Surfside Quilters Guild Special Day 05-08-12

Can it be the third "birthday" for Surfside Quilters Guild in San Clemente?  Hard to believe that it hasn't been longer considering all that we have accomplished.  But, on the other hand, where have those years gone?  Today our new President Jan Hirth conducted the meeting and there were two special presentations. 
Each year the members of the Guild make 6" blocks for the outgoing president, this year it is Joann Bishop, the blocks are assembled and hand quilted by members who volunteer.  This tradition has been ongoing with all the Orange County Guilds starting in 1982 with Orange County Quilters Guild and all the quilts have pretty much the same format.  Joann asked for cottage/house blocks in pastel colors - reflecting, in part, her years as a realtor before she retired, and the sense that each house connects in friendship to the home of a member. 

 
It is a charming quilt and I hope Joann will bring it back to a future meeting for better pictures.

 
The other presentation was a special quilt made for a member who has given a great deal to make the guild successful.  Mary Freedman deserves this recognition for all the hours, dollars, thoughtful gifts and devotion she has given to create a dynamic and active guild.  Members of the Board, past and present, were asked to contribute a star block of any size which were assembled into this quilt which is a nice cuddle size. 

I don't think we tell our friends and fellow guild members often enough how much we appreciate their contributions to our lives.  I thank each of you for your devotion and contribution to this guild and all the quilting activities that are available today.  You enrich my life.

First Surfside Quilters Guild Meeting 05-12-09

Today was a special day for about a hundred quilt makers/lovers in south Orange County - the first meeting of the new daytime quilt guild met in San Clemente. Such a vibration in the air from a lot of excited new and potential members. The adjectives that might apply are colorful, exciting, fun, noisy, happy, .... well, you get the idea. GREAT day. I had the privilege of being the inaugural speaker and showed 34 quilts from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection (20 12"X12" quilts and a file box of fiber postcards were shown, but not discussed). And, of course, I talked and talked and talked - sort of "More than you ever wanted to know about art quilts." But I think I only went overtime about ten minutes! Nobody was sneaking out the back, so they must have enjoyed what was being shown (and said).

Founder and President Nancy Ota

("Structured Chaos #14" - Beth Carney 2006 in background)

Mary Freedman and Sharon Milledge doing Monthly Mini drawing. ("Summer Lily" Ruth McDowell 2004 in background)

Yachi Monarrez, winner of the Monthly Mini made and donated by Nancy Ota. The three little kitties are from Nancy's newest pattern "Hang in there Kitty" and the collapsible stand is an original design by Mary Freedman. Mary and her husband donated twenty of the stands as a fundraiser for this new guild. With everyone doing their part we are off to a great start.