Member Groups

White Bluffs Center Groups

The White Bluffs Center hosts many Friendship Groups/Study Groups. A notebook listing all of the groups who meet at the Center is available. Come in and browse. We host a group that meets regularly to bead on fabric, a group that meets to work on machine embroidery, a group of beginner/intermediate weavers, the DFA spinners, LongArmers, a basketry group (every wednesday) and lots of others. Some of our groups are listed below. You are welcome to check out these groups, sit in on a session (join if interested) and meet new friends who share your interests.

Check the Calendar page for meeting dates and times.

Education Group

"One of the most important things we can do as members of the White Bluffs Center is not in our studios, but in the classroom. We share a responsibility to introduce our children to the history and craft of weaving, spinning, basketry and quilt making." Preserving this textile legacy will shape our communities present and future. This group is collecting and compiling textile education programs and will make them available to our area teachers through this website. Ruth Bloom is the contact for this group.

Featherweighters

Featherweight Sewing machines were primarily manufactured between 1948 and 1959. An incredible amount of history and lore has grown up around the Featherweight, also known as Singer model 221. It’s a collectible of the first order and featured on many web pages which cater to antique sewing machines. The Featherweighters are a group who come together on the second Friday of each month at the White Bluffs Center in West Richland to meet and sew on these little antique machines. They are currently working on quilts for Children's Hospital in Seattle.

Long Arm Group

Several White Bluffs Center members have commercial quilting machines, known as Long Arm Machines. This study group meets once a month to practice patterns, learn new designs and share quilting experience. Machine maintenance is frequently on the agenda as well as group ordering of supplies and sharing of workshop information. The group also works on community service quilts. Marlene Martin is the contact for this group. (509-735-6206)

Community Service Group

The Community Service group provides an annual support project for our Veterans at the Wainwright Center in Walla Walla, Washington. Quilts and other needed items are created and collected each year and presented to the Veterans in late fall. Photos from last years project, 2008, are available on the "Current Projects" page. For 2009, the group will provide lap to twin sized quilts and filled "ditty bags". This group is also providing support to the Womens Domestic Violence Shelter and other Tri-Cities organizations. For more information about this friendship group, please contact Kathy Petty

White Bluffs Center Journal Art Project

This Study Group will be working on a year-long project that is an adaption of the Journal Quilt Project. Study Group members will be encouraged to experiment with color, image, compositions, materials, and/or technique. Participants will create a series of small art pieces that may represent a theme, word, object, color, technique, emotion or an idea. Utilizing the techniques traditionally used in Quilting, Basketry, Weaving, and Spinning, there are no limitations on the materials that may be incorporated. Collaboration is encouraged. The group will meet regularly to share ideas. A gallery exhibit will be produced at the end of the project. Barbara Minton is the contact for this group. (509-588-3392)

Other Friendship/Study Groups

Basketry Study Group (Desert Fiber Arts)

This group meets every Wednesday from

10:00 am until 12 Noon

Weave baskets, learn new techniques, share books,

patterns and expertise

Contact Marcia Keefer at 509 627-0209

The Bee at White Bluffs

This Friendship Group group meets every Thursday

from 10-12 noon

To share information, patterns, techniques, work on projects. New members are welcome.

Contact Laurel Sutton at 509 420-4322

Beading on Fabric

This Study Group meets on the 1st Tuesday of the month from 10-12 noon

They gather to work on projects, share information and techniques

Contact Jenny Treadway at 509 727-7050

Material Women Friendship Group

This Quilt Guild Friendship Group meets on the 4th Wednesday of the month from 6:30pm - 8:30 pm.

They enjoy shraring information and working on projects.

Contact Lois Pederson at 509 967-9062

Beginning/Intermediate Weaving (DFA)

This Study Group meets on the 4th Sunday of the month from 1:30 - 3:30 pm

They are working through the book, Handweaving with Robert and Roberta. They also share projects and tips. Usually there are no looms at their meetings.

Contact Cheryl Reed at 509 628-0188 or

Dianna Chesley at 509 582-7129

White Bluffs Quilt Museum

to preserve and to teach...