Guild Focus Groups

Focus groups generally meet either in the mornings before the general meetings, or in the late afternoons following the general meeting. They are wonderful opportunities to get to know your fellow guild members while you learn a new technique. We have many gifted quilters in the guild, and we are grateful that they are willing to share their expertise.

We are always open to new ideas and new groups, so please let us know if you wish to lead a focus group on any quilting-related topic. Janet Randolph (pictured here) organizes the focus groups. Contact Janet via info@empirequilters.net if you have questions or suggestions.

Past focus group topics have included Crazy Quilting, Fabric Postcards, Working With Silk, Quilted Tote Bags, Quilt-As-You-Go, Paper Piecing, Hand Quilting, Hand Appliqué, Embellishments, Color for Quilters, and Needle Felting — to list just a few.

Note … Focus groups are open to all members of Empire Quilters.

Upcoming Focus Groups

Ruched Flower [one-time focus group]

• Date: Saturday, April 10, 2010
• Time: 10:30 – 11:30 am
• Group Leader: Lucy Torres
• Location: Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), David Dubinsky Center, 8th Floor, 27th Street & 8th Ave,
  New York City [ Map ]
• Open To: All guild members.
• A hands-on focus group.
• Supply List: 2 needles (sharps); chalk white pencilmarker (necessary!); small ruler; scissors; a few pins; paper/pencil for notes. Fabric and thread will be supplied by the group leader.

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Elm Creek Sampler Club [ongoing focus group]

• Next Group Meeting: Sat, April 10, 2010
• Time: 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm
• Group Leaders: Helen Beall, Lisa Belle, and Lisa Kehrle
• Location: Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.), David Dubinsky Center, 8th Floor, 27th Street & 8th Avenue, New York City [ Map ]
• Open To: All guild members.
• This group began meeting in September 2009, and welcomes new participants. Group members gather at noon before the monthly meetings to "show & tell" Elm Creek Blocks. Each month the group makes a different block from Jennifer Chiaverini and Nancy Odom's book, Elm Creek Quilts: Quilt Projects Inspired by the Elm Creek Quilts Novels (C&T Publishing, Inc. 2002). Join the group to make new friends, have a project in common, support each other, and put a monthly group photo on the website. Plus … at the end of the year, participants will each have their very own sampler quilt.
• Note … For those who wish to make 6" sampler blocks, Jennifer Chiaverini's newer book Sylvia's Bridal Sampler from Elm Creek Quilts (C&T Publ. 2009) may prove helpful.
• UPDATE: Mar 16, 2010 – Our March gathering was pre-empted by Charity Day — a most worthy cause. Therefore we will feature Hands All Around and the ever-popular Ohio Star in April.

— Helen Beall

• Contact Helen Beall or Lisa Kehrle with any questions or comments. (Email info@empirequilters.net if you need contact information.)

› View the Blocks Made to Date ‹

Here is the schedule of blocks for the year. Note that there are two blocks for the months November, December and February:

Sawtooth Star Sep 12, 2009	Double Nine-Patch Oct 10, 2009	Schoolhouse Nov 08, 2009*	Contrary Wife Nov 08, 2009*
Lemoyne Star Dec 12, 2009*	Bachelor's Puzzle Dec 12, 2009*	Posies Round the Square Jan 09, 2010	Lancaster Rose Feb 13, 2010*
Sister's Choice Feb 13, 2010*	Hands All Around Mar 13, 2010	Ohio Star Apr 10, 2010	Chimneys and Cornerstones May 08, 2010

* Note that there are two blocks scheduled for
November, December and February.

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Previous Focus Groups this Season

For details of the focus groups that took place earlier during the 2009–2010 season, visit the 2009–2010 Guild Archives page.

One of our focus groups hard at work.