Activities

Quilters Etc. members enjoy a variety of activities including workshops, classes, sew-ins, retreats and our monthly meetings. We make quilts for charity, get together for friendship groups, and inspire each other with a block-of-the-month program and our annual challenge project.

~ Meetings ~

Meetings are held on the 4th Thursday of each month from January through October (we take a break in November and December and sometimes the June meeting is the 3rd Thursday due to the Lompoc Flower Festival). Guests are always welcome. First-time visitors are free and admission for non-members that come back is $3.00.

We have a great time at our meetings. The regular meetings generally include a guest speaker or special event, show and tell, door prize and fabric bonanza drawings, and other fun.

Meetings take place in Lompoc at the Dick DeWees Community & Senior Center at 1120 W Ocean Avenue in Lompoc, CA . Social time and snacks begin at 6:30pm. Programs and Guild business begin at 7:00pm.

Membership

Members receive free admission to the meetings and a subscription to our monthly newsletter. In addition, members have the opportunity to participate in Guild activities such as retreats, workshops, etc.

Dues are $30.00 per year (half price if joining after May). Membership for those who are 80 and over at the first of the year is free!

The monthly newsletter is free if sent by email. To have them sent by snail mail (US Postal Service), there is a $15 / year to cover the cost of printing and postage.

Door Prizes

Door Prizes are raffled off at each meeting!

Here are some of our door prize providers:

  • Birch Fabrics – Home of FabricWorm (805-239-8888): 1244 Pine St. (corner of 13th & Railroad St), Paso Robles, CA 93466
  • Bjskreations: (805-717-9239) 1209 E. Walnut Ave., Lompoc CA 93436 (Aurifil distributor)
  • The Creation Station: (805-693-0174) 252 East Highway 246, Buellton CA 93427
  • Grant House Sewing Machines: (805-926-0929) 336-B East Cota Street, Santa Barbara CA 93101
  • Old Town Quilt Shop: (805-938-5870) 65-A West Clark Ave. Orcutt CA 93455
  • Orange Dot Quilts: (805-423-4755) 1005 Railroad St. Ste 1 Paso Robles, CA 93446
  • Quilter’s Cupboard: (805-466-6996) 5275 El Camino Real Atascadero, CA 93422
Fabric Bonanza

The Fabric Bonanza drawing is one of the regular features of our meetings. To participate, bring fabric in the month’s theme (see the calendar for the theme and below for the fabric requirements) and enter your name in the drawing. The lucky winner(s) get a stack of fabric to take home.

Acceptable Fabric

  • 100% good quality quilting cotton
  • ten 5″ charm squares or a fat quarter
Block of the Month

Get the pattern and information at the guild meeting or from the newsletter and bring the completed block to the following months meeting. The blocks will be collected and a winner, drawn from the names of those who submitted a block, will take home all the blocks.

  • Pattern: Each month will feature a different pattern.
  • Samples: One or two finished blocks for the upcoming pattern will be displayed at the guild meeting.
  • Blocks: To enter the drawing, bring one finished . Do not square up the blocks. Allow the block winner to square up the blocks.

2024 Block of the Month: Block Kits are Back!

Each month pre-cut ready for easy assembly block kits will be provided for $1.00/kit. The money is donated to the guild to offset the cost of batting for donation quilts. The fabric comes from Leigh’s stash and costs the guild nothing.

  • Purchase one or more kits at the meeting.
  • Put them together before the next meeting.
  • Keep them or turn them in at the next meeting to enter a drawing to win them all.
Challenge Quilt

Every year members are presented with a challenge, usually in the form of a piece of fabric and a few instructions or guidelines. Past challenges have included completing an unfinished project, creating a bag using recycled materials, and an ice cream challenge. It’s always exciting to see the creativity of the members on display and picking out a favorite often proves to be the real challenge.

2024 Challenge: A Dream

Imagine a creative fiber arts project, made with materials and supplies – everything you need – available right now in your own home! You don’t need to purchase anything. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and repurpose, using only materials and supplies that you have on hand.

  • Theme: A Dream
  • Size: No larger than 30×30 – any shape.
  • Due Date: October 24, 2024 Guild Meeting

So get ready…get set…Sew ! And /or embroider, weave, quilt, crochet, knit, thread paint, collage, etc. I hope you feel inspired to explore and enjoy your creative journey by participating.

Please bring your completed creation for Show & Tell to our October 24, 2024 meeting. This project is just for fun, no voting on “the best” nor “viewer’s choice.” Thank you.

~ Workshops and Classes ~

Workshops and classes for Guild members also occur throughout the year. Attendees have a chance to learn a new technique, build their skills, or take on a new project while enjoying the company of fellow Guild members.

Workshops often feature guest speakers from our monthly meetings or Guild members sharing a special talent.

Note: Payments should be made at time of sign up. Those who have not yet paid are not fully signed up and may be bumped. Checks can be made out to Quilters Etc.

See the Calendar for scheduled workshops and classes.

~ Sew-Ins and Retreats ~

Over the course of the year we also get together for sew-ins and retreats. These are a fun way for members to get to know each other better while getting a lot of work done away from everyday distractions.

Note: Payments should be made at time of sign up. Those who have not yet paid are not fully signed up and may be bumped. Checks can be made out to Quilters Etc.

See the Calendar for scheduled sew-ins and retreats.

Sew Ins

Sew-ins have been held at the Half Century Club or the Veteran’s Building and at least 10 people need to sign up to meet the building rental cost.

Retreats

Retreats are held at the Old Town Quilt Shop in Lompoc.

  • Cost: $45 for all three days
    • $15 for one day – if space is available
    • Preference given to 3 day sign-ups.
    • Spot is not fully reserved until paid for.
  • Location: Old Town Quilt Shop in Lompoc
  • Limited Seating: 18 seats at each retreat.
  • Sign ups available at the monthly meetings or contact a chairperson to confirm availability.
  • Each quilter will have their own table. Ironing and cutting stations will be provided. A microwave and fridge are available if you wish to bring a lunch. It is not uncommon for a group to go out to dinner afterwards.

~ Charity Quilts ~

All members are encouraged to complete a quilt to be donated to a local organization. This is one way we can turn our talents toward helping those in need and giving back to our community. A few of our most generous members complete one or two every month!

Making these quilts provides a great way to try a new technique or use up scraps while helping someone in need. The Guild provides batting – pick it up at the monthly meeting – and distributes the finished quilts.

Quilt Sizes
  • Cuddle Quilts: lap size, 45″x60″ (approximately)
  • Receiving Blankets: 33″x33″ to 42″x42″
  • Adult Quilts: anything larger than cuddle
Quilt Labels

A Quilter’s Etc. label should be attached to each quilt. It is greatly appreciated if you can get a label from the Charity Quilt chair and apply it before turning it in. The Quilters Etc. label should be the only label on the quilt.

New Label Instructions

  • Get labels from Charity Quilt chair
  • Fold in half wrong sides together
  • Sew into the binding seam
  • Turn quilt in at the next guild meeting
Recipients

Recipients vary based on organization needs. Recent ones include (alphabetical order, incomplete list):

  • Bridge House Homeless Shelter (2024)
  • CASA (2023,2024)
    • Looking for a variety of sizes.
  • Child Welfare Services (2023,2024)
  • Fillmore Elementary School (2023,2024)
  • Lompoc Artificial Kidney Dialysis Center (2023,2024)
  • Lompoc Comprehensive Care Center (2023,2024)
  • Lompoc Health Hematology/Oncology Center (2023,2024)
  • Mark’s House Familty Transitional Shelter (2023,2024)
  • North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Center (2024)
  • Pregnancy and Parenting Support Center (2023,2024)
  • Recovery Way Home (2023,2024)
    • Formerly Good Samaritan Recovery Center
  • Superior Home Health and Hospice (2023,2024)
  • Veterans Service Center (2023,2024)
    • Quilts for homeless vets. They do not want Quilts of Valor, just normal quilts.

~ Granny’s Attic ~

Granny’s Attic is a yard sale type fund raiser for the guild often held in August. It is a fun way to swap unwanted things from your sewing room for new treasures that someone else has donated.

Donations may be made ahead of time at the guild meetings. Books, patterns, notions, fabric and sewing tools are welcome!

Note: To prepare fabric donations, measure, mark the size, (1/4, 1/2, 1 yd or FQ) and price.

  • Mark the size: 1/4 yd, FQ, 1/2 yd, 1 yd, etc,
  • Masking tape around the rolled fabric is the best (no staples).
  • Pricing should be $4/yd: $1 for 1/4 yard, $2 for 1/2 yard, $3 for 3/4 yard, $8 for 2 yards, and so on.

Prior to the event, requests may be made for tables, set-up, take-down, and sales volunteers.

~ Quilt Show ~

The Guild hosts a quilt show featuring members’ quilts. Highlights of the show include the opportunity quilt and mini quilt drawings, which serve as important fundraisers for the Guild and offer the chance to win a beautiful bed-size or miniature quilt made by Guild members.

2023 Quilt Show – Sewn with Love
  • Date: May 6-7, 2023
  • Location: Lompoc Veterans’ Memorial Building
  • Main Quilt Show Page: Sewn with Love
Guild Member Information
  • Mini-Quilts: Start making mini-quilts!
    • 12″x12″ to 14″x14″ mini-quilts made by guild members will be displayed at the show and then raffled off.
  • Quilt Submissions: Members are encouraged to submit up to 3 quilts to display at the show.
    • Eligibility Requirements
      • Active Guild Member: paid in full for 2023
      • Signed up as a volunteer for at least 2 hours
    • Quilt Submission Info – one per quilt
      • Quilt Entry Submission Form submitted by the March 23rd Guild Meeting
      • Include a color photo of the top (printed on paper is fine) to help with show layout.
      • If submitting multiple quilts, be sure to specify your order priority on each form in case more quilts are submitted than can be displayed.
      • Note: The quilt does not need to be finished at the time of submission.
    • Quilt Requirements
      • Each entry should be a cloth bag (pillow case or other) with your name and contact information clearly attached.
      • Each quilt must have a sleeve
        • Sleeve must be 4″ high (or deep)
        • Sleeve must be width of quilt short by 2″ on each side (quilt width – 4″). If the quilt is 64″ wide, the sleeve should be 60″ wide.
        • Sleeve must be securely attached to the back for hanging.
      • KEEP you submission receipt for pick-up.
        • Upon submitting your entry for display at the show, you will be given a receipt with a description of the quilt and your name on it.
        • You MUST sign and turn in the receipt to take the quilt back. A volunteer will also sign at pick up so that there are two people verifying that you receive the correct quilt.
        • If you are unable to pick up your quilt after the show, please contact another member of the guild to collect it for you. Please supply that person with your receipt AND notify one of the quilt chairpersons that this will be the person picking up your item for you
    • Quilt Drop Off and Pick Up: See the newsletter for details.
  • Volunteer Categories: See the newsletter for list of Quilt Show Chairs.
    • Admissions
    • Hospitality Room: both 2 hour time blocks and food
    • White Glove

Reminder: The guild needs help from everyone to make this show a success.

~ Opportunity Quilt ~

An opportunity quilt is a common fundraiser for quilt guilds. The quilts are made by guild members and then raffled off to raise money. Quilters Etc typically draws the winning raffle ticket at the October meeting (quilts are mailed to the winner if needed).

Opportunity Quilt 2024

Opportunity Quilt Information

The Quilters Etc. 2024 Opportunity Quilt raffle drawing will be held in October of 2024. You do not need to be present to win.