Established in Franklin, Tennessee in 1982, the Cumberland Valley Quilters Association (CVQA) is a tax-exempt group whose purpose is to promote and perpetuate the art of quilting. Our mission is to educate, encourage, and maintain high standards of design and techniques in quilting and other fiber arts. We sponsor lectures, workshops, and exhibits, and perform a variety of community services. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
In addition to monthly meetings, CVQA offers opportunities for fellowship, philanthropy, learning, and, of course, more quilts, through small groups and committees. Small groups cater to specific interests of our members, while committees help plan and carry out CVQA business and events.
CVQA Philanthropy & Community Service
CVQA’s community outreach has a long history of charitable donations. It is part of our commitment to help those who are in need.
Community Care Committee
The Community Care Committee provides quilts, pillowcases, and other sewn items to various community organizations.
Quilts of Valor
The Quilts of Valor (QOV) Committee is sponsored by The Quilting Squares of Franklin and follows the guidelines set by the Quilts of Valor Foundation.
Ronald McDonald House
The Ronald McDonald House Quilt Committee completes and donates a quilt each year to the Nashville Ronald McDonald House to support its annual fundraising efforts as an auction item or incentive gift.
Thistle Farms Committee
Thistle Farms is a Nashville-based program that provides women survivors with free housing, healthcare, counseling, and job readiness training. This group makes quilts for the women who graduate from the Thistle Farms Program.
CVQA Small Groups
Evening Stars
The Evening Stars demonstrate and share easy to complete small quilting projects, techniques, and charity items. Contact Dianne Sewell at dkaysewell@hotmail.com for meeting information.
Nimble Thimbles
Nimble Thimbles is a needlework group that meets monthly to work on individual projects. The group meets on the third Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Williamson County Enrichment Center. Meetings are open to the public, both CVQA members and non-members, with a $2 fee to the Enrichment Center.
Spring Hill Sit and Sew
This group meets at a home in Spring Hill on the second Tuesday of the month to work on quilts for the Community Care Committee. The group completes three or four quilts a year. Members bring their own sewing machines and lunch and spend the day creating and having fun.
Textile Art Group “TAG”
The Textile Art Group supports the creative process through sharing techniques, tools, and materials to help participants discover their own artistic expression through a variety of media. “TAG” is not project based, but rather focuses on the artistic journey. The members meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Williamson County Enrichment Center with a $2 fee for each member at each meeting.
Cumberland Valley Quilters Association
Highlighting our History
Tennessee Valley Quilters Guild
We trace our history back to the founding of the Tennessee Valley Quilters Guild in February 1980. Pictured here at an initial formation meeting - Irene Andrews, Mildred Locke, Cindy Hawkins, Frieda Holt, Dot Arnold, and Gretchen Hosler.
Two of the women from this meeting, Dot Arnold and Melissa Thomas went on with 35 other women to form our local guild, Cumberland Valley Quilters Association in January of 1981.
The 1982 World's Fair
The Quilts Warm the World Quilt Show was coordinated by the TVQA for the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tenn. and featured quilts from across the United States.
Hermitage Homecoming
In 1985, CVQA Member Rosie Wade spearheaded a Living History project in conjunction with TVQA and The Hermitage - the historic home of President Andrew Jackson. Wade designed a quilt based on original coverlets used in the historic home.
Guilds from across Tennessee came to the Hermitage each week to work on the quilt and participate as a living history exhibit on the art of quilting.
Ronald McDonald House Charities
CVQA's relationship with Ronald McDonald House Charities goes back decades. Pictured here are all the quilts donated by CVQA to RMHC in 1991.
Quilts of Valor
Valerie Curtis was the force behind the creation of the CVQA Quilts of Valor program in 2004. Since then, CVQA has made and presented hundreds of quilts to local veterans.
Quilts at Historic Carnton
CVQA littered the Historic Carnton House in Franklin with red, white, and blue for a Quilts of Valor presentation ceremony in 2008.
The CVQA Quilt Show
The CVQA has showcased members' work to promote the art of quilting through the CVQA Quilt show since 2012.
The bi-annual CVQA Quilt Show is the guild's largest fundraiser, and the event is also one of the largest of its kind in Tennessee, with up to 600 visitors over two days. Visitors come from all over Tennessee, as well as Kentucky, Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia.
At the County Fair
CVQA is a proud sponsor and organizer of the quilt category at the Williamson County Fair. Each year, participants from across Williamson County enter quilts into the fair. The show is arranged by our Fair Committee, and CVQA members volunteer to staff the show for the duration of the fair.
Behind the Seams
Pictures from the Past
Just a smattering of pictures from the past four decades of workshops and events at the CVQA. Have fun seeing if you can find someone you know – maybe someone famous? – or a quilt that you or a quilter you know has worked on!
