Packwood Museum, Welcome to the Fold

Although there are several quilt squares in various states of being created, I haven't blogged much about these pieces. One reason is lack of concrete information. Many aspects of designing, painting and installing a quilt piece are complex (meetings to be had, committees to be formed, agreements and partnerships to be made) so it should come as no small wonder that information concerning these new pieces have been slow to surface.

However.....

I did get some information concerning the Packwood Museum quilt square. The Packwood Museum is located in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. It has a wonderful collection of quilts. This spring, in conjunction with a major quilt exhibit  at the museum, will be the installation of the Packwood Museum Quilt Square, part of the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails.

http://www.paquilttrails.org/PA_Quilt_and_Rug_Trails/Packwood_Museum.html

June 12, 2012 to October 13, 2012,
Pennsylvania Quilts II: Patterns and Variations
Reflectingthe breadth and depth of the Packwood Museum’s outstanding collection of over 200 Pennsylvania-made quilts, ranging from the 1810s to the 1950s.

Packwood House Museum 

15 North Water Street

Lewisburg, PA 17837

570-524-0323. 

This holiday season support PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails. This great, community project is one that will go on for years and years to come. All donations large and small are appreciate. Donate via the Paypal button on the top right or send a check to 

PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails

C/o Community Partnerships RC&D

23 North Main Street

Lewistown, PA. 17044

Thank You

One year at Thanksgiving, my daughter and I decided to collect thanks on slips of paper pasting them all around the house then sharing what was on written the papers during Thanksgiving dinner. For me, the opportunity to verbalize thanks reminded me just how of the many things of which to be grateful. In the same tradition of gratitude, I give thanks for the following PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails related people, places and things:

Thanks to Hunters Valley Winery, the first quilt square of the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails. Not only did I experience a fabulous view of the Susquehanna River from the Hunters Valley vineyard I got to see the "hands-on" process of wine making and bottling.

Thanks to the Sewing Shanty of Selingrove. Debbie and Paul created the most wonderful quilt square from polished pieces of wood. Their work is a testament to the power of honoring loved ones.

Thanks to Gene Odata and all the forestry personnel at the Tuscarora State Forest. Thanks to Gene I discovered the Tuscarora Forest, a beautiful forest in a rural setting with camping, hiking trails, wild flowers and morel hunting.

Thanks to Kathy Wright and the folks at Stackpole Books for introducing me to Magdalean Briner Eby, an local, primitive hook rug artist who was the inspiration for the first "Trail Rug".

Thanks to the Juniata Valley Quilters Guild. This group supported two quilt squares, following the process through from beginning to end.

Thanks to Locust Grove Retirement and Rehabilitation Village. They took a complicated xerox of a photo of a Magdalean Briner Eby rug and successfully made it into a beautiful painted piece.

Thanks to Skills of Central Pennsylvania, a group of dedicated painters who made the Heirloom Cabinetry quilt square happen.

Thanks to Heirloom Cabinetry who lent the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails the side of their barn, framed and installed the "Carpenters Wheel" quilt square.

Thanks to Kristen Price. Because of her great photographic skills, the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is visually available for all to see no matter where you are.

Thanks to Kevin Morgan, Joe Fiore and Mike Lennartz. These behind the scenes guys juggled plywood and paint deliveries with their own very demanding responsibilities of working for Community Partnerships RC&D.

Thanks to  Mackenzie and Madison Price who were dragged hither and yon, doing whatever necessary.

Thanks to Larry Schardt for taking me on as an Earth Team intern and assigning me this awesome project.

Thanks to the board of Community Partnerships RC&D who supported this project. The board of CPRC&D had the insight to see the potential of this project and gave full support.

And finally thanks to Sam Price, Executive Director of Community Partnerships RC&D who works tirelessly to make the PA Quilt (and Rug)Trails a reality, convincing the CPRC&D board, Central Pennsylvania community members, politicians and powers that be when necessary, supporting me when needed, while tolerating some out of the box, off-beat, crazy ideas I have. Thanks Sam you are indeed the man.

Support the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails and next year add your name to persons to be thankful to.

Happy Thanksgiving

Sharon Lee

administer PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails

Hometown

There is a Chinese / Mandarin word "家乡(jia3 xiang3)" that means "native town or hometown". It is an important bit of information necessary when filling out official forms in mainland China. While  hometowns are usually a place of birth or residence, many Chinese have never once visited their hometown.


Hometown then is really a state of mind or allegiance tied to a geographical location. I myself consider central Pennsylvania my "hometown" although I was born and raised in New Jersey. Hometown for me is the place that feels most familiar, most connected and comfortable, a place for roots. 

Follow the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails and see how easy it is to connect with central Pennsylvania and call it your own "hometown" One morning, this winter, central Pennsylvania will be awaken by a blanket of snow producing a beautiful and comforting silence . Even the birds are still on such mornings. The smell from local, oak wood burning in a wood stove, making its way to your nose, as you lay snuggled and warm beneath quilts and blankets. Don an over-sized, flannel robe, pair of fuzzy slippers and head to the kitchen for hot, strong coffee, the first sip warming you from within ...Can there be anything more familiar? more comforting? more basic? 

The PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails will guide you to experience the hometown feeling of central Pennsylvania. Each season brings its own comfort, joyful experience and connection, that will prompt you to claim central Pennsylvania as your own "hometown".

Occupy

Unless you have been sequested without television, newspaper, radio or internet, you've no doubt heard of the Occupy Movement. Started some months ago near Wall Street, NYC, , small bands of  disenfranchized gathered together in protest of what they perceive to be a broken system of power that government, banking, greedy corporations, etc. have over main stream society. The problem with this movement, many people believe, is that there is no common consesus of what exactly is being protested.

The quilt trail movement is not unlike the Occupy movement. Started originaly in Ohio by Donna Sue Groves in honor of a family member, it has spread throughout the nation (and Canada). And just like the Occupy movement, each trail, as well as each quilt piece, has a unique message and meaning.

In California the Lake County Quilt Trail celebrate American folk art within their rural agricultural communities. Burnsville North Carolina installed a vertical, sun-dial, quilt piece on their trail. The PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails honors loved ones, noted historic craftspeople, State Forest, small towns and family buisnesses.

Likewise the folks that follow a quilt trail brings their own unique expectations and experiences. Romance, quality family memories, reflection alone or with others, it's all part of the journey of following a quilt trail.

Answering the question, "What is a quilt trail?" is much like answering "What is the meaning of Occupy?" Both are many different things to different people. Come "occupy" the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails and make your own determination.