THE ARIZONA QUILTERS GUILD was created in 1978 to promote the appreciation of fine quilts, sponsor and support quilting activities, encourage quiltmaking and collection, and to further the growth of quilters’ education. This is still our goal today.

This initially small group of dedicated quilters has grown to over 2200 members throughout the state of Arizona. We currently have 42 chapters as well as many members at large.

Our chapters meet in libraries, churches, and community centers throughout Arizona. It is through the participation of our chapter members and our members at large that we are able to promote quilting. Annual Spring and Fall meetings are held which include a business meeting, lunch, speakers, time for renewing old friendships, door prizes, show and tell, and a vendor mall.

The Guild has also sponsored special awards at the Arizona State Fair for the last several years. Throughout the year, quilting demonstrations may be provided at a variety of venues. A judged Quilt Show is held annually, where excellence is acknowledged through the presentations of ribbons. The show features local and national quilting vendors, a certified quilt appraiser, as well as showing off wonderful quilts. This event helps us to greatly enhance the knowledge, skill, and enthusiasm of our members and allows us to share the art of quiltmaking with members of the general public as well.

A hunger for knowledge inspired our Traveling Teachers Program, which provides teachers from within our membership who are willing to share information about quilting with individual chapters. Another program brings nationally recognized instructors to several different locations throughout our state. This program, known as Q*U*I*L*T (Quilters Utilizing International Level Teachers) Seminars, is partially funded by the Guild as a benefit to its members.

Individual members donate small quilts to the annual Small Quilt Auction. The proceeds help fund the Q*U*I*L*T Seminars as well as our Traveling Teacher Program. This year, the Small Quilt Auction will be held in conjunction with the 2007 Quilt Show, March 16-17, 2007, at the ASU West Campus.

Our ongoing projects include providing children's size quilts for Arizona Department of Public Safety patrol cars, which has enabled us to reach children in traumatic situations all across the state. Over 8,000 quilts have been contributed to this effort.

Chapters throughout the state work on a wide range of local service projects, including donating quilts and other needed items to crisis nurseries, retirement homes, head start programs and shelters for battered women, as well as sponsoring quilting activities in their own communities.

Individuals wanting further information about the Guild or a current list of Chapters, may address their inquiries to:

ARIZONA QUILTERS GUILD
2048 N. 44th Street, Suite 212
Phoenix, AZ 85008

Or call (602) 220-9889 and leave a message. Annual dues are required. Benefits include 10 issues of The Guild Newsletter - The Patchwork Chatter - along with use of an extensive quilting library, discounted admission fees and no quilt entry fees for the AQG Quilt Show, and discounted classes and lectures through the Traveling Teacher Program and the Q*U*I*L*T Seminars. Individual chapters may have additional dues.