And Now a GSQA Photo Drop

I attended the Gulf States Quilt Association (GSQA) meeting in Long Beach, MS., so I’ll show you the few pics I took there. After all, a couple of weekend ago, I posted photos of the CQG Show and Share.

I always enjoy visiting with the many acquaintances I’ve made over the years. Some of them, though I don’t see very often, I still consider friends. I wish I could have stayed for the Show and Share–it’s such inspiration to see other people’s work. However, the drive was almost four hours. Richard insisted that he come along, and his back was in so much pain from the movement of the car, which is not a smooth ride.

I didn’t get any information about the opportunity quilt. People wouldn’t move and I try to be kind and wait my turn. Anyway, I’m betting there’s something about this gorgeous quilt on the GSQA website.

GSQA has a great way to raise money. They love to hire well-known quilters from around the nation for classes and lectures. This so that we all have opportunities to learn from quilters who our individual guilds can’t afford. Education is one of their biggest reason for creating the association.

Every year, a committee chooses a quilt and its size, colors, etc. They then purchase the fabrics and create kits for each of the blocks. The kits are bagged up and sold for $5 each. At the spring meeting, members buy a kit, put it together and return the kit to the committee. Of course, the best blocks are chosen, the top sewn, and quilting completed. This means that the opportunity quilt brings in money two ways: by selling the blocks and, later, selling the tickets.

Why so many extra block kits you ask? Mais, they make money on every block that they sell. And, the blocks sell out. Plus, the extras mean that there are some to choose from. (Not everyone can sew a perfect 1/4″ seam.) There’s a lottery for the extra blocks: every one returned, earns a ticket for the lottery, so you’re buying a chance for pre-sewn blocks! Now, isn’t GSQA onto a brillant idea?