There will be bonfires on the beach, colorful boardwalks, consuming ice cream, spontaneous road trips, days in the pool, watermelon slices, hours in air conditioning sorting fabrics and sewing up a storm. Ahhh, some of the many joys of Summer.  One may even think and plan a quilt for the 2024 Desert Guilds Quilt Show. It is never too early.

On the topic of the Desert Guilds Quilt Show we should all be proud of the outcome of the 2022 show. As the Coachella Valley Quilt Guild Challenge Rep I was happy we had so many entries and such creative ones at that. For the 2024 show I will be the Challenge Chair which means the challenge will be of my design and I have a great idea for the challenge. A lot of thought has been put into this and my plan is to appeal to the traditional, modern and art quilter.  It is too early to reveal the challenge at this date, but I will keep everyone updated and informed when the time is right. 

In 2015 I took on the Facebook account/page for the CVQG and post at least once a week and often more than once. If you do not follow us on Facebook please do and tell your friends. In our last newsletter I informed our readers that on the first day of the Desert Guilds Quilt Show a post I created about the show reached 4,684 people. I am delighted to announce by the close of the show that same post had reached 11,078 people! This is proof of the power of “ sharing “ posts. 

For those staying in the desert this Summer stay as cool as you are.

Robert Tucker, Facebook and Challenge Quilts

March was another big month and April continues in that vein.  In March we received 52 quilts, 26 from guild members and 26 from the Deep Canyon group.  So far in April we have received 25 quilts.  15 quilts were donated to the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center in March, and 20 to Family Hospice.  Our contact person at Family Hospice commented that the quilts are becoming more lovely with each group she receives.  In April 10 small quilts went to the Comprehensive Cancer Center and 10 quilts to Bristol Hospice.   19 quilts are ready to deliver to Olive Crest; this will leave us with no quilts in reserve.  We know that will quickly change!

Holli Hainer was the March winner of the Sew What Table Certificate, and Jer Williams was the April winner.

While we are meeting in person, there will be no scheduled dates for donations other than at guild meetings.  Once we are back to just Zoom meetings, we will let you know about drop-off dates and locations.

We have posted on our website suggested sizes for donation quilts, with additional notes that quilts are to be washed before they are turned into Philanthropy, but labels will be attached by Philanthropy.  

Thank you again for all of the work and love you put into making philanthropy quilts.   

Jackie Mason and Judi Moran, Co-Chairs, Philanthropy

July 30 & 31, 12-3pm

Links to these virtual events will be sent to members only when the dates get closer.  More information is available here.