January 31, 2011

Coordinating a project such as the PA Quilt (and rug) Trails requires me to spend a large percent of time on the computer in relation to the actual "building" of the trail. Besides this blog and a PA Quilt Trails Facebook page, I started a Facebook group "Quilt Barn Trails" as a place to share and post info of other trails. Thanks to Google alerts I have been able to regularly share with followers; links, press releases and photos from other trails. Oftimes this is a source of inspiration for me in regards to administering the trail.


Some of the most interesting links to date have been:


Snow photos posted on

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1671727204946&set=o.133036866706550#!/media/set/?set=o.133036866706550

A Trail conference this summer

www.quilttrailgathering.com

A Keynote presentation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhLgZnnNb3E

Feel free to join this group even if you are not involved with a specific trail

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=127543297262928

January 24, 2011

I have been working for the past few weeks with Rug Hooking Magazine our newest sponsor for the Pa Quilt Trails. This piece will be hung at the Tuscarora Forest Ranger Station, Blain, Pennsylvania.

In August 2011 Kathy Wright will be releasing a book about Magdalena Briner, a 19th century central Pennsylvania native who is renown for her hooked rugs designs. In keeping with the accuracy of Briner's work, this piece will  be a rectangle. Today many hook rug enthusiasts adapt Briner designs when creating their own works of art.

This is an exciting direction for the PA Quilt Trails to take. Including another aspect of the central Pennsylvania's culture gives the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails a richness and complexity that would not have been experienced had we followed a strict direction for the trail and not let things develop organically.

If you or your group would like to sponsor a quilt, (rug or ?) square please contact PA Quilt Trails at 717-242-0874 ext. 326. Join this great movement marking  achievements of Central Pennsylvanian talented residents now and past.

January 17, 2011

I wanted to find a connection between PA Quilt Trails and MLK to celebrate a man who encouraged people to stand up for their rights. In honor of one of our modern day heroes here's a quote that captures the essence of PA Quilt Trails and the civil rights movement.

"Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better. "

-Martin Luther King Jr.

PS. Next post: Who is Magdalena Briner and why is one of her hooked rug designs being used for a quilt square?

1-11-11

In a day or two PA Quilt Trails will be announcing a new quilt square to be added to the PA Quilt Trails. And like its predecessor's, this quilt square promises to have interesting cultural significance. Gene Odata, District Forester for the Tuscarora Forest District has worked very hard to make this project happen.


This square is unusual in many aspects. Unlike the more typical quilt square locations of many quilt trails, this square is placed deep in on of Pennsylvania's State Forests. Pennsylvania has about 28.7 million acres of forest and to place a quilt square at the Ranger's Station in a beautiful multi-purpose forest seems like a perfect fit.

As soon as I can "officially" name the sponsor of this quilt, I will also tell a back story which makes the quilt-its design -and location all the more relevant.



This spring we will have several new quilt squares hung including tentatively this one at the Tuscarora.

January 3, 2011

Happy New Years!


As the administrator of the PA Quilt Trails my attention is often not on the same quilt as everyone else's. A new quilt in Perry county, for me could have been front and foremost in my months  before anyone else is even aware of its exsistence.

The quilt square at the Sewing Shanty in Selinsgrove was one of the first quilt squares that was committed to. Soon after the PA Quilt Trails brochures were sent out I was contacted by Debra Andretta, the proprietor of the Sewing Shanty, about the possibility of a quilt square in her place of business. Debra and her brother Mark wanted to honor their father with a memorial piece.

As written by Debra Andretta:

"This quilt pattern is called a Sawtooth Square.  My father, Paul W. Brong, 1931-2010, loved the outdoors.  Until recent years, he owned a sawmill and had a marvelous equipped wood shop.  My brother, Mark Paul Brong, owner of Mark Brong's Woodworking, took my father's love of wood and turned in into a very successful furniture and woodworking business.  The fabrics I used for the quilt represent my father's love of wood-there are wood grains representing the pine, oak, walnut, and local cherry woods, round grains for firewood, woven basket design representing Dad's love of caning chairs. a masonry fabric ,(he built his own stone house back in the 1950's),  and the border fabric represents wood carving"

Debra created the design of this piece using fabrics and her brother Mark created the final piece with a variety of woods.

This is a beautiful piece not to be missed.

Sewing Shanty

29 S. Market Street
Selinsgrove, PA 17870
(570) 372-1922

December 28, 2010

It seems inevitable that the last post of the year for any blogger will be the summation of the past year. Community Partnerships RC&D had thrown about the idea of starting a quilt trail for a year or two. It wasn't until I came came aboard the team as a six month intern that we were able to get this project off the ground. Starting at the end of May 2010, it was my project to research and initiate.

For almost the entire month of June I spent most of my working (and non-working) hours learning everything I could about pre-existing trails. We were fortunate as to have been proceeded by many capable and well organized trails. The Internet allows this information to be freely shared.

At first the idea of such a task seemed over-whelming. I couldn't begin to imagine how I could bring random folk, buildings and money together for a project that was new, during a time of economic turmoil.

Little by little I began to understand the process necessary and the  PA Quilt Trails became a reality. Today there are two quilt squares completed and installed, two squares in the creation stages and two squares  just beginning to take form.

The PA Quilt Trails is part of your community. Make it even more personal by sponsoring a square this year. $250 pays for all the supplies and materials for one square. Honor a retiring colleague, departed loved one, business or family by sponsoring a square in their name.

Happy New Years

click on Happy New Years link

or paste address below in web browser

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VggAH1dk3Qk

December 21, 2010

I know everyone from your local girl scouts, religious organizations, art associations and animal rescues have asked you for year end-holiday donations. This time of year, for all of us can be financially overwhelming. Regardless of your religious persuasion most likely gift giving is high on your list of December necessities.

Yet here once again asking for PA Quilt Trails financial support. Support for the PA Quilt Trails comes back many fold for its community. Pa Quilt Trails needs its community to support this venture.

Please consider supporting PA Quilt Trails in your gift giving. Maybe a quilt square in honor of a boss, worker or loved one. Perfect gift for the hard to please and those who have everything. $250 pays all the material expenses for one quilt. There are volunteers willing to give their time and paint so all that is needed right now is money for paint, brushes and plywood.

You can easily ,make a donation, any size large or small by clicking on the Paypal button on top to the right. No Paypal account is needed.