Jody Edward (far right) kept members supplied with patterns, materials, and enthusiasm to make quilt donations for local charities.
Desert Threads members enjoy making quilts for our community service donations. This is a popular activity for members, along with lectures at general meetings and classes and workshops held throughout the year. Over the last 12 months, about 80 quilts and 75 bags were made. These were given to U.S.VETS, Navajo/Hopi reservation communities, local women’s shelters, and the Phoenix Refugee Center. Jody Edwards, chairperson, kept very busy this year sorting, organizing, and managing fabric and the volunteer members who cut, pieced, quilted, bound, and delivered quilts. Jody organized the many fabric and material donations that were provided to Desert Threads, including purchasing other needed supplies with grant money received from Arizona Quilters Guild (AQG) and other donors. Jody did an outstanding job in preparing procedures and methods and has mentored the next chairperson, Teresa Roberts. Teresa will take over this large effort as the new chairperson for July 2023 through June 2024. Teresa welcomes any member to make quilts and join her committee to help with the many tasks. The committee will prepare kits for charity quilts and provide other guidance to Desert Threads for this major effort.
The May 10 meeting was the last meeting of the season until Sept. 13. A very special Show & Tell was given by the officers. Each officer showed a quilt project they especially enjoyed doing and explained the new things they learned when making it. A business meeting reviewed our activities and informal sewing sessions being planned for the summer months. Other members presented a Show & Tell of items they have been working on.
Many members watched the “live” YouTube presentation from the Global Quilt Connection. This presentation featured 15-minute videos by quilt teachers from around the world showing their special techniques and projects. These teachers are available for lectures and workshops over the video platform Zoom. Not only did members learn new tricks and tips for quilted projects, but they identified experts for future presentations to Desert Threads.
We invite anyone interested in quilting to contact us and join our group. This summer we will have informal get-togethers to sew, chat, and catch up with friends at the Oakwood Sewing Room. Dates are the first and second Wednesday afternoons, the first Saturday all day, the second Sunday all day, and the third Monday all day. For more information, send an email to [email protected] or [email protected]. Members are reminded that AQG has lectures and workshops scheduled. Check the dates and speakers at www.arizonaquiltersguild.org.