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The West Australian Quilters' Association
When we meet...
Please carefully check the venue for meetings and events as these may vary. A calendar of dates is located on the Calendar page.
Business Meetings - First Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm - 9.45pm; Stirling Adriatic Club (also known as the Stirling Bowling Club, 78 Jones Street, Balcatta.
Sewing Day - Third Tuesday of the month, 10am - 3pm; Stirling Adriatic Club (as above)
Sewing Night - Third Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm - 9.45pm; Stirling Adriatic Club (as above)
After becoming a member, enquire about the following groups (or see the Small Groups co-ordinator for other local groups that may be available)
Contemporary Quilt Group - Second Friday of the month, 10.30am - 2.30pm; Alexander Park Craft House, Clyde St, Menora
Hexagon/Crazy Quilt Club - from 11am to 3pm; Wembley Downs Uniting Church Hall, Cnr Minibah St & Calais Rd, Wembley Downs
Roleystone Friendship Day - meets 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Roleystone Country Club, Wygonda Rd.
About Meetings
Business Meetings are held at the Stirling Adriatic Club, 78 Jones Street, Balcatta, Western Australia. Please note that members will need to show their membership cards for entry to the meeting. Visitors, please simply sign in to the Visitor's book.
The first Wednesday of every month from 7.30pm is a Business Meeting. General business issues are addressed (this part of the meeting is usually kept to 30 mins) and this is followed by a guest speaker. Tea and coffee provided. (See Calendar for exact dates).
Sewing Days is on the third Tuesday of the month, 10am to 3pm, and Sewing Nights are on the third Wednesday night of every month, 7.30pm to 10pm. These meetings include Show and Tell, fun and lots of laughter. Bring along some hand sewing. We usually have one of the quilt shops in attendance with fabrics, patterns or notions for sale. (See Calendar for exact dates).
What to expect at a Meeting
on your first visit to a Sewing Day or
Sewing Night
On Sewing Days and Sewing Nights a Hostess Group greets everyone at the Hostess Desk. If the Hostesses don't recognize straight away that you are a Visitor please just let them know you are new. They will ask you to sign the Visitor's Book and will give you a name tag with a blue ribbon. The ribbon indicates to all our members that you are a visitor so experienced members can offer help if you look a bit lost. Please wear the ribbon at meetings until you feel comfortable among the members. If you decide to join you'll be given a plastic holder for your membership badge.
After you have signed the Visitor's Book, look for the Hostess Table (known as the "Loose Threads") just inside the main room. You can leave your belongings there while you investigate the rest of the room. A Hostess (with a large black "Hostess" badge) should be there to help you settle in. We understand that walking into a room full of unfamiliar faces can be daunting, but the following tips may make things easier.
 | If you are on your own, you can stay at the
Loose Threads Table if you wish. However, feel free to wander and see
what others are doing. Most of us are happy to explain what we are
doing. Visit the Library and help yourself to a cup of tea or coffee.
At tea breaks you wash your own cup, at lunchtimes the Hostess Group washes up
to save congestion in the kitchen. |
| Come early if possible, before the crowd
gets too large and intimidating. |
| Mention to the Hostess which suburb you're
from. The Hostess may then introduce you to people from "your neck of the
woods". We have small sewing groups which meet separately in various
suburbs and you may find there's a group near you that has room for a new
member. (Alternatively, you may like to start your own group with other
new members!) |
| Bring some hand sewing. If it's a
Sewing Day either bring a sandwich lunch or order your lunch when you arrive.
There is a list kept at the Hostess desk where you can order the lunch form
the Deli so all you have to do is collect and pay for it at lunchtime.
You may bring something for Show and Tell if you'd like to.
Tea/coffee and a raffle ticket is provided as part of the $3 entry fee for
members. Tea/coffee is free for visitors but it is helpful if you bring
your own cup.. If you wish you may
purchase a raffle ticket for the princely sum of $2 and keep it for the Door
Prize draw after Show and Tell. |
| Be prepared to stay for Show and Tell (approximately 1pm for Sewing Days and 9pm for Sewing Nights), it's the best part of the meeting. |
Your first visit to a Business Night
If it is a Business meeting we don't have a Hostess Desk. In this case introduce yourself to the closest person wearing a name badge. That person will usually offer to look after you or will find someone to be your "buddy" for the evening. Grab a cup of tea or coffee. There is an attendance book with a section for visitors to sign. We don't have Show and Tell on Business Nights but there is usually a quilt-related talk by a guest speaker after business issues have been dealt with and many members bring their sewing to work on while listening.
Library Cards
As a visitor you cannot borrow library books
(but you can browse the collection). When you join the Association,
however, you receive library cards and can borrow either three books and three
magazines, two books and four magazines for one month only.
Country members are allowed the same quota of items for six weeks (to allow time for postage)
and should contact the Country Librarian,
Jean Wills or
Deanna Prendergast. Other items for
borrowing include pattern templates, videos, photos and slides of past
exhibitions, an overhead projector, a light box, and a large and a medium floor
quilting frame (prior notice required in order to retrieve frames from the
storage facility). Newsletters are available on an honour system.
Please ask one of the Library helpers to show you how to check library items in
and out.
We look forward to seeing you at Quilter's meetings in the future.