Men’s Night At Newtown Quilts To Feature

‘Piecemakers Pride Sampler’ Quilt

By Nancy K. Crevier

Quilters will want to take note that Newtown Quilts, located at 224 South Main Street, just north of the Sand Hill Plaza, invites shoppers to come in, browse, and fill out a holiday “wish list” in anticipation of a special upcoming event there. On Friday, December 7, from 4 to 9 pm, owner Julia Price is hosting “Men’s Night” when gift-givers can select from those wish lists, or use the expertise of Ms Price and her staff to develop their own gift ideas, ensuring that the quilter in their lives will receive the perfect holiday present. Cheese, crackers, and wine will be served as shoppers browse and make selections, said Ms Price. Gift certificates to Newtown Quilts in any denomination are available for purchase, and Ms Price stressed that while the evening is called “Men’s Night,” it is open to all shoppers, not just men. “We will also gift wrap any purchases made at the event,” said Ms Price.

For shoppers who are “list-less,” or for whom decisionmaking is a challenge — or for anybody feeling lucky — a chance to win a very special quilt will be available at Newtown Quilts that evening. Newtown resident and member of The Connecticut Piecemakers Quilt Guild Lana Patane will be there from 4 to 9 pm to display the “Piecemakers Pride Sampler,” an 80 by 80-inch block quilt created by 70 members of the club. Raffle tickets for the quilt will be on sale for $1 each at that time.

“Members participated in the design, fabric selection, cutting, block construction, and assembling of the quilt top,” said Ms Patane. Thirteen of the 25 blocks that make up the red and white quilt are pieced, and 12 feature hand appliqué. The outer borders of the quilt were hand quilted by small groups of members, she said.

The quilt will be raffled off Sunday, April 6, at 3 pm, at the Connecticut Piecemakers Quilt Guild “Spring Shower of Quilts XII” show at Seymour Middle School, 211 Mountain Road, Seymour.

The biannual quilt show brings together those who share the joy and love of quilting. More than 300 quilts are displayed at the show, open April 5 from 10 am to 5 pm and April 6 from 10 am to 4 pm. Quilting information, demonstrations, and a vendor mall, as well as door prizes, make the two-day quilting fair an enjoyable excursion for all.

Ms Patane is very excited about a special exhibit at the “Spring Showers” show. “People should definitely come to see our ‘Mantastic’ exhibit. These are fabulous quilts and fabric art made by men quilters from all over the country,” she said.

Funds generated by the quilt show and raffle will be donated to the Smilow Family Breast Health Center at Norwalk Hospital this year.

First prize is, of course, the “Piecemakers Pride Sampler” quilt. Second prize in the raffle is a Janome Gem Platinum 760 Sewing Machine. The third prize is a $150 gift certificate for any Apple Computer Store.

More information about the quilt show is available at ctpiecemakers.org.

For those unable to make the “Men’s Night” event on December 7, raffle tickets will be available at Newtown Quilts through March. Raffle tickets can also be obtained by calling Ms Patane at 364-0014 or e-mail to quiltshow08@sbcglobal.net.