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:
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 2021 Susan Reddie 2022 Jeanne Spala 2023 Jeanne Spala |