Displays of love, memories at annual quilting exhibit

Published 10:17 pm Sunday, January 10, 2016

“After the holiday month, it’s still cold and a little gloomy outside, then you walk in to visit this beautiful family quilt exhibit and feel warm and cozy,” says Julie Dyer, program coordinator for the Dalton-Whitfield Senior Center.

“January seem like the perfect time to have a quilt exhibit.”

Butterflies, wedding rings, Tweety Bird and Dutch dolls have all been displayed at the Family Quilt Exhibit in the past.

The exhibit, which starts today and runs through Friday at the center, has been held for more than 10 years. Dyer said the idea came from seniors who sewed at the center.

“I decided to invite them to bring in family quilts and tell their stories,” she said.

This is the first year that Pat Crick has entered her mother’s quilt representing the 50 states.

“Mom made a state quilt in 1999, she would sit and do this while my stepdad watched television,” Crick said.

The quilt is of all 50 states and the year they were established.

Crick said like all of the quilts her late mom Mina Joe Holcolmb made, they mean a lot.

“It’s just part of my soul, I treasure them so much,” she said.

Dyer said the sentiments of quilts are exciting.

“I get to hear conversations between seniors, their friends, visitors or even their grandchildren who come and it creates memories,” she said. “They share those memories and it plays into our souls, hearts and minds. Then, they are just beautiful to look at.”

Dyer said there are usually 50 or more quilts on display for the public to view at no charge.

Last year a woman brought in quilts she used to make with her late mother.

“One represented a son that passed away and another was photographs of her husband’s antique cars he fixed,” Dyer said.

There are all kinds of quilts in different sizes.

Charlotte Moss calls herself a beginner. She’s entered a table runner and table topper into the exhibit.

“Quilting is an art and the more you do the better you are at it,” Moss said.

Moss gets plenty of practice in a quilting class held at the center every second and fourth Friday of the month. The class is taught by Joyce Blake.

“We like to quilt together because we enjoy the companionship of quilting as a group,” she said.

Blake said ladies make quilts by hand and machine and some do both. She’s entered quite a few quilts in the exhibit and is excited to see others.

“The exhibit gives us an opportunity to see the different styles and methods in quilting,” she said.

There is no judging of quilts. Dyer said it’s purely for people’s viewing pleasure.

The hours of the exhibit are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. For more information on the exhibit, call the center at (706) 278-3700.