September 11, 2002
Rumpled Quilts Kin quilting guild comrades of cloth
Group presents Patchwork in the Pines fund-raiser quilt show October 26
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
With a new twist on the classic show and tell, members of the Rumpled Quilts Kin quilting guild bring in their work every month to share with their friends and comrades of cloth.
At their last meeting, everything from bags to vests to quilts small and large were brought for showing, most inspiring oohs and aahs from appreciative onlookers. From tiny, intricate miniatures sewn by hand to gifts for grandchildren to Amish quilts picked up an antique show, the quilters appreciated every stitch and the stories behind them.
In addition, continuing the theme of previous meetings, some of the 65 attendees brought their first quilt, sheepishly showing off garish fabrics (think 1970s), uneven seams or sloppy stitching.
"This is a chance to show off our work, no matter what stage we are in," said Ruth Bolthouse, president of the 15-year-old guild, which includes 80 members. "We have everyone from award-winning quilters to very beginning quilters."
The show and tell session reflects the mission of the Rumpled Quilts Kin, which is to learn and teach the art of quilting, to share their knowledge - and frustrations - with others.
In keeping with their educational premise, the guild's monthly meetings begin every month with an informational session covering a topic related to quilting. The Rumpled Quilts Kin guild also hosts fabric or block exchanges and Saturday sewing sessions where the work together on projects. Members have also made quilts in a round-robin fashion, where different quilters make blocks, others make the borders and still others do the quilting.
Service projects completed by guild members include making quilts for the Child Guidance Center and making a quilt to give to an organization, which can then raffle it off to make money.
Members forge fast friendships with each other and enjoy their social time as well as the learning. Sharing a common addiction to fabrics and quilting forges strong bonds, they say.
"We all have rooms full of fabric," said Charlotte Crosby wryly, a veteran quilter who is co-chair of the guild's upcoming Patchwork in the Pines quilt show.
Crosby learned first-hand that the meetings and quilting could quickly become addictive: she got started quilting only because she gave a friend a ride to a meeting a few years ago. She kept coming back and soon had her own room of fabric as well as beautiful projects to share with the group.
"It is infections," Crosby said. "You come to the meetings and get inspired by other people's quilts."
This year, members of the Rumpled Quilts Kin will hold their tri-annual quilt show, Patchwork in the Pines. The last show, held in 1999, had 172 quilts of all styles and eras on display. Members of the public are also welcome to include a quilt in the show.
The show is their major fundraising effort, and will also include a raffle quilt that will raise funds for the House of Hope, the Munson Hospice House and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Northwest Michigan.
"The show helps us keep dues low and bring in special teachers at a nominal cost," said Bolthouse. "It is like an art show you would go to and see paintings, but this is an art show in cloth."
The Patchwork in the Pines Quilt Show will be held on Saturday, October 26, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran School. The show will feature hundreds of quilts on display plus vendors, a raffle quilt and a craft sale.
The public is welcome to enter a quilt in show; registration is free and will be held on Saturday, September 14, from 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Golden Fellowship Hall of the Interlochen Library. Another registration session will also be held on Wednesday, September 18, from 1 to 3 p.m. at The Presbyterian Church. For more information, contact Karen Hill at 263-7307.