Bazaar
The committe urges everyone to make and donate items for the bazaar to be sold at our Quilt Show which we hold every other year, generally in October. Suggestions are always welcome.
Birthday Club
Sign up for the Birthday Club is in October and November. The list is posted in the December newsletter and the swap begins in January and continues for the whole year. On your BD, you will be showered with enough blocks to make a nice top.
Block Exchange
Specific blocks are offered at different times during which guild members can sign up to exchange the same block with other participants. Usually a background fabric is predetermined and each participant is responsible for making blocks to be exchanged with other participants using fabrics from their own stash. You can sign in and out of these block exchanges whenever you want as long as the exchange is available. This allows you to receive as many blocks as you want with different fabrics in them.
Block Lotto
Every month a block pattern is published in the newsletter. All members are encouraged to make a block. A winner is drawn from the names of those participating and that person wins all the blocks. After winning blocks a participant must enter three blocks before becoming eligible to win again.
Challenges
Challenges are issued throughout the year and vary in theme, size, technique, and colors. When the Guild votes to have a challenge, a committee is formed to decide on rules and guidelines.
Crisis Nursery
Crisis Nursery is a community service project. Members are encouraged to make baby quilts to donate to the Nursery. The Crisis Nursery is a Champaign County child abuse and neglect prevention project that provides emergency services for families and children five years of age and younger. When parents are unable to care for children or parental responsibilities become overwhelming, children may be brought to the Nursery for up to 72 hours. The Nursery offers a safe and loving environment. Many of these children have few comforts in their lives and by providing them with a quilt we can make their lives a little warmer.
Fabric Swaps
After voting on a theme, participants swap fat sixths of fabric. Swappers use only 100% cotton, washed, pressed, quilting quality fabric (can't read through it) cut into a fat sixth by cutting the fabric into 12" strips (1/3 yard) and then cutting the strip into half (now 12" x 22").
Holiday Block Exchange
Participants make a 12 1/2" unfinished block to be exchanged at the holiday party. The block can be any pattern or technique, but must be of 100% cotton in traditional holiday colors and unbleached muslin as the background.
Holiday Party
At our only December meeting the Guild members meet to celebrate the holiday season with a potluck dinner.
Library
The Guild has set up a library of books and tapes which members are welcome to sign out.
National Quilt Day
The third Saturday in March has been declared National Quilt day.
President's Blocks
At the summer picnic the outgoing president is presented with her president's blocks. Information as to color, size, and choice of pattern will be in the newsletter sometime in the spring. All members are encouraged to make a block.
Project Linus
Project Linus is a national non-profit organization which coordinates donations of new, homemade blankets from individuals and groups to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. Blankets are donated to local hospitals, crisis centers, and other organizations which are in contact with these children. Members are encouraged to make quilts (preferrably 40" X 60") to donate to Project Linus. Providing a child in crisis with a quilt in which they can wrap themselves up and cuddle, offers a sense of comfort and security that can compare with nothing else.
Quilt Show
The Guild hosts a quilt show every other year in the even years. It is a fairly large show, usually held in the Urbana National Guard Armory in October. Our guild members and their families are wonderfully generous with their time and hard work; that, combined with the efficient organizational skills of our quilt show committee, provide us with a very well-received show every time.
Raffle Quilt
Every year the guild creates a full-size quilt to raffle. When a full-size quilt is raffled as a fund raiser, a miniature replica of the quilt is made as a historical record to be kept by the Guild. During quilt show years, the winning ticket of the raffle quilt is pulled at the quilt show.
Show and Tell
Show and Tell is held at the end of each meeting. All the guild members love to see what you're working on and what you've finished.
Summer Picnic
The second August meeting is a pot-luck picnic. President blocks are given to the outgoing president at the picnic.