Pella Area Quilters Guild

Who We Are
The guild was started in 1985 and we are now a guild of approximately fifty members from Pella and its surrounding areas. We want to promote the art of quilting and encourage each other in the making of quilts. Many of our members are very active and creative in the area of quilting and others just enjoy anything associated with quilting. This diverse group provides fellowship to people with a common interest - QUILTING!

Our publication is the Quilting Lines newsletter and is mailed or emailed to each member monthly. All members are welcome to submit ideas and information to be included in the newsletter by contacting the newsletter editor.

Why We Are
The Pella Area Quilters Guild was formed to do several things:
• To promote the appreciation of the heritage and art of quilts
• To educate members
• To present quilts to the pubic
• To provide charity quilts

What We Do
Monthly meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Congregate Meal Site in the Community Center, 712 Union Street (second floor, enter by the north door). Board meetings are typically held the second Tuesday of each month. Membership is open to any person and guests are always welcome. Dues are $15 per year, pro-rated quarterly for new members, and are renewable in January. Members receive a membership card which may be presented for a 10% discount on fabric at Vande Lune's Fabric Store in Pella.

Many activities are available for quilt guild members:

Anniversary Meeting and Challenge
The guild was founded in September 1985, and the anniversary is observed each September. Typically, we meet for dinner and enjoy a special speaker. Also, Challenge Quilts are brought to this meeting and the guild members vote for their favorite. Early in the year a theme is announced and each member is 'challenged' to make a quilt that emphasizes this theme.

Birthday Cake
A very special birthday cake has been prepared for our guild members. Each "slice" is a fabric fat quarter and you are welcome to select a slice at the meeting when your birthday is in that month.

Block of the Month
Each month the president of the guild presents a quilt block and pattern. Members are encouraged to complete a block each month with the goal of having twelve complete blocks to make into a quilt at the end of the year.

Charity Quilts
Each year a charity project is selected by the guild. Charity projects have included quilts for Hospice of Pella, quilted bags for the Ronald McDonald House of Des Moines, quilts for Freedom Quilts organized by Betty Nielson of Fonda, Iowa, and quilts for babies who have a father serving in Afghanistan. Charity projects may be done in groups or individually.

Door Prizes
The guild provides several door prizes at each meeting. All members wearing a fabric name tag are eligible to win. Each member will usually have an opportunity to get one door prize each year.

Holders and Folders
During the Show and Tell portion of our meeting, and sometimes during the program, two or more members of the guild are needed to hold up quilts for display and to help fold them again.

Library
The Library committee purchases and organizes quilting books for our members to use. Books may be checked out at the meetings and returned the following month.

Newsletter
The PAQG Editor prepares and either mails or emails a monthly newsletter to each member. The newsletter contains information about upcoming meetings and activities, the secretary and treasurer reports, and articles of interest to the guild members.

Programs
The Program committee arranges for a wide variety of speakers and presentations for each monthly meeting. Past programs have included a trunk show by Susan Cleveland, 3-6-9-12 by Cathy Busch and A tisket, A tasket by Catherine Litwinow.

Raffle Quilt
A quilt is made each year, involving as many members of the guild as possible. Raffle tickets are sold and the name of a lucky winner is drawn at our Tulip Time Quilt Show. The proceeds from the raffle quilt and the quilt show benefit the guild and make it possible to pay speaker fees and guild expenses.

Refreshments
Two members are needed each month to serve refreshments for our meetings. Cold drink and snacks are usually served.

Road Trips
The program committee will organize road trips for guild members. It may be a one-day shop hop or an overnight trip and it is always a great way to develop friendships within the guild. Past road trips have taken us to the Fall Thimbleberries Retreat in Minnesota, the quilt shops of southeastern Iowa, and Prairie Star Quilts in Elk Horn, Iowa.

Show and Tell
All guild members are encouraged to bring completed quilt projects to the meetings for our monthly Show and Tell. A ribbon (that you may pin to your fabric name tag) will be presented to you for each finished item that you show. This is a wonderful time to see all of the talent, creativity and ability that is represented by the members of our guild.

Tulip Time Quilt Show
All members of the guild are encouraged to submit quilts for the Tulip Time quilt show (first full weekend in May) at the Pella Opera House. Quilts should be new quilts that have never been shown in the PAQG quilt show. This is not a "judged" quilt show, but we usually have a very nice variety of beautiful quilts. Visitors at the quilt show are asked to vote for their favorite and some guild members will be given viewer's choice awards. All guild members will be responsible for working a two-hour shift during the show. A raffle quilt and silent auction were also a part of our last quilt show.

Workshops
Some of our speakers are quilt teachers. Usually a one-day workshop will be planned for a nominal fee. We have had excellent and informative workshops led by Maebeth Oxenrider, Susan Cleveland and the "Nickel Squares Ladies" Pat Speth and Charlene Thode.