About

About

Included on this Page:

History

The Red Rose Quilters Guild is an organization with the goal of promoting the art of quilting in its many forms through an active program of education and study. To this end, the Guild provides lectures, hands-on workshops, and educational programs on a variety of subjects relating to quilts and quilting at its regular monthly meetings.

In addition, the Guild and its members seek to maintain the tradition of many quilters who historically have provided items of warmth and comfort to those around them by making small quilts for the children who come to the Transitional Living Center, BIRD Ministries, Milagro House, AseraCare, and the Domestic Violence Center of Lancaster.

Our meetings are informative and fun, while providing a place for fellowship with others who share the love of quilting.

We currently have 165 members of all ages and level of quilting skills; We have many members who are just learning how to quilt, and fiber artists and craftswomen as well as the traditionalists who hope to preserve our quilt making heritage here in Lancaster county.

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History of the Red Rose Quilters Guild

Looking Forward, Looking Back

January 1983

Donna Luicidi Organized and was first President of the Guild.
Donna placed an ad in the local paper to see if there was any
interest in the area to form a quilting group. To her surprise 28 women showed
up for that first meeting.

In April of 1985, it became an official NQA Chapter, #295-PA#17, of the
National Quilting Association, Inc.

The meetings were held at the American Legion Hall off of Manheim
Pike. Some notes of interest for 1985 were: Member Doris Riexinger’s
Double Wedding Ring quilt was used in the production of the play
“Quilters” at the Fulton Theater. Effie Eshelman won Best of Show
at Town Fair with her Lone Star Quilt.

Our logo was designed by charter member Marge Gearhart’s Artist sister,
Emily Nendza about the same time period (1986-1987) that Marge was president
of the guild. Marge sat poised while her sister Emily sketched her.
Emily donated the drawing to the guild and it is now a registered
trademark of the guild.

In 1987 the RRQG was preparing for their first Quilt Show. Members donated
items to be sold at craft show at Park City. By this year the
Guild had 79 members.

In 1988 was the year of the First Quilt Show. The show was held
at the old Lititz Recreation Center on August 11-13, 1988. Sixty-
one quilter, of which 38 were Guild members, exhibited over 108
quilts. Allison Goss was the featured quilter at the show.
WGAL TV featured the show on the evening news. The show was
not judged but attendees voted for viewers’ choice.
Marion Sachs and Betty Croll’s quilts were chosen as viewer’s choice.

Donna Luicidi and her quilting were featured in the Lancaster Farming
paper.

Effie Eshelman’s Lancaster Rose quilt went to the Houston Quilt
Festival as the Pennsylvania representative to an exhibit called “America Makes Quilts.”

Several members Christmas quilts went to the city of Lancaster for an
“Old Fashioned Holidays Downtown” exhibition held in an empty storefront.

In the meantime – Quilters from all over began coming to Lancaster
County for what was to become an annual event – Quilters Heritage
Celebration Quilt Show and conference - organized by Illinois resident
Rita Barber.

1989 notes: The guild was selected to make a banner to represent
Pennsylvania in the exhibit called “Flags over the Hudson – A Colorful Welcome” sponsored by the Great American Quilt Festival.

Marge Gearhart taught her first infamous pineapple jacket class to
many guild members. (she’s been having one ever since and every
year she says the same thing “This is possibly my last class for
this jacket” she continues to say!)

The guild’s first pot-luck dinner was held in February. (This is
now a tradition)

The Library was established in the summer of this year. It
first started with 13 books and 3 videos and as of 2011, we have over 250 books, and 8 videos.

This was also the year the guild started to make and donate
quilts to the Shelter for Abused Women. “We began to hold
charity workshops to make the quilts and soon found out that these
workshops provided an excellent opportunity for us to get to
know each other better as brushed up on our
quilt making techniques. “

Guild members donated a total of 7 wall hangings to the Lancaster
Day Care Center auction that year.

1991 - The Guild moved to Calvary Church for their meetings.
Membership for that year was 104 members

1994 – First Annual Retreat at Camp Swatara – 15 members attended

********These notes were taken from the Guild’s History written
by Patti Stone*********

Presidents

1983 – 1984 – Donna Luicidi 1985 – Patricia Hauber 1986 – 1987 – Marge Gearhart 1988 – 1989 – Phyllis Thompson 1990 – 1991 – Leslie Gorbey 1992 – Nan Roose 1993 -1994 – Diane Imboden 1994 – 1995 – Patti Stone

1996 – Cheri Bennett 1997 – Katrina Branting 1998 – Tricia Blevins 1999 – Phyllis Hughes 2000 – Brenda Brown 2002 – Norma Pacl 2006 – Toni Elliot 2007 – 2008 Kim Loar 2009 – Kathy Retherford 2011 – Jeanne Riley

Blankets wrap you in warmth, quilts wrap you in love.