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.

Late Winter Snow

There are three types of snow days that tickle one's senses: the first snow of the season, the first huge snowfall and a late winter snow. The first two types need little explanation. The first snowfall is delightful. Kids and adults alike can be found outdoors, catching snowflakes on their tongues, cleaning up skis in preparation for winter skiing and digging out all the warm and comfortable sweaters, scarves, hats and mittens, lovingly stowed away since  past spring.

The first large snowfall of the year is, for many, an unofficial holiday. Many school and businesses are closed. Often people stay in bed a bit longer, warm and snuggled amongst the winter comforters and wool blankets. Woodstoves are ablaze, filling the air with curls of smoke and the fragrant scent of wood burning.

However, and many will disagree with this statement, one of the best snows are the late winter snows. Because they are so late in the season, shoveling does not need to be as precise, most likely in a day or two the sun will shine and melt most of the snow anyway. Ofttimes, this will be one of the last snows of the year, so the chances for x-country skiing are few until the next winter. Many of the birds have returned. If you are fortunate enough to take a walk in the woods during or immediately after the late winter snow, you will be blessed with a forest full of bird chattering, cold, fresh air bracing your nose and cheeks and the feeling of being truly alive.

Central Pennsylvania has its beauty in all seasons, but its beauty in winter may be vastly under appreciated. This year make an effort to follow the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails during the last few weeks of winter. Enjoy the beauty that is free and yours for experiencing.

Support PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails today!!!!!!

The unofficial state bird of Pennsylvania

If you were to name which non-native bird, living in Pennsylvania, represented best rural Pennsylvania, you most likely would name the domestic chicken. In most neighborhood, the sunrise is meet with the crowing of a rooster. Drive down many rural lanes and you will be greeted by a flock of chicken scavenging for bugs on the side of the road.

When my daughter was young, her best friend was a Rhode Island Red, named Bellina. Bellina willingly let Meagan push her in a stroller around the yard often with a small blanket if the day had a bit of a chill about it. Besides Bellina there were four other chickens, all named specific for their humanistic attributes (Zena, Gabriel, David Bowie, and Esmeralda). Many of my neighbors also kept chicken and town wide potlucks always had plenty of egg dishes options.

Central Pennsylvania's love affair with chickens goes way, way back. Today much of the nations' poultry comes from central Pennsylvania, Amish and Mennonite farms throughout the region raise chickens as well as many residents whether as a home hobby or a project of FFA or 4H

Writing Grants

Community Partnerships RC&D, ever supportive of the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails, acquired a grant writer to help push the trail to the next level. As a result, I have had my first try at setting a budget in order to apply for a grant. The experience is a positive one as it forces one to be organized and plan ahead. Aside from simply moving forward, a grant will allow the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails to creatively grow.

I chose three projects to focus on. Two smaller projects and a larger one (at least monetarily):

1) QR (Quick Response) a mobile marketing tool, allows those with smart phones to read a code and receive appropriate info. Codes will be placed on site via permanent signs.

2) Mobile tours is another tool that has been used on several quilt trails throughout the nation. By dialing a phone number (to be posted on site), the caller will have access to a three minute recording which will be appropriate to the site, quilt, sponsor, inspiration  and/or painters of the quilt square.

3) The final project, my personal pet project will be a book of photographs taken by a professional photographer showing the quilt (and rug) pieces in their most attractive vantage points. Through self publishing, the costs can be kept down, no need for inventory and ultimately everybody will save money.

Working as the administrator of the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails has meant many exciting and new challenges for me as well as for the entire staff and board of Community Partnerships RC&D. The future looks bright and exciting.

The art of giving

I guess the purpose of blogging for the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails is to attach a humanness to the project. Sometimes this forum is used as a space to make announcements or updates. Sometimes its just me, the blogger, trying to make a connection to you, the reader.

My present employment status is precarious at best. I have three part-time jobs. It took me almost a year to become that solvent and my financial solvency is not even close. With several school loans to pay back, car insurance, gas, rent, utilities and food there is hardly a penny left to spend on frivolity.

The other day I was at the local grocer picking up a few essentials (tp, dog food, bagels and sugar) when I ran into two local impoverished folk. One was selling rocks and the other held a cardboard sign looking for work. Not having enough money to support a worker or purchase a piece of azerite, I bought the gentlemen a couple of apple fritters and bid them well. As I drove off I realized something,  no mater how little one is able to help, it can have an impact. Now don't get me wrong, an apple  fritter will not change either of their lives. They still are without adequate shelter, no health care, they still are wearing worn-out clothing and shoes.  Yet, for a short period of time, they felt closer to human, someone who is cared for and appreciated.

The PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails operates on a similar premise. The "squares" which are multiplying call attention to the importance of central Pennsylvania communities. Having a quilt square in your community shows others that your community is appreciated, cared for and honored in a respectable way. Donating to this undertaking, shows the community at large that you are someone who cares for the better good of the community. Maybe you can only offer help painting, maybe you only can give a small donation or maybe your efforts can be put towards getting a group together to have your own quilt square-it all matters. Nothing is ever too small a gesture.

Be part of something that gives back and grows-support the PA Quilt (and Rug) Trails.