Mary La Tourelle
At our March 5 meeting we will celebrate the guild’s 30th anniversary! Originally called Agave Needlers, we began in the Spring of 1995 after a small ad was placed in the Splash calling for interested quilters to attend an informational meeting to discuss forming a new chapter of the Arizona Quilters Guild. The meeting was held in the home of Dorrie Meehan and was conducted by Jerry Hurckes. Twenty-three interested quilters attended and received information from guest speaker Kim Maus (then president of the Arizona Quilters Guild) and Marilyn Wooley (then president-elect) on how to apply for a charter and become a member of the state guild. A Steering Committee was formed, and seven volunteers signed up as treasurer, Welcome Committee, programs, secretary, refreshments, chairperson, and historian. Today, the guild is known as Agave Quilters Guild and is made up of around 100 members who share a love of quilting, whether traditional or contemporary, pieced or appliqued, large or small.
Please be sure to join us as we take a walk down memory lane. Members will receive a special gift, and cupcakes will be served. Also at our March meeting, we will host speaker Gina Perkes, an internationally award-winning quilter who has a shop in Payson. Gina has appeared on a number of quilting shows and is the author of several books. This is a not-to-be-missed meeting!
As reported in our February newsletter, JoAnn Fabrics filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January of 2025 for the second time within a year. They are seeking court approval to sell, and if a liquidator should buy them and you are holding a JoAnn gift card, the value will go to $0. It is recommended to use your gift cards as soon as you can. So far, stores in Arizona remain open for business.
The Agave Quilters Guild meets in the Navajo Room at Sun Lakes Country Club, 25601 S. Sun Lakes Blvd., from September through May, always on the first Wednesday of the month. For more information, please visit our website at agavequiltersguild.com.