The Prairie Hearts Quilters’ Guild has enjoyed a very active year so far, with membership thriving, fun and community, and the donation of hundreds upon hundreds of items for local charitable causes.
The guild is preparing for its regular bimonthly meetings to resume on Sep. 7, and anticipating a packed season of events, including many opportunities to contribute to the community and at least a few special, two- to three-day sewing retreats.
“We meet the first and third Thursday of every month from September to May, up at the Shriner’s Hall beside the Toyota dealership,” explained guild member Ann Richey. “Our meetings start at 7 and we usually go until 8:30 or 9.
“And, you know, when I told everyone I was going to talk [to the newspaper] about [our guild], they said, ‘you should tell them what our meetings are really like, so more people will be interested.’ So, at our meetings, we don’t just sit around — we have a lot of fun.”
Richey said the Prairie Hearts Quilters program committee are a committed bunch who are always coming up with activities, programs, art themes, information, classes, and guest speakers.
“We have a lot of sharing, people coming in for demos, we have coffee and goodies every time, of course, games and challenges that are actually fun, and we laugh. And, of course, we have show and share to see everyone’s quilts and crafts.”
The guild had an active summer, presenting to over 250 students at a Western Development Museum workshop in June, and meeting around 170 visitors to their booth at the Sidewalk Days Festival.
Prairie Hearts Quilters stay community committed
[CORRECTED] The Prairie Hearts Quilters have several charity programs going, including quilt donations to the dialysis ward at the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital.
"A lovely lady from town had lost a friend that had been taking dialysis," Richey explained, "and wanted to present the patients each with a quilt in their honour. She had only made a few and it would have taken one person quite a while to produce nearly 40 quilts. After speaking with a guild member, we hopped on board donating what was needed, plus a few extras for the future.
“Within two weeks, we had over 40 quilts to donate. We also made carry bags for them, because each patient keeps the quilt they get and can carry it back and forth from their car."
Patients can get very cold during dialysis, and have appreciated having their own, personal quilts during treatment. Several have written thank you notes to the guild and to the woman who initiated the project.
The quilters have contributed over 1,500 unique pillowcases to children’s ward, as well. Each new child who comes in picks out their own pillowcase and takes it home afterward.
In addition, the guild makes Christmas placemats for Meals on Wheels, hospital patients, and all the senior care homes in the area. On Christmas Day, everyone gets their own brand-new artful placemat — the guild has been making them for almost 10 years, now.
“I’m so glad I found this guild,” Richey said, “because it just makes everybody realize what we have here. You can complain about the roads and the taxes, but the people are incredible.”
In response to community need last Christmas, the guild also spontaneously decided to put together personal care packages for women experiencing homelessness. Within a short time, they donated over 300 packages to the John Howard Society, plus a laundry basket full of shampoos, toothpaste and toothbrushes, hair ties, and other supplies.
“A guild is not just a group or a club,” Richey said. “It’s an organization there to make sure their craft or trade stays in the community. We preserve the knowledge, and we keep our craft going inter-generationally, but we’re also committed to the community, because if we contribute to our community and stay part of it, our craft stays valid.”
What to look forward to
Aside from the usual meetings and projects, the Prairie Hearts Quilters put on a biennial — every two years — grand show. They alternate the show yearly with what they call the "gathering of the guilds." Their last big show was called Sew Full of Whimzy and took place in April, filling the Moose Jaw Events Centre’s curling wing with over 300 spectacular quilt displays.
In 2024, the Gathering of the Guilds will take place on May 4, making a theme easy to choose.
“We have quilting groups and quilting guilds from all the smaller communities around come into Moose Jaw for a day. And then we have demos, guest speakers, we have lunch together, and show and share, prizes, door prizes. It’s a nice day of sharing,” Richey said. “And, of course, because it’s May the Fourth, our theme is Star Wars. Everyone is excited, the ideas have just taken right off.”
Smaller groups appreciate the chance at a big reunion-type event, with quilt and fabric artisans coming from Weyburn, Herbert, Gravelbourg, Wood Mountain, Davidson, Tugaske, and more.
In what is a brand-new pilot project this year, as far as the guild is aware, the Prairie Hearts group is twinning with the Pigeon Inlet Quilters Guild in far-off Newfoundland. The groups will trade challenges and get together online a few times, sharing in the diversity of their art and forging new connections. If all goes well, a report to the national Canadian Quilters’ Association might see the idea spread across the country.
If you’re interested in seeing what the guild is all about and joining a busy, thriving group of artists, contact the Prairie Hearts Quilters for more information at [email protected], follow their Facebook page, and check out their website at prairieheartsquilters.com.
The guild’s annual summer social is coming up on Aug. 24 at the Lynbrook Golf Club. Interested individuals are welcome to attend along with members.
