Events | Greater Hartford Quilting Guild
GHQG Events The GHQG holds a number of events for the public and our members including Annual Gathering, Sharing Day, a Spring Lecture, Quilt Show and Member retreat. We also participate in Stitches United in Hartford, a convention for all types of needle crafts; see details below.
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Quilt Show |
 2019 Quilt Show Raffle Quilt
The GHQG Quilt show is a biennial event. Pictures from the most recent and prior shows can be viewed in our Photo Gallery page.
The 2019 show was held on June 8-9, 2019, at Rentschler Field, 615 Silver Lane, East Hartford CT, Saturday 9-5, Sunday 10-4. The show theme, "Our Journey In Color", inspired many colorful and inventive quilts from our members; and each of the eleven GHQG chapters had chosen a Journey-related theme to illustrate in the Chapter Challenge quilts. Vendors, raffle baskets provided by the chapters, and special exhibits rounded out this special show. The vendors included Yankee Cloth, Easy Piecing, Lisa's Clover Hill Quilts, OoWhee! Slip Free Rulers, Six Gables Designs, Flew the Coop Designs, Stitch Chicks Quilt Shop, French Design Studio, Close To Home, Christian Lane Quilters, Quilters Treasure, Quilted Ewe, Sewcraft Inc., The Quilt Shop by Lois, Barboriginals, Sew Inspired Quilt Shop, New England Sewing, Charlie's Sew Unique Studio, Dragonfly Quilt Shop, and Christie's Quilting Boutique. Scissors sharpening was also available. The raffle quilt for the 2019 show, made by committee members, is shown at the left. The quilt is two sided and is 95" by 95". Congratulations to the lucky winner! Special thanks to Quilts and Treasures, Lisa's Clover Hill Quilts and Quilting By The Yard for their contributions. |
Sharing Day
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Sharing Day is an event where the local chapters and independent members of GHQG gather to share ideas, accomplishments, and fellowship. Chapters provide short demonstrations and display their challenge results and charity work.
Sharing Day 2020 has been postponed; it will be hosted when rescheduled by Stafford Mill Town Quilters. More details to follow. Sharing Day 2019 was hosted by the West Hartford Quilters, and was held April 13, 2019, at St. Marks the Evangelist Parish, 467 South Quaker Lane, West Hartford CT. Click on Photo Gallery to view pictures from the recent and previous Sharing Days |
Connecticut Quilts: Pieces of American History
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From October 11 2019 through May 16, 2020, the Connecticut Historical Society presented an exhibit of antique Connecticut quilts and quilted clothing. They asked GHQG to provide samples of quilted items which could be displayed with eight of the featured quilts, to provide viewers a "hands on" view of how the quilts were made; GHQG members were happy to help!
The exhibit at Connecticut Historical Society, 1 Elizabeth Street, Hartford, was closed before the planned end date; but you can view the quilts in a virtual tour at the Connecticut Historical Society web site, https://chs.org/exhibition/coming-soon-connecticut-quilts/ Click on Photo Gallery to view pictures from this exhibit. Directions to the museum are below. Annually, GHQG presents a free lecture by a well-known quilter for its members. Space permitting, non-members may attend for a $5 fee.
Spring Lecture 2020 was postponed due to restrictions on large gatherings. Spring Lecture 2019 was presented in conjunction with Sharing Day 2019. The lecture was given by Sheri Cifaldi-Morrill, who specializes in the design of custom modern quilts, patterns and surface design products. Her web site, www.wholecirclestudio.com, has many samples of her beautiful work. Sheri's quilts have gained national recognition including awards from QuiltCon, QuiltWeek at Paducah, and the Quilt Alliance. They also have been featured at art centers and galleries around the country, and included in books and publications such as Modern Quilts: Designs of the New Century and Modern Patchwork. Click on Photo Gallery to view pictures from this and previous Spring Lectures. The 2018 Spring Lecture was held at 7 PM on March 9, 2018, featuring Rob Appell, "Man Sewing". Rob also offered a full-day workshop on March 11, 2018. |
Annual Gathering |
Each fall, one chapter of the GHQG hosts the Annual Gathering. After a short business meeting, this event continues with lectures by nationally-known quilters, designers and authors. Favors, vendors, boutiques, raffles and tag sales are frequently part of this event. Most years, the Annual Gathering is open to the public for a fee; the hosting chapter determines if space will permit opening it to the public, and also determines the fees of attending. It is always open to all GHQG members for a reduced price.
The 2020 Annual Gathering has been postponed due to the current restrictions on large gatherings; more information will be provided when available. The 2019 Annual Gathering, hosted by the Berlin Sisters in Quilting, was held on October 19 at the Shriners Hall, 3066 Berlin Turnpike, Newington CT, from 9 to 3. The featured speaker, Debbie Wendt, is a quilter and designer of the Brilliant Bindings tool, Hexamajig and Hexamajig Jr. Her lectures about quilting adventures around the world, and quilting in Egypt, were enjoyed by all. Annual Gathering also featured vendors, a tag sale, a raffle quilt, raffle baskets, snacks, and cameraderie. Click on the link in the map section below for directions. The October 2018 Annual Gathering featured Kate Themel, an award winning Fiber Artist who has exhibited in art galleries and museums from Boston to Botswana. Kate presented two lectures. The first included a Trunk Show and electronic presentation of portrait quilts, and the second a demonstration of how she free- motion quilts her projects. Click on Photo Gallery to view pictures from this and previous Annual Gatherings. |
Retreat |
GHQG hosts a members-only 4-day retreat. It is held annually at the Incarnation Center in Ivoryton, Connecticut.
Click on Photo Gallery to view pictures from the previous Retreats |
Stitches United |
On March 26-29, 2020, GHQG will again participate in Stitches United at the Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, CT to invite participation in our Guild. Stitches United, traditionally a knitting and weaving convention, has expanded to include quilting. GHQG (along with local quilt shops and other quilt groups) will display quilts, host a raffle of quilted bags, and provide attendees a chance to learning more about quilting.
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