Guild Member Spotlight

Maurine joined the CQG around 2008 or 2009. Nancy Belsky invited her to a meeting and she  

became a member shortly after.  She has been sewing since the 5th grade. She learned how to make clothes and made her own prom gowns and wedding dress as well as wedding dresses for her sister and her daughter-in-law. She didn’t start quilting until the early 70’s. She started with baby quilts for family and friends and graduated to twin bed size quilts as graduation presents 

for nieces and nephews. At this time all of her quilts were tied. After joining the guild, she started machine quilting her quilts, first by stitching in the ditch, followed by stitching on taped/chalk lines, then moving to free motion and pantograph quilting on her longarm. Now she uses 

either her long arm or her embroidery machine with edge-to-edge quilting.

Response: "I have been newsletter editor and website chair. I gave up the website when I became president. I am currently Block of the Month (BOM) chair, and Door prize chair. While I have enjoyed each of the positions I have held, I have really been enjoying the challenge of BOM chair. It keeps the creative juices flowing. I get an idea and look for free patterns, of which there are many, on the internet. If I can find what I am looking for I will use the design, however, this sometimes means resizing to fit the 12 ½” block I want to make or rewriting the directions to make them, I hope, easier to follow. If I don’t find what I want, I will create my own design. The May and June blocks are examples of ones I have designed myself."

Response: "I love trying new things. My first quilts were basic blocks. I made several split rail quilts, quilts with stenciled blocks, four patch quilts and log cabin quilts and they were all given as gifts. After joining the guild, I really branched out and tried half square triangles. Then I discovered specialty rulers and made quilts following patterns such as Hunter Star, Fiesta, and Galaxy to name a few. I have seen how the possibilities are endless and have started designing some of my own quilts. I enjoy using embroidery in my quilts as well. I do not limit myself to bed/lap quilts. I make wall hangings as well as quilted bags and clothing. I do have quite a collection of quilts and change them out frequently around the house."

Response: "I couldn’t live without my rotary cutter. My hands would not appreciate the workout needed if I had to cut all the pieces with a pair of scissors!" 

Response: "I have just purchased a kit to make a Tilda Solids Embroidery Flower Quilt. It consists of 46 fabrics cut into 2,268 2-inch squares. It is a beautiful quilt and I would like to finish it during my lifetime."

Response: "I think my most meaningful quilting story involves my son, Jim. Jim is special needs and during Covid he was spending more time at home with me because of staffing issues. One day I was working on a quilt at my sewing machine and Jim went and got the 

grandchildren’s sewing machine and set it up on the kitchen table. He plugged in the cords and foot control correctly, which I had no idea he knew how to do. He then sat there looking at me. I asked if he wanted to sew, and he responded with a nod and “ess” (Jim is non-verbal, and was 48 years old at the time). So, I put my project aside, got some material and thread, and Jim made his first pot holder. This project was followed by some simple table runners, placemats, and bowl cozies that could be taken to his apartment. He then graduated to making quilts, starting out small and gradually moving to queen sized. He will sit and sew with me for hours when in the past to involve him in a fine motor task meant 10 minutes tops. Together we have made quilts for the guild’s wheelchair collection and cuddle quilts. He has made pillow cases for Cedarcrest and bags for MSVP. He also has made several quilts for Camp Allen, a camp for special needs individuals, which they use as fundraisers. It has been a real joy for me to share quilting with Jim and see the pleasure he gets when I take pictures of him with his finished projects."