Oklahoma is home to a diverse and thriving community of social clubs, many of which go beyond the typical to embrace unique and niche interests.
Of those, Tulsa Modern Quilt Guild (TMQG) board member Jenelle Abbott says their guild is a 130-members-strong local chapter of the National Modern Quilt Guild, with monthly meetings and guild activities including quarterly sew-days, retreats, swaps, workshops and social activities centered around the love of sewing and quilting, whether by hand or machine sewing. Abbott mentions that TMQG harbors a diverse demographic of both women and men who share a love of quilting. Monthly meetings include different locations and speakers.
“It’s artists, hobbyists, and a general love for all things creativity with a whole lot of laughs and friendships thrown in,” Abbott says.
You can check out TMQG on the first Thursday of each month at Fellowship Congregational Church at 2900 S. Harvard in Tulsa. Members will also be displaying their creations at Quilts on the Lawn at their monthly meeting on Oct. 25. On Jan. 9-10, the group will host a quilt show at Southwoods Landscaping at 91st and Lewis.
Another unique club was created for the average reader without imposing monetary or time constraints: The OKC Silent Book Club (OKC SBC).
“OKC SBC is a free organization that invites readers of all ages to gather and enjoy time reading and chatting about literature and life,” founder Meredith Dennis says. “Most members love attending OKC SBC because there’s no pressure to read a certain book by a certain date. You can simply show up with a book and read at your own pace while enjoying a drink or meal. Some members bring their partner for a date night. Others meet their friends and chat about life. Solo attendees use the time for some R&R and escape their typical home routine.”
Find twice-monthly OKC SBC meetings by following the club’s Instagram or Facebook page @OKC.SBC. Members quietly read their own book choices for an hour and a half, then join together for 30 minutes of interaction. Each meeting is held at a new location for members to enjoy, developing their love for Oklahoma City.
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“OKC SBC was also created to support the community,” says Dennis. “Instead of asking for membership fees, each member is encouraged to possibly buy a drink, treat or book from the location in which we meet. We like to gather in locally-owned businesses that make Oklahoma unique, such as breweries, cafes and bookstores. Over the past year, we have held 19 meetings in 16 locations. OKC SBC brings members out of their routines and introduces them to new places across the metro.”
Abbott continues: “TMQG participates in the community through educational outreach, Tulsa Sews, in which we sponsor junior sewists 10+ years old to learn the craft and teach them sewing techniques. In addition, we give over 100 quilts to St. Francis NICU unit annually, all made by our members and their donations. In 2025, we launched an outreach to make lap-size quilts to donate to local nursing homes in the Tulsa area.”
