Since 1986, quilters have joined the Red Rock Quilters Guild to not only learn and practice quilting techniques at meetings but to give back to the community. “The guild has a motto: Sharing is caring,” says Lori Feine, a member of the guild who also chairs the annual quilt show and the charity sewing group. In keeping with the guild’s dedication to giving back, the guild quilts for those in need. This includes projects like creating placemats for Meals on Wheels and dog and cat beds for the Humane Society of Sedona. The guild also features a breakout group called C-Sews – the “C” is for charity – that meets twice per month to make quilts for Verde Valley nonprofits. For example, the guild gives quilts to Sedona Winds Retirement Community and Accord Hospice of Sedona.
Guild meetings are held monthly from September through May. Meetings are open to all skill levels. The guild has about 60 current members, and dues cost $30 per year. First, there’s a business meeting followed by a program. Programs can include a national instructor visiting and teaching a lesson. Meetings are held in the mornings. Instructors will sometimes hold a workshop in the afternoons. The guild focuses on art quilting but also does some traditional quilting. “The whole purpose of learning all of those things is so we can support the community that needs us with whatever projects are needed,” says Lori. One of the group’s biggest events is an annual quilt show held at the Sedona Community Library that typically starts in January and finishes up in March.
It’s worth noting that this group has been around for nearly 40 years at this point, which is relatively rare. Lori believes this is due to the group’s strong social bonds. When Lori moved from San Diego to Sedona in 2019, she joined to get to know other people in town. “If we have somebody who’s very new to quilting, we try to help them come along. If we have somebody who’s really good at a particular technique, we try to encourage them to teach the rest of us how to do it,” she says. “It’s a very symbiotic relationship between all the members, and there’s a lot of good camaraderie.” − Teresa K. Traverse
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