My quilt guild experience-sorry it's a bit long

There's been some talk lately on the forum about quilt guilds, so I'd like to tell you about my experiences. I have been going to Guild A for about 5 months. They have lots of great speakers and programs and workshops. They have a wonderful lending library. They put on a fantastic show every year. The quilters there are amazingly talented, judging by the quilt show and from show and tell. But in all the times I've gone, hardly anyone has talked to me. I have had to make first (and second and third) contact with others there. I come home a bit discouraged from every meeting. I have gotten involved in the quilt show planning and hope to meet and get to know some of the quilters there more personally. I'm not saying there aren't very nice women there, just that it's been hard to break in, though I am determined to and will keep trying.

I just yesterday went to Guild B. I went to a show they held and was personally invited to come to their guild and was offered a ride by someone in my town, 1/2 hour away from the guild meeting. As soon as I walked in the door I was greeted by one person, who introduced me to two more people, who introduced me to even more people. As I walked through the room strangers approached me, asked if this was my first time there and welcomed me. As I waited in line for snacks (it was actually a full-on luncheon!) everyone around me spoke to me. I dared to bring my Batik Stars quilt for show and tell and I got applause. But so did everyone else! From the most amazing quilts to beginner quilts, they encouraged everyone. After show and tell women came up to me to talk to me about my quilt. They hold meetings twice a month for 4 hours each meeting. Before I went I wondered what they could possibly do for that long. Now I know! They make friends!

I always wished I could find a guild full of quilters as welcoming and friendly as you all are here on the forum. I can hardly believe it, but I think I have! Can you see my smile? I can hardly wait for the next meeting!

That's great Cyndi! I'm glad you found Guild B! The guild I joined is small, I didn't know a soul, but they were very friendly and seemed really glad to have a new member. That meant a lot!

it sounds to me like the b group is like M* forum - live with food.

You're going to have to tell me how you did that because it sounds like you managed to bring the M* forum from the computer into the real world. ;)

Right now, (while I have absolutely NOTHING to show for all my quilting talk) I'm just going to try and get things going at home, and hang out on these forums. But like you, I would love to eventually find a nice group to meet with once or twice a month, make some new friends and get some hands on, in person advice or tips etc. Especially because I'm already starting to develop an interest in trying out hand quilting (small things, like table runners or wall hangings) and I just feel like that is something I will need a little personal one on one with.

I struck gold with an amazing scrapbooking and crafting group that met once a month back in Jersey, but since I've had to move out of state for work, I feel like my whole life is in limbo. At least the creative, crafty, fun-side of my life. The toiling away at a boring 9-5 to make ends meet side is still going strong. :icon_sniff:

Ok enough self-pity - bright side? I still have a job that pays the bills and covers my fabric addiction. So far anyway. :icon_cool:

What fun!! Your Group B sounds a lot like my BOM group. When it starts in January, there is a large group of people who attend. It dwindles off thru the year, and by this time of the year, there are only about 40 who actively show up each month. This includes at least one man who does some beautiful work!

The owner first goes thru the directions for the upcoming block, then shows new products the shop has. After that, it is show and tell, and everyone who gets up, gets to select a fat quarter and they are always applauded for whatever they bring to show the others.

When I first started, the only person I knew was another new quilter who was in a beginning class with me. Nobody talked to us and I felt they were quite snobbish. You did not dare to sit in 'their spots' for fear of the looks you would get. Now that I have been going close to two years, everyone is friendly, even the clique who is always together on the other side of the room (altho I could not tell you any of their names!). I have made several friends and attend classes with some of them on other nights.

So, I guess I started with Group A, but they are slowly turning into Group B. A friend of mine started it this year, but she has since dropped out because she thought nobody was friendly to her, which I find sad because I had introduced her to several of my friends.

Now all I have to do is persuade everyone to bring me food!!

Oh Cyndi that sounds AWESOME!
I am so happy you found Guild B. I have not joined anything like that yet because I am afraid that I will have the same experience that you had with Guild A. But your experience sounds so exciting!!! I can feel the joy in your writing! Yay!!

Cyndi, I was just introduced to a book called, The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini by my daughter who currently works in a used book store while finishing college. You are all probably already familiar with the series and the stories, but for me it was new and delightful. And they too had the big Guild A, and the little, friendly, helpful Guild B. Seems to be more of a common theme than one would suspect. I am delighted that you found your own little Guild B!

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Originally Posted by kelliedi

it sounds to me like the b group is like M* forum - live with food.

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Love this comment Kelli..........what could be better than quilting friends with food!!

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Originally Posted by Miss Sheri

Cyndi, I was just introduced to a book called, The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini by my daughter who currently works in a used book store while finishing college. You are all probably already familiar with the series and the stories, but for me it was new and delightful. And they too had the big Guild A, and the little, friendly, helpful Guild B. Seems to be more of a common theme than one would suspect. I am delighted that you found your own little Guild B!

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Sheri.........I read this book some years back before I started quilting and really enjoyed it!

And Cyndi..........I'm so very happy for you........that you have found such a great group! :icon_woohoo: I can tell that you will have a great time there! This is a quilting group the way it should be!!!! I think I will drive up and meet you for the next meeting......does anyone want to ride with me??!! :D

Oh Yeah! I'll bring the Brownies!

Oh how wonderful that you found Guild B. And who knows, maybe Guild A will get friendlier. I'm going to attend my first quilt guild meeting on September 3...I hope people are friendly there.

My stalker friend Pam found this link on the new guild's website. There I am! They even have a picture of the food. Do you know which one is me? Here's a hint: I'm holding my Batik Stars quilt. Meeting 8/14/2013

Cyndi, What Fun! Facing us, you are on the left in blue and denim. :icon_giggle: I bet you really liked that Sunflower themed quilt on the second page of the pictures. I saw many that I liked, not the least of which was your lovely Batik Stars. How delightful.

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Originally Posted by cyndiofthevortex

My stalker friend Pam found this link on the new guild's website. There I am! They even have a picture of the food. Do you know which one is me? Here's a hint: I'm holding my Batik Stars quilt. Meeting 8/14/2013

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I'm not a stalker.....more like a quilting ninja!! :D

I am sew happy for you Cyndi!!!! I can feel your excitement in your post and I can't tell you how glad I am for you!
The only thing better would be if I could pop over to your house whenever I wanted to!!!

Your Guild A sounds like all the ones around here. Yes talented people , but snobby and not willing to take a *newcomer* in.

Your Guild B sounds like a dream come true. Enjoy what you have found and enjoy them!!! So happy for you.

Cyndi, love all the pictures -- looks like a fun group. I joined a large guild here a couple years ago but was disappointed. I didn't really make any friends so I am hoping to find a smaller group like yours to join. Its really hard to share my passion for quilting with people who aren't really that passionate about it. They love my work but that's it.

WoooHooo! Good for you. Sounds much like my guild too!! The pictures look like it might even be like my guild....hahahaha!

That looked like fun to me and wow, what a buffet of gorgeous food.

I don't know of any guilds close to me, but the lqs a few miles away started a monthly club; meets in the evening and the next morning and costs a dollar a month, I think. You can attend either session, or both. The lady in charge usually demonstrates a technic or does some kind of lesson; there is show and tell if you want, you can get into the birthday club and/or the block of the month group, (Can't remember how that works, but I think if you make a block , then you get a chance to win the blocks for that month) but you don't have to do any of it; just show up. I happened to be in the shop one morning when they had the group, so I peeked in to see what was going on. The birthday girls each got a big bag of fat quarters if they were in the BD club; they had some kind of lesson that day, refreshments, and some of the ladies showed their stuff! I haven't been able to join, but would like to this fall if and when things slow down here. It looked like fun, and I can always learn something, that's for sure.

Fantastic... that's what life is all about.... smiles, friends and respect.... Guild B is what my "Tuesday sewing day" is like... it's 4 of us that broke out from an 11 group a few years back and NEVER are bored or feel bad about anything we share or make... :) Very happy for you Cyndi... that's hard to pull off in a larger group.. but then again,, it is New England...:icon_hi:

OK Cyndi, you are gonna have to PM me and tell me about this guild you found. I have been thinking seriously about getting involved in one, and I'm pretty sure which guild "A" is. Would you do that and PM me with more info? I'd appreciate it.

Cyndi, that sounds like my sewing club...we aren't a guild per se....we get together the first and last Friday of the month and we share projects and have show and tell and there is food and coffee and tea for those that want it...it is very friendly and encouraging group....I love it and have made some friends there....wish you the best with Group B...also loved the pictures in your link....your quilt looked awesome...also looks like you might get some inspiration there as well!

You know, if that is the small guild, how many people go to the other one? That is a lot of people and it looks like everyone was having a good time. There is a woman in one of the pictures that looks exactly like a woman I know from here.

Guild A has about 120 members, Guild B has about 150 members, so they are about the same size.

I hope I haven't discouraged anyone from trying out a local guild. I certainly didn't mean to. I hope you all look into any local group of quilters that meet anywhere close to your hometown. I'm glad I did.

So much fun. I am jealous and yet very happy for you.

I spent my summers growing up on that lake, were you in Wolfoboro? For some reason I think I was in that room. Really weird but I do. We went to a lot of events all around your area and the house was in Alton so I am now curious.

Again, I am really happy for you.

Congrats to you for finding group B. I started going to a group in January, pretty small about 20 or so that come and go, that seems it fits in your group A category. Very hard to break into, they seem to all know each other very well. We talk and do show and tell usually. They are all very nice, but a lot of the time I just listen to all of their conversations. I wish it felt a little more welcoming and friendly to newcomers. Enjoy what you have found with your group B!

That is wonderful! I have never been to a guild meeting, but if I ever have time to, hope I can find a "Guild B" in my area.

Cyndy..... Sorry, but the women in your first guild really weren't very nice. They were rude, and clearly did not really want new members.

Congratulations on fndng a guild that is welcoming, encouraging, and warm... Yes, I can see your smile!

Sandy

Cyndi. Sorry, but the women in your first guild really weren't very nice. They were rude, and clearly did not really want new members.

Congratulations on fndng a guild that is welcoming, encouraging, and warm... Yes, I can see your smile!

Sandy

Sandy, I do think they are all nice as individuals. I find that generally true in the world, only finding a few bad apples here and there. You know that Jackson Five song, "One bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch, girl." I think they are just innocently oblivious to how their collective behavior is affecting others. I am disappointed in the group but don't want to be unkind to them.

Sometimes it just takes time to get to know people. As my mother always told me " you have to be a friend to make a friend". Not sure I totally agree but it does help to be outgoing to them. There are a lot of shy people in this world and they may be as nervous to meet new people as the new ones are to meet the old hands.