SEELEY LAKE - Quilters of the Tamaracks rent the Seeley Lake Community Hall for 12 days each year. Roughly once a month the quilters bring their sewing machines to the hall, spread out their material and proceed with their individual projects in fellowship with one another. Since the community hall is large, there is room to spare and the quilters are now inviting other crafters to join them.
Knitting, scrap booking, needle point, wood working, crocheting, painting - any type of craft portable enough to be brought to the hall is welcome.
The ladies who met at the hall Feb. 22-23 said quilt projects often take a long time to complete. Socializing makes the time more enjoyable, especially when it is supplemented by chocolate snacks, which is often the case at the informal meetings.
The ladies said the communal work sessions also provide an opportunity for them to admire one another's projects, learn new techniques and help one another through difficult spots.
Projects can be original or purchased in kit form, made for oneself or destined as a gift for someone else. Among those meeting on Feb. 22 Marsha Kronsperger was working on crib bumpers, Kathy McTear was working on a wool appliqué quilt for her home and Ann Mondul was working on a sewing tool holder for her sister-in-law. Quilter Kris Gullikson said on one occasion the group made a quilt and raffled it off to raise money to pay for the hall rent.
Although the monthly meetings are informal and people come and go as their schedules allow, Mondul said sometimes a "teach-and-sew" will be presented.
Mondul explained the teach-and-sew: "Somebody will have learned a new technique or something and we'll all gather around and whoever has learned that technique will teach it to the others."
Since many quilters also engage in other types of craft work, they said they would enjoy seeing the variety of craft projects others are working on. They would also welcome presentations on a specific technique from a different craft.
Though no one was quite sure how long Quilters of the Tamarack has been in existence, all agreed it stretched back at least 20 years. Gullikson said, "We've actually been in existence so long that we have our own cupboard in the hall. We have our own keys and we stash stuff like irons and ironing boards and material here."
Most of the work meetings are only for one day but twice a year the group has two-day work sessions. This allows them to leave their equipment and partially-finished projects in the hall overnight. Sometimes on those weekends they sew late into the evening and enjoy a dinner together. Using two of their 12-day rentals in this manner is balanced by not using the hall in July or December. In July they have a picnic potluck instead of a work meeting and in December they have a Christmas party at the house of one of their members.
Anyone from any craft who is interested in meeting with the quilters can contact Kris Gullikson at 241-1209 or krisgullikson@gmail.com.
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