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Quilts galore provide Palmerton Library with a warm homey touch

  • MARY TOBIA/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS The Palmerton Area Library hosted the Third Annual Quilt Show. Over sixty quilts were displayed through out the first and second floor of the Library. Those attending were able to cast their vote for the People's…
    MARY TOBIA/SPECIAL TO THE TIMES NEWS The Palmerton Area Library hosted the Third Annual Quilt Show. Over sixty quilts were displayed through out the first and second floor of the Library. Those attending were able to cast their vote for the People's Choice Award.
Published November 12. 2009 05:00PM

The Palmerton Library's Third Annual Quilt Show was a success.

Sixty-four handmade quilts of all sizes were displayed throughout the library, located on Delaware Ave.

The quilts ranged from smaller children's wall hangings, lap quilts to large king-size bed quilts.

Many were just finished and some were family heirlooms dating as far back as fifty years ago, all beautiful and unique in their own special way.

Approximately 100 people took the opportunity to view the annual exhibit.

Each person attending the show was given a chance to vote for their personal favorite to win the honor of the "Best of Show" quilt.

That winner was Susan Lech of Glenside, PA.

"I made this quilt, 'Snowy Days' six years ago. The quilt was not laying flat so I took it apart and hand-quilted some areas and machine stitched other areas. I hand sewed hundreds of small beads as snowflakes onto the quilt which I did watching the Phillies. Yes, I am a fan," said Susan.

She got the pattern in a now lost magazine.

"I was surprised how much everyone loved this quilt. I usually do not make this kind because I love to sew small pieces of fabric together, not appliqué. I do love to embellish the quilts I make with textured fabric, beads, snowflakes, paint, different threads, etc. which I think made this quilt extra special," Susan said.

She said that she is currently "Trying to do some UFO's," (unfinished projects, quilter jargon.)

Susan loves quilting and thinks the show was a great way to combine a love of quilting with a way to show support of the library.

"Libraries are very important to us and our children. Not everything can be got on the internet," she said.

Susan received a free subscription to a popular quilting magazine as her prize.

Visitor Jean Snyder of Emmaus said, "I am really enjoying this. I used to make the knotted quilts the old fashioned way and Mrs. Serfass from Palmerton taught me how."

No matter the size or shape, old or new, the stitches on a quilt seemed to tell a story.

Such as the 50th Anniversary quilt stitched by Barbara Snowberger of Lehighton.

"I made this for my parents, Betty and Robert Nothstein's 50th wedding anniversary," said Snowberger.

Snowberger is a seasoned quilt maker. She is the past president of the Carbon County Quilters.

"It usually takes me years to finish a quilt this large but this one took me only one year because I wanted it done in time for my parents anniversary party," added Snowberger, the oldest daughter of the Nothsteins.

Snowberger specialized the quilt by secretly getting a copy of her parents' wedding invitation and having it transferred to material. She then placed that in the middle of the quilt.

Throughout the quilt she placed hand-sewn red poppies.

"Poppy is my dads favorite flower and he always planted them around our home," related Snowberger.

In addition to the flowers were four quilted detailed baskets-one for each of the Nothsteins' children.

" We got a picture of each of us brothers and sisters copied onto material and placed them in the quilted baskets, to represent each family," said Snowberger.

Pictures of the grandchildren were also added on the quilt.

Snowberger said she learned to quilt and then taught her mother.

"Mom taught me to embroidery, and we went to 4-H and we always had projects going on," said Snowberger.

"Yes, in this case we were different, the mother usually teaches the daughter but instead Barbara taught me," said Betty.

Betty admitted she loves to quilt and is glad she learned.

"I didn't have anything to do with this one though. It was a wonderful surprise," said Betty. " They even gave it to us a week later than our anniversary. My husband and I got married at my mother's home. It was too much for my mother to have a wedding and a reception all on the same day so we got married and then a week later we had our wedding reception."

Both Robert and Betty agreed it was a very special gift and one that will become a family keepsake.

Material and craft vendors were a new addition the exhibit this year.

Like vendor Diana Slopik of Allentown Sewing. She showed how to cut a fat quarter, a half of yard of material usually measuring 18-22 1/2 inches. This special cut is used in making quilting squares or shapes.

A Chinese auction was also held with all donated items pertaining to sewing.

Refreshments were served in the meeting room.

All the proceeds from the Quilt show are to benefit the Palmerton Area Library.

During the month of November the library will be holding their annual handcrafted auction. Anyone wanting to donate an item is encouraged to do so. All items must be new and handmade.

For more information call the library at 610-826-3424.

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