Always something

Quilting has started for the season. The women are hard at it sewing on a lovely one that Lynda pieced.  We are getting back into our rhythm sewing together, talk, lunch at noon.  Occasionally one of the women will get up to do a chore. Dianne sorts out the change box and pays bills.  Cathryn catalogs items that are donated to the museum.  Lynda keeps track of the to-do list which seems never ending.  The door to the old school house was recently repaired. We are still hoping for enough funding to fix the caboose which is sadly in need of renovation.  Some of the quilters mention to me there really should be a photo posted of the woman who won the raffle quilt this year.  She is Canadian and a shirt-tail relative of Bev’s.  She came down to Eureka to pick the quilt up, saving us postage and allowing for this great photo in front of the museum (thank you, Bev, for taking it).  Its a lovely quilt and we all remember stitching on it.  Nice to know that it will be appreciated.

And then Gary D. donated an amazing antique quilt to the Historical Village.  After much discussion, it was decided we should have a special raffle for it. Tickets are $5/piece or four for $20.  Dianne took the quilt to a man who does work with the Antique Roadshow.  He said it was made between 1890-1910 and worth about $650.  Its quite beautiful and the photos don’t do it justice.  The fabrics glow!  We will sell raffle tickets for it until the Eureka Montana Quilt Show in August 2018.  This winter it hangs in a quilt shop in Bigfork and then will come back to Eureka in the summer for the quilt show on August 4th.  A wonderful gesture by Gary to help the Historical Village and a great opportunity for someone to own this lovely piece of history.

It is astonishing how many people reach out to help the Historical Village keep going.  Not only the women who quilt all winter, but those who help with the countless other tasks, people who make donations of items or money, those who give time to help paint or trim bushes or dust displays.  Those who buy raffle tickets! And yes, those who have us finish a quilt for them. I suppose it could be said It takes a village to keep a Village.

 

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Coming into fall

The quilters drew the lucky raffle winner at the Lincoln County Fair on August 27th.  A Canadian woman won the beautifully pieced quilt and will pick it up this week.  Thanks to all of you who bought raffle tickets. It is one of the many ways we work to pay the bills to maintain the Historical Village.  Also at the end of August, the Historical Village was awarded a grant from the Tobacco Valley Community Foundation.  What a wonderful gift to help us cover the expenses we incurred this past summer including chinking one of the old cabins and painting a building.  And on September 9, the quilters will have their annual Fall Rummage Sale at the old school house from 10:00am – 3:00pm. Some great treasures and, of course, all proceeds go towards the Historical Village.  Stop by to purchase something you need and/or to talk with the women. The following Friday, September 15, the quilting season officially starts for the year.  It is open to anyone who has time on Fridays.  Even if you haven’t sewn before, we are happy to show you how.  Many of us started out as true beginners and are now addicted to showing up every Friday to stitch.  Bring a bag lunch and drop by anytime between 10:00am – 3:00pm.  We will even supply you with a needle and scissors to begin this new passion.

Perhaps you are seriously considering coming by on a Friday to quilt with us – or to learn how to quilt.  You study the photos that are part of this blog and notice how agreeable the women look who are sewing.  But then the balloons on the quilt catch your eye and you wonder what they are used for.  Has there been a recent birthday party?  Are the quilters prepared to fill them with water to deter anyone from littering on the Historical Village grounds?  No, the balloons are actually used for quilting. Sometimes it is difficult to pull a needle through multiple layers of fabric and batting.  When it becomes a challenge, a balloon placed around the needle gives the quilter that extra leverage to pull the needle through.