I belong to a local guild, but it's not the most comfortable group. I've finally gotten a few of my own friends to join. However, I love coming here and seeing all the different people and different viewpoints. This is more than a guild to me. It's a home away from home without leaving home.
eileenkny

Well said Ann! Even though I do have a local guild that I enjoy, I find this site to be welcoming, supportive, so interesting and just plain fun!! Linda in Minnesota in the middle of a heat wave(+28!)

Amen Ann to your comments about how wonderful our "guild" here at TQS is. I moved last year when my office closed in Northern Virginia to the frozen north of Michigan. About the same time I had to finally come to grips that I lost my mobility and couldn't walk more than a few feet. I tried to join a guild here locally but with all that moving requires and having to deal with a mother also moved to a nursing home during that year, this was a God-send. But I replied here to really say if you like one of your local guilds, please go. My guild in Virginia had many professional quilters and teachers who couldn't come often but what a treat when they did and how they kept my juices flowing along with the regulars who are phenomenal quilters. I know since I love your sense of humor, that you probably are most welcome whenever you can come.

I travel half the year and am not in one place any of that time long enough to feel comfortable attending a guild and don't feel it is fair to join and then just show up once a year. I have visited guilds with other people and know that it takes awhile for you to find your niche and feel comfortable. And even when I am in one place for five months a guild hasn't worked in to my schedule so TQS is my guild. and when I feel the need for contact with another quilter I can e mail one of the friends I have made here, meet them in the chat room or just catch up by reading and commenting in the forum. Where else could you find a guild where you can talk to someone from Norway, England, Australia and New Zealand all in a twenty four hour period and see quilts from all over the world and talk to the experts? And I can do it in the comfort of my own home drinking coffee and sitting in my jammies. Now is that a luxury or what!!!!!!!! I visit other sites and belong to a couple of small groups on other sites but this is my QUILTING HOME AND IT IS TRULY HOME SWEET HOME. Ann in not so warm Southern Texas

Ditto, again!!! I feel as if I know many of you in my online guild. I love this site and even though I visit a few others, they're absolutely nothing like this one! Judy in Torrance

Ditto to what's been said already.

Freedom is a wonderful thing. It allows us to make all kinds of discoveries. I find that when I go to other sites, it just makes me appreciate this one all the more. Technically, this is a very sophisticated site which makes visits a joy. All the video is topnotch, even the hand held stuff! Best of all, however, it is an evolving community that seems to attract all the best in ideas and talent...not just the professionals, but all the members, as well. That's why we come back.

This is my quilting quild! I am here more times a day than I care to count (cause then I would feel guilty for not doing other things that need to be done). Having said all that--I appreciate the guidance to other sites from which I can continue to learn and help others.

Nothing wrong with sharing. Even Ricky and Alex share links with us to other sites. I agree with Margo. This site is meant to be a springboard for ideas and learning. The more information and the quality of information found on this site will keep us 'home.' I' love visiting TQS everyday. So many of us share the same thoughts! I love the fact that I'm not alone in my journey.

We don't visit only one LQS, or go to only one quilt show, sign up for one quilt class with only one specific teacher. Why, some of us probably even belong to more than one quilt guild in our community! Much easier to share a link than to re-create. Besides, it gives credit to where/from whom we learned the technique from.

Charlene

I've thought about that, too Eileen. From what Ricky said in the note I shared on the forum, I think that they want us to stay with TQS and share with others about what a wonderful site this is. I also think, however, that it is unrealistic for them to expect that we visit TQS EXCLUSIVELY. It is my feeling that this site was set up to be a quilting community. An on-line guild. The one thing that guild members do is SHARE. Personally, I am thrilled to have found some really good web sites through recommendations here. But this is the site that I come to every day (THAT'S an understatement!) and the place that I feel welcome and truly a part of. The others are places I visit and just look around. This is home.
If I'm wrong, I hope the powers that be will let me know.
Margo

It just hit me, and I've had a "DUH" moment.
I hope I'm not doing anything wrong when I mention finding things on other websites or by people who may not be sponsors of this site. If I have broken any rules, let me know and I'll stop.
Thanks,
eileenkny