Guild History
A DVD of the 25 year history of the guild published for the 2009 Quilt Show is available for $10.00. If you would like a copy, please contact the Communications Chairman.
It seems appropriate that the Hill ‘N Hollow Quilters Guild was conceived at a quilt show. In the Spring of 1983, Phyllis Speer and Paula Vines first met at Mountain View during the Ozark Folk Center Quilt Show and the decision was made to organize a quilters guild in Mountain Home. In October of that year, an organizational meeting was attended by 8 women, and officers were elected with Phyllis as President.
The first official meeting was held in January of 1984 at the Presbyterian Church with 29 interested quilters attending. A raffle quilt was begun soon afterward and a quilt show was planned. The first show was held in October, 1984 at the Casey House. During the years since, many workshops and demonstrations have been presented, including some by national known teachers. Quilters have continued to join until membership is now well over 100 and includes both a day and an evening monthly meeting.
Community projects have always been important to the Guild. Among them are a Special Olympics Banner, a wall quilt for a hospice benefit, a quilt for an historical society benefit, a quilt to celebrate Mountain Home’s centennial (this quilt now hangs in the Mayor’s office) and Arkansas Sesquicentennial quilt (now hanging in the County Library), and a quilt handing in the Obstetric waiting room at the Baxter County Regional Hospital.
The Guild’s current ongoing community service project is the making of quilts given to the local hospital for distribution to newborn babies whose families have need of them. Prior to our Teddy Bear project our Guild members in 1999 made between 100 and 150 baby quilts each year. Since then, approximately 300 quilts are made annually. These quilts have been distributed to the hospital, an abused women’s shelter, a homeless shelter, the highway patrol and other agencies. In additional to these activities, many Guild members have presented quilt-related show and tell programs to various clubs and organizations in the area, as well as the second and third graders at Nelson-Wilkes Elementary School, during Arkansas Week. These programs and quilt displays have increased community awareness and respect for the art of quiltmaking.
In 1998 the Quilt shows became bi-annual. The annual opportunity quilts continue to be our major source of revenue for continuing our baby quilt project as well as workshops which are open to the public whenever possible.
The Hill ‘N Hollow Quilters Guild is composed of quilters of various levels of expertise, united by a common bond, the love of quiltmaking. One of the most attractive features of the group has been the many warm friendships among the members. Much of this warmth and closeness is because of the willingness to share knowledge and time with each other.
There are twelve charter members of the Hill ‘N Hollow Quilters Guild. It might be interesting to know the names of those original members.
Mary McAuliff is the only resident, current member of the original group. As you know Paula Vines recently moved to Texas and is a life-time member of the guild. (She receives our newsletter – so, Hi, there, Paula! We miss you and hope you are having a good quilting experience in Texas!)
Phyllis Speer is a well-known area resident. She works for the Arkansas Fish and Game and can be seen on PBS doing outdoor cooking. Nina Coffee retired about a year ago from the University of Arkansas Extension Service and has moved to Springdale, Arkansas.
Margie Dahlke lives in the Three Brothers area and it is believed that Francie Douglas and Janice Foreman also live in the area. Barbara Slone lives in Texas. The whereabouts of Jo Presley and Berryl Seal is unknown at present. And, sad to say, Liz Sellin and Alene Lonon have passed away.
Of the original 12 charter members, Phyllis was the first president of the guild. Paula served as the first vice president and then served as president in 1985. Paula also served as president in 1991. Mary was vice president in 1986 and was president the following year. In 1984, Berryl was secretary, Nina was in charge of publicity and Francie did the newsletter. In 1985, Margie was Librarian, Janice served as vice president and Jo was the historian. Barbara served as treasurer in 1984 and 1985. Liz (who was Mary’s sister) was treasurer in 1986 and 1987.
These charter members of Hill ‘Hollow, and those who joined the guild in those early years, organized the guild in much the same manner as we practice today. The history book shows many photos of these early members who worked hard to put on quilt shows, do community service projects, and generally teach each other and the community about the art of quilting. We owe them a big Thank You!
Hill ‘N Hollow members are encouraged to take a look at the Guild history books. It is wonderful to see that Mary, Paula and Phyllis hardly look a day older now than they did 20 years ago! Hopefully, the same can be said of the year 2004 quilters in the year 2024!
Quilting, it appears, is like having a facelift, but probably more expensive!
Past Presidents of Hill ‘n Hollow Quilters Guild
1984 Phyllis Speer
1985 Paula Vines
1986 Connie Lutes
1987 Mary McAuliff
1988 Flo Malaney
1989 Faye Riley
1990 Liz Sellin
1991 Paula Vines
1992 Joan Aitken
1993 Joan Wilbur
1994 Audrey Avesing
1995 Marilyn Mueller
1996 Stacey Boelkins
1997 Annie (McHarg) Wagar
1998 Sue Huseby
1999 Karen Estes
2000 Carla McGranahan
2001 Betty Riggins
2002 Joan Linson
2003 Pat Stripeik
2004 Barb Skeffington
2005 Sherrill Townsend
2006 Sonya Smith
2007 Donna Bohaty
2008 Joanna Sarle
2009 Carol Lewis
2010 Joyce Linhoff