Our PTA (Professional Textile Artists) group meets once a month. As is typical of larger groups like this, not every member can make it to every meeting......but we have a pretty hard and fast rule.....we meet the 2nd Thurs. of the month, whoever can come, does.
Apparently there's been a lot of discussion lately online about how best to structure a small/smallish fiber group. Such as, should the group be open or by invitation, the number of members, set meeting dates or flexible, should the focus be defined, etc. Our PTA group has been in existence (I'm guessing) for close to 20 years. Naturally, there have been some changes in membership, thankfully I was invited to join when I moved to NC 9 years ago.
Regular readers of my blog know that I actively participate in two smaller groups, though I belong to several others. In Fiber Junkies (the one I started about 8 years ago), 6 of us meet monthly in members homes for the purpose of experimenting with new techniques. We coordinate our meeting dates to fit everyone's schedule....so sometimes our meetings are 5 weeks apart, other times only 3....but it works for us.
PTA meets monthly, usually in members homes, without a set agenda. This year we've tried something new. Each member was responsible for planning one monthly meeting. We have 14 members, one lives in FL and one is dealing with some heath issues..... so the 12 months were easily assigned.
This month Barbara hosted....we began at her house for coffee, discuss planning an exhibit, show and tell etc. She did a lot of preparation for this fun day....by mapping various local areas of interest for us to visit after our bag lunch on her porch. An Amish shop, creamery, ice cream store, local brewery etc. were on the list. Even members who live in this specific area had not visited all these interesting places.
The intro to today's post may be too long, but since 'small groups' have been such a hot topic online lately, perhaps it is of interest to some of you.
This one featured 3-D antlers....stiffened with Timtex.
A neighbor of Georgia's owns this vintage quilt that was hand pieced but machine quilted....Stunning design, even with all the fading and less than perfect piecing.
What blew Georgia away was the back.....it was lap quilted!!! So many quilters got their start by watching her PBS show, Lap Quilting With Georgia. It's amazing to see such an old quilt that utilized this technique......I guess there's nothing that is really ever new!!
I can't express enough what an impact these small groups have in my life.....having creative, inspiring friends is such a gift!
4 comments:
Wow! Two groups to keep you inspired. Georgia's books were the very first quilt books I ever bought and that was a long time ago, I'm impressed that she's still at it.
You know...I remember seeing/watching Georgia on TV!!!! I forgot all about it but I can see her clearing in my mind!!! How wonderful all the traditional 'quilt teachings' have influenced our art quilt lives! I still attend a day guild meeting, when possible, just because those wonderful 'traditional' women taught me so much when I was just starting to quilt!
More fiber fun. Seems as if this small group works well with the monthly commitment from different members. I like groups that don't get too big so as to develop "jobs" that people then "have to" fill. Keep it loose, and remember the purpose are my mottoes. I guess I never made it to the Maine show when you were teaching there. I usually review what teachers will be there and make sure to see their quilts in the exhibit. We're not there long enough to take a class though. It is a very nice show and I like how they feature one quilter and her work in a separate room each time.
good to see what is happening in your groups and the work done, love the Scottish dancing piece it is so alive
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