Join a Guild

I get out very little. In the winter, I'm afraid to drive on slick and dangerous roads, although this never used to be the case. I think moving to Arizona for those three years spoiled me and since then have developed a "driving in adverse conditions" phobia.

In the spring/summer/fall I find getting out easier, but have so much to do with other activities around the house that to get away to some yard sales seems to be the extent of it. Therefore, I joined a quilting guild. Two actually. However, one of the guilds is quite a drive and therefore, only attend half the year. And, they only meet once a month anyway.

The other guild is closer. A mere nine miles away and we meet on a weekly (or more) basis. Meetings are most every Thursday and the membership count is not so huge not to know everybody. We do other meetings too to include a monthly sew-in whereby we sew charity quilts on Friday and then do our own personal (or whatever) things on Saturday. We also have a number of members who open their homes up for additional Monday sewing.

It's great to talk and share with others while doing something I absolutely love. On special weeks we get guest speakers in to share their quilting accomplishments and ideas and occasionally we get a class to broaden our quilting horizons. We have our own Quilt University to teach our particular skills each year, and there are various other activities we throw in too (challenges, techniques, show and tell, UFO auctions, etc.).

Because of the guild, I find myself more motivated. There are days when I want to go in one direction (starting another project usually) and I know I have a charity quilt I SHOULD be doing instead; or completing something the members saw me begin and will want to see the end result of. It keeps me a bit more focused on what I need to finish rather then starting another 'new' something.

For them I am grateful. Here is one of the projects that when I started was very gung-ho about, but after a few days and very little accomplished, was ready to put aside for a while to start something else. But, I committed myself by sharing a picture of this project to other members and thereby, holding myself accountable for my said desires.

This is called Dancing Ribbons. The finished quilt is only about 12" square, but it took nearly as long as a full-sized "easier" quilt to complete. Six days total. It's one of my favorite pieces now and I have my fellow ASQ members to thank for it now being displayed as you enter my home.


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