Pell City Library is ablaze with color and creativity this month as it displays the intricate handiwork of the Friendship Quilters Guild of Pell City. The library invites the public to come in to see quilts of every color and various design exhibited throughout the facility as it celebrates National Quilt Month.

This exhibit is a rotating one, so you will want to come by intermittently to see each of the awesome quilts displayed. The library is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.

The Friendship Quilters Guild of Pell City is part of the Friendship Quilters of Alabama which includes quilters in St. Clair, Talladega, Jefferson and Calhoun Counties. The Friendship Quilters of Alabama was founded in 2000, by Kathy Kirby, and grew from an inaugural membership of six to over 50 members today.

Novice and experienced quilters are encouraged to join and to be afforded the opportunity to learn, share, and build lasting friendships as quilting skills are sharpened and refined. The Guild meets at the Earnest White Community Center at 16th Ave. and 10th Street in Pell City, on the second Saturday of each month at 9:30 a.m. for a social time, followed by a “show and tell” and quilt-related activities, followed by a business session and a program. Quilters meet on Wednesdays to sew and learn from each other.

In addition, each quarter, the Guild has “Sew-In Days” which take place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday in which members work on community projects, on their own projects, or participate in a planned class session.

This organization makes it their mission “to promote the art and craft of quilting in the community through friendship, sharing, and education.” It proudly supports various charitable causes in the community, such as Lakeside Hospice, Pell City and Calhoun County Animal Shelters, Ann’s New Life Center for Women, Inc., and the St. Clair County 4H Club.

On a national level they support “Project Linus” to provide comfort to seriously ill or traumatized children, and the “Quilts of Valor Foundation” to cover all combat service members and veterans touched by war. Quilters of Pell City joined in a multi-guild endeavor in 2012 to make and provide “Quilts of Valor” for residents at the Col. Robert L. Howard State Veteran’s Home. This was in addition to an ongoing ministry of providing prayer quilts for those within the community who are experiencing life challenges.

Members are currently participating in a “Children’s Book Theme Challenge” in which they provide quilts and books for the clown ministry at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham.

The public is cordially invited to visit the Pell City Library though out the month of March to view the quilts so beautifully and lovingly crafted by the Friendship Quilters Guild of Pell City. In the process, you might just be inspired to join them.