‘Sew’ glad if you would join Quilters’ Guild

I’ve always liked sewing and fancied myself a pretty good seamstress and quilter. So when I found too much free time on my hands (retired and kids moving away), I decided to take a friend up on her suggestion to join the Mountain Laurel Quilters’ Guild.

The first meeting went fine. I was with my friend and I could see how the fifty or so women in the hall were all so happy to see each other and enjoy each other’s company. Yes, I would like to be a part of this.

There was a show and tell where lady upon lady walked to the front of the hall showing their masterpieces. That was when I got just a little nervous. Some of that work parading across the front of the hall was simply amazing. I felt there was no way I could compare or keep up with them.

On a table across the hall, there was a sign-up sheet for a workshop. We could learn to make a wall clock using a paper-piecing method. The  workshop cost only $10 so I signed up. After the show-and-tell, I knew I obviously could use some lessons. I was excited.

The morning of the workshop, I loaded the car with my supplies from the provided list and set off to Clarkesville, where the workshop would be held. Half-way there, I got a flat tire. It took me thirty minutes to change the tire and now I was 30 minutes late for the workshop (and I was oh, so dirty). Not wanting to be the newbie showing up late,  I turned my car around and drove home. I was slightly heart-broken.

But not heart-broken enough to give up. The Guild has numerous satellite groups. The Bee Creatives, The Bee Artfuls and The Bee Sharps, to name a few. I joined the Bee Sharps because they are close to where I live. I can still join or attend the other meetings, all through being a member of the guild but this was the closest so flat tire or not, I could probably still get there on time.

Joining the Bee made it a little easier to get to know some of the other guild members. Friendships were made quickly and easily. I have bombarded some of these women with questions about quilting and sewing, sending them text messages at all hours asking for advice and they never let me down. Here I am, going on four years later and they still answer all my questions happily and enthusiastically.

Membership to the guild is a nominal $30 per year. Your first year you’ll give an extra $5 for a beautiful pin and a welcome packet. This is one of the best bargains out there! You get monthly meetings, monthly workshops, weekly bees and the occasional retreat where we get together for a whole week and just sew and enjoy each others’ company. There are extra charges for some things, but it is always the smallest amount we can manage. I have seen my sewing skills improve tenfold. I even turned my daughter’s old bedroom into a sewing oasis for myself.

My one regret: Not showing up 30 minutes late for that first workshop. I go into my friends’ homes now and see their clock hanging on their walls and I won’t lie, a little twinge of sadness flickers through me. I now know, these ladies don’t mind if I’m late, they’re just happy I’m there.

We will all be “sew” happy to have you join us! We meet the third Tuesday of each month at the Grant Reeves VFW Hall in Cornelia. Bees are also held in Clayton, Clarkesville and Cornelia. If you have any questions or would like more information, please feel free to contact me at bawbrook@gmail.com.