SCOTTDALE - Scottdale's Hearts and Hands Quilt Guild is an encouragement to quilters, whether novice or experienced.
Guild vice president Marsha Callaro comments that members leave meetings "energized."
"You want to go home and start sewing," she says.
Guild member Eva Hajek says she was one of the women who worked to form the organization. When she moved to Scottdale, she wanted to join a quilting group, but no local groups existed.
She and some others interested in quilting advertised the group and secured the community room at Woodcrest Senior Living Community as a meeting place.
The guild has now been constructing quilts and friendships for almost seven years.
Guild president Vicki Ulery says the organization currently has more than 30 members, some who have been quilting for more than 30 years and some who are working on their first projects.
New members are always welcome; those with an interest in quilting are invited to visit with the group for two meetings before they commit to a membership.
Meetings are a combination of business and projects. Members share their current work, and a member or a guest speaker presents a program of information or new technique.
Past programs included information on quilt battings; how a quilt is judged in competition; and the "foundation piecing" technique.
In an upcoming meeting, Ulery plans to teach fabric painting.
Guild member Vi Croushore joined to learn new skills. She says her time spent has been very worthwhile, that the group has been very encouraging.
Members can participate in guild projects such as a "mystery quilt," a yearlong project in which each member receives one instruction per month without knowing how the finished quilt will look until receiving the last instruction.
Members also work on "challenge quilts." Participants all receive one fabric and are challenged to use it in a quilt.
Ulery says this year she's considering a "crayon challenge;" members will pull a crayon from a box designating the color of the quilt block they have to construct.
The guild works on service projects both on an individual and group basis. Members have been providing baby quilts for a local crisis pregnancy center, and Ulery asks that other groups that could benefit from quilts contact the guild with suggestions for future projects.
Ulery notes that all projects and activities are optional for members.
Benefits of membership in the guild include updates on quilt shows and retreats - and usually, the opportunity to attend with another guild member.
Ulery says she plans to gauge members' interest in the entire group taking a day trip this year.
Another benefit is that many quilt and sewing stores, including Kate and Becca's Quilt Patch Etc. at West Overton, offer discounts to quilt guild members.
Perhaps the greatest benefit, though, is joining a friendly group, always ready to help, truly "hearts and hands."
"A lot of times people bring a project, and they get suggestions or help with it," says Ulery. "If there is a problem, there is always someone to help them."
Members also work on projects together throughout the week. One group meets at Woodcrest on Thursday mornings to "sit and talk and work on projects."
"We really appreciate Woodcrest," says Ulery, who describes the community room as the ideal space for meetings and the ideal location for members traveling from Uniontown, Latrobe and Greensburg.
Guild member Helen Williams says Woodcrest has even allowed the group to set up a quilt frame for members to work at while constructing quilts for raffles.
To show their appreciation, guild members decorate the Woodcrest community room with quilted wall hangings for the residents to enjoy.
Although the Thursday morning quilting group is productive, guild member Helen Williams says anyone is welcome regardless of skill level.
Smiling, she says the primary requirements the guild are not quilting expertise, but enjoying talking with the other members and going to lunch afterward.
Guild member Bonnie Detar, who joined Hearts and Hands in June 2001, attends the Thursday morning sessions.
She says once she discovered the guild, she rearranged her schedule so she could attend meetings and activities. She says working with other people encourages her to keep at her projects.
For Detar, a widow, the group has given her support and activities to look forward to.
"It's been my salvation," says Detar.
Hearts and Hands Quilt Guild annual dues are $10. Regular meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Woodcrest Senior Living Center.
