Quilts

Yesterday (Sunday) was a gorgeous, balmy day for an afternoon outing to the museum to see an exhibit of quilts and hear quilters talk about the craft.



Neither Mother nor I are quilters, but we are awed by the creativity of those who are. Quilting is in danger of becoming a dying art, though, because most young women are not interested in taking it up. And local clubs that still hold quilting bees are suffering dwindling membership as older members drop out for health reasons, or die.



A nearby club still meets regularly each Tuesday and Thursday, from noon to 4 p.m. A few of its members are currently devoting Tuesday afternoons to the museum, where they are demonstrating quilting. Anyone who wants to learn the craft can sit and stitch with these women.



Apparently, once a woman catches the quilting fever, it lasts a lifetime, as evidenced by an active member of that club who is in her 90s.



One quilter yesterday gave a brief history of quilt-making, using information she found on the Internet. Some sites she referred to are: www.quilt.com/History/QuiltingBee; http://www.womenfolk.com/quilting%20history/quilting; and www.backwoodshome.com/articles/parkin22.



Another quilter read a poignant essay she had written for publication. In it, she tells of her personal journey with quilts made by her grandmother and great-grandmother...quilts that warmed her on winter nights, wrapped her in a history of her family, and led her on her own 30-year quilting journey.

Mother and I agree that for us quilting would represent tedium. But we sure to do admire those who find joy and fellowship in such a highly creative activity.