KPQG Membership Meeting, Tuesday, April 27, 2021

KPQG APRIL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

Location: Celebrations Banquet & Conference Facility, 3437 West Sycamore, Kokomo, 46901

Date & Time: Tuesday, April 27, 2021, at 7:00 pm, doors open at 6:30 pm | Please bring and wear a mask and plan to social distance. Bring your own hand sanitizer.

Program: “Prairie Quilts” presented by Cathy Grafton, quilter and needlework artist

Cathy’s slide lecture features Illinois farmland, woodlands, and bits of remaining prairie near her home. She draws inspiration for her quilts from all of the beauty she sees around her. Cathy will take us on a tour of the land and the progression of styles she used to create her prairie quilts for the past 30+ years. She will bring 8 – 10 quilts to show. Cathy has a website at prairiequiltsandmore.com.

My mother and grandmother taught me to do embroidery when I was six years old. Ever since then I have loved playing with color, and silk ribbon embroidery has given me endless ways to explore the possibilities. Just before the Bicentennial I began to participate in 18th century festivals as a traditional quilter. Most of the festivals I attend are set in the Revolutionary time period where I portray a lady doing fancywork to make my way in the world. I have been teaching and lecturing since that time and when I discovered silk ribbon embroidery my work took on a whole new dimension. I began making small pieces based on the folk art designs from the 18th and early 19th centuries. Using simple designs, many Shaker influences, I have been creating small wall art pieces, housewifes, needlecases and ladies pockets using silk thread and silk ribbon embroidery. In 1996 I wrote a book on silk ribbon embroidery for the American Quilter’s Society. In addition I have an avid interest in flax and linen and the preparation of the flax fibers for spinning into linen. I have antique tools and very old pieces of linen and have spent time both growing and working the flax fibers to learn about our oldest known fiber. —Cathy Grafton

Other Activity: “Show ‘n’ Tell”