CCQ 35th Anniversary

The Cranberry Country Quilters (CCQ) recently celebrated 35 years in the Eagle River community. With a mission of promoting and educating its members about quilting and making quilts to share with those in need, the club has grown and strengthened over the years.

The club currently has 73 members who gather to learn new quilt techniques, share ideas, sew quilts for those in need, and for camaraderie.

The first meeting of the CCQ was held Jan. 23, 1989, at 12:30 p.m. in Eagle River. There were 10 women in attendance.

The Eagle River Chamber commissioned them to make a quilt to raffle off at Cranberry Fest in October. The group chose the “Constellation Star” pattern to create the beautiful mauve-colored quilt. They met regularly to work on the quilt, logging 280 hours to finish it, and the chamber gave them $400.

In March, they decided to meet monthly and began collecting dues, $10 per month(?). Shortly thereafter, they selected a treasurer, opened a checking account, and began meeting at the Quilt Cottage, a local quilt shop. It was the beginning of the CCQ guild, which still meets today.

The members decided to hold a quilt show Oct. 7, 1989, to complement Cranberry Fest. They had a quilt exhibit and sale table and deemed the show “very successful.” Since then, the show has been held every two years at various locations, growing larger every year.

This year’s quilt show will be held Saturday, July 20, at Northland Pines High School.

There will be more than 200 quilts on display, vendors, quilt technique demonstrations, and special exhibits. The show draws quilters and those who admire fiber arts, creative designs, and beautiful artwork.

In addition to monthly meetings and quilt shows, the CCQ dedicate time to charity quilts and community outreach.

Last year, the guild donated 68 quilts to organizations such as Marshfield Hospital Birthing Center, Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing/Frederick Place, Compassus Hospice, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Vilas County Sheriff’s Department for children going into temporary foster care.

Members have also begun a mending project, which meets at the Walter E. Olson Memorial Library and provides light mending help for the community.

Club members also worked with the Northland Pines School District for an after-school sewing class and summer Sewing Boot Camp. Both taught youth the fun and value of knowing how to sew and create clothes, quilts and home decor. 

The CCQ meet on the third Monday of the month at the Masonic Lodge and welcomes new members.

For more information, visit  cranberrycountryquilters.com or join the Cranberry Country Quilters group on Facebook.