The Homemakers Country Quilters Guild is one of the few Pennsylvania guilds that still hand quilts a raffle quilt. The 2025 Raffle Quilt is “Civil War Tribute”.
To view the lovely quilts, made by our guild members, and displayed at the Pennsylvania National Quilt Extravaganza, click here.
Thank you to Sue Mac Fadden for serving as our Secretary and Welcome to Cindy Veit who will take over the duties as secretary.
Featured Quilt Artist For February, 2025
Madeline Brown
Madeline’s Story There is no history of quilting in my family. My mother taught me to sew in my teens and garment sewing was all I knew to do. I sewed a lot of my (4) children’s clothes when they were young until they decided homemade didn’t look cool so I gradually slowed down sewing except for a few things for myself. When I moved to the Lansdale area in the 1980’s I learned about quilting from some of my co-workers. I took a quilting class from the Country Quilt Shop and learned hand quilting and quilt as you go. My quilting time was limited with working full time as a nurse and raising a family but I always had something “quilty” going on.
I was fortunate to be close to a little quilt shop in Jonesboro called Quilts and Fixins. They sold no sewing machines and their mission was strictly quilting. I do believe that was when I truly began to love quilting. We made and quilted quilts all year long to sell for charity each June for the local Humane Society. We moved from that area to North Georgia and I joined the Lavender Mountain Guild in Rome GA. We had quilt shows each March at the local Sara Hightower Library. The library was transformed with beautiful quilts hanging everywhere. I moved back to this area late in 2022 and searched for a quilt guild. Homemakers was the only one with daytime meetings so they were the winner! It took a little time to get used to a large guild but gradually, after attending the Sit and Sews I began to know people better and now I feel truly at home. I do not have many quilts as they are given away as soon as they are completed. Everyone in my family has their quilts and then some so now my projects are purely for pleasure and to keep Ronald McDonald House in Danville supplied for those sweet brave hero children.
Featured Quilt Artist for January, 2025
In her spare time—Lois chuckled at the term—the long-time educator loves quilting because of “the colors and geometric patterns I work with.” When she was living in Lansdale, she traveled extensively to visit her many nieces and nephews all in different states and countries. And she also made excursions to the Reading Buddies’ locations and to her cherished church, First Presbyterian Church, on Chelten Avenue in Germantown. She now lives in Hudson Estates and her declining vision and health do not allow to do much quilting and traveling. A graduate of Germantown High School, she has a B. A. in Elementary Education from Juniata College and a M. A. in Education from Temple University. She taught special education in the Norristown area and kindergarten, first and second grades in the Cheltenham School District for 11 years. She then was an educational consultant for Scott Foresman for 26 years and traveled to many places. In 2000, Lois became involved with Reading Buddies which became her passion. She loved being able to use her background in so many positive ways in meeting adults that she came to treasure who were able to encourage and support the children. At a guild meeting, Lois explained that when she made a quilt for someone, she gave a book to go along with it.
News from the Pennsylvania Farm Show
Members contributed 30 blocks to these quilts. They were raffled to raise money for scholarships.
Members won awards for the blocks for next year’s quilt. Congratulations to Mary Helen Ames, whose beautiful appliqué block was awarded Best of Show! Also congratulations to Madeline Brown and Cathy Belt who also placed!
Homemaker Country Quilters at the Keystone Quilt Show
Several of our members distinguished themselves at the Keystone Quilt show, which was held in early October. Here are pictures of their entries.
Best in Show – Sue Edwards2nd Place – Sue EdwardsSue EdwardsSue Edwards2nd Place – Sue EdwardsSue Edwards3rd Place – Sue Edwards1st Place – Sue EdwardsSue EdwardsSue EdwardsJudges’ Choice – Kay BachkaiKay BachkaiLinda CareyHonorable Mention – Kay Bachkai
Angel Babies
Angel Babies is a charity that provides families who have lost a baby or child the support, compassion, and love needed in their darkest day. Homemakers Country Quilters is now supporting this charity by making blankets, quilts and hats. There are specific requirements for these items. That information is provided on the Our Activities and Charities page.
Quilting for Good
Quilting for Good is a growing local effort. In 2023 they created over 80 quilts for women (and their children) living in transitional housing after leaving various shelters. You can find more information about Quilting for Good on our Activities and Charities page.
2025 Meeting Agendas
January 10, 2025 – Interactive lecture with Barbara Garrett What does my Quilt tell me?
Our own Barbara Garrett, a well renowned Quilt Historian, will observe quilts made prior to 1950. Those who have signed up to show their quilts will let Barbara know what they know about their older quilt and then Barbara will share her professional insight about the quilt – sharing information about fabric, age, style etc. Each quilt will be viewed for several minutes and the quilts will then be laid on tables in the other room so members can get a closer look.
We have room for about 5-6 more quilts so if you have not signed up, and wish to, let Christina or Madeline know.
February 14, 2025 – Round Robin
3 quilters will share their skills about a particular technique, style or insight that they have mastered or recently discovered.
March 14, 2025 – Quilt Show preparation
April 11, 2025 – Lecture “Kestrel’s Creations”
A deep dive into my artistic history and quilting process with Kestrel Michaud. Kestrel is a classsically trained, imaginative, realism fine artist with a passion for illustrating in fabric. She creates captivating works of art using fabric.
Until 2017, she worked as a full-time graphic designer, working with orfanizations including Judith Leiber, Kenneth Cole and NASA. She made her first art quilt in 2018 and won her first major award in 2019. She has gone on to win top prizes at quilt shows across the country. In 2021, Kestrel won a grand prize at the International Quilt Festival in Houston, and in 2024 she won best wall quilt at AQS Paducah. In 2023 she was invited to be a guest on The Quilt Show and Quilting Arts TV. She has been featured in Quiltfolk and Quilting Arts Magazines.
May 9, 2025 – “Empowering Science Communication through Storytelling, One Quilt at a Time-“ With Dr. Laura Guertin
Dr. Laura is a Distinguished Professor of Earth Sciences at Penn State Brandywine (Media, PA), dedicated to improving the overall scientific literacy of her non STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) majors in her introductory level earth science classes. Although Dr. Laura started quilting in 2006, she didn’t start using quilts as a way to engage in scientific storytelling until 2018. She also likes to engage in public outreach events to connect all audiences with earth science and why this is so important to all of us. She will share her quilt collection based upon her experiences with Expedition 390 to honor the scientific mission of the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).
September 12, 2025 – Welcome Fall!
Meeting formats/venues during Covid
To remain flexible and responsive to the ever-changing considerations during this time of Covid, HCQ will provide its usual programming events in several formats/venues. Be sure to check the description of each event to learn which of the following formats will apply:
In person – at 4 H Center of Montgomery County 1015 Bridge Rd Collegeville.
Hybrid – In person at 4 H Center of Montgomery County with an option to attend from home via Zoom.
ZoomOnly – When Zoom format is used for an event, Members and/or pre-paid guests will receive Zoom meeting invitations via email a few days prior to the session.
The meeting format will be listed in the newsletter. If you are not sure, please email the guild a few days before the meeting to see what format we will use.
