River Lea Quilters Guild
Grand Island, NY
c/o 1109 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, NY 14072
President - Anna Topolski
1st Vice President (Programs) - Sandie Nethero
2nd Vice President (Membership) - Jean Brighton
Secretary - Carolyn Doebert
Treasurer - Janet Bianca
Community Service - Phyllis Hall
Historian - Phyllis Hall
Newsletter - Nancy Vizzi
Contacts:
Anna Topolski, 773-4266
Jean Brighton, 773-2214
"Our purposes are to enhance our skills in quilting by sharing of ideas, expertise and fellowship among guild members and to serve the community through charitable donations of time, money and talents."
Monthly meetings are held in the Grand Island High School Senior Cafeteria Sept - June on the third Tuesday of the month @ 6:30 p.m. Changes to time & place are posted in isledegrande.com, Grand Island PennySaver and in the Island Dispatch. The guild's strengths are in the talent and artistry of the quilters. Presently, there are 40 members of varying age and level of quilting expertise. New members are always welcome! Please contact the 2nd Vice President or any other member for more information.
Our 2010 - 11 year will focus on charity quilting for the residents of Schofield Nursing Home, Degraff Skilled Nursing Home and Families of Organ Donors. We will also concentrate on expanding our skill levels and sharing the love of the quilting arts with anyone who is interested.
River Lea Quilters Community Service Project For Christmas - 2011
From left: Phyllis Hall and Anna Topolski - Click photo for larger view
Each year the Grand Island River Lea Quilters Guild chooses a community service project at Christmas time. This year the quilters donated 39 quilts and 32 Christmas pillows to the Grand Island Neighbors Foundation.River Lea Quilters 2011 Meeting Dates
Feb 15 - Round RobinMarch 15 - Quilt Embellishments
April 12 - Quilter's Garage Sale
May 17 - Presentation by Threads of Time on "How to choose a quilting design for your quilt top"
June 21 - Year End Picnic & Challenge Quilt presentation
Workshops - 2011
Feb - Broken StarApril - Quilt Embellishments
May - Color with Kit Willey
October 8-9, 2011 at Stella Niagara
River Lea Quilters Charity Quilt Show - 2010
"Quilts That Warm Our Hearts" - 2010 Charity Quilt Show:Date: April 30 - May 1, 2010
Location: Whitehaven Road Baptist Church, 1290 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, NY
Time: 10am - 5pm each day
Admission: $5.00
The River Lea Quilt Guild held a quilt show on April 30th and May 1st at the Whitehaven Road Baptist Church. Proceeds were to support Hospice of WNY, the WNY Food Bank and the Grand Island Memorial Library. The River Lea Quilt Guild is doing a Quilting 101 class in July and August - information coming.
Left: Welcome display gave those attending an idea about the wonderful quilts inside.
right: Anna Topolski, the new River Lea Quilters Guild president, poses with her winning
entry
Right: One of the award winners! - Click photos for larger view
River Lea Quilters Share Their Hobby - Dec. 2008
Click photo for larger view
Several members of River Lea Quilt Guild met at the Grand Island High School in December for a Saturday Work Day. There they made over 30 lap quilts to be donated to the residents at Riverwood Nursing Home. The quilts were displayed at the December Christmas Party held at the High School. The Guild members welcomes any person interested in the art of quiltmaking and invite them to Guild meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Meetings are held in the Grand Island High School Senior Cafeteria at 7 p.m. when a short business meeting takes place followed by a program related to quilting. "Hope to see you there!"River Lea Quilters Community Service Project - 2007
Click photo for larger view
The members of River Lea Quilt Guild made and donated 90 quilts to Project Linus for the 2007-08 year. All the quilts were sent to hospitals and other service organizations in WNY for children in need.Project Linus is a 100% volunteer, non-profit organization that provides children with new, homemade, washable blankets, quilts and afghans. Blankets are collected locally and distributed to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere that a child might be in need of a big hug. See http://www.projectlinus.org/
River Lea Quilters Guild Show "The Work of Our Hands" - 2008
Quilt Raffle - Tree of Life Medallion pattern. Be sure to click photo for larger view!
The Work of Our Hands Quilt Show photos - Click for larger view!
The River Lea Quilters Guild will present The Work of Our Hands Quilt Show, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19 at Whitehaven Road Baptist Church, 1290 Whitehaven Rd., Grand Island, NY. Admission is $5.00. Featured will be a Chinese auction for 50 baskets and a raffle for a beautiful, king size quilt with a Tree of Life Medallion pattern. There will also be door prizes, vendors, and light refreshments. The River Lea Quilters Guild is a not for profit organization that holds a quilt show every two years. All proceeds will go to local charities. This year's recipients are: Grand Island Neighbors Foundation, Haven House of Buffalo (for battered and abused women and their children) and the Western New York Food Bank.River Lea Quilters Guild Picnic and Challenge Contest - 2007
(left photo) New officers Jane Bedore, Judi Drozdowski,
Hollis Busch, Adele Upton, and Sandie Nethro
Sharon Drumm, 3rd place winner
Sandy Nethero, 2nd place winner and Hollis Busch, 1st place
winner
Click photos for larger view!
The rain did not dampen the annual River Lea Quilter’s Guild picnic on June 19th as it was moved to the Connor Middle School cafeteria and everyone enjoyed the good food that was organized by Marilyn Randolph. President Judi Drozdowski inducted the new Officers for the 2007-2008 year. Adele Upton will serve as 1st vice president (programs); Sandy Nethero, 2nd vice president (membership); and Jane Bedore as recording secretary. Hollis Busch will remain as treasurer. There were 13 exquisite quilts entered in the Challenge contest and it was a difficult task for the membership to vote for the top three choices. The field of quilts was narrowed down to six and then the top three were chosen with first place going to Hollis Busch, 2nd to Sandy Nethero and third to newer member, Sharon Drumm. "There were a few tears shed when we bid a fond farewell to Diane Doane, one of our hard working and prolific quilters," a Quilters Guild member said. Diane and her family are relocating to Florida. Judi Drozdowski designed and artfully pieced a quilt from squares that the members had put together for Diane. With this quilt, she will always have something to remind her of her friends and fellow quilt-makers on Grand Island.
The River Lea Quilt Guild is open to all men and women who enjoy the art of quilting. The Guild encourages the novice quilter to increase skills and the more advanced quilt maker to add to his/her expertise. Meetings are held in the Grand Island High School small cafeteria on the third Tuesday of the month. There is usually a program and also time for “Show and Tell.” "It is always exciting to see what our members have created and this gives us all the impetus to go home and work on our many projects," Guild member Judy Buzby said. "If you have never quilted but would like to see what it’s all about, we would love to see you at our first meeting on September 18th at 7 p.m."
"Pieces of Out Lives" Is River Lea Quilters Guild Show - 2006
Queen-size Quilt to be raffled at River Lea Quilters May 20-21 show. Be sure to click photos for larger view!
The River Lea Quilters Guild will present "Blooms and Bows," a charity quilt show from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 20, 2006 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 21, 2006 in the Senate Room of the Holiday Inn Grand Island, 100 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, NY. Admission is $5 and the show will feature basket auction, Door Prizes and Vendors, and a Raffle Quilt.The queen-size quilt in a bow tie pattern, is machine pieced, and hand and machine quilted. The work was done by the members of the River Lea Quilters Guild with Judi Drozdowski and Diane Doan chairing the project. Tickets will be available at the show.
River Lea Quilters Donate to Hurricane Katrina Victims - 200
Quilt made by River Lea Quilters will be raffled at the May 1-2 show. Be sure to click photo for larger view!
River Lea Quilters Guild President, Judy Buzby (right) is shown presenting a quilt to Denise DeMarco (left) of Auntie’s Attic Quilt Shop. The quilt was one of eight quilts made by members of River Lea Quilters and donated to victims of hurricane Katrina. River Lea Quilters Guild members have also donated placemats to Meals on Wheels, quilted Christmas stockings for Riverwood Health Care Center as well as assisting the Grand Island Historical Society with the annual Christmas at River Lea. Guild members are busy preparing for their bi-annual quilt show in May.River Lea Quilt Guild Hosts National Quilt Speaker - 2005
Speaker/demonstrater
Patricia Knoechel (left) is shown with Quilters Guild members Sandie Nethero,
Hollis Busch and Maire Machens.
Mary Stewart
Photo
Patricia
Knoechel, nationally known quilter from California gave a 1 1/2 hour trunk show
and quilting demonstration at Veronica E. Connor Middle School on Wednesday, May
25, 2005. She presented 40 exquisite quilts that she had made over the last 20
years and demonstrated some new time-saving techniques for today's quilter.
Patricia has been involved in quilting, quilt book publication and development
of quilting rulers and tools since the early 1980's. She has worked closely with
her sister, nationally know quilter Eleanor Burns, on various 'Quilt In A Day'
books and also as a public relations person for both her company and Eleanor's
company by traveling the country giving
demonstrations.Approximately 85 people attended from four local quilt guilds - River Lea Quilt Guild, Amherst Quilt Guild, Twin Cities Quilt Guild and the Kenmore Quilter's Patch Guild. There was lively discussion, book and ruler sales and an autograph session.
River Lea Quilters Guild Announces Fantasy In Bloom Quilt Show - 2004
Quilt made by River Lea Quilters will be raffled at the May 1-2 show. Be sure to click photo for larger view!
"Fantasy In Bloom," a Quilt Show, is being presented by the River Lea Quilters Guild on Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2 in the Veronica Connor Middle School, 1100 Ransom Road. Proceeds from the raffle benefit local charities.A quilt, created by the Quilters Guild, has been designed by Bernadette Keitz and machine pieced by many of the members. The binding was made and sewn on by Lee Wroblewski and machine quilted by Joan Staub. Raffle tickets to win the queen/dbl size quilt will be available at the show.
The Guild's 6th biennial quilt show will feature a Chinese auction, lunch, door prizes, vendors and snacks.
Sesquicentennial "Quilts in Bloom II" Quilt Show - 2002
The River Lea Quilters Guild, in conjunction with the Sesquicentennial celebration, will present "Quilts in Bloom II" on April 19-21, 2002 in Historic Trinity Church, 2100 Whitehaven Road. The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 19 and Saturday, April 20 and from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 21.This show feature members' quilts, a raffle and a Redwork Quilt showing Grand Island scenes that will be donated to the town for public display. A boutique and outside vendors will be featured.
