Wednesday, March 3, 2010

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Quilt show is a display of passion By Shavaughn Moss ~ Lifestyles Editor shavaughn@nasguard.com: Quilting is many things to different people. For some it's a covering to keep them warm on a cold night. For others, selecting the colors and fabrics that are needed to produce the finished product that keeps the other person warm is the joyous experience. Quilters are a rare breed unto themselves. To hear quilters tell their stories of why they do what they do may come out differently, but in the end it all means the same thing — they quilt for the sheer pleasure of it. They make quilts because they want to. Some follow patterns, some don't. They love quilting and fabric and want to show their passion to the world. And the members of The Stepping Stone Quilters Guild, who passionately worked on a number of quilts over the course of the last year, have their "passion" on display at Trinity Methodist Church Frederick Street through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except Sunday. It's a show that group member Maria Chisnall describes as "eye candy." Work of the highest standard, with a wide variety of design, color and technique will be on display and for sale from the quilters who worked on whatever design they wanted to throughout the year. The Guild did issue its annual challenge — which they expected every member to tackle — the quilt had to be the size of a welcome mat and depict an aspect of The Bahamas. Chisnall describes the results, which are a part of the show as stunning, and singled out a Ruth Lightborn and Robin Symonette collaboration on a 17-foot long series of panels depicting old Bay Street which Chisnall says is a quilt which has to be seen to be believed. Most of the quilts are made from 100 percent cotton. Sometimes The Guild quilters will use embellishments like shells, beads and fibers. Chisnall says each quilt is a history of what was going on in the quilters life as the quilt was being made, and many are made to be given to specific people. "They [quilts] are beautiful. We are very proud of our work and would like to share it with the public. We would love to have teachers and students visit us as well as the general public. Our show is eye candy," says Chisnall who has been making quilts seriously since 1986. Their 21st annual quilt show is once again on display at Trinity Methodist Church, to allow both locals and tourists easy viewing access as it is within walking distance of Bay Street. Members of the Stepping Stone Quilters has even hosted a group of quilters who arrived into The Bahamas cruise ships, and are proud of a Christmas quilt that members of The Guild worked on which was raffled at the Bahamas National Trust's (BNT) Jollification and sold for $900 — monies which went to the BNT. Tuesday February 2, 2010