Category: Events

Once again the Sit and Sew evening was well attended. Announcements were made as follows.

4^th June – The Summer Social evening would be held from 7pm – 9pm at Monkland Hall.  Members were asked to bring a plate of savoury items to share with each other.  A surprise sweet would be provided by  the committee. Carol had agreed to organise a game so members were asked to bring a wrapped fat or long quarter of fabric to play the game. This could be nice or naff!  A quiz organised by Debbie could be played whilst enjoying the refreshments.

18^th June – The workshop by Joy Harber would be held from 10am – 4pm at a cost of £25 per person.  Anyone wishing to sit and sew from 2pm – 4pm could do so but only hand sewing would be possible due to the number of tables in use.

31^st July – Coach trip to the NEC Festival of Quilts. The cost would be £35 per person (coach £20 ticket £15) Quilters Guild members would be entitled to a £1 ticket reduction upon production of their Registration number.  Payment would be non refundable. The list for tickets, to be ordered by Leominster Quilters, would be closed on 18^th June to facilitate purchase of the tickets.

PAYMENT for the workshop and NEC trip should preferably be made by BACS and Debbie advised when this had been made.

Thanks go to Debbie, Lynne and the several other members who helped to serve tea, coffee and biscuits. 

At the end of a lovely hot sunny day 17 members gathered to spend the evening sitting and sewing their individual projects and chatting with their neighbours. They were reminded that details of recent notices were available on the table for them to look at. 

As everyone sat chatting and sewing, Alyson explained the next set of instructions for the Block of the Month Christmas Tree Quilt.

Thanks go to Pat and Judy for serving the refreshments.

Prior to the talk there were a few announcements.

Members wishing to go to the NEC were reminded to add their name to the list.

An Exhibition was being held at The Welsh Quilt Centre, Lampeter from 15 March until 22 November 2025, Tuesday to Saturday 11 am – 4.30pm.  Groups in excess of 6 people could get a discounted ticket for £8 if they went en masse but were asked to ring Jen Jones on 01570 480160 to arrange.

Anyone requiring an extra ticket to the NEC could receive £2 off a Standard/Adult/Concession ticket.  This would not be valid for children or group tickets or for Sunday 3 August.   The offer expired Sunday 27 July.  Anyone interested should contact Alyson.

A poster had been received advertising the Highnam Quilters’ Exhibition to be held Saturday 7 June and Sunday 8 June.

Frances Meredith was then introduced. She had brought along some of her quilts, including prize winning ones.  She told us about her Quilting Journey from early beginnings to the present.  She explained, in great detail, the methods she had used to make each quilt.  Many were foundation paper pieced by hand.  She described how she had quilted each item, in order to show either the quilting pattern or to enhance the patchwork.  Her attention to detail and her magnificent hand work was something which held everyone in awe and was testament to her dedication, precision and patience.  The following is just a selection of the quilts she had brought along to show us. Frances also advised that she had a long arm quilting service. Details could be found on her Fabadashery website.

The evening ended with 30 members thoroughly enjoying Frances’ talk and taking the opportunity to look at the quilts at close quarters.

Thanks were expressed to Frances for sharing her spectacular work with us all.

Thanks go to Rachel and Carol for making the tea and coffee

Talk by Joy Harber “An obsession with Log Cabin”

Prior to the talk Maureen advised that notification had been received about a textile exhibition by Alexandra Kingswell, called “Seeking the Light” that would be on display in Lichfield Cathedral from 19 March to 13 April.  It would also be on display in Leicester Cathedral from 25July to 25 August.

A coach was being organised to go to the Festival of Quilts at the NEC on Thursday 31 July. Members interested in joining the trip were asked to fill in their names on the list circulating.  Once numbers and a coach were confirmed members would be advised of the total cost of the trip and tickets could be purchased.

Pat advised that she had available the final instructions of her mini quilt challenge.

The meeting was then handed over to the guest speaker for the evening, Joy Harber.

Joy detailed how she had started her career in quilting and how her love of Log Cabin quilts had evolved.  Her quilts ranged from the traditional sized quilt blocks to miniature blocks and she outlined the methods she adopted to make the quilts.  She amazed us with her award winning quilts, some of which she had designed herself and for which she had won national and international recognition and prizes.  Her relaxed presentation and amusing stories elicited lots of laughter and at the end of her talk she said she hoped members would join her later in the year in a workshop.  She then invited members to look at, and handle, the quilts she had brought along.

Joy was thanked for her very interesting and encouraging talk which everyone had thoroughly enjoyed, so much so that many members agreed they were eager to take part in the future workshop.

These are a small sample of the quilts Joy had brought along to show us.

Thanks go to Clare and Ruth for making the tea. 

The evening started with 21 members attending the AGM.

Officers elected for the next 12 months were Maureen Bilbao, Chairman; Debbie Cottam, Treasurer and Committee members Lisa Forest, Jo Sankey and Sally Hanson.

Adele had already circulated her Chairman’s report. Kate presented the Treasurer’s report and distributed a copy of the audited accounts for the past year, from which it was noted there was a healthy balance at the bank. It was therefore agreed a donation be made, at this time, to Leominster Meeting House Dementia Group charity then consideration given to making a further donation to a charity of choice at the next AGM. In accordance with guidelines of the Quilters Guild it was agreed juniors, up to the age of 18, should be allowed to join the group free of charge, on the proviso that they were accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian.

With the business of the AGM concluded the guest speaker for the evening, Trease Lane, was introduced.

Trease started by outlining her background and explaining how she had started on her quilting journey. She showed us a variety of examples of her extraordinary work and generously went into great detail explaining the techniques she had used, which everyone found fascinating.

Afterwards, Adele proposed a vote of thanks and said how much everyone had enjoyed the talk. Members then had the opportunity to look more closely at the exhibits and ask Trease any questions.