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In 1996 a quilting group called the Napanee Piecemakers began discussing the possibility of starting a quilting guild in the area. They knew there were Guilds in the Belleville and Kingston areas but felt that, particularly in the winter, driving conditions and the distances involved would prevent many from participating.

The Piecemakers have met together for fifteen years. However they met in a private home and, although they wished to spread the joy of quilting, there simply wasn’t the room to expand. They wanted to include more people and share the fun, accomplishment and camaraderie of quilting. So the idea of a Guild formed.

The Piecemakers decided in the spring of 1996, in the fall of that year, they would shoulder the costs involved in holding two meetings. The first meeting would hopefully give an indication of what interest there might be in the area for the formation of a guild. If there was sufficient interest they would fund a second meeting, where they hoped a Guild would be formed. It was felt that from that point on the Guild would be able to pay for itself.

The Guild, one of the local newspapers, was very helpful and printed an article before the first meeting telling people about the proposed Guild. A room was rented at the Napanee and Regional Conservation Authority (now the home of the Public Library). Napanee Piecemakers’ members got tea and coffee supplies and backed goods ready. Preparations had been made to accommodate about twenty-five people. The Piecemakers figured at least 10 people would show up and that would be a success. Forty people showed up and everyone was thrilled! Bonnie Welsman, the first president of the Piecemakers, explained the purpose of the meetings and divided everyone into four groups. Each group then discussed one of four different areas of interest for about fifteen minutes. Templates patterns, colour wheels, piecing demonstrations, applique techniques and notions acquired by the group were topics of discussion each month. Today: Better Jean Slaven, Heather Hughes, Nancy Holden and Mary Womboldt are still members after all these years!

Partway through the evening, Ann Craig from the Napanee Beaver, took pictures and gathered information for an article of publication in the next issue of the “Napanee Beaver” Newspaper.

It was decided that the next meeting would be held on the 3rd Tuesday of November at a place to be determined. An advertisement would be placed in the “Napanee Beaver” in the Community Pulse column indicating where the meeting would be held. 

Refreshments were served and the rest was history……..

President –  Gail Ribble

Vice President/ Membership – Betsy Bannon

Secretary – Anastasia Silver

Treasurer – Joanne Holmes

Special Projects – Sue Fiddes

Programs – Sheila Lucas

Website / Newsletters – Amanda Maass

Social Convenors – Linda Jones & Elizabeth Jones

Communications – Anita Few

Workshops – Sunday Daly

Librarian – Lynn Tomasich

Historian – Carolyn Belleghem & Bette Jean Slaven

Fundraising – Quilt Show April 2027 ~ Amanda Maass, Elizabeth Jones & Sarah Kennedy!