Quilting since 1872...yes, 1872

yup, that's correct..........quilting since 1872. The ladies I met have belonged to the same group for YEARS (they aren't the original guild members, tho!! hahaha) While I was in Maine for vacation....well, actually on Campobello Island..........I discovered the quilting group that has been meeting every Wednesday afternoon at the St. Anne's Anglican Parish Hall since forever!. I had been hiking for the day in the woods and looking/smelling pretty 'woodsy'. Walked into the parish hall and there sat 5 ladies sitting around a quilting frame having a ball. I introduced myself....received a pretty good welcome being a Mainer, a DownEaster and better yet, a seasonal resident. What really opened the doors was the fact that my sister is married to a 'Finch'. The Finches have been residents of the island for at least 5 generations that we know of. Once that door opened, I was one of the girls!! They are very firm believers in hand quilting but will allow machine piecing for 'strength' and 'durability'. They were planning their summer tea and fund raiser to be held in late July (I"ll be back so will be able to enjoy)....all the work they do during the year is for sale at the tea. this is how they pay for the insurance on the parish hall where they meet. IN fact, they have a very dear friend who retired to Panama City, FL who also quilts. The Fl friend and her fellow quilters make items to be sold at the Campobello function & fund raiser. I forgot her name....... in looking at the original journal the ladies kept, in 1872 at the annual meeting, the '10 female communicants" made 4 quilts, 56 aprons and 78 articles of underwear! :-)) Their journal notes also indicate that anyone who missed a meeting had to pay 2 cents. The current ladies had found an article in 'country living' magazine a while back that indicated the oldest continuous quilting group in the US was formed in 1876....they were pretty pleased to beat that record by 4yrs. For those of you that don't know, Campobello Island is in New Brunswick, Canada.....you cross a 500ft bridge from Lubec, Me to the island.........I also met Anna Folkesson, a Swedish quilter and weaver who lives on the island. she invited me to her studio...........wow............not only does she have a really cool studio, some lovely works both weaving and quilting, but an incredible view of the ocean while she works........ she lives 4 houses up the street from where we have our retirement cottage..... I'll be going back for two wks in July and she has invited me to join her at her studio for an afternoon......she has a web site but for some reason I have it written down incorrectly......will try to get it so that for those of you who are interested........... one thing i discovered is that quilters everywhere are just a bunch of nice, fun loving, friendly, welcoming, social group of gals who have formed some great friendships............... just thought I'd share one of the high points from my trip and the pleasure of meeting some new quilters....... can't wait to join them in july...........