Great Opening!

Thanks to all who attened the opening of Celebrate Elders quilt exhibit at A Notion to Quilt in Shelburne Falls. People who attended said they were impressed that it was more art than quilts. They enjoyed the quilters' statements that went with each piece.
See the exhibit at A Notion to Quilt through Friday April 16.
April 19-24 at Wilson's in Greenfield
April 26-29 AThol Public Library
May 2 Athol Senior Prom (a ticketed event)

Here is a list of those with pieces in this exhibit. Thanks to these artists and those who have and will come to enjoy theri work:

Lois Bean, Whately
Anna Viadero, Montague Center
Marjorie Reid, Greenfield
Bernice Tuttle, Northfield
Shelburne Falls Senior Center, Shelburne Falls
Karen Helbig, Deerfield
Tessa White-Diemand, Wendell
Meg Baker, Greenfield
Linda Whitestone, Orange
Clare Panni, Athol
Connie Tombs, Greenfield
Ellen Brower Gately
Irena Pydych, Turners Falls
Elizabeth Foster, Sunderland
Poet Seat Health Care Center, Greenfield
Buckland Monday Nighters Quilters, Buckland, MA
Barbara Prescott, Greenfield
Marilyn Berthelette
Dotty Janke, Greenfield

One by One

As we get closer to deadline the quilts are coming! Liz is submitting one based on a design of Southern quilts done with cemetery ribbons (no samples remain because the fabric was so fragile); Shelburne Senior Center submitted an intergenerational quilt done by local seniors along with local students; Karen sent one she made for her Mom, who is in assisted living, to remember a scene from the Maine Coast.

Beautiful fabric pieces with heartfelt stories. I'm ready to see yours!

Here's a reminder of display dates, times and locations. Hope you come and enjoy these fine works from heart and hands:

The quilt exhibit will open with a reception at A Notion to Quilt, 623 Mohawk Trail, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370. The reception is Sunday April 11, 2010 from noon to 5pm. Quilts will remain at Notion 2 Quilt through Sunday April 18. Store hours are Tues. - Sat 10-5 plus Tues and Th 6:30-8:30 and Sunday 12-5.

April 19-24 quilts can be viewed at the Abbott Gallery in Wilson's Department Store, 258 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Store hours are 10-5:30 Mon - Th; 10-8 Fri & 9:30-5:30 Sat.

April 26- 30 Athol Public Library, 568 Main St., Athol, MA 01331. M, W, Th and Fri 9:30-5:30. Tues 9:30-7.

May 2: Athol Senior Prom, Athol Town hall, Main St. Athol, MA. This is a ticketed event. Please contact Cathy Savoy for more information: 978-249-8986 or coa@townofathol.org

Who's In?

Thank you to all who have started to bring their pieces in for our Clebrate Elders exhibit which will open April 11 at A Notion to Quilt in Shelburne Falls, MA.

Who's in? Well to date we have pieces and/or reservations from:

Megvey Baker, Greenfield, MA
Buckland Monday Nighters of Buckland Mary Lyon Church, Buckland, MA
Shelburne Falls Senior Center--an Intergenerational Project, Shelburne Falls, MA
Connie Tombs, Greenfield, MA
Bernice Tuttle, Northfield, MA
Tessa White-Diemand, Wendell, MA
Linda Whitestone, Orange, MA
Anna Viadero, Montague Center, MA

More on the way and some photos, too, to pique your interest! Keep an eye on this blog to find out more!

There's Heart in this Art

The pieces for Celebrate Elders continue to arrive!


Linda Whitestone of Orange submitted a piece called “Fun Never Gets Old!” It is dedicated to her mother Marion (Johnson) Forster who seemed to be looking over Linda’s shoulder while she made this piece.

Connie Tombs of Greenfield dropped off a piece titled “Blueberry Pie” which is a collection of wonderful memories.

Tess White-Diemand, a new quilter from Wendell, said she’d be a bit late but her piece is on the way.

Remember that each submitted piece has a story attached. These stories will be on display with the quilts.

I have had a few great suggestions from quilters. I will be making postcards for exhibitors to send out to friends and family. The postcards will give locations, days and times of the display.

We have also been asked to post photos of the quilts on our website which I will do after May 1. I’d like people in the community to visit the sites that display the quilts. You can vote for Viewer’s Choice at each location and that person will win $100.

I’m in my office surrounded by color, light, stories and memories now! Thanks for all the heart that went into this art!!

They're on the Way!

This morning Tina dropped off a piece from the Buckland Monday Nighters of Buckland Mary Lyon Church. It's an historic pattern assembled skillfully with attention to color, construction and design. Here’s a glimpse but you'll have to come see the exhibit to see the rest and read the story that goes along with it. Thank you Buckland Monday Nighters!
Remember quilts are due at Franklin County Home Care by March 31, 2010 5pm.
The quilt exhibit will open with a reception at A Notion to Quilt, 623 Mohawk Trail, Shelburne Falls, MA 01370. The opening reception is Sunday April 11, 2010 from noon to 5pm. It is free and all are welcome! Quilts will remain at A Notion to Quilt through Sunday April 18. Store hours are Tues. - Sat 10-5 plus Tues and Th 6:30-8:30 and Sunday 12-5.
April 19-24 quilts can be viewed at the Abbott Gallery in Wilson's Department Store, 258 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Store hours are 10-5:30 Mon - Th; 10-6 Fri and 9:30-5:30 Sat.
Quilts will be at Athol Council on Aging either the week of April 26-29 or May 3-6. Watch this space for a confirmation of those days and times.

Thanks to all who are preparing pieces for this exhibit adn to those who will enjoy the work of many hands!

Anna Viadero
aviadero@fchcc.org

How Can We Help You?

We're 28 days from the due date for entries into the Celebrate Elders Quilt Exhibit sponsored by Franklin County Home Care! Thanks to all who have made or are finishing (or maybe even just starting!) a piece for the exhibit! We're setting up exhibit space at Notion to Quilt in Shelburne Falls (including an opening reception on April 11--times still under consideration), Abbott Gallery in Wilson's Department Store, Greenfield and the Athol Council on Aging, Athol, MA. Thanks to a suggestion from Bernice I am printing up postcards for exhibitors to send to friends and family to invite them to see the display. All you need to apply is postage.
Also...
I got a call from an exhibitor who has made a very delicate piece. She didn't want it transported so I'm planning to meet her at one display location to set up and then take down her piece by herself. We're open to helping you get what you need to be part of this exhibit.
Another exhibitor lost her entry forms so I sent new ones.
Still another needs a week more and we're glad to extend that time for you.
Please let me know by email or phone if there's anyway I can help you be part of this exhibit. You can reach me at aviadero@fchcc.org or 413-773-5555 or 978-544-2259.

Anna Viadero

That Darn Chicken

So I'll be one of the people rushing to get their piece done last minute. I did mention thread painting a chicken and here it is. It's not perfect but it is representative and in some ways it reminds me of drawings from a kid's book I remember about Russian Folktales.

I chose fabric in various colors to create shading. The fabric’s textures along with the thread painting create texture.

The side views of the chicken and chick are most convincing. The head-on view has problems because of foreshortening and my lack of artistic skills (you can see I conveniently left that out of this photo!). I may still use it as it suggests a hunkered down chick.

I mentioned before that the bottom edge of my piece will have a ribbon woven border. That is happening little by little. It is in black and white and represents a pattern used on Estonian knitted mittens and socks.

I also have some hollyhocks to get moving on. I’ll try and post what I do and hope to get more work done this weekend.

My favorite part of working with fabric? Getting lost in it. Loosing time to it. It is more refreshing than a nap. More satisfying than food.