WV Quilt Guild helps patch lives together

For the creative, hardworking members of the Wimberley Valley Quilt Guild, it’s all about their esprit de corps and sharing their talents with others.

“This is a great group of ladies,” said Quilt Guild president Pam Mc-Ghee. “We’re all interested in the same thing, and everyone pitches in. We enjoy a fantastic camaraderie.”

For its 85 members, the group has provided a vital base for its gifted artists. Art quilts, wall hangings, bed covers, lap quilts, quilts for kids and other pieced items are just some of the items members create. The group meets three times on the first, second and fourth Wednesday of each month to plan for major projects or to work on “PHDs,” their witty code for “projects half done.”

Since its founding in 1994 by Pat Kakos, the Guild has taken its shared love of quilting into the long reach of the community. For the last 23 years, one of the Guild’s major projects has been an annual Christmas Market. Filled with hundreds of handmade items for sale to the public, it will be held this year on November 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Wimberley Presbyterian Church. Items are separated into categories – seasonal, home, kids, bags and quilts. More than a hundred quilts will be offered for very reasonable prices, along with other items such as pot and bowl holders, aprons, reading pillows, and things for kids.

Fifty percent of the profits from the Christmas Market go to support Hays County Women’s Center. For their many years of support, the Guild has earned a leaf on the HCWC tree. Leaves are reserved for groups who have donated more than $20,000.

Other major projects are Quilts of Valor for veterans and Day 1 Bags for foster kids. A statewide program, Day 1 Bags go to children entering foster care. Most children making the traumatic transition come with their belongings collected in a single garbage bag. Appalled at the thought of such a harsh sendoff, founders pledged to give children backpacks and duffle bags for their possessions. Susan Armer is in charge of special projects which includes both the Day 1 Bags and the Quilts of Valor. The QOV program is also a nationwide organization that seeks to say, “Thank you for your service,” and provides veterans who request a quilt with comfort from the physical and emotional scars of war.

The guild also supports Wimberley Valley Habitat for Humanity and Barnabas Connection.

Besides their benevolent projects, Guild members advance their skills by learning from each other. “Color for Quilters” and “Barn Quilts” were recent presentations and there are always many new designs and techniques to share. A trunk show by an artist who creates landscape quilts from photographs was presented in August.

They also lend support in other ways that only increase their shared bonds. Notes from longtime member Bert Nickelson, who joined in 1997, provide “sunshine” to members that may need a little cheering up. To learn more about this vibrant group, go to wimberleyquilters. weebly.com.