by Terri Davis
I joined the Piecemakers in 2014 and didn’t know how much being a member of “our” guild would become a big part of my life. I’ve always been drawn to volunteer in some way in my community, first with my children’s schools, being a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), and now with the quilt guild. There were several other short-term, “unpaid jobs” I held during and after working for many years in health care.
A dear friend started me on my quilting journey in 2013. Her series of beginning quilting classes gave me the “bug” before the classes were even half-finished. I like the piecing step of making a quilt, sewing together pieces of fabric to make the quilt top, then having a professional sew the layers of the top, batting, and backing fabric “sandwich” for the next stage. It’s called Quilting-by-Check by many quiltmakers.
Some of the best activities quilting has brought into my life are the ongoing learning of new skills and gathering with other quiltmakers to plan, sew, and complete our endeavors. There is an endless variety of combinations of fabrics, shapes and patterns multiplied by each quilter’s taste and experience. The process and camaraderie never get boring.
As a guild board member, I’ve enjoyed helping OPQG maintain a membership of 250-300 the past several years, and performing other “jobs” for our guild and members. I plan to renew my membership each year to continue receiving the many benefits of belonging to a wonderful guild of quiltmakers.