History:
The Sunset Country Quilter’s Guild was officially formed March 12, 1992 after a planning meeting held Feb.26th, 1992. The first executive was elected and would hold office for one year.
There were a total of 17 members attending the first meeting, and 14 members attending the inaugural meeting.
Meeting dates and times were the 2nd Tuesday of each month, held at the Futures Building, at 7p.m. with annual dues of $15.00.
Spring of 1996 meeting place moved to Hillcrest School 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7p.m.
Fall of 1996 meeting place moved to lower level of 104 King street, 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7p.m.Summer of 1998 the membership dues were increased to $20.
Spring of 1999 meeting place was moved to Hillcrest School 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7p.m.
Fall of 2000 meeting place has moved to the Masonic Hall on Van Horne Ave, 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7p.m. There are 44 members attending meetings.
Sept. 1992 was the first meeting to discuss an annual project of making a quilt for donation to a charity. The quilt project was organized by Mavis Weare and called “Strip Quilt” or “Heirloom Quilt”. This is a quilt that we still love to make today. This charity quilt was donated to the Patricia Gardens Minimal Care Home. Tickets were sold in 1993.
Charity quilt 1994-1995 was presented to Hillcrest School Parent Advisory Committee. The money raised was used to buy computer equipment.
Charity quilt for 1996-1997 were 6 ˝ inch “hourglass” blocks donated to the children’s ward of The Dryden Hospital.
There have been a number of charity projects over the years, such as placemats for Meals on Wheels, cuddle quilts for Princess Court, lap quilts for Patricia Gardens. There have been turbans/chemo hats made for the Cancer Society/Dryden Hospital Oncology Unit.
In 2000 several members went to Wal-Mart and did some quilting on a quilt they had put together. This quilt was then given to the Guild.
The Festival of Trees and The Gals Auction approached the guild regarding donations of quilted items for this fundraiser.
QUILTING RETREATS
The first quilting retreat was Sept.24th -26th, 1993 at Cedar Point Lodge in Waldhof. There was a charge of $109. That included meals, accommodations and a wonderful fellowship for the 11 members who attended. It was recommended that another retreat be tried next fall
There was another retreat in the fall of 1995 at the Dryden Ski Club.
There was a retreat held Jan 19th-20th, 1996 at St. Luke’s Church.
There was a spring quilting retreat for April 18th-19th, 1997.
There was a fall quilting retreat for October, 1998.
The fall quilting retreat for October 15th-17th, 1999 was at Blue Lake Provincial Park.
The fall quilting retreat for October, 2001, was held at Cedar Point camp in Waldhof.
The fall quilting retreat for September 27th-29th, 2002, was held at Quetico Centre near Atikokan.
The fall quilting retreat for September 25th-26th, 2005 was held at Bonny Bay Camp.
The spring quilting retreat was set for May 12th-14th, 2006, at Bonny Bay Camp.
QUILT SHOW
The first Quilt Show was held at the Dryden Golf and Curling Club April 24th- 26th, 1998 with great success.
The second Quilt Show was held at the Dryden Golf and Curling Club April 28th-30th 2000.
The third Quilt Show was held at the new Fair Grounds Multiplex April 27th-28th, 2002.
The fourth Quilt Show was held at the Fair Grounds Multiplex April 24th-25th, 2004
The fifth Quilt Show was held at the Fair Grounds Multiplex April 21st-23rd, 2006
The Sixth Quilt Show is being planned for 2008
Dryden Ontario, Canada
