Arnprior & District Quilters' Guild Newsletter - February 2026
The Olympics have added a little extra excitement to these winter days - a reminder that dedication, practice, and perseverance pay off. Quilting may not come with podium ceremonies, but it certainly requires its own brand of skill and determination!
March promises to be a wonderful month for our guild. We’re looking forward to our upcoming Sewcial Night, both our workshop and our in town retreat are officially sold out! It’s inspiring to see so much enthusiasm for learning, creating, and spending time together doing what we love. But before we turn the calendar, we’re also looking forward to a fantastic February meeting. We have a wonderful speaker lined up, and it promises to be an inspiring and informative evening you won’t want to miss.
As we stitch our way into spring, I encourage you to keep piecing, pressing, and quilting with joy. After all, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of crossing that final seam - because in quilting, finishing a quilt is our version of winning gold!
Happy quilting!
Amanda, President
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February Guild Meeting
When? We hope you'll join us on Wednesday February 25 via Zoom. The meeting begins at 7 pm with "doors opening" at 6:45 PM. Watch your email a day or two before the meeting for the Zoom link to connect to this meeting. How? A basic familiarity with Zoom is required by meeting attendees and can be acquired in advance of the meeting using the Learning resources on the Zoom website Visitors We welcome visitors to our Zoom meetings. Visitors must pre-register AND pay the $5 visitor fee via e-transfer by 8 pm on Tuesday February 24. More info 
Guest Speaker
We are very excited to welcome our guest speaker, Cassandra Beaver on Feb 25. As a modern quilt designer, Cassandra has a background in theatre, where she spent much of her professional life working behind the scenes as a scenic and costume designer — so it’s safe to say she knows a thing or two about colour, texture, and creating something beautiful from a pile of materials! Cassandra will be presenting “Stashed! Developing a Stash that Works with Your Quilting Style.” In this lecture, she’ll help us rethink that fabric stash we all have tucked away in our sewing rooms — not as a source of guilt, but as a source of inspiration! She’ll be talking about how our individual quilting styles can guide us in building a fabric collection that actually works for the way we like to quilt — without pressure to use it all up or part with the fabrics we love. Show & Tell
We'd love to see what you've been working on at our virtual Show & Tell. This is also an excellent time to show photos of quilts that you gave away between meetings and didn't have a chance to show us in person. To share your work at the meeting please send a photo of each item AND indicate if you would like to:
Please send the photos to the guild email account arnpriorquilters@gmail.com by 12 noon on Tuesday February 24. After the meeting the photos will be added to the web site Show & Tell page (just like after an in person-meeting), unless you specifically request in the email message that the photo not be posted. Programs
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The next Sewcial Zoom night is on Wednesday March 11 at 7pm. This monthly casual sew-and-chat get-together is a great way to connect with fellow guild members. For more information see the Activity Schedule below.
From quiet moments of deep work to lots of laughs and shared inspiration, our members really showed up for themselves and each other.
Huge thanks to everyone who made this Retreat such a success!
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Date |
Activity |
Details |
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February 25 Wednesday 7 PM |
Guild meeting via Zoom |
Guest: Cassandra Beaver Website |
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March 11 Wednesday 9 AM to 3:30 PM |
Workshop Sold Out! |
Quilt As You Go techniques workshop with Marie-Claire, aka La Quilting Coach Location: Arnprior Public Library, 21 Madawaska St., Arnprior ON |
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March 11 Wednesday 7 to 9 PM |
Sewcial Night via Zoom |
Join us via Zoom for a fun evening of sewing in the comfort of our own homes. Zoom link will be sent by email. |
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March 25 Wednesday 7 PM |
Guild meeting via Zoom |
Preemie quilt sew night |
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March 27 to 28 Friday & Saturday |
In-Town Retreat Sold Out! |
Two days of sewing, relaxing, visiting and laughing at the Kinburn Community Centre. |
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April 8 Wednesday 7 to 9 PM |
Sewcial Night via Zoom |
Join us via Zoom for a fun evening of sewing in the comfort of our own homes. Zoom link will be sent by email. |
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April 22 Wednesday 7 PM |
Guild meeting |
Location: 257 John Street, Arnprior Ontario (Christian Education Centre) Program TBD |
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May 13 Wednesday 7 to 9 PM |
Sewcial Night via Zoom |
Join us via Zoom for a fun evening of sewing in the comfort of our own homes. Zoom link will be sent by email. |
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May 27 Wednesday 7 PM |
Guild meeting |
Annual General Meeting Location: 257 John Street, Arnprior Ontario (Christian Education Centre) Program TBD |
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May 29 Friday |
Quilt Show Set-up |
Many volunteers needed to help with quilt show set up Location: Nick Smith Centre, 77 James St., Arnprior ON |
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May 30 to 31 Saturday to Sunday |
Our Quilt Show |
Setup by guild members Friday May 29 Location: Nick Smith Centre, 77 James St., Arnprior ON |
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June 3 Wednesday 7 to 9 PM |
Sewcial Night via Zoom |
Join us via Zoom for a fun evening of sewing in the comfort of our own homes. Zoom link will be sent by email. |
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June 17 Wednesday 7 PM |
Guild meeting |
End of year potluck Location: 257 John Street, Arnprior Ontario (Christian Education Centre) Unofficial President s Challenge projects due |
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November 16 to 20 2026 Monday to Friday |
Retreat |
Come for 3 or 4 nights, and quilt from morning until night! |
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Completed Events 2025-2026 |
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September 24 Wednesday 7 PM |
Guild meeting |
First meeting of the 2025-2026 guild year Location: 257 John Street, Arnprior Ontario (Christian Education Centre) Guest: Monika Henry of Penny School Quilting Fat Quarter Club: colour Autumn Brown |
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October 8 Wednesday 7 to 9 PM |
Sewcial Evening via Zoom |
Join us via Zoom for a fun evening of sewing in the comfort of our own homes. Zoom info has been sent by email. |
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October 17 to 18 Friday and Saturday |
In-Town Retreat |
Two days of sewing, relaxing, visiting and laughing. |
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October 22 Wednesday 7 PM |
Guild meeting |
Location: 257 John Street, Arnprior Ontario (Christian Education Centre) Fat Quarter Club: Black & Hallowe'en themed fabrics Guest: Val Forte who has led and guiding students to make more than 200 quilts for Victoria s Quilts |
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November 5 Wednesday 7 to 9 PM |
Sewcial Evening via Zoom |
Join us via Zoom for a fun evening of sewing in the comfort of our own homes. Zoom link will be sent by email. |
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November 10 Monday 7 to 8 PM |
Quilt Along Chat via Zoom |
Participants in the Magnificent Mystery Quilt Along can share tips and ideas with each other and get any questions answered |
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November 26 Wednesday 7 PM |
Guild meeting |
Location: 257 John Street, Arnprior Ontario (Christian Education Centre) Guest: Madonna of Paisley s Quilt Shop for a trunk show of her own quilts, and shop-of-the-month Fat Quarter Club: NEUTRAL (neutral) colours Examples: white, cream, beige |
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December 10 Wednesday 7 PM |
Guild meeting |
Holiday Potluck Party Meeting Members with surnames beginning with A-L are asked to bring a dish to share appetizer, main or dessert Fat Quarter Club: Christmas fabrics Location: 257 John Street, Arnprior Ontario (Christian Education Centre) |
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January 5 2026 Monday 7 to 8 PM |
Quilt Along Chat via Zoom |
Participants in the Magnificent Mystery Quilt Along can share tips and ideas with each other and get any questions answered |
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January 10 Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM |
Workshop |
Stacked Triangles quilt workshop with ADQG guild member Sandi B Location: Arnprior Public Library, 21 Madawaska St., Arnprior ON |
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January 14 Wednesday 7 to 9 PM |
Sewcial Night via Zoom |
Join us via Zoom for a fun evening of sewing in the comfort of our own homes. Zoom link will be sent by email. |
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January 28 Wednesday 7 PM |
Guild meeting via Zoom |
Guest: Sandy Lindal of Scrappy Gal Quilt Co. |
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February 2 to 6 Monday to Friday |
Retreat |
Come for 3 or 4 nights, and quilt from morning until night! |
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February 11 Wednesday 7 to 9 PM |
Sewcial Night via Zoom |
Join us via Zoom for a fun evening of sewing in the comfort of our own homes. Zoom link will be sent by email. |
While you are shopping, please ask if the hangers could be included with your purchase, and do enlist your family members to help out as well.
You can bring the hangers along to the April and May meetings.
Thank you!
We're all being asked to sell tickets for our beautiful bird themed raffle quilt which will be awarded to a very lucky winner at our quilt show in May. Funds from this raffle will be put toward future Charity initiatives. This is a very important aspect of our Charity program and is used to purchase batting, backing fabric and much more.
Raffle tickets were distributed at our December meeting, at the January workshop, and at the February retreat.
We’d like to distribute raffle tickets to all members by March. If you haven’t picked up your tickets yet, please contact Marilyn at (613) 406-8650 so we can arrange a pickup. All tickets sold should be returned to the guild by either the April or May meeting. Thank you so much for your participation and support!
This photo of the quilt was sent out to everyone in December so you can have it on your phone or other device to show to potential ticket purchasers. You can also open this newsletter to show it, or you can save it to your local device using your web browser's Save function.
There's also a close up photo of the quilting on the Quilt Show page that you can save to your device.
Welcome to our new members!
Our membership continues to grow, and we're proud to report that we now have a total of 83 members.
Thank you to everyone for your enthusiasm and support.
Personalized name badges are available for members.
- Cost: $12 each
- Send an email to membership@arnpriordistrictquiltersguild.com if you would like to order one.
Our guild has a lot going on! Here are the sewing opportunities for you:
- Magnificent Mystery Quilt Along
- Presidents' Challenges - Formal and Informal
- Retreats
- Fat Quarter Club
- Charity Projects
- Personal projects for our Quilt Show
You can click/tap on any of the advertisements in this newsletter to access the vendor's website. Please support our advertisers!
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The winning quilts from QuiltCon 2026 are absolutely stunning this year. The creativity, precision, and storytelling in these pieces are stunning – every category is packed with quilts that could hang in a gallery. Congratulations to all the makers and collaborators whose work is featured; what an inspiring reminder of what modern quilting can be. If you need a spark for your next project, pour yourself a cup of something cozy and scroll through the Winners Gallery – you’ll be in awe.
The Modern Quilt Guild presents QuiltCon each year, and is a thriving, vibrant organization that supports and encourages the growth and development of modern quilting through art, education, and community. QuiltCon is on now, February 19-22, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Do you like to incorporate the Pantone Institute's Colour of the Year in your quilting projects?
This year's colour is the first ever white selection, Cloud Dancer.
"Introducing Pantone Color of the Year 2026, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer, a lofty white that serves as a symbol of calming influence in a society rediscovering the value of quiet reflection. A billowy white imbued with serenity, PANTONE 11-4201 Cloud Dancer encourages true relaxation and focus, allowing the mind to wander and creativity to breathe, making room for innovation."
What do you think of this choice? (Do you even see the colour swatch?!?!?)
For more information, photos and some lovely coordinating quilt-friendly colour palettes refer to the Pantone Color Institute website.
There additional coordinating colour palettes in this article.
Want a free pass to Quilters' Summit 2026 (QP26) March 9-16?
Enjoy 5 days of 27 sessions from different instructors (including Monika Henry, our guest speaker at our September guild meeting) and SEW much Inspiration for YOU!
Click here to get your free ticket!
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At our January ADQG Virtual Zoom Meeting, we had the absolute pleasure of virtually hosting Sandy Lindal of Scrappy Gal Quilt Co and her fabulous trunk show, "Confessions of a Scrapaholic". From her beginnings as a clothing manufacturer/pattern designer to fully embracing the joy of scraps, Sandy took us on a fun quilting journey.
With 45 quilts, she proved that all quilts are beautiful and any colour combination can work - especially when inspired by whatever goodies happen to be hiding in your stash baskets. Her variations on a theme were inspiring, eye-opening, and just plain fun. We all left feeling inspired, energized, and maybe even brave enough to tackle our fabric stash… or at least look at it with fresh eyes! -- Amanda |
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Location |
Dates |
Presented By |
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Ottawa ON |
May 3 |
Hintonburg Fabric Flea Market |
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Orillia ON |
May 8-9 |
Orillia Quilters Guild |
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Arnprior ON |
May 30-31 |
Our guild! ADQG |
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Brighton ON |
June 6-7 |
Trent Valley Quilters Guild |
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Ottawa ON |
June 12-13 |
Common Thread Quilt Guild |
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Renfrew ON |
June 13-14 |
Quilters Guild of Renfrew & Area |
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Winnipeg MB |
June 18-20 |
Canadian Quilters Association Quilt Canada |
Photos of the award winning projects can be found here. Click/tap on a photo for details about the maker and the project.
Quilt Canada 2026
You can monitor the evolving plans for Quilt Canada 2026 here.
Dates: June 18-20 2026
Location: Winnipeg Manitoba
The Canadian Quilters' Association is very active on social media and you can follow along on Facebook or Instagram.
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ADQG Leadership Team
President: Amanda Vajda Contact Charity: Marilyn Erskine Contact Treasurer: Sandy Beach Contact Secretary: Pamela Friedrich Programs: Martha Palmer Contact Membership: Johanne Vajda Contact Library: Jacquie Lavictoire Communications: Janet Brownlee Contact Key Volunteers
Photographer: Emma Russell Preemie Quilt Coordinator: Carolyn Prince Raffle Ticket Sales: Brenda Payer Retreats: Sue Hodgins |
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To follow us on Facebook click/tap here.
To join the Members-Only Group click/tap here.
-- Janet Brownlee, Communications & Newsletter Editor