Upcountry Quilters Guild Newsletter - July 2025

Newsletter Content Authors:

  • Meeting Minutes – Donna A.
  • Birthdays – Janice H.
  • President’s Notes – Cheryl B.
  • Meeting Program Notes – Gretchen C.
  • Community Service – Edith P., Kay M., Pam J.
  • Oconee/Pickens County QOV / Sit-N-Sew – Beth E.
  • Show & Tell Photos – Beth E.

Upcoming Guild Meetings – Schedule/Program

Date: August 26, 2025 (The picnic also serves as our August guild meeting)

Address:  2671 Earls Bridge Road, Easley, SC

Time: 6-8 pm

Menu: Bring a covered dish to share.  The guild will provide the meat.

Questions?  Contact Kris V at kvanreken@gmail.com

  • Park in the grassy area as shown on the map
  • The picnic location is under the canopy right next to the parking in the grassy area.

September 2025 – Important Dates:

  • 9/9 – Quilt Show Quilts Submission
    • Quilts to be dropped off at Pickens Presbyterian Church on Tuesday September 9th from 2pm – 6pm with a copy of the entry form.
  • 9/16 – Quilt Show judging at Pickens Grace United Methodist Church from 9am – 5pm
  • 9/23 – Guild Meeting: Quilt Show Preparation (7pm)
    • Location:  Pickens Presbyterian Church

Meeting Minutes

UQG Meeting Minutes, June 22, 2025

Meeting called to order by Cheryl B. with a welcome to new members.  Donna A. offered the invocation.

Cheryl reminded members that minutes are in the monthly newsletter along with July and August events.

Challenge Quilts were presented with brief explanation as to how the quilt represented each participant’s “Hometown”.

Membership:  31members and 1 visitor in attendance. 2 new members-Cindy O. (rejoin) and Pam H.   Tami M. was the winner of the name tag drawing.

Treasurer’s Report presented by Linda C.

Community Service:

  • Pediatric Hospice quilts have been gifted.  Precut batting is available for these quilts.  Reminder was given to wash those quilts being given to pediatric Hospice patients.
  • Approximately 80-ish Quilts of Valor have already been completed.  Beth E. reminded members that we needed 83 quilts for National Guard unit coming home from Syria and that other QOV quilts continued to be needed for other veterans.

Publicity:

  • Tami M. announced that she needs 2 more quilts for display in the community.  These quilts do not have to have sleeves.  Tami reported that she needs volunteers for the Easley Farmers Market from 8-10 a.m. and 10-12.
  • Cheryl stated that we would be displaying quilts at the Pickens County Museum from November through January this year.


Tea and Sympathy:

  • Donna A.’s cataract surgery went well. She will have her second eye surgery on July 31.
  • Mary P. had her surgery Wednesday.  She was actually able to attend tonight.  Mary’s daughter has started her chemo and is anticipating surgery soon.
  • Marina is going to have carpal tunnel surgery.
  • Please remember these people in your thoughts and prayers.
  • Tammie asked if the guild could provide a comfort quilt for a student from Dacusville who has cancer.
  • Monique asked if the guild could donate a couple of quilts to be used by participants to use while riding on a special bike.  Her group has purchased a $6,000 bike.

Special Event – Guild Picnic: 

  • Kris V. reminded members of the August 26 picnic.  She will email committee members regarding planning meeting.  List of those who signed up for side dishes will be on the website.  Guild will provide ham and Chicken Strips, Lemonade and Tea.
  • Doris Gilstrip may want to bring fabric to sell at the picnic.  Kris reminded members that 20% of money from Doris’ items sold at picnic will go to Hands of Hope Pediatric Hospice.


Newsletter:  Janice H. reported that details regarding the Quilt Show will be in the newsletter.  Also, she needs the monthly newsletter reports by August 4, 2025.

VP:  Gretchen C. reported that boutique items are still needed for the Quilt Show.

Quilt Show:

  • Cheryl B. is working on a list of Quilt Show jobs that are needed.  Cheryl will have a sign up sheet for those jobs.
  • The Quilt Show meeting will be Tuesday August 12th 1230-1330 at the Pickens Haygood Community Center Cafeteria, for those who would like to volunteer.
  • Envelopes with raffle tickets for Presentation Quilt are available for pick up.
  • Kay and Pam are getting 2nd Time Around items ready for show.  Fabric is needed if anybody has some larger pieces.  Any donations are needed by October 1 prior to show.
  • The Quilt Show entry form on the website will be password protected and the link and password will be sent to guild members by email.  There will also be a paper copy available for those that want to do it that way.  Please bring a copy of the entry form(s) with your quilt(s) when you turn them in for the show.

 

Miscellaneous:  The Swoopadaisy Quilt Shop will be opening soon.

Show and Tell:  See pictures in the newsletter.

June Program:  Winners of the Hometown Quilt Challenge were:  1st place:  Janice H. , 2nd place: Shelby A. , and 3rd place: Gale S.  Members were reminded to bring back quilts on September 9 for the quilt show preparation.  Also a form found on the website will need to be completed and a photo of quilt attached.

Meeting adjourned.

Minutes submitted by Donna A.

    JULY

  • Jae S.                
  • Beth E.              7/1
  • Judith L.            7/8
  • Carolyn C.         7/17  
  • Nancy S.           7/21

  AUGUST

  • Marina G.          8/5
  • Cindy C.             8/7
  • Donna A.           8/8
  • Kay M.               8/21
  • Pam J.                8/22
  • Sandra B.           8/24
  • Shelby A.            8/25

President’s Notes

Reminder to guild members that we will be beginning the nomination process for new board positions, including President and Vice-President, this fall.

We are currently surveying present board officers and chairs to determine which positions will be open for 2026. Please consider serving in a board position. We would love to have you!

Guild Quilt Show
(Oct. 10-11, 2025)

BOUTIQUE

Please do not forget about making items for our Quilt Show boutique. The proceeds from the sales help pay for our workshops and our quilt retreat next year.

Gretchen C. would appreciate it if you could email her  list of what you will be providing for the Boutique, so she’ll have a better idea of what is needed.   Thanks!

QUILT SHOW – HELP NEEDED

We have some open Quilt Show chair positions that need to be filled:
  •      Quilt drop off on Sept 9th
  •      Memorial Quilt Display
  •      Tri-County rental for pipe & drape
  •      Reception Desk/Ticket sales
  •      Presentation Quilt sales
  •      Float staff
  •      Kitchen staff
     

We also need assistance on Tuesday September when quilts are being judged. That day will involve taking notes and assisting with prepping the quilts for the judge. If you can fill some of the open positions or can assist on Tuesday September 16th, please let me know.

 
The next meeting for quilt show chairs, or anyone who would like to attend will be on Tuesday August 12th from 12:30-1:30pm at the Pickens Haygood Community Center Cafeteria.

QUILT SHOW ENTRIES

Quilt drop off for the show will be on September 9th.
 
Please make sure every quilt you enter in the Show has a 4″ sleeve on the back.
 
Please submit an Entry form hard copy (either the printed email from the form submitted online, or a copy of te paper PDF form) with each quilt you enter in the show.
 
Forms:

Community Service

Hands of Hope Pediatric Hospice

We had 11 quilts donated through Agape Missions at our July guild meeting. 

 
  • Remember the quilts donated to this project need to be washed
  • Batting for this project will be available at our meetings.
 
Thank you for your generous work on this community project! 

Quilts of Valor

Those comforted as of June 30, 2025:

  • Last Month:  2,182
  • Year to Date:  15,456
  • Lifetime Total: 416,817

 

We awarded 15 Veterans with quilts in the months of June and July.  These included 7 Veterans in the nursing home.  One passed away prior to the presentation.  Another reason we try to do the sick and elderly ASAP.

Please continue working on quilts.  Our backlog in NAMS is 23 along with the 83 from the Easley Guard which have not been entered.

QOV will be on August 15th and Sit-N-Sew on July 22th.  We will sew from 0900 to 1600 and bring your own lunch.  See you there.

Quilt donated to 14 yr. old Dacusville student recently diagnosed with cancer

  • Fabric, piecing, and binding by Nancy S.
  • Quilting by Cheryl B.

July/August 2025 Guild Meetings Program

July Program:    2025 Quilt Show Challenge Quilts – “My Hometown”

What a beautiful, and informative, July meeting, 11 members presented their “My Hometown” challenge quilts from the theme, My Hometown. We learned so much about where these participants started their journey and what their home town meant to them. Thank you to:

  • Shelby
  • Cheryl
  • Nancy
  • Stacy
  • Janice
  • Kris
  • Robbie
  • Margaret
  • Gail
  • Gretchen
  • Beth


Thank you to all our participants!

Members then voted on their favorite quilt.  Winners were:

  • 1st Place – Janice H. – Washington state
  • 2nd Place – Shelby A. – Pickens, SC
  • 3rd Place – Gail S. – Pickens, SC


These quilts will also be displayed at the guild’s 2025 Quilt Show in October.

Show & Tell Photos (July Meeting)