Meet the Squares: Sewing Shanty

One of the most touching back stories of a PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails quilt square was the Sewing Shanty quilt square created by Debra Andretta and Mark Paul Brong in honor of their father, who passed just a few months earlier. Wanting to honor their dad and his love of wood working, Debra, a talented quilter, created the "rough" draft by using fabric pieces to represent a variety of wood colors and textures. Mark then took Debra's template, adapting cloth to pieces of local wood and fabricated  a beautiful multi-textural inlay wood square. The quilt pattern initiated in fabric by Debra is called the "Sawtooth Square".

Although the Sewing Shanty has since closed, the piece has been relocated to the Daily Grind on route 45 in Vicksburg. This is a unique, beautiful part of the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails that should not be missed. Take a drive through rolling hills and farmlands to Vicksburg, enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and see the intricate handiwork that honors another one of central Pennsylvania's artisans.

Meet the Quilt Squares: Hunters Valley Winery

Many people living in central Pennsylvania have kept much of the "old school" way of doing things. Tapping maple trees at the end of the winter, cooking down apples for apple butter and harvesting home grown veggies and fruits to "put up" are more common than not. Spend some time outside of the enclave of central Pennsylvania and you will realize how far many people have grown from hands-on living.

The first quilt square of the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is installed at a place where wine is grown, harvested, fermented, bottled and sold. The entire process is done by hand. During the few months I spent at Hunters Valley Winery in Liverpool working on their quilt square,  I was privy to  part of the process. On one visit Bill, Shirley and a friend from the neighborhood, were pouring grape juice into wooden vats to be compressed. On another visit, Darlene, Shirley and Bill were inside hand bottling their delicious wines. Even the installation of the Hunters Valley Winery quilt square was a hands-on process for Bill and the two local Mennonite carpenters.

In this time of technological-driven procedures and processes, it is delightful to be exposed to hands-on industries. Take the time and head to Liverpool, photograph you and your friends/family/loved ones in front of  Pennsylvania's first quilt square and enjoy the beautiful setting of Hunters Valley Winery. Don't forget to bring home a bottle of some truly yummy local wine. Enjoy

Two broken legs

I, like most people in these hard economic times, have multiple, part-time jobs. Graduating college is no longer a guarantee of full-time well-paying employment. One of my jobs is working at a writing center at a junior college. Helping students with their papers and ultimately helping them pass classes that will lead to graduation, is rewarding (though not financially) work. Twice a week I work with a 72 year old gentleman who has enrolled in school to learn how to read, write and gain computer skills. He is very much a presence at the writing center and has become part of the "family". Two weeks ago he stopped coming to the center. After the first missed day I began my search for him, asking around for sightings, phoning his house and even driving to his house a few times to see if I could catch a glimpse of him sitting on his porch. Two days ago I found out that he had been hit by a car and was now in a nursing home with two broken legs and numerous other injuries.

I visited my gentleman friend and told him how much he was missed and how I had been looking for him for the previous two weeks. We talked briefly and I asked if he had any needs that I could take care of for him. As I parted he left me with this thought, "Life can change in an instant. One minute you are crossing the street to go get your morning cup of coffee and then next you are in an ambulance heading for the hospital."

The PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails will most likely be around long after we all are gone. However, now is the time to visit and support it. There may not be an opportunity tomorrow. Take your family and follow the trail.  Visit the Hunters Valley Winery quilt square on a date. Show your kids the world's first Trail Rug at the Tuscarora forest. Support is easy by using the Paypal button at the top right of this page. Take advantage of what you have today.