 Genesee Valley QuiltFest - Genesee Valley Quilt Club 2018

“Potholder” quilt in progress!  Layout and assembly taking place!

Proceeds from the sale of tickets for the 2019 Raffle Quilt will benefit two local charities,  SewGreen@Rochester  and Experience FiberArt, Inc. SewGreen@Rochester     is    an    organization    whose     mission    is    to    combine    sewing,    self-sufficiency,    and sustainability…   and   everyone   wins.      Founded   in   2015,   SewGreen@Rochester   carries   out   a   dual   mission:   1)     to   increase   the   self-sufficiency   of   Rochester’s   young   people   and   adults   by   teaching   them   the   skills   of sewing,   knitting   and   needlework,   and   supplying   the   tools   and   materials   they   need   at   low   to   no   cost.     Through classes,   camps,   programs,   rental   of   space   and   equipment,   and   sales   of   fabric   and   sewing   supplies   donated by   the   community,   SewGreen@Rochester   provides   everything   area   residents   need   to   learn   to   sew.      2)      To rescue   and   reuse   fabric,   sewing   machines,   and   all   kinds   of   sewing,   knitting   and   needlework   materials   to extend   their   usefulness   and   keep   them   out   of   landfills.      Contact   person:      Deacon   Georgia   Carney,   438   West Main Street, Rochester, NY  14608  website:  www.sewgreenrochester.org E xperience   FiberArt,   Inc    firmly   believes   that   fiber   in   its   many   forms   transcends   the   bridge from   well   enjoyed   crafts   to   art.   It’s   exciting   to   view   an   exhibit   featuring   fiber   as   the chosen medium, each art piece telling a story, sharing a thought. Experience   FiberArt   has   offered   a   variety   of   exhibits   over   several   years   beginning   with   The   Art   Quilt   Experience    a   juried,   international   exhibit   in Cazenovia NY. Fiber   art   is   often   designed   to   be   provocative   and   to   generate   conversations.   The   recent   Urban   Murmurs    and   Global   Murmurs    exhibits   found   artists celebrating   success,   hopes   and   dream   while   others   explored   the   darker   elements.   We   also   hosted   exhibits   featuring   local   artists   in   2017; Whence   We   Came    by   RAFA   and   Telephone   by   Fiberistas.   Exhibits   scheduled   for   2018   include   hosting   Threads   of   Resistance,    a   traveling   exhibit curated by nationally recognized quilt artists and It’s All Relative , an open call for entries. Community   Outreach   is   vital   to   healthy   relationships   and   Experience   FiberArt   is   actively   involved   in   a   series   of   after   school   programs   at   various   city libraries   introducing   digital   fiber   art   to   interested   children.   Experience   FiberArt   plans   to   use   the   funds   from   the   2019   GVQC   raffle   quilt   to   support community   outreach   by   purchasing   materials,   sponsoring   a   Quilt   Walk   and   supporting   additional   exhibits.   Contact   person:      Julie   Brandon, Experiencing FiberArt Inc.,1 East Main Street, Rochester, NY  14614  website: www.experiencefiberart.com

The   idea   for   the   “potholder”   method   of   making   the   raffle   quilt   came   from   a book   in   which   a   19th   century   “potholder”   quilt   was   pictured.      The   raffle quilt   committee   thought   it   was   a   great   way   to   involve   members   of   the club   in   the   raffle   quilt   construction.      Advice   on   “potholder”   quilts   was sought   from   two   experts.         Blogger,   Wendy   Caton   Reed   (The   Constant Quilter),   was   consulted   because   of   her   expertise   in   this   type   of   quilt construction.      Pam   Weeks,   who   curated   a   “potholder”   quilt   exhibit   at   the New England Quilt Museum some years ago, was also consulted. It   was   decided   to   limit   the   fabric   style   to   reproduction   fabrics   and   blocks   from the    19th    century    and    to    use    chintz    like    fabric    for    the    back    of    each “potholder.”      One   hundred   kits   were   assembled   with   silk   batting,   backing, directions   and   a   list   of   resources.      Genesee   Valley   Quilt   Club   members signed   out   the   kits,   added   reproduction   fabrics   to   the   supplied   materials, selected   a   pattern,   and   created   the   quilt   block   quilting   it   either   by   hand   or machine.      Blocks   were   bound   by   selected   volunteers   and   assembled   into the completed quilt. The   quilt   will   be   completed   by   September   2018.      Raffle   tickets   will   go   on   sale December 1, 2018.