Our Guild History

The Forsyth Piecers and Quilters was formed in 1981. Barbara Matthews, the director of Our House and South Fork Community Center was the moving force behind the formation of the Guild. Karen Pervier served as President during the initial organization period and the first year.

The Guild was organized for benevolent and charitable purposes . . . to benefit, educate, promote, and support persons interested in preserving, continuing, and advancing the art and craft of quilting and related fibers.

The City of Winston-Salem’s Recreational Department was the backbone of the Guild during this time, providing a meeting and workspace, assistance with the newsletter, encouragement, and a willingness to assist in any way that it could. Meetings were held at South Fork until the membership grew too large for the available space.
Guild members participate in local and regional projects and offer activities involving quilting whenever invited. Past projects have included the Ronald McDonald House, Amos Cottage, Habitat for Humanity, and Victory Junction Gang Camp – just to name a few.

In 1983, the Guild supported the North Carolina Documentation Project, that aimed to “achieve some sense of the variety of quilts in the state and to learn about the lives of the quiltmakers.” We also hosted our first North Carolina Quilt Symposium in 1983, and subsequent ones in 1988, 1997, and 2006.

Today, our on-going projects include Preemie Quilts, Nap Quilts, Senior Lap Quilts, and additional Special Projects. Every other year, the Forsyth Piecers and Quilters Guild hosts a two-day Quilt Show. This event is opene to the public and offers our members the challenge of entering personal hand-made quilt items for judging.

Past Presidents — Lifetime Honorary Members