Celebration Of Quilts Planned For Later This Month

NEW MILFORD — The Mountain Laurel Quilters will present their first quilt show, “A Celebration of Quilts, 2005 – From The Beginning,” on Saturday, April 23. The show will run from 9 am to 5 pm at New Milford High School, on Route 7.

The show will include over 170 quilts. Among those exhibiting their quilts will be Mary Eddy of Newtown, who is known in quilting circles as The Jelly Bean Quilter.

Specialty exhibits will include a display of antique quilts, young student quilts, The UnFinished Objects (UFO) Challenge, and Guild Challenge Quilts from 2003 and 2004.

A children’s activity, “Kids Can Quilt,” will run from 1 to 3 pm. Children, supervised by adults, will have the opportunity to learn about quilting and create a small project of their own.

A number of vendors will also be participating, door prizes will be awarded, and a quilt raffle will be conducted.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for ages 5 and under.

There are two lectures scheduled for the show. The morning lecture will be presented by Judy Irish, one of the group’s founding members and a well-known quilter, teacher and a former resident of New Milford. She will be speaking about “Color and its use in our quilts.”

The second lecture will be by quilt historian and certified quilt appraiser Sue Reich of Washington, at 1 pm. She will speak about “Quilt Making That Saw Us Through the Years,” which will be a tribute to the 60th anniversary of World War II. Following her lecture Mrs Reich will also offer a tour of her personal collection of World War II-era quilts.

Additionally, Mrs Reich will be offering appraisals from 9 am until noon. Cost is $35 for written appraisals and $15 for verbal appraisals; $5 of each appraisal will be donated to Mt Laurel Quilters.

Appointments are preferred for the appraisals. Call 860-354-3142 for further information or to schedule and appointment.

The Mountain Laurel Quilters of New Milford was established in 1999 by a small group of local women that included New Milford Mayor Pat Murphy. The group has grown to approximately 50 members.

Among its ongoing service projects is the creation of quilts for children at Camp Jonathan, a camp sponsored by New Milford VNA. Club members have also made 35 baby quilts for the neonatal unit of the University of Connecticut Medical Center in Farmington; Anne’s Place in Danbury, a gathering place for cancer survivors; New Milford Homeless Shelter, Greater Danbury Women’s Center’s shelter for abused women.

Last year the group made an Underground Railroad Quilt, which tours with Deborah Calhoun of the African American Cultural Association in New Milford and will be on display at the quilt show.

The group meets on the second Thursday of the month, September through June, at New Milford High School. Information about the club will be available during the quilt show.

The club is looking for volunteers to help during the show.

To find out about volunteering or additional show information call 860-350-9513.