I have found out that there is a guild in my area. I have read their website and I am undecided if that is something I want to do. The dues are $30 a year. Is anybody out there in a guild? Do you recommend it? Thanks for your input.:icon_wave:
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I have found out that there is a guild in my area. I have read their website and I am undecided if that is something I want to do. The dues are $30 a year. Is anybody out there in a guild? Do you recommend it? Thanks for your input.:icon_wave:
I'm in a guild. I joined and have only been there 3 times this year but I learned something new every time. The cost is only $12.00 a year. It's time conflicted with my office hours and since I retired I seem to have something else every guild meeting. I'm new at all this and excited to learn and then contribute. The gals and guy are great, all at different levels. Always up for an oppertunity to make new friends. I think the worlds problems could all be solved if everyone quilted! It brings out the best in people.
Meliswan, can only relate my personal experience in regards to your question. When I first moved to Commerce, I attended a meeting and the Guild in (and only one) in a neighboring town. I was pretty taken aback, it was very chilly reception-wise (and 50 bucks per year), not like the last guild I was in (that was like old home week). I eventually found a group of gals (10) that had started their own little quilting group. I haven't looked back since. My old guild, and the group I'm with now, did/do not require fees. If there is something that we want to attend, we all pitch in equally, assist each other in any project, join together to kick out quilts that are needed quickly, make lap quilts for the local NH's , and just generally enjoy not only our hobby, but each other as well. I don't do well with "stuffiness/stiffness" when it comes to large groups. Let alone dress to the "nines" when it comes to quilting. We do attend several local events and show/talk to folks and it's been a blast. I guess what I'm trying to say, is visit, if it fits you, then it's all good!
I'm also in a guild. It's a small group...there are about a dozen of us now. The guild is under the umbrella of the Univ of KY Extension Service. Dues are only $9/year (one of the reasons the guild has practically no money). We have a guild meeting monthly and sit-and-sew sessions weekly. We're also at different levels of ability but we enjoy sharing what we know and working together.
I'm in a guild and not as active as I could be. We have many guest speakers who offer a workshop as well. (I work so can't do the workshop). There are also other activities and opportunities to help out with community service. The dues are $35 per year and I gladly pay that. Our guild allows visitors - yours does too, I bet. How about going for a meeting to check them out and see if it is for you. Check out their newsletter and see what kind of a reception you get. The best way to get to know the fellow guild members is to participate.
I find even the same 'feeling' at LQSs.....really great fabric but I usually pass becuz the women are so dang 'superior'- I check out their ideas but DONT give their unfriendliness my hard earned cash! We have one awesome LQS-Quilter's Corner- they're sweet. I was recently there & they were thanking their customers with a 25% discount on everything ( except machines & classes). I happily spent $$$ there. If I lived in Hamilton I'm sure I'd be in there every weekend!
Our town has a guild, but I haven't participated. The mtg. time is not convenient for my daily schedule. It's $25./yr. or $5.00 a visit. It meets one night a mo. JCY
The only way you will know if you like a group is to visit a meeting. Ours will let you visit...don't know if there is a limit to the number of visits or not. You can tell a lot from just one visit. You can be as involved in the group as you like and will likely get your money's worth if you join. Do you know anyone already in the group? I know it is hard to walk into a roomful of strangers...but try it...you might like it.
Don't know any guilds around here, But a few years ago when I was working in a fabric shop all the guilds were stuffy and stiff. They all seemed so far superior and loved to look down their noses at regular folk. Not my kind of atmosphere. I learned on my own with help from the internet and jenny of course, I also read a lot of books on the subject and trial and error works great. I hate the self centered stuffy people that think their way is the only way.
One of main concerns is the attitude of the people. I can't stand the superior attitude some people seem to have. The next meeting is on the 11th. I guess I will give it a go and see what happens. I don't have any quilting friends to take with me unless someone on this forum is in the West Ga area........
I belong to one of three guilds here, and thoroughly enjoy every meeting which is held once a month. With over 120 members, we have quilters of all levels, and one is bound to meet a new friend. Usually about 70 members show up for meetings, Of course some are snootie but i just tell myself that hey, we all had to start somewhere. We have a fantastic program each year with guest speakers, bring and brag, raffles, retreats, and much much more. To get to know more quilters, I volunteered to work on designing our guild's website. When meeting quilters who are far more advanced, I take the opportunity to ask them for advice, tips and ideas. Everyone loves to talk about their work and share what they know, and before long, you might find these people friendlier than you thought, once you break the ice.
I would love to join a guild but there are only two and although one is closer to me it is extremely large with over 500 members, the other one is smaller but much further away.
In any club, guild, community, there will be friendly ones and the superior ones. If you are easily upset by the loud, stuffy ones, you may not get to know the really sweet helpful (but quiet) ones. I'd say give it a try and stick around for a while. Try to meet/talk with several different people. I am sure you will make friends for life. I did :-)
You don't need a 100 people, just a handful of awesome ones:icon_wave:
Guilds can be a wonderful place to meet new friends that share your passion. The guild I belong to has about 70 members with about 40 attending the meetings. At every meeting there is always some sort of program or demostration so lots of good ideas are shared. In addition we usually have a couple all day workshops a year as well as one retreat. I'm not too comfortable walking into a crowd of new people so when I was an officer I made it a point that there be someone at the door to greet new guests/members. Guests are always welcome to attend and see if it's a fit or not. Within the quilt there are also a number of small groups that meet at different times. Try it and see.
I would like to try a guild as well but always assumed since I work that I would not be able to participate.Also not sure how to locate one in my area.
The Ohio Valley Quilter's Guild meets somewhere not too far away.... It's a great guild, and has about 400 + members. I did visit a couple of times, with a friend when I first started quilting.
I decided to join The Ohio Stars Quilters.... We really are not a guild.... More like a club....or a small faith sharing group. We have twenty or so active members, and our dues are $15.00 yearly. We do a lot of charity quilting.... Some of us meet quarterly, with many, many other quilters to sew for a local NICCU. I'm excited to be able to go for the first time next Monday.
I've visited guilds, but much prefer our small, fairly informal group. I like it that we are close enough to really support one another. We usually go out for lunch after our twice monthly meetings, and our small size means there are no cliques going off by themselves.. Some are closer friends than others, but no one is ever left out.....
I also like it that we really don't have any "rules"...... Just common sense.
This is not to say that guilds aren't a good thing.....because they are..... Guilds offer many opportunities a small group can't. I have problems heating and seeing, so the small group works better for me......and I like the closeness we share.
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Originally Posted by Carrie J
Off topic, but have you visited the Quilt Mercantile in Celeste???
GrandmaE, i am also in B'ham. There are 3 local guilds that I am aware of. Evergreen Quilters meets every Tues, Moonlighters meets in the evenings once a month, both of these have web sites and one in Lynden, Pieceables meets every third Tues eve. I belong to both Evergreen Quilters and Pieceables. If you would like to go to a meeting of either of them, I would be happy to take you.Quote:
Originally Posted by GrandmaE
Mary AKA Shadowirish.