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Who We Are

Desert Quilters of Nevada, the first quilt guild in Southern Nevada, is a nonprofit organization formed to promote, encourage and preserve the art of quilt making by developing appreciation of fine quilts, sponsoring and supporting quilting activities, teaching techniques and the history of quilting and quilt making. 

Our History

Desert Quilters was a dream of Nancy Walters of Las Vegas and Alice Godwin of Boulder City.  Groups of quilters had been meeting in small sewing circles for years.  Desert Quilters of Nevada was organized for the purpose of sharing quilting ideas. methods, and experiences with other quilters.  The goal: To expand on these ideas and to grow throughout the state of Nevada. A good side effect has been helping the unfortunate and our service men and women.

​Although ladies throughout the valley had been meeting in quilt groups since 1985, they joined together to become the Desert Quilters of Nevada in 1986 and elected their first president.

In January of 1985 a meeting was held in Las Vegas with 9 quilters present.  Monthly Quilt meetings were set for both Las Vegas and Boulder City with dues at $1.50 per quarter.  The first newsletter, "Quilters", was mailed in March.  By then there were 22 active members and the first roster was printed.  The theme, "Desert Quilters of Nevada", was selected.  The first board members were Alice Godwin, President; Maxine James, Vice President; Phyllis Lord, Secretary; Roxanne Maki, Treasurer.

The Newsletter took on the name "The Quilt Chatter" and Mary Ann Cochrane was editor.  By the end of the 1986 there were 75 Quilters in 7 active circles.  The club made quilt squares and a 16 foot quilt for the play "The Quilter" put on by students at UNLV as well as made raffle quilts to raise funds for the guild.

To start off some of the members who have had really awesome quilting in our guild, Julie French won first place in Nevada for the Statue of Liberty, in the Great American Quilt Show, held in New York City.

Today, the guild has more than 400 members from 14 states.  We have quilters from all age groups; some of our members are in their 90's!   Desert Quilters have pulled from our own creative quilters as well as world renowned teachers to convey innovative and time tested quilting tips and ideas.  We have pattern makers, book writers, quilters who teach around the country. We have quilters who have been profiled in quilting books, award winning quilts in national quilt shows as well as some of the finest quilts in the nation right here at our quilt show, and a Ricky Tims national retreat scholarship recipient.

We have quilted for our families, friends, church members, military, our four legged friends, homeless, street teens, cancer patients and hospital babies. Rarely do we finish one project and not have another one in the wings. In addition to many charity quilt projects, we have adopted the Quilts of Valor, for all military who have served our country, as an ongoing community service project.

Our guild is not just quilters. We also have jewelry makers, clay modelers, doll makers who inspire us all, and the art quilters that teach us that anything can be used in fiber art work.

Many of us have watched as the guild has grown and matured.  What a journey it has been.

​11/22/2015 KF, edited 9/30/2017 KG

Following is a list of the presidents to the present:
1986    Alice Godwin
1987    Maxine James & Ann Pugh
1988    Kate Nelson
1989    MaryKay Weishan
1990    Marilyn Kong
1991     Sandy Low
1992    Sandy Low
1993    Rochelle Smedley
1994    Rochelle Smedley

​1995    Ann Pugh
1996    Ann Pugh
1997    Carol Beall
​
1998    Gail Smith
1999    Gail Smith
2000    Della Arvo
2001    Barbara Graham
2002    Jan Meeboer
2003    Linda Murray

2004    Marge King
2005    Marge King

2006    Marge King
2007    Gerda Hanson
2008    Gerda Hanson

​2009    Ann Pugh
​
2010    Bobbie Stember
2011     Bobbie Stember
2012    Karen Garth 
 
2013    Karen Garth
2014    Christine Dunn
2015    Christine Dunn

2016    Lana Weber
2017    Lana Weber
​2018   Mary Jane Eichholz
​2019   Mary Jane Eichholz
​2020 Susan Reddie