Our
History
Original logo, designed in 1987 by member Marge Gearhart and her sister and used until 2023
New logo, designed in 2023 by Guild member Eileen Bozarth
Looking Forward, Looking Back
January 1983
Donna Lucidi organized and was first President of the Guild. Donna placed an ad in the local paper to see if there was any interest in the area to form a quilting group. To her surprise 28 women showed up for that first meeting. In April of 1985, it became an official NQA Chapter, #295-PA#17, of the National Quilting Association, Inc.
The meetings were held at the American Legion Hall off of Manheim Pike. Some notes of interest for 1985 were: Member Doris Riexinger’s Double Wedding Ring quilt was used in the production of the play ”Quilters” at the Fulton Theater. Effie Eshelman won Best of Show at Town Fair with her Lone Star Quilt.
Our logo was designed by charter member Marge Gearhart’s artist sister, Emily Nendza about the same time period (1986-1987) that Marge was president of the Guild. Marge posed while her sister Emily sketched her. Emily donated the drawing to the Guild and it remained its registered trademark until 2023.
1987 - The RRQG was preparing for their first Quilt Show. Members donated items to be sold at a craft show at Park City. By this year the Guild had 79 members.
1988 - This was the year of the First Quilt Show. It was held at the old Lititz Recreation Center on August 11-13, 1988. Sixty-one quilters, including 38 Guild members, exhibited over 108 quilts. Allison Goss was the featured quilter at the show. WGAL-TV featured the show on the evening news. The show was not judged but attendees voted for viewers’ choice. Marion Sachs and Betty Croll’s quilts won viewer’s choice. The Lancaster Farming paper featured Donna Lucidi and her quilting. Effie Eshelman’s Lancaster Rose quilt represented Pennsylvania in an exhibit called “America Makes Quilts" at the Houston Quilt Festival. Several members' Christmas quilts went to the city of Lancaster for an”Old Fashioned Holidays Downtown” exhibition held in an empty storefront.
In the meantime – Quilters from all over began coming to Lancaster County for what was to become an annual event – Quilters Heritage Celebration Quilt Show and conference – organized by Illinois resident Rita Barber.
1989 - The Guild was selected to make a banner to represent Pennsylvania in the exhibit called “Flags over the Hudson – A Colorful Welcome” sponsored by the Great American Quilt Festival. Marge Gearhart taught her first infamous pineapple jacket class to many Guild members. (Every year she said the same thing, “This is possibly my last class for this jacket!”). The Guild’s first potluck dinner, now a tradition, was held in February. The library was established during summer. It started with 13 books and 3 videos, and as of 2011, we had over 250 books and 8 videos. This was also the year the Guild started to make and donate quilts to the Shelter for Abused Women. “We began to hold charity workshops to make the quilts and soon found out that these workshops provided an excellent opportunity for us to get to know each other better as we brushed up on our quilt making techniques.” Guild members donated a total of 7 wall hangings to the Lancaster Day Care Center auction that year.
1991 – The Guild moved to Calvary Church for their meetings. The church's location at that time was in downtown Lancaster.
Membership for that year was 104 members. The Guild was there through 1999
1994 – First Annual Retreat at Camp Swatara – 15 members attended. Retreats at Swatara continued until 2014.
2000 to 2011- The Guild moved to Landis Homes.
2010-2019 - The Guild provided volunteer support to the AQS' Annual Quilt Show in Lancaster. In 2020 the show is cancelled due to COVID restrictions and didn't return to Lancaster (Spooky Nook) until 2024.
2012-2018 -Guild moved to the new Calvary Church location on Landis Valley Road.
2014 - The Spring Retreat was at the Blue Lake Retreat House in Denver, PA. This location was used again in 2015 and 2016 for the Spring Retreat.
2014 - The Fall Retreat was at Kirkenwald Lutheran Camp, in Lebanon, PA. in 2014 and continues there every year since then.
2015 - The National Quilting Association, of which the Red Rose Quilters Guild had been a member since 1985, dissolved.
2017 - The Spring Retreat moves to Kirkenwald and continues there every year since then. (2020 spring retreat cancelled due to COVID)
2019 - The Guild moved to the Four Seasons Golf Club
2020 - 2024 -The Guild moved to Hosanna Christian Fellowship and stayed until mid 2024
2020 - The Guild (along with so many others) experienced a difficult period as a result of the COVID pandemic. We have included a more detailed discussion of this in the section below.
2022- In a community outreach effort, The Quilt Shop at Miller's on Route 30 invited the Guild to display and sell quilts and quilted items made by our members, with the proceeds going to support our programs and activities. We were invited back again in 2023 and 2024.
2024 - First Lancaster-Lebanon Quilt Show: We displayed 30 of our members quilts for the enjoyment of those who attended.
RRQG produces an original quilt for the Lafayette Anniversary Celebration, slated for 2025.
RRQG donates a King size quilt to the Landis Valley Museum for their Fall Festival Auction in October, 2024
RRQG displays at the Senior Expo at the Farm and Home Building, hosted by Senator Scot Martin
RRQG moved to Landis Homes and collaborates with Landis Quilters on our shared mission to promote quilting.
AQS returns to Lancaster - RRQG provides volunteer support
Jane Hoar donation blurb for website.docxA Variety of "THEN AND NOW" Photos Throughout The Years
2023, check received from Millers Quilt Shop where the Guild was allowed space to display and sell quilted items made by Guild members
Pictured left to right: Shop manager Annette Nauman, and members Elaine Spangler, Jeanne Riley, Vicki Bowman, Carol Brown, Esther Markwood, and Judy Wagner with our check!
2002 Quilt Retreat at Camp Swatara, above
We make kitty pillows, from bits batting and scraps of leftover fabrics to donate to local cat shelters. It seems that nothing need go to waste when a quilter gets involved! These were just a few of those created in 2017
2000 Red Rose Quilters Guild 2000 "East Meets West" Quilt Show with show and tell included (see below)
2018 Comfort Quilt Workshop pictures
RRQG History: Comments on the 2020 Pandemic
2020 - The pandemic swept across the country in March, just as we moved to Hosanna. With no one allowed to go anywhere or socialize, the Guild's whole premise was knocked out from under us. The only thing connecting all our members for a time was the Weekly Web News emailed to everyone on Friday nights. We added the "Eye Candy" section and encouraged everyone to send in pictures of their quilts for it, making it an electronic show & tell.
After several months, following the example of other Guilds, we started meeting via Zoom, a novel concept for most of us. Fortunately our technically savvy VP of Programs, Carol Dittoe, taught us how to sign in to Zoom meetings and found Zoom speakers for us. We also started monthly "sew-in Saturdays", when members signed in to our Zoom meeting for the day while they worked on projects at home. Studio began to meet again that fall, limited to ten people at a time, with everyone wearing masks and doing their best to "social distance".
The one good thing that came out of the pandemic, other than the vaccines, was the use of Zoom; we can now have speakers from across the country or elsewhere in the world without having to pay for their travel and lodging. Weather is no longer such a major factor - we now frequently have Zoom meetings during the winter months.
2024 Raffle Quilt with Matching Pillow
2024 Raffle Quilt Winner Announced
The winner of the Guild's 2024 Raffle Quilt was selected on September 14, the last day of the Lancaster AQS Show. Guild member Carole Brown was the lucky winner! Congratulations Carole!2025 Note to Landis Homes from President Bonnie McClun:
RRQG is very thankful
Landis Homes came through for us when we needed a new place to call home. Three of our members currently live here, two more are awaiting the completion of their homes in the new "East Campus" area, and one is now on "the list" for one of the new hybrids coming shortly. The administration and staff here are wonderful, kind, generous people who believe in building community both on campus and in the larger community.
Landis also believes strongly in taking care of its residents. Its Caring Fund is designed to assist residents who are in financial need during their final days. Annually the quilt auction brings in $12-$20K for that fund. We need 20 to 30 quilts of various sizes annually to reach that $$ goal. Our residents enjoy hand quilting and the social time around the quilt frame. Few of the Landis Quilters still make tops for a number of reasons, and the number of quilters is declining; they complete fewer quilts (approximately 15) each year. Landis Homes greatly appreciates our donations of tops for them to hand quilt, and some of our finished quilts for the quilt auction.
Here is what Landis Homes does for us:
Meeting rooms: Sounds simple but it's a process. First I check with the team member who schedules the rooms. She then notifies Facilities (room set ups), and Safely (makes sure appropriate doors are open and is aware that people from off campus will be here). Housekeeping is also then notified as they make sure the room is clean.
Storage space: Because our mission of making quilts for comfort is in keeping with the Landis mission, they provide space for us. This is a huge thing! This is possible because the Advancement Team (Landis Quilters and the quilt auction are their responsibility) sees a partnership with RRQG as very positive. There are some exciting plans for quilting at Landis in the future but I am not allowed to share the details yet. Stay tuned.
What does Landis require from us? Nothing! Not even a fee for the use of their facility. This is a HUGE blessing. Hosanna cost us between $4,000 and $5000 per year.
What do we owe Landis as a Thank You? The RRQG Board did vote to give Landis a financial donation annually. We also donated the funds raised by our "dated" inventory from Millers at the Landis Homes Holiday Bazaar. Is this enough? I, personally, am very thankful for the wonderful caring members of RRQG who contribute to both our mission and Landis Homes’ mission of providing comfort for members of the community.
I understand not everything about meeting here is perfect, but no place is perfect (we’ve tried many!), and this is very workable. I am excited about what is in store for the future of this partnership. Thank you all for contributing quilts and tops - and keep them coming!
Bonnie McClun, RRQG President and Chair of the Landis Quilters