Published: March 21, 2008 02:49 am            

Grimes Sewing Center to sponsor quilt airing event in downtown Palestine

PALESTINE — Grimes Sewing Center of Palestine will host an old-fashioned “Airing of the Quilts” event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 29 in the center’s parking lot, located at 619 W. Oak St.

The event, held in conjunction with the second weekend of Palestine’s annual Dogwood Trails Celebration, also features quilts on display at several West Oak Street businesses and the Palestine Public Library.

“The library will have a couple of quilts,” shop owner and event organizer Venita Grimes said in a recent interview. “One of those, called ‘Log Cabin Soliloquy,’ was made by inmates of a Waco women’s prison to honor Palestine resident Phyllis Simpson.”

According to Grimes, a majority of the quilts — about 50 or so — will be aired on the grounds of Grimes Sewing Center, with some of them being offered for sale. About 20 more will be on display downtown.

“L&L Shoe Store will feature mini quilts made by our children’s quilting class held over Christmas break,” Grimes said. “Some of the other downtown business will display their own personal family quilts.

“Most of the quilts here at the sewing center are mine.”

Grimes said that she got the idea for the downtown quilt airing several years ago from a similar event held in Huntsville.

“The airing event was conceived as a means to highlight the age-old tradition of quilting,” Grimes said. “It is an event that is very much a part of the heritage of Anderson County and was practiced by the descendants of many residents.”

Ladies in pioneer days brought their beloved quilts to Texas in covered wagons and lovingly cared for them as treasured possessions. Each spring, the ladies would “air” their quilts in the sunshine following the long winter days and lots of usage.

The quilts were put away for the summer months in quilt boxes made by a family member and kept in the household. If a quilt box was not available, the quilts were placed between the mattress and springs on the bed until they were needed in the winter.

“So many old-timers remember quilt airings of the old days and will enjoy seeing the quilts on display,” Grimes said. “And we also hope this event will encourage visitors and residents to take a walk through downtown Palestine.”

In case of rain the Grimes Sewing Center quilt airing will relocate to the Howard House Museum, located at 1011 N. Perry St. in Palestine.

For more information about this event, call Grimes Sewing Center at 903-729-2889.

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Mary Rainwater may be reached via e-mail at mrainwater@palestineherald.com.

        

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