Maureen Goldsmith

Maureen Goldsmith, is one of those people who seems to be able to do everything beautifully with her hands. How nice not to be all thumbs! However, to those few of us who are all thumbs (and to the most of you who are not), Maureen is a teacher extra-ordinaire. She is one of those rare persons who can teach a room full of 50 quilters and easily impart her knowledge to everyone present. Twice I have seen her work large crowds, and have been amazed at how well she gets her ideas across. She is a teacher who “reaches (others) as she teaches”, and she does so with patience, a quiet demeanor and a touch of humour.

Of course, the small group situations are the best, and those who take courses with Maureen have very busy working sessions—sewing and designing the “daily special”, be it appliqué, stained glass, log cabin or whichever skill that is being taught. Speaking of daily specials, when Maureen offers a full-day workshop she always supplies her students with a delicious homemade lunch!

Not only does Maureen teach classes in her own studio, Maureen’s Creative Quilting” in Sardis (Chilliwack), BC, she teaches in many communities throughout the province. Additionally, she holds her monthly “MCQC” (Maureen’s Creative Quilting Club) sessions, a continuation of the “Sew Club” that she began 8 years ago. Devotees still follow her!

Recently Maureen started the “most westerly” branch of The Appliqué Society in Canada. She now has a group of 23 excited ladies meeting each month with her in a church hall in Chilliwack.

Besides all these activities, Maureen has been a member of the Abbotsford Quilters’ Guild since she first moved to the Valley nine years ago. Three years ago she was one of three who formed the Chilliwack PieceMakers’ Quilt Guild. PieceMakers now boasts a membership of just over 80 quilters. For the first two years while Maureen was the Program and Workshop Director, she led many of the sessions. Not only did the members make “We Care” quilts to donate to Victim’s Assistance groups (police, fire, Salvation Army, etc.) but, she led us in making and filling toilette/personal effects bags for victims of violence. These bags employed a new technique to some of the guild members, so we all learned while we helped others!

Maureen and a group of old friends meet in Harrison, BC every month. Last year they set up their own quilt show during the Harrison Festival Days, a well-attended celebration of diverse arts. There was a double meeting room in a hotel set up with all manner of quilts, from big to small, showing many techniques. It was a well-attended and well-received show!

What with all these activities, it is a wonder that Maureen has time to sew, let alone keep her studio in order. However, sew she does! If you look in the most recent past issue of The Canadian Quilter, you will see her Millennium project work in progress. The blocks are lovely now, but when the project is complete, I promise that it will be absolutely breathtaking. She is using a stained glass technique, and hand-dyed fabrics. The blocks are designed by Maureen and she hopes to begin marketing their patterns in the Fall.

To add to the list of accomplishments of this busy lady, I must add that, lest she become stagnant and not have any new techniques to offer her students, she has this year embarked on the Patchwork and Quilting course offered by City and Guild of London, England. Three times a year (for the next 4 years) she will travel to Washington State to take this wonderful and extremely intensive course. Since Maureen began as a traditional quilter, the stretch to contemporary could prove to be pretty demanding. But, game she is, and I know that she will be successful!

Believe it or not, Maureen still has time to spend with her equally busy husband (and fuss to keep his cholesterol count in check), take her Dad for outings, and bake goodies to send care packages to her two sons!

Ah, Maureen—how wonderful to be young and so full of energy. Take care of yourself. May you always be able to do what you love and love what you do. Congratulations to Maureen Goldsmith, a truly deserving T.O.Y., 2000-2001!