By Josie Osborne, Contributing Writer
On Saturday, Feb. 3, friends and family gathered at the Florida Pioneer Museum and Village to welcome the spring season with the Farm Festival and Quilt Show. While there were other activities like the Southern Draft Horse Association’s Draft Horse Pull and many home style vendors, the Quilt Show’s display of art and culture stood out due to its cheerful and sweet atmosphere.
The show was presented by the Pioneer Quilt Guild, a nonprofit group created four years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic. Featuring both pieces from guild members and quilters of the community, the Quilt Show was a spectacular, heartwarming gallery of timeless, intricate art.
The guests that visited the show even selected their favorite quilts from each category to which the Pioneer Quilt Guild awarded ribbons, showing not only their appreciation for the quilter’s participation, but also praising their contributions to this amazing artform.
The President of the Pioneer Quilt Guild, Kelli Boles, described the rewarding experience of the Quilt Show, as not only can those who enter their quilt see it hanging amongst others while people walk by admiring it, but it also brightens the otherwise old building.
“One day a year we make it pretty and colorful,” she said.
However, the quilts have more to offer than aesthetics. It’s an artistic outlet and a way to express oneself utilizing a plethora of colors, textures, techniques, and designs. It doesn’t have to be just a quilt, either. It can be a beautiful wall-hanging, a keepsake passed down through generations, a comfy blanket, or even a bowl!
Quilting is not just a hobby either—it’s another way to be a part of one’s community and make connections. On the first Tuesday of the month, the Pioneer Quilt Guild meets to try new techniques and create quilts. Each year, the guild members also come together to create a quilt for the Pioneer Museum to raffle, helping to collect proceeds to keep Florida’s history alive. They also created a baby quilt to donate to charity.
However, quilting is not an easy artform, making this show even more spectacular. It can take from two to sixty hours to make a quilt depending on the size and technique, illustrating just how much dedication and expertise it can require.
Don’t be intimidated, though. For those interested in quilting, Boles reassures that the Pioneer Quilt Guild is open to anyone.
“If you can’t sew a straight line, we can teach you,” says Boles. “It’s not rocket science, it’s patience and practice.”
If you just want to view the masterpieces but missed out on this spring’s event, the Quilt Show has been an annual tradition for around 30 years and there seems to be no plans of stopping any time soon. Keep an eye out for more events from the Pioneer Quilt Guild and the Florida Pioneer Museum to learn more about your culture and history.
