Valley Quilt Guild of Tuscarawas County hosting show
The featured quilter for the 2017 Tuscarawas Valley Quilt Show is Marilyn Foland-Perrone. She was one of four who founded the guild and served as its president the first five years. Contributed | Beacon
DOVER – The Valley Quilt Guild of Tuscarawas County will present its biennial quilt show on Friday, Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The quilt show will be held at the First United Methodist Church, 1725 N. Wooster Ave. in Dover. Admission is $5 and children 12 and under free.
Parking is free, and the building is handicap accessible with all displays, classes, and vendors on the ground floor.
The show will feature a large display of quilts, quilters’ technique classes, a quilters’ boutique, vendors, raffle baskets, challenge blocks and winners, bed turning featuring interesting stories about donated quilts, and a quilter’s cafe.
The raffle quilt “Connections,” is a king-size quilt and will be on display at the show. Tickets are available for purchase at the show. They are six for $5 or $1 each. The drawing will be held on Oct. 21 at the conclusion of the quilt show. The winner does not need to be present.
Jane Gingrich is the chairperson for the quilt show and is assisted by cochairperson, Marianne Wright.
The featured quilter for the 2017 Tuscarawas Valley Quilt Show is Marilyn Foland-Perrone. She was one of four who founded the guild and served as its president the first five years.
Early on, Foland-Perrone was influenced by her grandmother and great aunt to pursue her interest in quilting; but it was her husband who took her to her first quilt show.
Foland-Perrone considers herself a modern traditionalist quilter, adding a colorful twist to her projects. She only does machine piecing and is challenged by more complicated patterns. At present, she is a long arm quilter and enjoys doing more geometric patterns for her quilts.
Her friends can easily recognize her quilts because of her love of color. On occasion, Foland-Perrone will challenge herself with a white and beige quilt.
Over the years she has incorporated many techniques into her quilts from what she has learned in classes taught by Jinny Beyer. She has also taught many classes and enjoys quilting sessions with her friends in her studio.
Foland-Perrone is not sure how many quilts she has made over the years, as she has done both miniature quilts and bed size quilts. Her favorite quilt was made from a pattern that included her two favorite things: pink and stars. First, she made a wall hanging and later a bed-size quilt, which still remains her favorite.
One of her first quilts was given to her father for being so supportive of her quilting venture. This king-size quilt was a black and yellow scrappy log cabin pattern.
Foland-Perrone says that she is not a “quilt in a weekend” person, as most of her patterns are very complicated. For example, in her last large quilt each block had 49 pieces, a three-pieced sashing, nine cornerstones, and three borders.
The largest quilt she has ever made was a commissioned king-size quilt with an 18 inch drape. It took her six months to complete it.
Those who enjoy owning one of Marilyn’s quilts are family members and friends. However, she keeps her favorites for herself for personal use. She has also pieced and quilted many for donation and has sold quite a few (enough to buy her Gammill with Statler Stitching).
Her cousin’s daughter has embraced Foland-Perrone’s love of quilting. She comes and spends several days with her in the summer. During that time, they work on a new quilt, and Foland-Perrone teaches her new skills.
Her advice for those first starting in quilting is to “start small” and work up to larger bed size quilts. It is important to take lessons about the basics of quilting and try to master the all important ¼ inch seam allowance.
Foland-Perrone continues making quilts for Wounded Warriors. She also helps to raise money for the Marine Corps with her quilts.
She is an only child and a widow. She helps her mother, Dorothy, who is also a quilter and keeps in contact with her many cousins. Foland-Perrone worked for her father at Lauren Manufacturing for 30 years.
The Valley Quilt Guild is a nonprofit organization that formed in 2005. Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the First United Christian Church of Christ at 201 Fair Avenue NW, New Philadelphia. The building is fully handicap accessible. New members are welcome.
The meetings include a short business meeting, educational workshops, guest teachers, instructional technique demonstrations, and participation in community and charitable projects. Some guest speakers have included Dave Lewis, Civil War Quilt Expert, Melissa Dilisio, fabric marbling, and John Stuckey, art quilts.
Over the years, the guild has participated in service projects that include Harbor House, Hospice, Union Hospital, Akron Children’s Hospital, Mercy Medical Hospital, Veterans’ Services of New Philadelphia, Meals on Wheels, American Red Cross, the foster/adoption care unit of Tuscarawas County Job and Family Services, and the Tuscarawas County Library System. The past year the guild has become involved in Project Valentine. The project was started by two siblings from Alliance, Ohio, who shared a vision to send care packages to children whose lives have been affected by cancer or a chronic illness. The guild made pillowcases to be placed in the care packages for these children. The guild continues to provide pillowcases to Union Hospital, quilts to the veterans of Tuscarawas County Job/Family Services, and the American Red Cross, newborn hats to Akron Children’s Hospital and Mercy Medical Hospital, and placemats for Meals on Wheels.
For more information about the Valley Quilt Guild, contact Jane Gingrich (330-343-5617), Marianne Wright, (330-364-7570), or Chris Brauning (330-365-9707).
Category: Arts & Entertainment
