When I moved to Chicago three years ago, I had no intention of searching out a quilt group. My attitude was sort of, 'been there, done that'. I had little interest in committee work and felt that my online quilting community was serving my creative connection needs just fine (thank you very much!). But one Saturday during our first month there, Dorothy appeared at my door, inviting me to a meeting of her local group. A friend of the previous owner of our house, she had heard that a quilter was moving in. And so, to be polite, I stopped by at a meeting several weeks later.
The group is, I imagine, like many across the country. Started during the quilting boom of the early '80s by a bunch of energetic, passionate quilters, it has continued to be an active group, though the pace and scope of activity has slowed somewhat with the ageing of their original membership. They meet weekly in a local community center, bringing handwork and lunch for a day of stitching, and are happy to keep the group as it is, mostly dear old friends with the occasional infusion of new blood by happenstance or invitation. Lucky me!
Dorothy and Mary M.
At the beginning, I would stop by every couple of weeks to stitch and chat, happy to find people who spoke my language. As time went on, I realized through show-and-tells and conversation that this was not your run-of-the-mill group...they knew quilting, its literature and its history, had attended many of the big shows over the last 30 years and taken workshops with many well-known contemporary quiltmakers. As more and more cross-references with my quilt history became evident, I told them I knew I had found 'my tribe'.
I have very few photos of the group through my years in Chicago...mostly just our annual Christmas photos and a few shots of women sitting around folding tables in our very unassuming meeting room. As I reviewed my archives, I find there seems to be a trash barrel in every shot!
Mary Pat and Sheila
Before I left, the group threw me a little going away party, one of their not-to-be-missed potluck lunches, and gifted me with a stack of signature blocks. Because of my uncertain departure date and members' summer vacations, it was held a month or so before I actually left, which made it much easier for me to enjoy, knowing that I wasn't quite leaving yet. During lunch, a few friends lamented that they hadn't yet gotten around to showing me quilts that they had referenced in conversation through the past months; quilts that they wanted me to see, pieces they knew I'd just love. That was remedied the next meeting.
Mary B., Katherine, Karen, Barb and Kathy Smith
When I walked in that afternoon, Kathy Smith jumped up and said, 'I was wondering if you'd be here today...I'm running home to get those quilts I wanted you to see' and off she went. I can't think of a project Kathy has ever brought in that I've been lukewarm on. We share the same design aesthetic and I couldn't wait for her return.
This wonderful quilt (above) is her interpretation of an antique quilt she had admired...before Kim McLean's Stars and Sprigs version. The fabrics were all familiar, lots of Roberta Horton plaids and early Rothermels. I hated to see her fold it up, but more awaited.
When this quilt top was unfurled, I almost keeled over. From Kathy's UFO pile, this piece is a replica of an antique quilt that I recognized from an old Quilt Engagement calendar. Is there a pattern for this?, I asked. 'No, I just traced it off'. A friend owns the original.
*Swoon!*
As Kathy unfolded another WIP, other members started reminiscing about their own quilts and group projects from the same years while I was just trying not to pass out from sheer quilty visual overload.
When this one was opened up, I thought I recognized it from an old book but although the block design was adapted from it, the quilt design is Kathy's. How about that sunburst motif? These personalizations of all of Kathy's projects is one of the things that I feel makes each so special.
But wait, there's more! Actually, you'll have to wait for another post. On my very last day, prompted by the fun we had looking at Kathy's pieces, more fabulous quilts were shared. I got lots of photos, but looking at them now, I'm a little uncertain about who made several and want to secure permission to post them, with attribution.
So now I leave the group of 40 or so and join a short, but stellar, list of inactive members, including Barb (Fun with Barb) and Diane (Persnickety Quilts). It was difficult to walk away from such a group of quilters, but it was most difficult to walk away from my group of friends. Warm, welcoming, funny, talented...I take with me many happy memories of afternoons around the tables. Tuesdays just won't be the same.
Such a wonderful post! I enjoyed reading your words and looking at those amazing quilts! It must be a thrill to meet women with so much quilting experience and knowledge adn to become friends. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: nicolette | September 21, 2011 at 11:17 AM
I left a quilt group almost five years ago and just haven't joined another--life's too busy? But your fine post reminds me that life is never too busy to enjoy friends and quilt and talk quilting. I loved seeing all the quilts and look forward to more posts. The work on those is breathtaking--so amazing! I hope you can pass on my appreciation for their skill and persistence and patience; these ladies are all gems, and I'm sure you miss them.
Elizabeth E.
Posted by: Elizabeth E. | September 21, 2011 at 12:18 PM
Hooray for the tribe - I love that nick name.
It was good to see those quilts again. I remember when K.S was working on the stars and trees years ago, it has always been a favorite of time.
It's sad to leave them, but fun to visit.
Posted by: barb vedder | September 21, 2011 at 12:49 PM
Wonderful quilts. But the friendship, OMG do I ever miss that. I belonged to a mini "tribe" of six. Two have died. One has moved away. The remaining three can't bring ourselves to get together with the other half missing.
We did a Round Robin in one of our last years together. Bev's was on her coffin at the service and is now at my house. A cherished possession because she loved it so much. Thank you for sharing. The potlucks are amazing aren't they?
Posted by: joanne | September 21, 2011 at 01:11 PM
omg, what a fabulous group. I am sooo jealous that you've found an amazing group of quilters to spend time with and heartbroken for you to have to leave them. incredible eye candy!
Posted by: Tonya Ricucci | September 21, 2011 at 01:41 PM
Those quilts are amazing! How fortunate that you had such a great group, I'm sure you will miss them terribly.
Posted by: Carole | September 21, 2011 at 03:19 PM
I enjoyed reading about your tribe and seeing the lovelies. What happy memories. When God shuts a door, He opens another, you know! Be on the lookout for your next "tribe"...we quilters are inspired by one another.
Posted by: Carla | September 21, 2011 at 03:42 PM
Wow. Oh Wow are those quilts ever gorgeous! I especially LOVE that first quilt. Wow. I can't even type anymore. ;-)
Posted by: Thimbleanna | September 21, 2011 at 04:53 PM
Such talent; oh, how I loved looking at these!
Posted by: Jan S. | September 21, 2011 at 05:26 PM
How lucky you are to be part of such a group. I, too, have been getting together regularly with a group of stitchers for 28 years, more regularly when our children were young. And Kathy Smith is in the Chicago group! I had the pleasure of meeting Kathy and seeing some of her wonderful quilts two or three years ago at Gwen Marston's Beaver Island Quilt Retreat. I'm leaving Sunday to attend this year's retreat, with two friends from the above mentioned group, and I think Kathy will be there, too. I hope she brings lots of quilts to share!
Posted by: Nancy | September 21, 2011 at 05:32 PM
What a delightful group of quilters and they really know their stuff. The quilts are incredible, thank you for sharing them.
I would love to belong to a group like that, you were so fortunate to have such a great bunch of like minded friends.
Posted by: Janet | September 21, 2011 at 05:39 PM
Fabulous, fabulous quilts. Glad you have the photos and the rich memories of friends.
Posted by: Susie | September 21, 2011 at 07:52 PM
Thank you so much for this wonderful post. If you could share the name and location of this wonderful group I would forever appreciate it. I'm in the Chicago area and so craving a group of quilters with " like " taste to enjoy my quilting time with!
Posted by: Tara | September 21, 2011 at 09:16 PM
What a lovely post and what lovely friends. I so enjoyed seeing these photos - what precious memories.
Posted by: Alison | September 22, 2011 at 12:19 AM
Oh what amazing quilts, I am so impressed, makes me want to move to Chicago
yes you will be back to visit I am sure to see your friends as well as what they are working on now!
how lucky you were to find a quilt group like this
Kathie
Posted by: kathie | September 22, 2011 at 03:42 AM
That's wonderful -- I can't wait for the next installment.
I felt the same way about knitting group -- was invited and went once, same as you, to be polite, but the people and personalities grabbed me and didn't let go! It doesn't always happen that way, and things do change... don't they?
; )
Posted by: Vicki | September 22, 2011 at 12:22 PM
I knew you'd be a perfect match with Piecemakers. Hope you find an equally talented "tribe" in your new hometown.
Posted by: diane burdin | September 23, 2011 at 10:27 AM
Talk about hiding their light under a bushel. I am so pleased that your tribe showed you some of their work and that you shared it with us.
Posted by: Liz | September 23, 2011 at 10:06 PM
Sounds like a wonderful group. Hope you make the same connection in your new town.
Posted by: Sew Create It - Jane | September 24, 2011 at 06:03 AM
Fabulous quilts - thank you so much for sharing. What amazing talent! Hope you can find a similar group in your new town.
Posted by: Meredithe | September 26, 2011 at 03:23 AM
what lovely quilts - and a brilliant blog! So glad I stumbled across you!
Posted by: Stitch This | September 28, 2011 at 10:04 AM
Welcome back to Cleveland, as a native who never left, let me congratulate you on your wise choice to move back. I love this city with all it's warts and hope you will as well.
How incredibly hard it must have been for you to leave those wonderful quilty friends and all that talent. Hopefully you will find another group here in town, not the same, cause Chicago's can't be replaced, but another just as much fun and with just as much talent!
Welcome home!
Posted by: Tora | October 02, 2011 at 08:31 PM