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Guild News
Beginner Quilting Classes
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In partnership with the Belknap Mill, our Guild will be assisting with a series of Beginner Quilting Classes, starting in February, 2021. Michelle Plourde will be teaching a total of six sessions - one each Saturday for six weeks, beginning February 6th through March 10th. The Guild will sponsor a children's class (from 9am to 11am) and the Belknap Mill will sponsor an adult class (from 11:30am to 1:30pm.) All classes will be held on the third floor of the Mill, with a MAXIMUM of 12 students per class. The classroom will be set up in compliance with all COVID-19 safety precautions, to include small numbers of participants, social distancing, and frequent cleaning/disinfecting of equipment, tables, and work spaces. MASKS will be worn by all students, instructors, and assistants when social distancing is not possible.
Both the children and adult classes will learn basic sewing and quilting techniques, and will have the opportunity to complete a lap quilt or table-topper. Each student will have one volunteer assistant from the Guild throughout all six sessions. This one-on-one mentorship is key to the success of the program! Historically, the art of quilt making has been passed along from generation to generation. Many of these generational traditions are vanishing from our local communities, and this is our opportunity to share our craft with today’s children and adults who have not been afforded this type of hands on experience. For more information on how you can help, go to the Members News & Newsletters section of this website. |
Supported in part by a grant from the
New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Belknap Mill Welcomes BMQG
January 2021
Our Guild is now an “Industrial Educator” for the Belknap Mill. This means that we have formed a partnership with the Mill, and will hold all of our meetings, Sit & Sews, and in-person classes at the Mill. They have refurbished the third floor, and it is beautiful. There is an elevator, a kitchenette, hardwood floors, a countless number of electrical outlets, plenty of lighting, a built-in sound system, and lots of furniture. We will continue to work with the Mill to offer great programming for the Lakes Region. It is a distinct pleasure to be “going home,” back to the location of our very first meetings in 1978. We look forward to a great partnership.
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Quilters deliver more than 3,300 masks to organizations!
May 2020
LACONIA DAILY SUN
Katie Haddock and Judy Robertson show off some of the 3,300+ masks that over 100 members of the Belknap Mill Quilt Guild have made for the Lakes Region General Hospital, the New Hampshire Veterans Home, St. Francis Home, Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice, Taylor Community, Belknap County Nursing Home, GOT Lunch Laconia, the Salvation Army and Meals on Wheels. There are four drop off locations in the area, all located on Guild members porches - one each in Laconia, Sanbornton, Belmont and Meredith. There you can drop off completed masks and pick up supplies for making more masks. Contact Katie Haddock for more information. Click here to read the whole story in the Laconia Daily Sun. |
Round Robin Results!
A group of Guild Members meet at Opechee park to share their results.
Summer 2020
Scholarship Donation News
May
In May, the BMQG donated $2000 to the Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation. We increased our usual donation amount from $1000.
Three recipients were selected this year from the list of applicants. Brenton Clarke, from Laconia High School, a Junior attending SCAD in Savannah, Ga, was awarded $1000 for his studies in Accessory Design. Alexa McNamara, from Gilford High School, a Freshman at Hampshire College, was awarded $500 toward her studies in Art/Writing. Emily Wernig, also from Gilford High School, a Senior at UNH, was awarded $500 towards her studies in Fine Arts.
Thanks for working so hard at our fund raisers to assist these students in their pursuit of an Art education.
Three recipients were selected this year from the list of applicants. Brenton Clarke, from Laconia High School, a Junior attending SCAD in Savannah, Ga, was awarded $1000 for his studies in Accessory Design. Alexa McNamara, from Gilford High School, a Freshman at Hampshire College, was awarded $500 toward her studies in Art/Writing. Emily Wernig, also from Gilford High School, a Senior at UNH, was awarded $500 towards her studies in Fine Arts.
Thanks for working so hard at our fund raisers to assist these students in their pursuit of an Art education.
BMQG Receives Prestigious Award
November 2016
In 1978 when the BMQG was founded by 22 like-minded quilters one of the goals of the guild was and still remains to this day, charitable contributions to the surrounding communities. Over the years well over a dozen charities have received funds and quilts from the guild and its members, which allow us to continue to achieve our goal.
In the recent past an opportunity was brought to the guild by Shirley Mento, a long time guild member & active voice in the community. Shirley had worked with the Spaulding Youth Center for a number of years in various roles. She had come to know that Spaulding had a need for quilts. At that point guild member Diane Orlowski, head of comfort quilts, took the ball and ran. Information was gathered from the Spaulding students as to favorite colors and themes. Then guild members were asked to “adopt“ a student and make that child a very special quilt. As always, you the members embraced this endeavor and created many wonderful quilts that the students would own and take with them as they moved on in life. This forged another beautiful partnership for the guild. On November 15th 2016 a group of guild members were invited to and attended the Spaulding Youth Center’s Thanksgiving meal. At the gathering the Spaulding Youth Center presented the guild with a huge honor. It reads: THE ARTHUR H. NIGHSWANDER COMMUNITY PARTNER AWARD In recognition of your ongoing support and assistance over the years that has provided the children at Spaulding Youth Center the opportunity to heal, learn, and grow in a safe and protected environment. We value and greatly appreciate our partnership. The guild will proudly display this prestigious award knowing that it is because of all of you, the members of the guild, and your efforts that made it possible. Job well done! |