Wiltwyck Quilters Guild
Established 1977

May 2005 Annual Report

The 2004-2005 year was a very busy one for the guild, and I hope that you have enjoyed it as much as I have. We opened the year in September with local quilter, Joan Carragher, who showed us her award-winning quilts featuring yo-yos, cathedral windows, and origami. In October, another local teacher, Diane Johnson, presented a workshop titled “Ruler Magic,” including basics, tips and tricks, and specialty rulers. In November, Cynthia England entertained us with her wit and awed us with her famous pictorial quilts. Cynthia also taught a half-day design workshop and a full-day small landscape class. We ended 2004 with our annual holiday party and lots of good food. January was quilt-basting and sewing for community service, which was publicized in a full-page feature article in The Daily Freeman. In February and March, members gave the ever-popular in-house workshops. In April, Claire Oehler from Somers taught a free members workshop on reversible Amish Shadow quilts. And, we’re finishing the year with a trunk show of ‘artgarb’ embellished clothing by Shirley Botsford.

Thanks to Pat Clark and the program committee for arranging such diverse and interesting speakers and teachers. They also purchased a freestanding quilt display rack, which members can borrow.

Thanks also to Charlet Wenzel and her committee for another successful biannual quilt show, Timeless Treasures, held October 9-10 at the Kingston Neighborhood Center. Everyone pitched in to make it a successful show, and many beautiful quilts were exhibited..

Members also participated in other events, such as the Dutchess County Fair and the Patchworkers Quilt Show in August 2004, as well as the Lions Expo and 125th anniversary celebration of the Town of Ulster in March 2005. These events promoted quilting and helped publicize the work of our guild.

Community service quilters met monthly, and the January meeting was devoted to sewing blocks for community service quilts. Each member is donating at least one quilt or wheelchair or walker pockets to local shelters and nursing homes. Members also made comfort pillows for mastectomy patients, we collected quilting supplies to help Florida quilters who were affected by severe hurricanes, and we sent prayer squares to soldiers. We donated $2100, all profits from the 2002 raffle quilt, to local charities and community groups, as well as another $200 to Kingston Parks and Recreation.

In addition to special events and guest speakers, we continued with our monthly “fun” activities:
raffle block, fat quarter raffle, charm squares, row round robbin, mystery quilt, and don’t forget Show ‘n’ Tell. We also have a brand new up-to-date guild Web site, thanks to Jim Helms.

We ended the year with 155 members. It’s been a pleasure working with you during the past year. Quilters are indeed some of the nicest people!

Respectfully,

Shirley K. Swenson
President, Wiltwyck Quilters Guild