September 15, 2010

If I ever doubted the power of art with its ability to draw people's attention inward, that doubt is gone after spending the better part of the past week in Bisbee, Arizona. If you've never traveled to this art-filled town, you should immediately amend your bucket list. Everywhere you look, especially in the most unexpected places art pieces, both decorative as well as political permeated the town. As a result Bisbee is one of the most visited places in southeast Arizona outside of Tombstone (can anyone really resist Elvis impersonators hobnobbing with cowboys down a dusty Arizona road?

Like Bisbee, the purpose of the PA Quilt Trails is to draw people's attention inward by using quilt squares to draw attention to some of central Pennsylvania's special places. Followers of our trail will get to slow down, get off the fast lane and experience the beauty of central Pennsylvania by following the beautiful colors and patterns of a quilt square. These painted jewels combine the tradition of a centuries-old craft, color and form to create works of art. If you were on the fence about supporting the PA Quilt Trails,now is a critical time in getting this project fully on it's way of becoming a known attractor in the region. Sponsor an entire quilt square ($250)or donate a lesser amount (even $5 helps!) there's a Paypal donation button on the top right hand side of this page. Just click and you can easily make a donation with a credit card or Paypal account.

July 8, 2010

I am thrilled to post that we have our first quilt square sponsors and sites. After one and a half months of mostly computer and paper work, securing our first quilt squares is a momentous and celebrated event.

The first of the quilt squares will be installed at the Hunters Valley Winery near Liverpool, Pennsylvania. Situated just 1/3 mile off of route 11, I was delighted to encounter a view of the vineyard overlooking the Susquehanna River and its surrounding mountains. Even with high humidity compromising the clarity of the vista, the view from Hunter Mountain Winery was spectacular. After sampling a lovely semi-sweet red wine, I enjoyed the lovely breeze and pictured visitors picnicking on the grounds with their recently purchased bottle of wine, grown, fermented and bottled just a few feet away.

Not much more than twenty minutes away at The Sewing Shanty, in the charming town of Selinsgrove, is the site of our second quilt square . I was delightfully surprised by this shop which is chock full of fabrics and finished sewn and quilted pieces. For the short while I was there, I was inspired and awed by the shop's fabrics and quilts. Shop owner Debbie has a developed eye for interesting colors and patterns. Without exaggeration, I could have spent the entire day there looking through her inventory. Debbie and her brother are creating a wooden quilt together to be displayed in the store window as a memorial to their father. This unique quilt will be made by using various types of wood pieces cut into triangles and squares, forming a Sawtooth quilt pattern to commemorate the years their father spent as an owner of a sawmill. A touching tribute which promises to be beautiful and unique.

Well it took the better part of a week to post a new blog but several days "in the field" attending conferences, meetings and train rides wrapped around a weekend, has delayed my best intentions.

Last week I spent the majority of my work day driving from Lewistown, PA. to Lewisburg, PA. looking for potential quilt sites. It was a wet, rainy day and though I was tempted to postpone this trip for a day or so. However, Pennsylvania's weather can be notoriously rainy and I decided to perservere and tour central Pennsylvania amid the raindrops.

Traveling northeast on 522 to Route 104, my first stop was Shade Mountain Winery in Snyder County. Through the mist, I could see sixty-five acres of grape vines across the road from a 19th century converted barn housing a winery, party room and retail shop. Needing a few minutes to dry off I met the propritors and baby Pete who was visiting grandma and grandpa for the day. Being on the clock I didn't feel a full taste-tasting appropriate but curiousity overcame my sense of restraint and a sample of fabulous elderberry wine was imbibed and a bottle of this deliciuos infusion was purchased to be enjoyed at home, on my porch, star gazing with my dog.(Corny, cliche and true.)

Just heading up the road I turned off to a horse and buggy Menonite dairy, specialing in raw milk and cheese production. This family operation is cooperatively managed by two generations of Menonites. I was given a brief tour of the cheese production room and thrilled to find the facilities immaculate.

The rest of the day was full of discoveries: the beautiful architecture of Lewisburg, A delicious authentic Mexican meal in Selinsgrove and lastly an accidental discovery of a covered bridge in Beaver Springs (near the home of Davy Jones of Monkees fame).