June 13, 2011

This morning while I was on the phone with the activities director of Locust Grove Rehabilitation and Retirement Village, discussing the final touches of the Trail Rug, I watched a yellow bird fighting with a hummingbird at the bird feeder. I wish I could tell you what species the yellow bird and/or hummingbird was, but I was multi-tasking and unable to turn my full attention to bird identification.

And why am I blogging about this bird interaction? Actually I'm not sure except that as with most aspects of coordinating the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails it is a project of multi-tasking. Today for instance while on the phone with Locust Grove's Freda Durio, I had my mail program open to write an email to Community Partnerships RC&D staff member Mike Lennartz hoping he would help me procure paper products, chips and a cake for the Trail Rug unveiling. At the same time I was searching through an antique wooden file box for the index card with contact information for Skills of Central Pennsylvania, the group working on another quilt square. An email from Packwood Museum that needed to be addressed was open on  my desktop. Add to that petting my border collie, lying at my feet, listening to see if the washing machine has finished its cycle and writing a to-do list, I am the epitome of multi-tasking.

Like multi-tasking the PA Quilt (and Rug) trails is multi-faceted. The Trail Rug to be hung in less than a month at the Tuscarora State Forest, took about forty people to make happen. Hard to imagine but true. And each of us with a specific task at hand added to the whole, making a fantastic piece that will be availble to all for many, many years to come.

Come join PA Quilt (and Rug) trails as we unveiled this special addition to our trail

July 8th, 2011, 11AM 

Tuscarora State Forest Fire Station

Blain, Pennsylvania

For more information contact:

Sharon Lee, administrator of Pa Quilt (and Rug) Trails 

administrator@paquilttrails,org

717-248-4901 ext 326

June 7, 2011

May 31, 2011

Still working on website. Hope to be up and running early next week.

May 24, 2011

Under Construction

There will be a brief hiatus while I create a PA Quilt (And Rug) Trails official website. While updating my "quilt trails" data base (info about all other quilt trails) I noticed that we did not have a web site although we do have a web presence through Facebook, blogging, Youtube, etc. Figured it was time to get a formal website created. I expect all to be completed in two weeks time. Until then Facebook postings will be fewer and blogging will be put on hold. Will announce website address once all is up and running.

Till then,
Sharon Lee
administrator of PA Quilt (and Rug)Trails

May 17, 2011

There's a shrub that grows in southeast Arizona with the most beautiful flowers appearing early spring. My friend, the Park Ranger calls these flowers either red or yellow "Birds of Paradise". My brief Google search left me with more questions than answers and I hope you will forgive my lack of concrete knowledge. Most people in southeast Arizona barely pay a glance at these ever present shrubs. I can't say for sure that they are native wildflowers but it appears they have naturalized, thriving and a sight to behold.

So what is the connection between the Bird of Paradise and the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails?

The PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is  currently is spreading throughout central Pennsylvania. The idea did not originate in Pennsylvania but has now infiltrated and rooted itself here quite nicely. Like the Bird of Paradise, the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is a delightful sight that brightens the landscape.

P.S.It is important in these "hard economic times" to remember things of beauty. Please if you have wanted to support the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails now is the season. $350 pays all costs and expenses per square. Donate today and be part of the beauty flowering of central Pennsylvania.

May 9, 2011

Work has begun on PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails newest square, one of two squares sponsored by the Juniata Valley Quilters' Guild. The design chosen by the group is the Carpenter's Wheel design, appropriate for its placement on the Heirloom Cabintry barn in  Mifflintown. This beautiful patch is to be painted in brick red, steel blue and creme by the Skills of Central Pennsylvania group under the tutelage of Kay Weimer.

According to Owen Sound's Black History website (http://www.osblackhistory.com/quiltcodes.php ) the Carpenter's Wheel was one of many quilts used to pass information assisting black men, women and children as they fled slavery.

PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is proud to add this outstanding pattern to our growing quilt and rug trail

May 2, 2011

There are many steps involved in designing, creating, hanging and promoting the PA Quilt (and Rug)Trails pieces. Because of governmental budget cuts we recentlty lost one of our office "handymen" so Kevin Morgan, Natural Research Specialists, and Mike Lennartz, Conservation Administrator, graciously volunteered to do a hardware run to get the supplies necessary for the Locust Grove Rehabilitation and Retirement Center residents to get going on the nation's first Trail Rug. 20 sponge brushes, 3 paint brushes, 1 gallon of high quality primer, 4 rolls of painter's tape, two pieces of 4' x 8'-3/4" exterior plywood, and 12 quarts of multi-colored paint later, all has been delivered and the hands-on work begun.

Freda Durio is the woman at site, coordinating the painting of the Trail Rug, with help from friends, neighbors as well as many Locus Grove residents. In about a month the piece will be delivered to the Ranger Station at the Tuscarora Station in Blain, PA, equipment secured, and the piece will be hung.

Over all when all is said and done over one-hundred people will be involved in this project from begining to end.

Community Partnerships RC&D is all about partnerships with the end goal being an enhancement of the community and its residents. The PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is an excellent illustration of those types of partnerships, how intregral partnerships are to making a quality community, with a visual piece a reminder of this process.

Support PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails today. Sponsorships and all donations are needed and much appreciated.