By Staff
Event opens today at Washington Civic Center
By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles &Features Editor
The Washington Civic Center has turned into an art gallery of sorts this weekend for “Piecing It Together,” the Pamlico River Quilters’ Guild show.
Around 150 pieces are on display, according to show chairman Louise Noga. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and continues Sunday from noon until 4 p.m. Admission is $3.
This year’s exhibited pieces run the gamut from small wall hangings measuring just 12 x 12 inches to king-size bed quilts, Noga said. The pieces feature virtually every color in the rainbow.
The show is held every other year, and this weekend’s event is the 17th sponsored by the non-profit guild, which was founded over 25 years ago. Awards are presented in several categories, including hand pieced, hand quilted, hand appliqued, machine pieced, machine quilted and machine appliqued. There is also a special “Viewers’ Choice” award, with everyone attending the show encouraged to vote for their favorite piece in the show.
As show chairman, Noga took herself out of the running for awards.
While quilting got its start with the utilitarian purpose of keeping folks warm during the winter, the craft has expanded to include pieces intended solely for display.
While the show pieces are not for sale, the guild has planned a quilters’ boutique, according to member Ellie Holbein. Merchandise includes pre-cut “charm” squares, pincushions, small fabric bags, tea towels and gently-used and enjoyed quilting books and magazines.
One lucky person will get to take a featured piece home with them. The guild is offering tickets, for a $1 donation, on a full-size quilt in shades of blue and brown on an off-white background. The winner will be announced Sunday afternoon.
Back by popular demand for this year’s show are the “bed turnings,” demonstrations that feature old and antique quilts or quilts with an interesting story behind them, according to Noga.
Among those featured are a quilt fashioned by Myrt Blakely from her late husband’s flannel shirts and antique bed quilts on loan from Dr. C.D. Edwards, who calls himself the custodian of his family’s quilts, according to Noga.
The guild landed an experienced quilter to judge this year’s show.
Dr. Scott A. Murkin, a family practice physician from Asheboro, has judged shows across North Carolina since 2001, usually making time for eight or more such events each year. He said he was impressed with the work by the Pamlico River guild.
Murkin noted that he looks at two main components when judging a quilt.
Murkin said he began quilting in 1994, when he made his first piece when his daughter was moving into a twin bed.
Perhaps Murkin’s career and his interest in quilting go hand in hand.