about the quilt guild

on this page: where and when we meet - safehouse center - show & tell - small groups - our guest lecturers

where and when we meet

Quilt Day Meetings

The Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild (GAAQG) is a non-profit organization managed by volunteers dedicated to the art and preservation of quilting, patchwork, appliqué, and related fiber arts. Originally established in 1987 by 11 members, today we have grown to over 260 members.

We meet five times a year, on the third Saturday of odd-numbered months. In January we meet by videoconference only.

We welcome both members and non-members to our Zoom and in-person meetings.

All workshop attendees attend the lecture for free. There is a fee of $10 to attend a lecture for non-members who are not attending any of the weekend workshops. If you are not a guild member and would like to attend via Zoom, a link can be purchased for $10 via our website’s online store or you can pay at the door.

In-person meetings are held at the newly renovated Washtenaw Community College – Morris Lawrence Building – Towsley Auditorium. Doors open at 8:30am and the meeting begins at 9:15.

Saturday Quilt Days typically begin with a demo in the atrium. These fun demos are given by a member and topics range from fabric stamping to essential quilting tools. Material for SafeHouse quilts is also available at this time as well as general socializing.

At 9:15am we meet in the auditorium. Brief guild business and announcements are made. A lecture by an invited speaker follows. We conclude with Show & Tell segment high-lighting members’ quilts and quilts made for SafeHouse Center.

Saturday Guild Meeting Location:

Towsley Auditorium

Morris Lawrence Building

Washtenaw Community College

4800 E. Huron Drive

Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Doors Open: 8:30am, meeting begins at 9:15am

Partners for over 30 years

GAAQG and SafeHouse Center

For more than thirty years the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild has sponsored SafeHouse Center of Washtenaw County. SafeHouse provides free, confidential services for those impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault who live or work in Washtenaw County. SafeHouse services include emergency shelter, counseling, legal advocacy and support groups.

Each person who resides in the shelter leaves with a quilt lovingly made and donated by GAAQG members. In addition to quilt donations, GAAQG members collect needed supplies and raise funds. The guild holds an annual online quilt sale with members donating beautiful quilts that the public purchase. A portion of the members’ annual Garage Sale and Fabric Sale is also donated to SafeHouse.

Quilts are collected at every in-person meeting or delivered to our designated drop-off location. Many thanks to our members who so generously donated their time, fabric and money to create beautiful quilts that demonstrate to SafeHouse clients how much we care!

SafeHouse Center’s 2025 Winter Newsletter put a spotlight on the guild’s work.

Goal: 300 quilts/year to SafeHouse Center

331 donated in 2024 100%

Money Raised for SafeHouse Center in 2024

$ 0

in person

Show & Tell

Each Saturday Guild meeting, we encourage members to present their quilt projects to the audience. These projects include quilts for SafeHouse.

Show us the progress you have made after attending one of our workshops or perhaps your entry into any quilt show, large or small. Take the opportunity to tell the story behind the quilt or if you prefer quietly present it to us to hear our oohs and ahhs!

the heart of our guild

Small groups

As a GAAQG member, a great way to meet people is to join a small group. They provide friendship and growth and are well worth the effort to join.

Some of the small groups meet in person and others through Zoom. In person group meetings gather in various locations across South East Michigan.

There are currently approximately ten different groups and for some groups the size of the group is limited.

Some of the focus areas of the groups include:

SafeHouse quilts
Art quilts, using textiles and surface design
Designing quilts using orphan blocks rescued from old quilts or left over from new ones
GAAQG Book Club, learning about different quilters, their techniques and ideas
Quilt challenges

Some of the small groups have been featured in our blog posts. Read about Creative Seasons a small group that explores a variety of quilt techniques.

Our Speakers

Lecturers and Teachers

Over the years the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild (GAAQG) has hosted many leaders in the quilt world.

Listening to the speakers in person gives the audience an opportunity to not only ask questions but often the chance to meet the guest one on one after a lecture or by attending a workshop. We welcome both members and non-members to our Zoom and in-person meetings.

Here’s a list of some of our speakers over the years:

"Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild (GAAQG) has given me an experience to remember! I taught a few workshops and did a lecture for them and I was blown away by the purpose driven culture of this guild. From their deep charitable connection to the Safe House Center to their goal to make my stay as joyful as possible, I had a wonderful experience and I'd come back for more in a heartbeat."

Brandy Maslowski quilteronfire - November 2024