Pieces of life held together with thread

An exhibit in Tarpon Springs shows how quilts are like snapshots of the maker's memories and dreams.

By BARBARA L. FREDRICKSEN, Times Staff Writer
Published October 5, 2007

Someone once said that behind every beautiful quilt, there's a beautiful story.

That means more than 40 tales could be told at "Celebrate the Quilt!" at the Tarpon Springs Cultural Center on Saturday through Nov. 28.

The show features work by 35 members of the 300-member West Pasco Quilters' Guild.

"The quilters have spent from a couple of days to a whole life working on these quilts," said Robby Wargny, publicist for the group.

Each quilt has a history, some about a life-changing event, others about the way the quilt was put together, still others about a special technique used in making the quilt.

Some of the quilts are large enough to cover a bed or a wall, others small enough to hang in a special nook.

"There's a wide variety of quilts," Wargny said. "We have some hand-stitched, some machine, lots of them a combination. We have photo transfer, art painting, quilts with embellishments like beads and lace and other things."

The quilt named All American Memories for Daddy's Little Girl has a special story.

It was made by Hudson resident Rhonda Koning in memory of her stepson Darryl, who died in April at age 38.

Named in part for Darryl's company, All American Roofing of New Port Richey, it incorporates pieces of Darryl's clothing, his work shirt insignia, bridal lace and satin from his parents' wedding, pieces of fabric from his children's clothing and "heart blocks" sewn by other members of the quilters' guild in Darryl's memory and in sympathy for the family's loss, Wargny said.

Koning plans to give the quilt to Darryl's daughter, Ilda-Marie.

"It's spectacular, fun, emotional, breathtaking," Wargny said. "It's typical for a quilter to make something that's a work of therapy."

Another quilt, A True Beauty, was made as a "round robin," where one member makes a center square, passes it to another quilter, who adds a square, then passes it to still another quilter and so on.

Four people worked on this particular quilt, which turned out to be a complete surprise for Mary Borders, who started it, Wargny said.

"Some round robin quilts go all over the world," she said.

The two-month exhibit includes three special events.

First is a Meet the Quilters reception from 2 to 4 p.m. on Oct. 13 at the center.

Second is a Quilt Demonstration Day from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 when members of the guild will show quilting, applique, and piecing techniques and answer questions about quilt storage, hanging and care.

Third is a drawing for a presentational quilt named Stepping Stones that was pieced by 10 members and quilted on a long-arm machine by Sylvia Broda in Hudson.

Members supplied the materials and time to make the quilt, then donated it to the cultural center to raffle, with all proceeds going to the center.

"We like to do something for the center; they've been very good to us," Wargny said. The current show is the third to which the guild has been invited.

The West Pasco Quilters' Guild will celebrate its 20th anniversary in March 2008 with the largest show it has ever held, Wargny said. That show will be at the Veterans Memorial Park in Hudson and will feature more than 400 quilts, including prize winners from previous shows.

If you go

'Celebrate the Quilt!'

Who: West Pasco Quilters' Guild

Where: Tarpon Springs Cultural Center, 101 S Pinellas Ave. (Alt. 19), Tarpon Springs

When: Saturday through Nov. 28. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

Admission: Free

[Last modified October 4, 2007, 21:06:38]