Book Clubs

At Quilt Market, the trade show for quilt industry retailers, there is a day before the show opens called Schoolhouse.  Every half hour from 11 am to 6 pm there are information sessions to attend.  Every half hour there are 10 or more sessions to choose to visit.  You have about 5 minutes to change sessions.  Sessions are put on by fabric designers, book publishers, pattern designers or product designers.  There are a couple hundreds of quilters hurrying to change sessions.  By about session 4, I need a break because there is so much to see and enjoy.  By 6 pm I am overwhelmed, overstimulated and over informed but very excited and happy!

In October I went to a session by Martingale, one of the larger book publishers of quilting books.  As the presenter was talking about great new books I began thinking about book clubs.

We love books.  We gather together to talk about fiction books so why not have quilters' book clubs?  Gather together with a few friends to talk about your favourite books.  Share ideas, talk about family and quilts you are working on.  It wouldn't have to be once a month.  Since we are not gathering to hand quilt at quilting bees anymore, a quilt book club would give us an opportunity to gather together and share time with friends.  No sewing machines and tasks involved.  Here are some thoughts to get you started. 

1.  Create a group of quilter friends who want to share ideas by talking about quilt books.
2.  Pick a date.  It could be once a month, once every other month or four times a year.
3.  Pick a topic.  Not everyone has to bring a book or the same book but the group should have some to share.  Topics could range from applique to colour to art quilts.
4.  Pick a location.
5.  Meet, snack and chat.

Other than that, meet and have fun.  We learn by sharing!!