Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Spring's Delicate Dance of the Quilts In Library's Garden Gallery

In the Gallery for April: Just before the first breath of spring bursts forth, freshened by "pieceful" winter quilting adventures, our Sugar Creek Quilters begin to bloom with a consuming passion to share their fantastic fabric forays with the world at large.

So, in a not-so-quiet profusion of munificent color, magical quilts "trip the light fantastic" on the walls and in the display cases of the Library's Mary Bishop Memorial Art Gallery from Monday, March 16 until Thursday, April 30, during regular Library hours.

With a core of 60 active members, Sugar Creek Quilters learn about and enjoy everything relating to the old-fashioned and new-fangled art of quilting. Member's interests range from those who unashamedly enjoy just being around or under warm snuggly quilts, to those who venture further into their imaginations to create bed quilts, art-quilts, baby quilts, patterns, bags, purses, wallets, vests, jackets and everything in between. A plentiful passel of the picturesque is fashioned during this mind-bending process.

The SCQ meets at 6:45 on the third Monday of every month in the Public Library's Lower Level Community Room C. Everyone is welcome to come, enjoy and perhaps join the group! Cost of membership is $15.00 per year, which includes an informative monthly newsletter, the opportunity to hear state-of-the-art speakers and to enjoy the work of members during each meeting's show-and tell. Small sub-groups in art & color interpretation, machine and hand quilting, using found objects in making quilts meaningful and making a different patterned square each month, have been added to the SCQ agenda this year. The four smaller groups have become very popular and are stretching minds and aiding growth. Small Groups are free and members may take all four classes or just one.

Quilters come in all shapes and sizes as do their unique and unusual creations. However the quilter's inspiration comes, the quilt will be fascinating to behold. Color choices reflect personal preference; difficulty of design depends on the individual quilter's skill and proficiency. Some members finish their quilts quickly; others take a more relaxed approach. Some quilters enjoy beading and bling; others plain and not so fancy. This diversity makes for genuine interest, education and a lack of boredom.

Members encourage one another to enter state and national quilting competitions where they are judged, juried, win prestigious ribbons and prizes and receive a gentle critique of their work. A larger opportunity from which to grow.

Enjoy an "inside breath of spring" right here, until the real thing comes along.

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