OCQG
2015 Quilt Show
Featured Artist
The Quilt Story of Pam Gayle
My mother was a homemaker who could make anything with a sewing machine and fabric, but
she was not a quilter. I learned to sew with her when I was about 7 years old. I mostly made Barbie
clothes and small stuffed toys. In high school and college, I made all of my own clothes. I always
wanted to look nice, but I had a very limited budget. I made my first quilt when I was in the 10 th grade.
It was just squares made of leftover garment fabrics and it was stitched in a cross hatch fashion to a
flannel backing. Even back then, I LOVED to sew.
My major start into quilting came in the early 1990’s when Piecemakers Country Store was at
their peak. I loved taking classes there in just about everything and I took roughly one class a month. I
worked full time in the computing industry, so crafting was a huge stress reducer. I joined OCQG in
1999 at the urging of a friend and it took my quilting to another level. I loved the speakers that came
every month and I participated as much as I could in block swaps, president’s blocks, etc. I attended my
first Camp Watch-A-Patcher in summer of 2000 and was hooked forever on that retreat. I couldn’t
believe how much fun it was to be immersed 100% in quilting for almost an entire week.
Fast forward…..I still LOVE taking quilt classes. I learn so much from the teachers and I learn
even more from my fellow students. Over the years, I have learned that I am more of a traditional
quilter than an art quilter, but I’ll try just about anything once. I have also recently done a few bigger
jobs with OCQG ….Opportunity Baskets, 1st VP of Programs ( I got to pick the teachers I liked), co-chair
for the 2011 quilt show, headed the 2011 Opportunity Quilt, Director of Camp Watch-A-Patcher 2013,
and now finally Philanthropy, aka Quilts for Kids. I have a generous stash and still love to shop at a
good quilt shop. I take classes at Road to California yearly, belong to a wonderful friendship group
”Group Therapy”, am a member of the American Sewing Guild, and am active in my church’s quilt
group. It’s all been a great social outlet for me and I’ve met a lot of great people along the way.
I am humbled by being chosen to be the featured quilter for the OCQG Show. I do not have a
book, nor have I won any major quilt awards, nor am I a famous quilt instructor. Because I do take a lot
of classes and have a substantial number of UFOs, I’m jamming on trying to finish a great number of
them to highlight the many great teachers and opportunities we have by being affiliated with OCQG. I
love my quilt life and can’t wait to share it with anyone who wants to talk about it.
Orange County Quilters Guild
'Echoes of the Past' - 4/9 - 4/11/2015
2015 Quilt Show