VQG has an annual Charity Quilt Challenge to encourage members to create one or more quilts for donation to an organization of their choice. Each quilt displayed provides a chance to win a prize – probably more fabric!
Guild Events
2017 Charity Quilt Challenge
ALL VQG MEMBERS are invited to participate in the FOURTH ANNUAL CHARITY QUILT CHALLENGE!! Our first Charity Quilt Challenge, June 2014, saw 55 quilts donated; our second, June 2015, 58 quilts donated; the third, June 2016, 60 quilts (including 3 afghans).
Thank you to ALL who participated. The quilts go to many charities and find homes where they are needed most, including: Quilts of Valour; Sunnyhill Hospital; Wilson Heights United Church; Central City Lodge; fire victims of Fort McMurray; and the charities supported by Pumpkin Seeds.
Our fourth annual Charity Challenge promises to be bigger than ever with so many members getting involved with the CQA: Canada 150 Slab Block Charity Quilts – which are being donated to the 14 Ronald McDonald Houses throughout Canada.
The purpose of this challenge is: 1) to encourage members to make a quilt for charity and 2) to have fun doing that! Each finished Charity Challenge Quilt shown at a VQG meeting entitles its maker to a ticket in the June draw for prizes. Here are the rules:
- Charity Quilts must be completed and turned in by the June 2017 meeting – so please plan to bring your quilt and put your name into the draw for a prize. If you have already turned in your quilt(s) –be sure to give your name so that you are entered into the prize draw.
- Your Charity quilt may be ANY SIZE: baby, child, lap, single, double, queen or king. You determine the size you wish to make!
- Your Charity quilt will be distributed to various deserving organizations. If you wish your quilt to go to a specific location … no problem …. just pin a note to it stating that as it will get to where you would like it to go.
- Quilts already turned in count … just let us know what size and where it was sent.
- Quilts done this fiscal year and already sent or soon to be sent to Fort McMurray … count.
- CQA: Canada 150 Completed Slab Blocks Quilts … count.
All of us who ever have taken the opportunity in our lives to make a quilt to be passed on to a stranger-in-need … know the special joy you feel when you take the time to make a quilt for someone you will probably never meet … but you know you have done a really nice thing.
Mary B.
March 2017 – Outreach Quilts
Recently some of our members have been donating quilts for the children of families affected by the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire. Members have also been participating in the Canadian Quilters’ Association Canada’s Big Quilt Bee, making slab blocks and quilts for Ronald McDonald House. (click on a photo to enter slideshow)
Associated Groups
There are presently two groups associated with VQG which create quilts for hospitals and charitable organizations. Both groups also sell quilts to the community, and use the sale proceeds to purchase further quilting supplies. Both groups offer learning and/or mentoring opportunities for Guild members.
Studio 13 is open 10:00am to 3:00pm on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays from September to June (with some exceptions) in space provided at Immaculate Conception Parish (ICP) church (Alma and 28th). Guild members may work on their own projects, or use Studio fabric to create quilts for Sunny Hill Hospital for Children, Central City Lodge, Quilts of Valour, or a charity of their choice. Studio participants may also create quilts or quilted items for sale at the ICP November and May sales, the proceeds of which may be donated to ICP (for using its space), to VQG, or used to purchase quilting supplies. The Studio will also accept finished quilts for sale or donation, quilt tops or blocks, and good quality fabric. Beginners are welcome to learn technique at the Studio; more experienced quilters may work out design ideas, sandwich quilts, or machine quilt. Bring lunch, tea is provided.
The Pumpkin Seeds group produces many quilts each year which go to Atira House, Children’s Hospital ICU and Oncology, St. Paul’s Hospital Neonatal Care Unit, the Union Gospel Mission Sanctuary (new mothers and babies) and Brock Fahrni. The group meets one Saturday each month at St. Faith’s church (Cypress and 57th) and every Tuesday. The Saturday group is always open to new members. All you need is a sewing machine with a walking foot and a desire to learn or improve your machine quilting. They provide the sandwiched quilt, thread, and lots of help. This is a great place for members to pick up tips about quilting and expand their range of machine quilting. There is limited space on Tuesdays so new members sometimes have to wait for space to open up before attending regularly. Members of the guild often contribute to Pumpkin Seeds by donating quilts and quilt tops. Each year they have two shows, one in June and one in November. Both are held at St. Faith’s church and admission is free. At both shows they display quilts and sell quilts to raise money for supplies. At the November show there is also a boutique and tea room. If you are interested in more information or joining Pumpkin Seeds, please contact Meredith Kimball (kimball@sfu.ca).