The Beiseker Quilt Guild has been in existence for over thirty years. Membership has ranged from as low as three to as high as twenty, today the active membership sits at fourteen.
Taken together these women have created many hundreds of quilts, ranging from lovingly crafted baby quilts of amazing colours and designs to the intricate and time consuming task of producing magnificent queens or kings. Each is a labor of love and sometimes a cause of frustration but the end product is always awesome. One of the best perks of belonging to the guild is show and tell, the sharing of pattern ideas and the unique use of colour coordination.
You never fail to be impressed by the talents of others, their insights broadens your range of abilities and experiences as well as expanding your creative boundaries. Quilting becomes an addiction as is proven by the size of your stache and your inability to stay out of material stores.
Over its three decades of existence the Beiseker Guild has set aside time each year to create quilts for charity. These quilts are constructed using donated materials, parts of an individual’s stache, personal ingenuity and a desire to share their quilts with others. This small group of women manage to put together anywhere from thirty to fifty charity quilts each year. These quilts are donated to such organizations as the Mustard Seed, Ronald MacDonald House and local women's shelters.
The quilts would not be possible without the support of local organizations such as the Beiseker Lions Club, the Irricana Lions Club and the Keoma Lions Club. Their donations go towards backing and batting, which allows the guild to increase output. Their support is greatly appreciated.
This summer we lost one of our most supportive and hardworking members, our president Karen Ursu. Karen was known for her enthusiasm, her love of quilting and her unique method of delivering our charity quilts. One example of this entailed a motorcycle trip to Fort Mac the year of their fire. The quilts were safely tucked in the trailer she pulled behind. She said she thoroughly enjoyed the adventure and we appreciated the effort. Karen will be greatly missed by our members and our thoughts are with her family.
The Beiseier Quilt Guild is looking forward to another productive year. The guild welcomes any interested newcomers. Our charity quilts are already a topic for discussion. The creative juices are flowing.
