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Cabin Fever
Quilt show displays areas finest
2 Bowen Show pic
Jasper residents Judy Cheesborough, from left, Miriam Hardage and Maurine Atkins came to see the quilt show at Bowen Center for the Arts. The show is on display through Oct. 22. - photo by David Renner Dawson Community News

At a glance

• Raffle tickets are $1 per ticket or 6 for $5.

• The Bowen Center for the Arts is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, and noon-4 p.m. Saturday.

• For more information, call Greenwood at (706) 216-2787 or visit www.dawsonarts.org.

 

A steady hand, a lot of time and plenty of practice are what it takes to make a quilt from small scraps of cloth. And those traits are on display through Oct. 22 as the Bowen Center for the Arts presents its annual quilt show.

"Visitors come from all over the Southeast, making it a favorite," said Ginny Greenwood, director of the center. "On display will be over 75 handcrafted works prepared by quilters from Dawson, Hall, Lumpkin, Gwinnett and Forsyth counties."

The show, titled "Cabin Fever," is being presented by the Heart in Hand Quilt Guild.

"The guild is a wonderful group of ladies and one gentleman who are dedicated to promoting the art of quilting through teaching, learning, exchanging ideas and, of course, fellowship," Greenwood said. "Monthly meetings consist of programs presented by well-known teachers, as well as the guild's very own talented ladies."

While many imagine quilting as a pastime for older people, according to Greenwood, the skills are for all ages.

"Many may think quilting is ‘old fashioned,' but the Heart in Hand Quilt Guild is fortunate to have members who are definitely modern quilters, using a variety of techniques, materials and skills," she said. "They are a nonprofit organization and enjoy sharing their talents within charitable community opportunities."

Greenwood said visitors have been coming from "all around" to see the exhibit.

"The rick rack on some of these is fantastic," said Maurine Atkins, who traveled from Jasper. "Some of the cloth in these must be over 100 years old."

Miriam Hardage, who came with Atkins, also was impressed with the display.

"These quilts are just absolutely lovely," she said. "A lot of work went into these."

The quilters will also be raffling off one of their works.

"Their biggest project each year is their raffle quilt. It is definitely a labor of love," Greenwood said. "Almost all of our members participate in the planning, sewing and promoting of this remarkable quilt.

"Just when we think they can't do anything anymore beautiful, they complete a new quilt, which is even more stunning than the one before."

All profits from the ticket sales are donated to the Bowen Center for the Arts.

Raffle tickets are $1 per ticket or 6 for $5.

The center is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, call Greenwood at (706) 216-2787 or visit www.dawsonarts.org.