FLYING NEEDLES  HISTORY

             1989  is believed to be the year nineteen quilters began meeting in the
     Fellowship Hall of the Niceville Presbyterian Church.  These same quilters would
     become Charter members.  Prior to that time, a small group- of like-minded ladies
     gathered on a regular basis in the home of Charlene Compton, deciding among
     themselves what they wanted to teach each other. Making Christmas ornaments,
     coasters, wall hangings and sharing quilt patterns kept them energized, bonding this
     ever-expanding group until Charlene’s home space became inadequate for their
     growing numbers. They chose the name “Southern Comforters”. Some would say a
     clever twist on a geographic location and quilting goals.  One member threatened to
     leave that day, at that very moment, if that name was adopted, complaining the
     inference to a brand of alcoholic beverage was NOT suitable to the art of quilting.
     Nineteen members found a new name, which then suited the majority of those
     present. Thus “Flying Needles” came into existence.
           Naturally, Charlene Compton became the first President. Ann Kuehnel filled the
     office of Secretary. Treasurer was Garnet Smith.  Linda Burkhart and Bev Schroeder
     shared Program Chairmanship. By December 1990, thirty-eight dues- paying members
     gathered once a month to celebrate their passion with the quilted surface. Meetings
     were rather informal.  Sharing what we knew about our art was enthusiastic, colorful
     and informative.
           Doris Olig and her helper, Esther Palmer, distributed the first newsletter in
     February 1991. Annual dues were $10.00, and if you wanted a newsletter, you paid an
     additional $3.00.  Upcoming quilt show listings throughout the region were distributed,
     along with delicious recipes, directions for quilt patterns, and the upcoming meeting
     information. Those early newsletters are part of our guild history notebooks. They
     make for very informative reading today.
           It didn’t take long before professional quilters were invited to give workshops to
     those interested members.  Dee Ann Powell, Dixie Haywood, Eileen Gudmundson,
     and Flavin Glover were some of our early guests. Many of us maintain the results of
     those workshops. Show and Tell is always a highly anticipated segment of our
     monthly meetings - - - a color-filled, textural feast for our eyes.

     Early history is related here as best as can be remembered
     by Alice Bounds and Gloria Thomas, both charter members.

The Flying Needles Quilt Guild web site is hosted by:
THE COTTON LOFT
Owners:  Chris and Mike Levine
4010 Commons Drive West, Suite 104
Destin, FL 32541
850-650-2025     fax: 850-650-4878
toll free: 866-534-2025
www.quiltingcotton.com

Site last updated  07/01/2008

FLYING NEEDLES  QUILT GUILD
P. O. Box  1652
Niceville, FL  32588
www.flyingneedlesquiltguild.org

To Contact the guild, e-mail   fnqg@cox.net

For map to First Presbyterian Church, Niceville, FL, Click HERE.