{"id":13635,"date":"2013-02-01T17:07:53","date_gmt":"2013-02-01T22:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=13635"},"modified":"2013-02-02T15:11:50","modified_gmt":"2013-02-02T20:11:50","slug":"longwood-volunteers-create-piece-de-resistance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unionvilletimes.com\/?p=13635","title":{"rendered":"Longwood volunteers create piece de resistance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Series of quilts chronicle garden\u2019s beauty \u2013 from flowers to felines<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
\n

By Kathleen Brady Shea<\/strong><\/span>,\u00a0Managing Editor, The Times<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Ann<\/a>

Ann Randolph (left) and Nancy Hiss stand in front of the group\u2019s \u201cSeasons of Pollination\u201d quilt.<\/p><\/div>\n

The goal was grand: Capture the colors of Longwood Gardens in a quilt.<\/p>\n

First suggested in 1996, the project failed to leave the drawing board more than once. But that was before the right, scrappy group of material girls surfaced in March 2008, courtesy of a request emailed to the garden\u2019s volunteers.<\/p>\n

Less than five years later, a series of quilts, exquisitely crafted fabric tableaus that depict seasons or themes at Longwood \u2013 Christmas, light, sounds, and pollination \u2013 have a permanent home at the Brandywine Valley Tourism Information Center, across from Longwood Gardens.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, several dozen of the 50-plus volunteers convened at the recently-renovated center to view the display, which the public will also get to admire. Blair Mahoney, executive director of the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau, explained that the bureau began leasing the building from Longwood Gardens in 1989 as a tourist information center.<\/p>\n

\"Members<\/a>

Members of Longwood Garden\u2019s volunteer quilting group listen to the rave reviews the quilts have garnered at the Brandywine Valley Tourism Information Center. Behind them is a quilt inspired by Longwood\u2019s sounds.<\/p><\/div>\n

Mahoney said that the center\u2019s visitor traffic and proximity to Longwood made it an ideal permanent display spot. And, fortunately, Longwood, which bought the fabric and owns the finished products, agreed.<\/p>\n

This past year the building, a former Quaker meetinghouse that once served as a hub for abolitionists, was renovated. It now also houses the agency\u2019s administrative staff, some of whom got a recent bonus: a quilt adorning their office wall.<\/p>\n

\u201cI absolutely love looking at it,\u201d said Nina Kelly, the bureau\u2019s director of communications. \u201cThe workmanship is incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n

Elaborating on the quilts\u2019 history, Kathy Silvon of Avondale, said Dave Thompson, Longwood\u2019s former continuing education coordinator, was involved in scheduling a course entitled \u201cDesigning the Horticultural Quilt\u201d in 1996. But the dozen or so students didn\u2019t produce one. A second course was scheduled, but the instructor moved so it was canceled, Silvon said.<\/p>\n

More than 10 years later, Thompson was serving as Longwood\u2019s volunteer coordinator when he came in contact with Nancy Hiss, a Pocopson resident who had become a Longwood volunteer earlier in the year to assist with sewing projects. \u00a0With Hiss on board and many eager to help harness her energy, Thompson reintroduced the quilt idea, a conversation that led to the email, Silvon said.<\/p>\n

About 50 people showed up at the first meeting in March 2008; a design team of about a dozen formed that included Hiss, who became team leader. Silvon said the group decided that the first quilt would be the Christmas one, a decision that imposed a Nov. 27 deadline, the date for Longwood\u2019s holiday display.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The Christmas-themed quilt was the first in a series of four large quilts plus eight small panels to be completed by the volunteer group.<\/p><\/div>\n

Hiss said the assignments were done in stages by different people, depending on their expertise. \u201cSome people were good at appliqueing, some were better at piecing,\u201d Hiss said. To keep the process moving forward, all the volunteers had to meet specifications, juggle time constraints as well as fabric, and remain flexible.<\/p>\n

Sometimes the intended design or technique didn\u2019t pan out exactly as planned, Hiss said, adding that people were told: \u201cIf it doesn\u2019t work, improvise.\u201d<\/p>\n

One design element that was not negotiable: Every quilt had to have a cat. \u201cThere are lots of cats at Longwood,\u201d Hiss said. \u201cThey had to be on the quilts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Silvon said she used a botanical book to make full-size color mock-ups of the flowers on one quilt. \u201cI wanted to make sure they were recognizable,\u201d she said, pointing to a quilt with morning glories, coneflowers, sunflowers, water lilies and more. \u201cIt devoured my life for four months, but I loved it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ann Randolph of Malvern said she enjoyed the attention to detail. Several quilts feature hand-embroidery and appliques and three-dimensional elements such as wisteria flowers and pinecones. \u201cIt was time-consuming but it\u2019s so creative,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>

A detail from the three-paneled, light-themed quilt shows the garden\u2019s bird of paradise flowers.<\/p><\/div>\n

Ruth Anne McLaren of Wilmington said the project worked well because of the skills of the participants. \u00a0\u201cYou\u2019ve got to know your stuff,\u201d she said. \u201cBut I think that was a good thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the process unfolded, the volunteers, who logged an estimated 5,000 hours, said the rewards of participating kept growing. Several quilts were entered in shows and won awards, said Ellen McMillen of Lionville.<\/p>\n

McMillen said she became involved in the project at the urging of Jean Fox, another volunteer. McMillen said her first view of a finished quilt hanging at Longwood took her breath away. \u201cI was just astounded,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was a great feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asked if they would do the same thing over again, most said yes with no hesitation. That response delighted Mahoney, who has commissioned a new project: a quilt with an Underground Railroad theme, highlighting the history of the building when it was Longwood Progressive Meeting.<\/p>\n

Founded in 1963, the Chester County Conference and Visitors Bureau is an independent nonprofit that serves as the official tourism promotion agency for Chester County. The tourist center, open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., can now add quilt-viewing to its offerings, which include brochures, menus, maps and tips on local attractions.\u00a0\u00a0For more information, visit\u00a0www.BrandywineValley.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
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