Royal City Quilters' Guild Celebrates

From Arts in Guelph - March/April, 2006

by Anna Contini

The Royal City Quilters' Guild has been a good fit with this community from the very beginning. In February 1991, founding member Evelyn Lane took out ads in local newspapers and put up dozens of flyers to ascertain whether there was interest in starting a Guelph guild. She had hoped at least six people would call, the minimum number recommended by the Canadian Quilters' Association. Needless to say, she was thrilled and extremely encouraged when twenty people responded. These original members met on March 12, 1991, in Evelyn's living room and a guild was born. Many of the founding folks still belong, and today the Royal City Quilters' Guild is 171 members strong.

To mark their 15th Anniversary, the Guild is planning some special celebrations. A Gathering of Quilts will take place April 22 and 23, 2006, at the Royal Canadian Legion (919 York Road), and will feature a dazzling array of quilts, wallhangings and wearables as well as a merchants mall and on-site tea room. The event will be the third show of the Guild and is expected to draw over 1 000 people.

Appropriately, the theme of this year's Challenge is "Celebration." Members of the Guild were invited to purchase a kit containing fabrics generously donated by Northcott Silk Inc. to create their own version of "Celebration" in mini or wall hanging size. There will be 24 prizes awarded in eight categories and the judges' choice awards will be revealed at the show opening on April 22.

Throughout the year from September to June, meetings of the Royal City Quilters' Guild are held every second Tuesday at Three Willows United Church (formerly Westwood). Doors open at 6:45 p.m. and meetings last until about 9:30 p.m. Most monthly programs include a guest speaker, followed by a break and then a "Show and Share" segment where members display and talk about their latest projects. Every March the program includes an anniversary celebration and an opportunity to view historical records and photos dating back to the Guild's inception.

On March 14, 2006, the Royal City Quilters' Guild will officially celebrate its 15th Anniversary at Three Willows United Church. Guest speaker Denise McKenna will speak about her experiences in quilting and "Learning the Hard Way." The evening will showcase the unveiling of two colourful quilts created by the members from Quilt Bee Days. One quilt will be donated to Guelph General Hospital for display in the Palliative Care Unit. The second, featuring "New York Beauty Block," will be the backdrop for future guild meetings. All current and former members of the guild are invited to join in the festivities, and guests are welcome.

Part of the Guild's mandate has always been giving back to the community. In the past members have created lap quilts for donation to area nursing homes, comfort quilts for parents who have lost newborns and quilts for fundraisers for the Guelph Civic Museum and Homewood. In addition, fundraising events are held throughout the year to raise money for the guild library which currently boasts over 300 quilting related books and magazines that all members can borrow. Workshops teaching new techniques are also held regularly.

One of the more unusual projects of the Royal City Quilters' Guild has been the creation of a quilt that fits over a car. The "car quilt" was featured in the Guild's second show in June 2003 and has since been sold to the Waterloo County and Area Quilt Festival to promote their annual show each May.

For the past 15 years, the Royal City Quilters' Guild has continued to demonstrate that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." The group has contributed enormously to the fabric of our community bringing together people from a variety of diverse backgrounds who share a passion for this art form. May their magnificent handiworks continue to multiply and enrich our lives!

For more information about Royal City Quilters' Guild please contact Barbara Jordan (519) 837-0818.