Coastal Quilters Guild of Santa Barbara and Goleta is a California non-profit, educational and charitable organization.  It was officially organized in 1988 after two years of informal monthly gatherings of women interested in quilts and quilt-making. Marty Frolli, one of the original six members, became its first president in 1988.

As its membership increased, the Guild rapidly outgrew its original meeting place at the Goleta Public Library, moving first to Samarkand Retirement Home in the San Roque area of Santa Barbara, and then to its present meeting place at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, located at 4575 Auhay Drive in Santa Barbara.  The Guild meets on the second Thursday of every month.

In 1989 the Guild was asked to participate in the Goleta Valley Days Celebration, now called the Lemon Festival.  As a result, the Guild’s first quilt show was held at the Goleta Valley Community Center.  The show was such a success that it was repeated in 1990 and 1991, along with an exhibit of quilts at the July 4th celebrations at the historic Stow House in Goleta in 1988 through 1990. 

Numerous other local quilt exhibits sponsored by the Guild were held, including “Fantaseas” in 1991 at the Santa Barbara Sea Center, “From Traditional to Contemporary” in 1991 at the Santa Barbara Public Library, and “Quilts and Quilt Stories” in 1992 at the Goleta Public Library. 

The Guild’s first large juried show, “Natural Impressions I,” was held in 1991 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, coinciding with the Museum’s 75th Anniversary Celebration.  The Guild made a quilt depicting the history and exhibits of the museum and it remained hanging there during and after the show.   “Natural Impressions II” followed in 1995, also hanging at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.  Beginning in the fall of 1998, the Guild has held biennial members’ showcases under the name “Harvest of Colors” at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara.  These are juried shows and also feature an array of vendors, as well as a Gift Boutique with items made exclusively by Guild members.  More recent shows have often featured a selected Guest Artist who enjoys national acclaim.

To commemorate our 20th anniversary in 2008, the Guild received a “Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition” for outstanding public service to the community signed by 23rd Congressional District Representative Lois Capps, U.S. House of Representatives-D.  The Guild also received a “Letter of Recognition” from the City of Santa Barbara signed by Mayor Marty Blum, honoring our service to the community through the donation of quilts and other items to local nonprofit organizations, as well as providing historical information and education on quilting through monthly meetings and monetary support to Santa Barbara City College/Adult Education Quilting Classes.

The Guild’s fiscal year originally followed the calendar year, but in 2008 was changed to run from July 1 through June 30 of the following year.  Our Presidents have been: