Not of the batting! No, I left quilt guild this morning feeling like THE WEENER. (My husband’s family says this, like “I’m the winner,” only, “weener.” ahem.)
Back in October, I joined the Seacoast Modern Quilt Guild. 
I wasn’t quite sold on the idea of a guild–doesn’t the quilt blog community provide enough–well, community? I’m so, so glad I joined! Turns out, it’s much more exciting and inspiring to pet real quilts and coo over fabrics with real live people. True story!
If you haven’t yet joined your local branch of the MQG, please seriously consider it. Even if you’re a wallflower. (Surprise! I think most quilters really are wallflowers.)
Because after some meetings, you leave feeling like THE WEENER.
Ahem.
Here are the two spiderweb blocks I made for this month’s block lottery. One of our guild members selects a block and a color scheme every month. Bring a buck, and a block, and each block/buck you get earns you an entry in the raffle. We’re putting our proceeds towards our guild’s entry fee to the national MQG. I think we’ve raised about $40 so far, which is not insignificant. This month…
I won the blocks! There are 16 so far. I’m thinking that means I need to make 14 or 15 more and make a big ol’ spiderweb quilt.
I also went home with this pile of gorgeous:
That’s Indian Summer by Sarah Watson for Art Gallery Fabrics, with some coordinating Kona solids chosen and donated by Peg from Sew Fresh Fabrics. Sarah Watson donated the fabric bundles to our guild for us to use in charity quilts. We split the pile and are going to make four baby quilts, round-robin style. I get to start by making the center medallion! I’m so excited to work with these materials, they are gorgeous.
And then, Echino Christmas.
The same member of our guild who’s organizing the block lottery also pulled together an Echino fabrics swap. Eight people each bought one print. We cut fat quarters or eighths and swapped. Now I have this gorgeous pile, all for me. I’ve never had any Echino before, it’s always seemed too expensive for me. Now, to cut and not be paralyzed by the “special.”
Are you in a guild? Do you love it? What kinds of fun swaps/bees/round robins/other fabric fun does your guild do?
Such a good idea to raise money that way! I’m definitely going to share with our guild! I love those blocks! It’s going to be a beautiful quilt. Lucky lady!
I am in the triangle modern quilt guild which I am enjoying thoroughly. I am learning though, not to sign up for every swap. It becomes a little time consuming. We do charity quilts as well….which reminds me I need to start my one too 🙂
You definitely were the lucky one this weekend 🙂 Hope you enjoy it all.
Yay! those blocks are great. You had great luck for sure!
I’m part of a quilting group and it is so much fun! We have our third meeting at the end of this month. We have made round robins, a swap and for next time we have a block challenge with the theme Double Dutch which is the name of our group.
The whole thing got started when I contacted a flickr friend who lives in the same area and asked would she be interested. Scary thing to do but I’m so glad I did it!
Awesome!! Congratulations on winning the lottery! I love both my guilds – they definitely give lots of inspiration and push you to learn new things! 🙂
Wow – that was a fun day! I just started to get involved with my local guild this year and I totally agree with you about meeting real people!
Fantastic!! Great blocks and fab fabrics! (Bit of an Echino-aholic myself!!)
Wow that is awesome – I love those blocks! You are very lucky indeed. There is not a guild where I live 😦 The nearest one is about an hour which doesn’t seem far except it is over the mountain which is fine in summer but not in winter! ) I know – it sounds like excuses to me too. I really am a wallflower!
Your blog entry made it to “Zite”
Congratulations on a double win!
Dss
I ❤ my guild! Glad you found one. I LOVE those spiderweb blocks. Great colors.
What a fun prize – those blocks! But, my dear, you are the Weener of more than one prize today…
WoW ~ you’re a double weener!!! That’s so great! Congratulations!!
When I have a huge roll of batting (of course, I have to PURCHASE mine 😉 ) I ‘buy’ it from myself every time I use it, so that when I run out, I already have the money to buy another roll 🙂
Happy sewing!
Laura, it was just your time to be a “weener”., and a double “weener” at that! We will be expecting great things from you from now on!!