CANTON – More than 60 women gathered recently to attend the Western Maine Area 3 quilters meeting. The women represented various chapters in the Pine Tree Quilters Guild Inc. Grammy’s Choice Quilters hosted the event.

Mary Ellen Sheehy from the Classic Quilters, Lewiston, chaired the area meeting. Barbara Swan Frost, representative of the guild, gave a report from the state level. Frost is a member from the Pine Needles Quilters, South Paris.

Darlene Gauthier, speaker and member of Grammy’s Choice Quilters, spoke on “A Quilter’s Colorful Journey.” She began her career in quilting soon after moving here from Virginia when her husband retired form the U.S. Navy. The same year, 1979, Grammy’s Choice Quilters became a chapter in the guild. Gauthier joined the group, began lessons and soon found her talent as a teacher and artist.

As she spoke, Gauthier’s quilts were displayed. Most of the quilts were original designs by the speaker who quipped, “I never like to do someone else’s quilt.”

The host group displayed their “challenge quilts.” Guests shared work of their own in a show ‘n tell opportunity.

Usually, women who attend the meetings bring a quilt square. The squares are pinned up and a name is drawn to receive the lot. This time, however, the women donated all the blocks to the cancer fund drive, “Relay for Life.” Jackie Conant, chairwoman, spoke briefly on the effort that goes into the fundraiser. She thanked all who donated their work and for the work they have done in the past for the cancer drive. Grammy’s Choice Quilters will stitch the blocks into one or two quilts.

Anyone interested in quilting is invited to attend Grammy’s Choice Quilters, who meet the first and third Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Canton Municipal Hall.