Quilt Guild recognizes 25th year
What started as a small monthly sewing club with approximately 20 members, has blossomed into a thriving guild in the last quarter century.
The initial inspiration for the Teakettle Quilters Guild was born on a dark and snowy winter evening in 2000, as its founder, Louise Kiser, was driving home to Columbia Falls from Kalispell after attending a guild meeting of the Flathead Quilt Guild.
The treacherous drive sparked the motivation to reach out to fellow quilters and sewers to possibly form a group closer to home. Teakettle Quilters was born, and right from the start it was sharing a vibrant culture of “functional art” and creativity in the community of Columbia Falls. Each member brought to the group different skills, and willing to share their expertise, classes were offered and the guild grew.
“They don’t make crabby quilters,” Jan Redmond, the featured Quilter of 2004, said. My fellow quilters are the best people in the world ... They love to share, help each other, have a great support system, and are happy enjoying gatherings.”
Reta Sands is a proud founding member, whose specialty is finishing and restoring antique quilt tops from the early to mid-1900s. She has watched this small group of quilters outgrow multiple meeting places over the years.
“I have made many friends, learned from members, and our giving charity is something to be really proud of,” she said.
Founding member Lynda Sting is in awe of the growth of the original sewing club with 15-20 members, now touting over 100 in number.
“We still maintain the original ideas of providing a space for friends to gather, share their love of quilting and helping others to join and succeed in the craft. We also, from the very beginning, have tried to support the Columbia Falls Community that is our home,” she said.
Today the guild offers members multiple options for group sewing, chances to show their work to the public at the courthouse and library as well as the annual quilt show. Opportunities to sell quilts, handmade crafts and fabric/notions at the quilt show boutique and harvest craft sale.
For fun the quilters have a holiday party and potluck, and a July picnic. Quilters meet every third Saturday of the month at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls. Most meetings include a demo and/or sewing time after business concludes, as well as a swap table for quilters to find inspiration in another’s purge.
While the guild is beloved by its members for all of its offerings, the guild is always looking for ways to give and support a variety of causes in our community. Donations come in many forms, but the handmade creations are an extension of the heart of the guild, members say.