The Mountain Laurel
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Virginia Quilt Documentation Day Planned

By The Virginia Quilt Project

Issue: October, 1989

VIRGINIA CONSORTIUM OF QUILTERS - Documenting A Tradition - Photograph: Shown are the patchwork citations of Mrs. Daisy Weddle of Floyd County, Virginia. Mrs. Weddle lives adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of Mabry Mill at Parkway Milepost 172. Front Cover photograph of October 1989 edition.VIRGINIA CONSORTIUM OF QUILTERS - Documenting A Tradition - Photograph: Shown are the patchwork citations of Mrs. Daisy Weddle of Floyd County, Virginia. Mrs. Weddle lives adjacent to the Blue Ridge Parkway just north of Mabry Mill at Parkway Milepost 172. Front Cover photograph of October 1989 edition.The Virginia Quilt Project, sponsored by the Virginia Consortium of Quilters, will hold a Quilt Documentation Day in Wytheville, Virginia on Saturday, October 28, 1989 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at Hatcher Hall of Wytheville Presbyterian Church, located on Church Street.

The Virginia Consortium is made up of members from quilt guilds throughout the state. Its aim through "Documentation" is to discover the history of the quilts and quilters of Virginia. Quilts made in or residing in the state are being sought, with construction dates spanning from colonial times through 1976. They may be fancy or plain, everyday-used quilts, and can be tied or quilted. There are many wonderful quilts that were made elsewhere but have been in Virginia families for years, that is why quilts "residing" in the state are specified.

During the documentation process, information about the quilter, the pattern, fabrics and batting used, and quilt dimensions will be recorded. Pictures of the quilt makers are also desired. This information will be collected over a period of time and will eventually be stored in a permanent facility in Virginia to be used for study by future generations. As the project progresses, a quilt showing of selected quilts will be planned, as well as a book on Virginia quilts and quilt making. To date, the Virginia Consortium has over 1,400 documentations completed on quilts discovered throughout the state in 1988 and 1989.

As a non-profit organization, the Virginia Consortium of Quilters depends on contributions and grants to fund the Virginia Quilt Project. Individuals donating ten dollars or more receive a beautiful red, gold and white enameled pin featuring the Virginia Star quilt pattern, the logo of the project. To make a contribution and secure project information contact the Virginia Quilt Project at 105 West Howell Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301. Checks should be made payable to the Virginia Consortium of Quilters.

To have a quilt documented, it need only be brought to the above location on October 28th [1989]. For more information about the documentation day in Wytheville, call Judy Albert, President of Hands All Around Quilters at 703-228-2976. There is no charge to have your quilt documented, so come be a part of Virginia's quilt history!

Editor's Note... I am very interested in this project because of five generations of quilts and quilters in my family. It probably goes back further than that, but alas, it wasn't documented, so I have no way of knowing. Let your family quilts take their place in history and assure that future generations of your family will know. If you live in Virginia, bring your quilts to be documented. If you live in another state, perhaps you could instigate a project like this also. I will be at Hatcher Hall on October 28th as a volunteer worker and will look forward to seeing you there too.
Susan Thigpen, Editor