New Beginnings Quilt Exhibit at Kent

By Joyce Becker

For the Kent Reporter

Although it hardly seems possible, there are more than 27 million quilters in the United States alone. In fact, quilting generates more than $3 billion dollars a year. Many people associate quilting as a bygone era when quilts were made out of necessity to provide warmth. Fast forward to today, where the quilting world has changed big time, and quilters are savvy, well-educated women and men. Some contemporary quilters stitch their works of art on high-tech, computerized sewing machines. In fact, some of the latest and greatest state-of-the-art, home-quilting sewing machines may cost more than $10,000 dollars!

As a result of the booming interest in quilting, hundreds, perhaps thousands of quilting guilds have popped up all over the United States. Like many other communities around the country, Kent has its own resident guild, the Evergreen Piecemakers Quilt Guild, established in 1981. Formed to promote the art and craft of quiltmaking, the guild is proud to announce its 26th quilt show, New Beginnings, and is pleased to invite the public to attend. The display takes place May 30-31 at Kent Commons located at 525 Fourth Ave., in Kent, with a suggested donation of $5.

In what promises to be a colorful and diverse exhibit, the quilt show will showcase approximately 200 quilts, including entry categories ranging from bed quilts, wearable art and home décor, wall quilts, art quilts, journal quilts, and a special category of quilts made by children. The judges for this event are a mother-and-daughter team, Evelyna Manier and Lisa Timfichuk.

In addition to the marvelous quilts on display, there will be many other activities including; a merchant mall offering an array of quilting fabrics, books, and notions for purchase. If you need to rest or recharge your engines during the show, a dessert café offering delectable desserts and beverages will be located in an adjacent area. The quilt show will also feature a booth with small quilts for purchase, opportunities to purchase tickets for a stunning raffle quilt, and there will be a gift gallery featuring gifts made my members.

Featured artist Mary Allen, an EP member since 1995, will showcase approximately 30 of her quilt and fabric creations. Allen will be available to chat with show-goers and will provide on-going demonstrations at her booth. Her display will include appliquéd and pieced quilts, clothing, bowls, bags, hand-dyed wool appliquéd projects, quilted photography, and landscape quilts. Allen was initially attracted to quilting because “Quilting gives us a common language and purpose. Some segments of our society are so unconnected with drive-up food, and drive-up coffee, e-mail, and text messaging. Quilting gives me a communication form unlike any other.” Allen has served as a guild co-president and in many other committee chair positions, and continues to be an active volunteer with the guild.

The mission of Evergreen Piecemakers Quilt Guild is to preserve the heritage of quilt-making and quilt appreciation. This group donates quilts and other fiber arts on an ongoing basis to deserving organizations, hospitals, and groups. If you’d like to learn more about quilting, feel free to attend a guild meeting. The group meets twice a month at the First Christian Church in Kent, and also offers workshops and lectures to its membership and the general public. For more information regarding the guild or the New Beginnings quilt show, go to: www.evergreenpiecemakers.com.

If You Go:

What: New Beginnings Quilt Show

When: May 30-31

Hours: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 30

Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 31

Where: Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Ave.

Cost: $5 suggested donation

Information: www.evergreenpiecemakers.com