For nearly 40 years, a small group of quilters has been meeting in Neptune Beach with a shared love of the craft and a habit of putting it to work for their neighbors.
The Coastal Quilters Guild of Northeast Florida was founded in 1987 by a handful of women with a passion for quilting. It has since grown into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit of roughly 50 members who gather on the first Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Neptune Beach Senior Activity Center, with an open sewing session, called Sit & Sew, held most Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the same location.
The guild's community work goes beyond fundraising. In May, about 20 members spent two days at a “Charity Sew Day,” producing 14 quilts, 20 pillowcases, seven stuffed animals and three pillows for Hubbard House, Jacksonville's domestic violence shelter and Florida's first, founded in 1976. One member separately sent seven handmade quilts to wildfire victims in Georgia. Guild leaders say the group's charity sewing has totaled 26 quilts, two afghans, two receiving blankets, seven stuffed animals and 33 pillowcases so far this year.
The guild is also one of seven sister guilds behind Quiltfest Jacksonville, an annual judged quilt show that draws quilters from across the region. Each participating guild creates an “opportunity quilt” for the show and sells raffle tickets on it, with proceeds going to a charity its members choose.
This year, Coastal Quilters is putting that tradition to work close to home. Members selected a red, white and blue design called “Exploding Heart” to mark the country's 250th anniversary, chose the fabric together, and had one of their own hand-quilt the piece. Proceeds from this year's raffle will benefit the Neptune Beach Senior Activity Center, the same building where the guild meets every month.
Beach Gazette will follow the quilt's journey from its current display at the senior center to Quiltfest Jacksonville and the raffle drawing. Check back for updates on how to see it and how to enter.
