History and Aims

Hearty Quilters began when we all attended the adult education centre at St. Faiths, Maidstone to study patchwork and quilting with our tutor Maggie Danks. During those first couple of terms we made log cabin blocks for our first sampler quilt. We all had one left over. A member of the class suggested that we made these up into a quilt and raffle it during a coffee morning at the local hospice (Heart of Kent) to raise funds.  

The following year we decided to run our first quilt show (with a great deal of help from Maggie). After a lot of planning, more planning, hard work and a few surprises we eventually achieved what we had set out to do. Many visitors to this first quilt show asked us if we met on a regular basis. We did, but only at the adult education classes all of us still attended. In October of that year we set the group up and met once a month at a local village hall. We soon had to move though because of an increase in membership to a larger venue at Poplar Grove. 

By this time planning for our second quilt show was underway. This year we have had our third.

Hearty Quilters was set up to raise funds for the Heart of Kent Hospice and we do this by holding our annual quilt shows, holding fabric sales, raffles and other fund raising events. We all have a great deal of fun and learn a lot through inviting various tutors to hold workshops and talk to us on the subject of patchwork and quilting. We also learn a lot from each other when we 'show and tell' at our monthly sessions (what not to do as well as what works best). We are very lucky that all our members have amazing skills and experience and are willing to share their expertise with everybody.  We have found that some of us without much experience in patchwork learn quickly through the help of other members.

Have a further look at this web site for write ups about our quilt shows and workshops. We also support the Linus Project and will be getting together to make quilts for this charity on the 11th October 2008. Full details below.

Hearty Quilters can be contacted via e-mail: heartyquilters@hotmail.co.uk

Project Linus Day on Saturday 11 October 2008

Jan Ward is organising a Project Linus day

• Saturday 11th October 2008
• at St Nicholas Church Hall, Poplar Grove, Maidstone, Kent from 10.30am – 4.30pm
• tea and coffee will be available all day but please bring your own packed lunch
• it will cost £1.50 to help cover cost of Hall

The project day is open to anyone who would like to come along and we will be making quilts (lap quilt size) from scratch and from blocks and tops already completed. Any donations of backing fabric, fabric scraps, thread, wadding, completed blocks or completed tops will be most welcome.

For Information
Project Linus originated in America, December 1995. Since that time over 1,400,000 blankets and quilts have been delivered worldwide and at the end of November 2006 we had delivered 63,414 blankets and quilts across the UK. There is a website for further information about Project Linus UK, which also lists co-ordinators and the areas they cover: http://www.projectlinusuk.net/ .

Workshop with Becky Preen at our September meeting

At our September meeting, Becky Preen came to do a workshop with us which was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who took part. We had the choice of either a single Irish chain or a double Irish chain and 20 of us spent from 10.00am to 4.00pm cutting, stitching and slicing colourful strips to make the basic blocks. Becky had sent a comprehensive list of requirements, so we were well prepared and able to to get stuck in straight away. She kept a careful eye on everybody's progress, offering useful tips and advice, whilst allowing people to get on at their own pace, and stepping in before any irreparable mistakes were made!

We had decided to have a shared lunch instead of bringing our own sandwiches and a most wonderful feast was laid out at the end of the morning. It really added to the pleasure of the day to be able to invite Becky to join us and to sit down together and enjoy a delightful meal. Several of the ladies who were not taking part in the workshop did a great job in the kitchen helping to prepare and set out the lunch, so many thanks to them and to those people who gave up part of their workshop time to pitch in as well and to Pam who always works hard to make sure the kitchen is left clean and tidy. This was the first time we had thought of having a shared lunch during an all day workshop and I think everyone agreed that it was a great success.

Becky received a very enthusiastic vote of thanks at the end of the day. To end the workshop she showed us a 'log cabin with a twist' quilt in beautiful autumn colours. There was a general feeling that members would love to invite her back for another workshop and that this would be a very popular quilt to do. This is the second workshop that Becky has done for us and if any other group is looking for a friendly tutor to run a workshop that is well organised and caters for all levels of skill I can certainly recommend Becky Preen.

If any other group is interested in contacting Becky then she can be e-mailed at:becky.preen@ntlworld.com 

3rd Annual Maidstone Quilt Show July 2008

The pictures show some of the quilt entries exhibited at the 2008 Maidstone Quilt Show

Composed by Jan Ward - Secretary of Hearty Quilters

Our annual quilt show is always the last Friday and Saturday of July. The first year we had a heat wave and temperatures soared. Last year was the summer of floods and there was a deluge. This year it was just right. Over two sunny days visitors came to admire more than eighty quilts, wall hangings and other items entered by local groups, classes and individual quilters. Most of the quilts were hung in the main hall, however the vicar had kindly agreed that we could use the church itself this year and so the quilts overflowed across the pews and alter rail. They looked wonderful in the setting of this modern church filled with light. With the extra space we were also able to display a number of Linus quilts waiting to be distributed, with some information about Project Linus UK.

Our aim is to raise funds for the Heart of Kent Hospice and to display the work of ordinary local quilters. There are no competitions, although by popular request we do have a 'visitors' choice' and the winner receives a small prize. All entries are welcome, including 'work in progress', because we think people are interested in the process as well as the finished product. 

We opted for a lucky dip this year instead of a raffle, which proved very popular and three beautiful soft toys were donated for a 'Guess the Birthday' competition. In the back of the hall the traders and refreshment ladies were suitably busy. The members themselves were magnificent and turned out in force to fill my rota slots! Altogether we raised £1,800 for the hospice. So - many, many thanks to the hard working members and friends of Hearty Quilters and their stoic families, to the talented quilters who entered their work and of course to everyone who came to visit. 

Hearty Quilters travel to Quilters Haven in Wickham Market, Suffolk

Thanks to Chris Cornell for composing this write up of the day

We set off from Maidstone on the 31st May bright and early, our coach driver hoped we would all go to sleep, but he was mistaken, the coach was like an aviary!!! Everyone was planning what they would buy if their credit card had a large enough limit or if they had enough cash. OH DEAR!! We arrived in Wickham Market, a pretty little town which was busy with Saturday morning shoppers. Karin greeted us and asked us to divide into two groups, those who were dying for the loo! and those who were dying to shop! We could also help ourselves to tea and coffee. We then had an interesting talk given by Karin of all the various quilts she had made and she showed us her books that they had come from.

Now for some shopping, what a treasure trove of wonderful fabrics and other goodies, needless to say we all found lots to buy, my poor credit card. In the afternoon we had some demonstrations on how to make suffolk puffs from templates and the ubiquitous Suffolk Punch pig. All the staff were very friendly and helpful. There was a lovely teashop in the square where some of us had tea and cakes - naughty but nice.

Karin said her goodbyes and we were all given a goodie roll which comprised of an xmas picture which we could make into a wall hanging, thank you Karin. We had a lovely time.

Our journey home  took us via Flatford Mill and we spent a lovely sunny interlude there before we finally headed for home. We were just as noisy on the return journey as we had to see what people had bought!!. What a great day out it was with good company and friends.

Happy Birthday

Thanks to Linda for making this fantastic 1st birthday cake. It tastes as good as it looks, yum yum.

Hearty Quilters group photograph at their 2007 quilt show

Thanks to all the Hearty Quilters who made the show such a fantastic sucess and raised £2,654.21!

A warm welcome + tea!

Left - Judith getting ready to show Zeta her new purchases
Right -Johanna + Zeta enjoying cake

So many photos, thanks to Kirsty for taking such smashing snaps.

Top Left - Margaret demonstrating quilt-as-you-go

Top Right - Sunlight streaming into the quilt hall

Bottom Left - Sue quilt-angeling, explaining techniques

Bottom Right - Johanna buying raffle tickets from Sandra (Raffle Queen)

Traders + Tea Hall at our quilt shows

Some photos from the Maidstone Quilt Show 2007, Traders + Tea

Visitors Choice Winner 2007

Simply Pink by Jean Watson

Click on the photo for a closer look

Another Fantastic Quilt Show (2007)

With at least 400 visitors, over 80 quilts, and plenty of shopping opportunities, Maidstone Quilt Show 2007 was another fantastic success. We look forward to presenting the Heart of Kent Hospice with a cheque for £2,000! Thank you for the donations from several supporters who couldn’t attend the show.

Visitors and supporters
We welcomed many visitors coming from as far as the Isle of White, Eastbourne, Beckenham and all around Kent. We had many non-quilting visitors including supportive husbands, friends, family and other crafters (particularly from the WI and Fern Lace).

Particular thanks to the ladies from neighbouring quilt groups including Castle Wall, Bears Paw, Oast Quilters and in particular Hildenborough Quilters and Thanet and District Quilters (www.thanetpatchwork.org.uk) who helped make the show a success by entering quilts and coming along on the day bringing friends. Apologies for any missing quilt groups – email heartyquilters@hotmail.co.uk and I’ll get it right next time.


And finally…
A huge thank you to the 40 Hearty Quilters (and family) who tirelessly supported the show baking cakes, making tea and ploughman’s lunches, endlessly washing up, waiting tables, selling raffle tickets, quilt angeling – even directing traffic!

Much work goes on behind the scenes and Ian, Jan, Jenny, John, Linda, Maggie, Sandra and Zeta have been busy for months filing quilt entries, making signs, planning quilt hanging positions, organising helpers, collecting the quilt stands and even camping out!

WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US FOR THE MAIDSTONE QUILT SHOW 2008

Maidstone Quilt Show 2007

We are now full swing for Maidstone Quilt Show 2007 at the end of July. Thanks to all of the quilters who have collectively entered over 80 quilts and wall hangings helping make this show even bigger and better than last year. If your anything like me you'll be frantically finishing your UFO's (un-finished object) the week before the show!

Here are a few snaps from last years showing how much fun we had (making the sleepless nights and months of preparation well worth it). For more information please email heartyquilters@hotmail.co.uk





MAIDSTONE QUILT SHOW, 27th + 28th July, St Nichola's Church Hall, Allington, Maidstone

Strawberries and Cream (summer 2006)

The order of the day was strawberries and cream and weren’t they delicious, well done Jan for hunting out tasty local produce. We also produced lovely strawberry shaped pincushions and scissor keepers (Zeta’s firmly leading the way with in-house workshops). As you can see our numbers are growing with a record 30 people in attendance - welcome all the new ladies, its great to bring your experience and enthusiasm to our group




Sandra has now firmly established herself as resident photographer thus avoiding being in photos herself… perhaps our photos will become ‘where’s Sandy’ instead of ‘where’s Wally’!

Hearty Quilters May 2007 Workshop

Check out the photos from our May Hearty Quilters Workshop. We had a smashing time and were amazed at the different versions depending on fabric used. Thanks to Sandra for taking such fab photos.

Maidstone Quilt Show 2006

Hearty Quilters organised the Maidstone Quilt Show to raise funds for the Heart of Kent Hospice. The quilt show took place on Friday 28th & Saturday 29th July 2006 and over 80 quilts and wall hangings were on display representing all abilities from beginners through to more experienced quilters. We are proud to show "normal" and "everyday" examples of patchwork and quilting as well as art quilts.

Who are Hearty Quilters
Hearty Quilters are a group of friends who met at KCC’s patchwork and quilting evening classes 2 years ago ( KCC run several Adult Education Patchwork and Quilting Classes – ours is the Wednesday evening class taught by Maggie Danks). Last year we made a Friendship Quilt which raised £270 for the Heart of Mid Kent Hospice. This year we decided to aim higher and organise a quilt show!

Thank you
Our quilt show was a great success and raised over £1750 for the Heart of Kent Hospice thanks to several factors:

• The quilters who bravely entered their quilts (many for the first time)
• Almost 300 visitors came along to see the quilts, enjoy the refreshments and shop with the traders
• The 5 traders who provided an excellent cross-section of patchwork and quilting goodies!
• The helpers (and their families) who hung quilts, bakes cakes, answered quilting questions, served tea, sold raffle tickets and even cleaned toilets!

Next Year
We plan on holding another show next year! We'd love to raise even more money and welcome more visitors to the Maidstone Quilt Show 2007 (perhaps a slightly tall order, but we like to aim high).