GETTING STARTED In the spring of 2001, ten people responded to an invitation and met at the Warren County Senior Center in Warrenton, NC. The invitation asked them to introduce themselves through quilts and quilting. They were:
Ihsan Abdin
Margaret Bullock
Nina Goode
Portia Hawes
Phyllis Janey
Cathy Alston-Kearney
Leo Kelly, Jr.
Jereann King
Beatrice Richardson
Mary Terry
Everyone shared something about their affection for quilts and/or quilting. Mary Terry, who was taking a class with Peggy Stocks at Vance Granville Community College, and Beatrice Richardson, shared several quilts, some were completed and some were works in progress. Nina Goode, who had not made a quilt, shared two of her mother’s quilts that were made with feed sacks and old clothes. Jereann photographed each person’s presentation and made an audio recording of that initial meeting.
The meeting ended with the group committed to continue their relationship, meeting once a month, identifying others who might be interested in attending, and figuring-out how to teach and learn together as a community of quilters. For the next meeting, Leo agreed to demonstrate how to use the rotary cutter. Jereann agreed to collect addresses and notify the group about meeting dates and other activities. The group formulated the following statement:
Mission. The Heritage Quilters is a diverse group of women and men from Halifax, Vance, and Warren County, whose mission is simply to support, encourage, and document quilting traditions and activities.
WORKING TOGETHER Shortly after the group was formed, group members brainstormed a list of possible names for the group and decided on Heritage Quilters. Wallace Evans, Earlean Henderson, Victoria Lynch, Dorothy Luis, Louise Spruill, and Arnetta Wilson joined the group. Portia, Mary, and Wallace were instrumental during the first year; teaching and demonstrating a number of quilt patterns and techniques. Victoria had been active in a quilting group in Michigan before moving back home to Hollister, NC, and shared ideas for quilting activities and for attending regional quilt shows. “Show and Tell” became a regular feature of our quilt meetings. Members would bring a variety of quilt projects, patterns, and vintage quilts to share and study.
Ruth Howard Chambers, Belinda Alston, Gladys Foster-Young and Iris T. Olinger joined the group in 2003 and brought to the group a wide range of experiences and talents. During her 1960’s Civil Rights work in Alabama, Ruth had registered people to vote in Gee’s Bend and shared many of her insights about the community and its quilters. The Olive Grove Community of Warren County, where Ruth’s family originated has been long known as a community with exceptional quilters and crafts people.
Gladys, Belinda, and Ms. Iris worked in an adult day program and taught quilting to their clients. While Belinda was new to quilting, Gladys and Ms. Iris had lots of experience. Ms. Iris had been part of a quilt group in Kansas before moving to Vance County and had a wealth of techniques and quilting knowledge to share. Gladys brought a lot of new ideas, patterns, and energy to the group. All three were active in local quilt guilds and crafts circles.
Ellen Pankey, a 2008 member to the group, has years of experience in quilting and with using quilting projects for personal, family and community development. Jackie Privet, also new to the group, has collected and sold antiques and brings to the group interest in art and vintage quilts. Terri Grady and Krista and Hollis Watkins are the most recent members to join the Heritage Quilters. Terri married a Warren County native, moved from Durham, NC, and has been active in a number of community activities. Krista completes a number of her 86 year-old mother’s quilts, while her husband Hollis starts from scratch, selecting cloth and doing his own patch work and quilting.
The 10 years of the Heritage Quilters’ history has been productive. The quilters have been active in organizing major shows and presentations in conjunction with historic preservation and school and community education. The Heritage Quilters organized their first show of members’ quilts titled, “There always was a quilt” in 2002, then “Making Quilts, Spreading Joy” in 2004, “In the Spirit” in 2006, “My soul looks back and wonder” in 2008, and out most recent show, “Patterns of Our Lives” in 2010.
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
• Presentations to local school children teaching quilting and geometry.
• Donate quilts for seniors and other in an area nursing home and shelters.
• Maintain monthly meeting schedule with presentations by several group members.
• Work with the Community Investment Network to sustain the Heritage Quilter as a
“Giving Circle.”
• Attend area quilt shows and lectures.
• Participate The Ridgeway Cantaloupe Festival, The Warrenton SpringFest and Harvest Market.
• Host a tour for Warren County new teachers and school staff.
• Coordinate quilt documentation efforts.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS In August, 2012, the Heritage Quilters Giving Circle was incorporated in North Carolina, Applied for 501 c (3) status in December, 2012, and received notification of tax exempt status in February, 2013. The group celebrated 15 years in October 2016. The Stitching Life Stories project took the quilters in new directions, adding two new quilters, Crystal Myrick and Sterling Cheston.
History
GETTING STARTED In the spring of 2001, ten people responded to an invitation and met at the Warren County Senior Center in Warrenton, NC. The invitation asked them to introduce themselves through quilts and quilting. They were:
Ihsan Abdin
Margaret Bullock
Nina Goode
Portia Hawes
Phyllis Janey
Cathy Alston-Kearney
Leo Kelly, Jr.
Jereann King
Beatrice Richardson
Mary Terry
Everyone shared something about their affection for quilts and/or quilting. Mary Terry, who was taking a class with Peggy Stocks at Vance Granville Community College, and Beatrice Richardson, shared several quilts, some were completed and some were works in progress. Nina Goode, who had not made a quilt, shared two of her mother’s quilts that were made with feed sacks and old clothes. Jereann photographed each person’s presentation and made an audio recording of that initial meeting.
The meeting ended with the group committed to continue their relationship, meeting once a month, identifying others who might be interested in attending, and figuring-out how to teach and learn together as a community of quilters. For the next meeting, Leo agreed to demonstrate how to use the rotary cutter. Jereann agreed to collect addresses and notify the group about meeting dates and other activities. The group formulated the following statement:
WORKING TOGETHER Shortly after the group was formed, group members brainstormed a list of possible names for the group and decided on Heritage Quilters. Wallace Evans, Earlean Henderson, Victoria Lynch, Dorothy Luis, Louise Spruill, and Arnetta Wilson joined the group. Portia, Mary, and Wallace were instrumental during the first year; teaching and demonstrating a number of quilt patterns and techniques. Victoria had been active in a quilting group in Michigan before moving back home to Hollister, NC, and shared ideas for quilting activities and for attending regional quilt shows. “Show and Tell” became a regular feature of our quilt meetings. Members would bring a variety of quilt projects, patterns, and vintage quilts to share and study.
Ruth Howard Chambers, Belinda Alston, Gladys Foster-Young and Iris T. Olinger joined the group in 2003 and brought to the group a wide range of experiences and talents. During her 1960’s Civil Rights work in Alabama, Ruth had registered people to vote in Gee’s Bend and shared many of her insights about the community and its quilters. The Olive Grove Community of Warren County, where Ruth’s family originated has been long known as a community with exceptional quilters and crafts people.
Gladys, Belinda, and Ms. Iris worked in an adult day program and taught quilting to their clients. While Belinda was new to quilting, Gladys and Ms. Iris had lots of experience. Ms. Iris had been part of a quilt group in Kansas before moving to Vance County and had a wealth of techniques and quilting knowledge to share. Gladys brought a lot of new ideas, patterns, and energy to the group. All three were active in local quilt guilds and crafts circles.
Ellen Pankey, a 2008 member to the group, has years of experience in quilting and with using quilting projects for personal, family and community development. Jackie Privet, also new to the group, has collected and sold antiques and brings to the group interest in art and vintage quilts. Terri Grady and Krista and Hollis Watkins are the most recent members to join the Heritage Quilters. Terri married a Warren County native, moved from Durham, NC, and has been active in a number of community activities. Krista completes a number of her 86 year-old mother’s quilts, while her husband Hollis starts from scratch, selecting cloth and doing his own patch work and quilting.
The 10 years of the Heritage Quilters’ history has been productive. The quilters have been active in organizing major shows and presentations in conjunction with historic preservation and school and community education. The Heritage Quilters organized their first show of members’ quilts titled, “There always was a quilt” in 2002, then “Making Quilts, Spreading Joy” in 2004, “In the Spirit” in 2006, “My soul looks back and wonder” in 2008, and out most recent show, “Patterns of Our Lives” in 2010.
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
• Presentations to local school children teaching quilting and geometry.
• Donate quilts for seniors and other in an area nursing home and shelters.
• Maintain monthly meeting schedule with presentations by several group members.
• Work with the Community Investment Network to sustain the Heritage Quilter as a
“Giving Circle.”
• Attend area quilt shows and lectures.
• Participate The Ridgeway Cantaloupe Festival, The Warrenton SpringFest and Harvest Market.
• Host a tour for Warren County new teachers and school staff.
• Coordinate quilt documentation efforts.
NEW DEVELOPMENTS In August, 2012, the Heritage Quilters Giving Circle was incorporated in North Carolina, Applied for 501 c (3) status in December, 2012, and received notification of tax exempt status in February, 2013. The group celebrated 15 years in October 2016. The Stitching Life Stories project took the quilters in new directions, adding two new quilters, Crystal Myrick and Sterling Cheston.