SEPTEMBER 9, 2010 ISSUE
Quilts, the Parkway and Art Bras
Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Fair September 17 and 18
Professional quilter Gillian Winterton created the quilt titled “Summer Breeze” to raffle off at the Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Fair.The 2010 Ashe County Piecemakers Quilt Fair is titled “Autumn Splendor on the Parkway” and will be held once again at The Jefferson Station, on Friday, September 17, from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday, September 18, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Admission is free.
The event features a raffle of the quilt “Summer Breeze,” named for the blues and yellows dominating this work of art. Measuring approximately 86 inches by 86 inches, “Summer Breeze” was created by professional quilter and guild member Gillian Winterton. Raffle tickets cost $1 each or six for $5.
“She does a lot of quilts for our members,” said Rheta Kirk, quilt fair chairman. “You need to look closely at it. ‘Summer Breeze’ is like hidden pictures. There’s hummingbirds and other things in there; it’s a really neat quilt.”
The theme of the fair “is to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway,” said Kirk. “One special exhibit featured will represent the Parkway. I’m not sure what we’ll see—our guild members create what they see when they think of the Parkway. The Parkway Art Quilt will be displayed, and donations will be accepted on behalf of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Our ladies have put together pictures from the earliest stages of the Parkway to today.”
Two other special exhibits will include “Dolls in Quilt Land” and “Over the Top for Breast Cancer Awareness.”
“Antique dolls to art dolls will be featured in our ‘Dolls in Quilt Land’ exhibit,” said Kirk. “We’ll have a display with miniature quilts, doll quilts and baby quilts, plus children’s furniture. The ‘Over the Top’ exhibit will feature 18 art bras, and they will be whimsical to wild. We will be accepting donations for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.”
Returning for the 2010 quilt fair is Neva Hart, a certified quilt appraiser, available on both Friday and Saturday by appointment.
“Neva’s fee is $10 for one quilt for a verbal appraisal, $25 for three quilts and $45 for a fully written appraisal for one quilt,” said Kirk. “The written appraisal is sufficient for insurance purposes.”
A new feature this year is the presence of a National Quilting Association certified judge, who will award ribbons for first, second and third place in 15 categories. Ribbons will also be awarded for Best of Show, Judges Choice, Best Hand Quilting and Best Machine Quilting.
“Visitors to the show will still vote and award ribbons as they have before in all those categories on Saturday afternoon,” said Kirk.
Throughout the weekend, fair visitors can attend one or all of a series of lectures and demonstrations including topics such as cathedral window quilts, care of quilts and flower pounding.
“There is no admission charge, but we accept donations to help us in our community effort,” said Kirk. “We make quilts for people whose homes have burned down and for law enforcement officers for when they encounter a situation where a small child needs a blanket.”
Rounding out the weekend are various boutique items for sale, 140 quilts on display and 12 different vendors.
For more information, call Rheta Kirk at 828-264-4370. To make an appointment with appraiser Neva Hart, call Patsy at 336-877-9109.
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