Susan Miller met Carol Huisman early in 1985 around a quilting frame where they were stitching on the 50^th Tulip Time quilt at the Pella Historical Village. Carol had already taken a quilt class at T & D Department store along with Jane Hummel and Bev Kramer, and the three were meeting weekly to stitch on their own projects.

Susan Miller joined them in May and they all attended the Des Moines Guild and the Iowa State Guild to find out how such groups operated. Susan had an idea about guild functions from her mother-in-law’s group in California which had been meeting since the 1970’s.

By late August, Carol, Bev, and Susan were ready to organize a guild in Pella. Notices were put in the Pella Chronicle inviting any interested quilters to meet in Susan’s home at 510 West First Street on September 3, 1985. About twenty people came, among them were Aileen Taylor and Karen Spencer. At this meeting it was decided the first officer’s would serve until the end of 1986. They were: Carol Huisman as president; Susan Miller, vice president; Bev Kramer, secretary; and Jane Hummel, treasurer. Patsy Sadler offered to let the group meet at the Sterrenberg Library at the Historical Village, and dues were set at $1.00 per month until the end of the year.

Many quilt activities filled the schedule during the ensuing months- each one so exciting because everything was new and happening for the first time. Early on, the group was lucky to have two Iowa Quilt Guild(IQG) presidents as members and workshops by several national teachers either on our own or in conjunction with IQG meetings here.

The accomplishments of the first fifteen months are remarkable. How did we all do it? Adopted name, logo, by-laws, and dues; arranged for members to do the monthly programs at Historical Village or members’ homes; began quarterly newsletter; held floor-frame quilting bees; and had lots of show and tell.