Sitting on the floor: left to right: Diane Eugene and Annie Runey. Seated: left to right: Dorothy Carter (SMA), Imani Miller Same row, but kneeling: Soco Campo and Rogerween Williams. Third row standing, center of picture: Cely Pedescleaux (The lady in the yellow dress) Fourth row: left to right: Annie Pierre, Dorothy Mansion, Marian Ancar, Jean Philips, Otha Charles, Sylvia Simpson, Dr. Sharah (Sara) Hollis, Rita Lee.

On the second and fourth Fridays of each month you can find these ladies at Beecher Memorial United Church of Christ in New Orleans "passing a good time" as they combine their talents and artistic gifts to create beautiful one-of-a-kind hand-made quilts.

Under the direction of their founder and quilting instructor, Ms. Cely Pedescleaux, the guild, which boasts forty members, proudly displayed sixty quilts at their recent Annual Quilt Show. 

As they have for the past four years, the ladies Quilts were on display in the lobby of the Ernest Morial Convention for the Essence Music Festival this past July. 

SMA: Do you ever sell the quilts?

DIANE EUGENE: Some may sell their quilts. Mostly, we meet to socialize and work on our individual or assigned quilting projects. We do make quilts to donate to several charities: Lazarus House and the Welfare Department. This is for when they are called to pick up babies. The quilts for the babies are given around Christmas.

SMA: Can someone special-order a quilt?

DIANE EUGENE: We have never done this as a group, but I can pose this to our guild.

SMA: How long have you been quilting?

DIANE EUGENE: Since 1998

SMA: What prompted you to begin quilting?

DIANE EUGENE: I was convalescing from a very lengthy illness and my childhood friend, Cely Pedescleaux suggested I join her Quilting Guild. She said it would be relaxing for me and I would be around other people. So, I joined. It's been a very rewarding experience.

According to Diane M. Eugene, "Everyone is welcome to visit and/or join our quilting guild. We have a lot of fun socializing, and we also mix in a little quilting!"

For more information on joining the Quilting Guild, drop Diane an email at smaite65@cox.net