Bloomington Quilters Guild
at a glance: October 2026
OUR Next MEETING is Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
Time: 6:00 PM Social Hour
6:30 pm Meeting start
PROGRAM: Carol Beasley will talk about BARN Quilts AND display some of her painted samples
Location: First United Church, 2420 E. 3rd St
October Meeting
Carol Beasley will be with us on Oct 6, delivering a lecture on quilting with fabric & "quilting" on a board - Barn Quilts! She has many samples to share. Check out her Facebook page, “Carol’s Quilts” for examples of her work. Please note that this meeting will be held at First United Church, 2420 E. 3rd St. Use the Woodscrest Road entrance, between IU Health Urgent Care and IU Credit Union. It is the closest entrance to the door we will be using. The church and the Credit Union share the parking lot. There will be balloons to help guide you. We will need volunteers to help set up the chairs for the meeting and to set up the tables and chairs for the workshop after the meeting.
Carol will lead a workshop on quilting on a board - “Barn Quilts.” Paint your own 24” X 24” barn quilt. It will be held on Wednesday, October 7, from 9am -3 pm at First United Church. The fee is $100 and covers the cost of the workshop and supplies. Non-guild members can participate for $125. Register now, there are a few spots left!
You can sign up on our guild register page Carol Beasley Barn Quilt Painting — Bloomington Quilters Guild. If you prefer to pay by check, contact Annie Kelly Amnkelly602@gmail.com to have her save you a spot and include your name, email and phone number in the message. You can mail your check to Bloomington Quilters Guild, PO Box 5802, Bloomington, IN 47407-5802 or bring your it to the October meeting. Please note that when you register, your name, email and phone number will be shared with Carol so she can send you photographs of the choices for the image on your board. You will choose one and then she will have the image prepared for you on your board when you arrive for the workshop.
Bring canned food items for Hoosier Hills Food Bank!
Food Bank collections continue. Dramatic cuts to federal food assistance and new state restrictions are forcing many more families & individuals to seek provisions at our local food banks. Approximately 1 in 6 Monroe County residents are experiencing food insecurity! Your non-perishable, healthy food contributions are needed and appreciated. Anyone interesting in helping please contact Annie Kelly Amnkelly602@gmail.com.This is just one more way our Guild can support our community, especially those in the greatest need.
November Meeting
PANEL PALOOZA via Zoom with Cindi McChesney on November 3. In this informative and entertaining trunk show, Cindi will show us how to take that panel you fell in love with and turn it into something truly unique. You'll experience AH HA! moments as Cindi demonstrates how adding interesting blocks, borders, patchwork &/or appliqué can result in a truly special quilt. Cindi has 3 books on the subject - Playful Panel Quilts, Quilt Panel Magic, Fun with Panels - so has lots of good ideas on how to customize that basic panel lingering in your stash. Find out more about Cindi, her patterns & her 3 books at cedarridgequilting.com
SEW Day News!
Sew the day away with friends old and new. We have the guild’s ironing boards, cutting mats, rulers and power cords available for use. Bring a project to work on and anything else you need for a day of sewing! Our sew days are held St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.
OUR WEEKDAY SEW DAYS will be regularly held on the Second Tuesday of even-numbered months! Our next date will be October 13, 9:00 am- 3:00 pm. If the usual Sew Days on Saturdays don't suit your schedule, we hope you'll try out Tuesdays!
OUR NEXT SATURDAY SEW DAY will be Saturday, November 14, 9:00 am -3:00 pm.
Community Quilts
We continue to collect and distribute quilts to social programs throughout the Bloomington community. During the month of September, 24 quilts have been donated throughout the community bringing our total since July to 109. If you are interested in contributing a community quilt there are resources here. Community Quilts Sizes — Bloomington Quilters Guild
Raffle Quilt
The 2026-2027 Raffle Quilt was unveiled at our September meeting. This gorgeous quilt, titled “Pineapple Delight,” is made by Betsy Glassey and quilted by Jane Pitt. Raffle tickets are available!
How should I quilt this top?” Bee
How should I quilt this top? What would be a good motif? Can I can put a motif over more than one block? Does this top need a curvy pattern or would straight lines be more effective? If you would be interested in a bee to discuss these types of questions, please let Karen Levay or Bara Swinson know. We will have a sheet of interest at the September meeting or send one of us an email. We will have an organizational meeting if there is enough interest.
Do you like to plan parties? See your friends having fun? Pet
fabric? See new quilting gadgets and gizmos? Well, have I got a
deal for you!
We are looking for 2-3 intelligent, beautiful, and talented quilters to head our 2027 quilt show planning committee. The show is to be held in October 2027 (dependent on the IU football schedule). Past leaders are willing to help guide you. Lots of support is ready to assist you. There are several committees that will need to be established. Right now we need leadership. If you are interested at all, please contact a board member.
Interested in starting a new bee?
Many guild members would like to participate in a bee, but the established bees are filled to capacity (i.e. space in member’s homes or meeting locations). What’s a quilting bee? AI describes it as a communal sewing gathering where folks come together to work on projects while socializing, sharing skills, and supporting one another, a tradition that has existed in North America since the 18th century. Please consider starting a bee! It can have a specific purpose or charity, target a certain neighborhood, or just build relationships. To get started, attend the organizational meeting led by Susie May at 5:30, prior to our November meeting. You can also partner with a friend, plan a first gathering, then announce it at a guild meeting, and reach out to Kris news@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org to have the announcement put in the At A Glance.
WE ALWAYS WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!
As you interact with friends and attend events around the area, be sure to mention BQG and invite folks to visit our Guild Meetings or try out a Sew Day. At our next meeting, pick up a couple of BQG Bookmarks to hand out as a helpful promotional tool.
Quilt EVENTS
THE SEWCIAL COOPERATIVE
Informal gathering of makers, sewists, artists and crafters. This is a bring your own project style club where you can work together, share resources and help each other learn new skills.
What to bring: Your machine, tools and enthusiasm
When: 6-8pm every 2nd Tuesday and 4th Thursday of the month (starts March 26)
Where: Brown County Community YMCA (105 Willow Street, Nashville, IN)
Who: all skill levels welcome! Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. There is no fee to join.
Any Questions? Contact KJ Rondomanski at 812-320-6831 or crafter@sewcialcoop.com
Here is a link to their website which is a work in progress Home
QUILT NATIONAL ‘27 EXHIBITION OPPORTUITIES
Quilt National ’27 explores the expanded field of quilting, showcasing textile-based contemporary art and fiber as a medium for material inquiry. The exhibition features works that interrogate surface, structure, labor, gender, and politics. These quilts merge craft, design, and fine art, repositioning quilt-making within contemporary art discourse. The Dairy Barn Arts Center - The Dairy Barn Arts Center in Athens Ohio
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HELP us keep up to date! We try to include notices of quilt shows and exhibits on the BQG website. If you know of an event, please send mail to news@bloomingtonquiltersguild.org so that either Karen or Kris can update the page. https://www.bloomingtonquiltersguild.org/upcoming-quilt-events