ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, September 29, 1996 TAG: 9609300010
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-21 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: FLOYD>
SOURCE: SALLY HARRIS
The Old Church Gallery Quilt Show will be held Saturday and Sunday in the Floyd Elementary School Gym.
The show will feature between 125 and 150 quilts, including traditional and contemporary art quilts, from Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and West Virginia.
"It is the only place to see a selection of contemporary quilts in this area," said Linda M. Fiedler, chairwoman of the show.
The show includes a wearable-art category that drew 36 entries last year. The wearable art will be modeled for some of the hours, Fiedler said.
A local family of quilters will be featured in a special display this year: the late Ella Harris and her daughters Pauline Hodges of Willis, Leta High of Floyd, and Alma Baker of Floyd. Ella Harris was making quilts from the early 19OOs until she became unable to do so in 1990. She died in 1994 at the age of 99, and the three daughters have carried on her quilting tradition. Hodges is the president of The Old Church Gallery Quilters and was one of the group's founders.
The show also will include Fiedler's works. Fiedler has won a $10,000 award for one of her quilts and carries the picture of the check in her pocketbook. "I used to carry pictures of quilts, " she said.
Fiedler does art quilts, including her Dreaming Tree, a pictorial quilt that uses a technique called machine thread painting to create flowers on the quilt. The tree's leaves are done in a technique called machine crinkle embroidery, which Fiedler developed.
For the first time this year, the show will include special educational demonstrations on different aspects of quilt making. "We strongly encourage parents to bring their children to see the show and to vote for their favorite quilt," Fiedler said. "Education is one of the goals of our guild, and turning children on to quilts is certainly a part of that."
All quilts entered in the judged show will receive a professional critique. The show features hand-made ribbons highly coveted by quilters. A Viewer's Choice Award is given from votes by the public. The show awards cash and gift-certificate awards for first, second and third place in eight categories. Awards are donated by local and regional businesses.
The quilt show is held in conjunction with the Floyd County Woman's Club Arts and Crafts Fair. Show hours are 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the quilt show is $1, with children under 12 free. There is no admission charge to the arts and crafts fair.
Fiedler said people who have not preregistered their quilts for the show and would like to do so may register them Tuesday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Community Room of the Bank of Floyd.
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Linda M. Fiedler's "Dreaming Tree" is a pictorial quiltby CNBthat uses a technique called machine thread painting to create
flowers on the quilt. (Photo supplied by artist). color.