Sunset Quilters' Guild marks 24 years; set to host quilt show in June

The Kincardine Sunset Quilter's Guild celebrated its 24^th anniversary with a cake and refreshments at the regular meeting held Wednesday morning, Valentine's Day, at St. Anthony's Church Hall.

This was also an opportunity to view the group's Kincardine Reunion quilt, to discuss plans to host the “Bring It Home” Quilt Show in June, and promote member participation in the “Autumn Splendour” quilt for the Tiverton Fall Fair.

Co-president Lydia Kus welcomed everyone and pointed out the completed quilt for the Kincardine Reunion, with Joan MacIntosh in charge of that project.

Katherine Gowing then held up a sample of a block for the Tiverton Fall Fair quilt, and invited members to complete a block for this project.

Kus then held up a beautiful quilt top, “Through the Garden Gate,” for which guild members had produced appliqued squares. Sarah Eveland will complete the quilt which will then be donated to Huron Shores Hospice.

The guild took a break to enjoy anniversary cake and refreshments, with five founding members – Denise Jameson, Margaret Cale, Joyce Bowker, Cathy Cooper and Cathy Sautner - cutting the fancy cake in honour of the group's 24^th anniversary.

The guild was started when two talented Kincardine quilters, Joyce MacDonald and Simone Lynch, thought it would be great to have other quilters join them in forming a quilt guild. They advertised for anyone interested to come to a meeting at the Scout Hall, Jan. 19, 1994, and 15 ladies showed up. They must have been enthused about starting a quilt guild because there was a snowstorm that day.

Since there was such a great response, a date for the first official meeting was set for the following month, and Lynch was the first president. At the end of the first year, the guild had 40 members. This year, there are more than 100 members!

The guild remains a non-profit organization, contributing quilts to those in need and to non-profit local organizations; sharing knowledge, books, tools and other quilting resources; and providing workshops for members.

The group provides a place to gather to quilt, ask for help or have a coffee and chat, at the Monday UFOs where members can work on unfinished projects or do hand-quilting, applique or other needlecraft.

The monthly meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month, at 10 a.m., at St. Anthony's Church Hall. Here, members share ideas, meet with fellow quilters, and admire the wonderful quilts during show and tell.

Meanwhile, the guild is gearing up to host the 2018 “Bring it Home” Quilt Show at the Davidson Centre. The show runs Friday, June 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, June 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $7, and there will be a raffle with three prizes: a quilt, table-runner, and cushions.

The show will also feature Viewer's Choice, a Merchant Mall, Project Linus, a Toonie Table, and a lunch room.

For more information, E-mail: quiltguild@bmts.com or view the website at www.bmts.com/~quiltguild