Week #6 - Shannon - Why I Love our Quilting Community

In honour of Thankful Thursday, I wanted to take a moment to express how thankful I am to be a part of such an amazing community. 

Let me count the ways!

We think about our community and give back!

We had a few strips left over from our Michael Miller Charity Challenge and rather than see those bits of fabric go to waste, I'm trying to piece them together and come up with a design for an extra quilt.  This is intended for a women's shelter here in Montreal and given our harsh winters, an extra quilt will no doubt be much appreciated :)

I love that we think beyond ourselves.  Quilting to me is very much communal and thoughtful.  Most of my quilts are made for others and I love that I get to share something I am so passionate about and that others get to use and enjoy.

We support one another - ideas, challenges, tips - you name it, we've got one another's backs!

It has been less than a year since I joined the Montreal Modern Quilt Guild, but I already feel so much a part of the group. Everyone has been so welcoming and encouraging. Take this week's meeting where I presented a mini-quilt I made for family member's new baby.  

There were lots of firsts in this project, including first time paper piecing and big stitch hand quilting. No one paid attention to the subtle flaws, and rather focused on the colourway, the thread chosen and the overall design. My example has given others who haven't tried paper piecing the incentive to give it a go!

We think of one another:

A guild member brought me a book on hand quilting since it is something I am new at and looking to learn more about. How thoughtful of her to think about me given our busy schedules. Just another example of how sharing is caring.

Inspiration:

My guild currently has an exhibit called A Window Into Modern Quilting that is showing until the end of February.  I was thrilled to be able to attend the opening and support my talented members. Some might feel intimated, daunted or less than when seeing such amazing work; I rather take inspiration that with continued practice and experimentation anything is possible!  If you would like to read more about the exhibit and see the quilts in the showcase, click here!

In just the few days that I have taken over 52 Quilters social media account, I have already made numerous new quilting friends that I hope to continue to connect with for years to come!  I am meeting many for the first time and the warm welcome I have received solidifies for me what an amazing community we have.

I hope to make new members I encounter feel the love I have received and make them feel welcome in our very special, creative and diverse group :)

Here's to the love of all things quilty!!

xo

Shannon

Post by Shannon Week #6: Shannon is a fabric loving home accessories designer who recently discovered a love for modern quilting and hasn't turned back! Living in Montreal, Canada she spends her days designing and pushing her creative boundaries to explore all things textile related. You can find her at www.shannonfraserdesigns.ca and on Instagram and Pinterest.