Quilt Walk offers a look back at American history

Pieces have a place in America’s roots, and each has a story to tell

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

During a four-day period, quilt lovers, history buffs, art lovers and curiosity seekers will have something to ogle.

The Quilt Walk along the historic Gig Harbor waterfront will be featured after a hiatus. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16-19, participating shops along the waterfront will display a variety of vintage and contemporary quilts for visitors to enjoy. The event is sponsored by Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront Association and the City of Gig Harbor.

“What most quilters get out of this is walking the harbor and going into the shops and seeing all forms of quilting, from artwork to antiques,” said Nancy Altman, Gig Harbor Quilters Guild Vice President and Quilt Walk chairperson.

“Shows tend to display a particular style for that show, but with this, there’s such a variety,” she said. “That’s what quilting is all about. Everyone has their own style.”

Maps for the quilt walk and “Prize Passports” will be available from each of the sponsoring merchants, who will display a Quilt Walk poster in their windows. Visitors can get their passport stamped each time they visit a participating shop.

“Here in the Northwest, we are blessed with so many talented quilters, so the quality you see is incredible, and that’s why the walk is so interesting,” Altman said.

The quilt walk originally was part of the Quilt Festival. With some nudging from Barb Harder of Birds Nest Gallery & Framing, Altman, the former owner of the Rose Tea Room, resurrected the quilt walk this year.

Altman restores antique quilts.

“I love getting a quilt that’s 100 years old,” she said. “And they say, ‘Can you please restore this? I want it to look the way it did when my grandma made it.’ I don’t make new quilts anymore, so I enjoy walking the harbor and seeing the new things.”

The Gig Harbor Quilters will sell tickets for its 2009 Opportunity/Raffle Quilt. For $1, tickets can be purchased at the Harbor History Museum for a hand-made quilt by Linda Brannock.

The museum will host two lectures on Sept. 19 by award-winning quilt guild member Delaine Gately and Janet Larson, both of whom will show samples from their personal collections.

Larson’s lecture will cover the history of crazy quilts. Gately will speak about the history of quilting.

“I’ll be talking about how to take care of these family treasures, and the importance of labeling them and passing on the information,” she said “It’s also about honoring the maker. If someone dies and doesn’t pass on the information, no one knows the history behind it.”

Gately said the purpose behind the lectures — and the quilt walk — is to enhance the love of quilting and the important part they play in the American story.

“Quilting is an intrinsic part of the American story,” she said.

Quilt walk

The Quilt Walk will offer four days of quilting history and art from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 16-19 at participating shops and restaurants along the historic Gig Harbor waterfront.

Participating vendors include:

A Prima Salon

Ace Hardware

Anthony’s Restaurant

Beach Basket Clothing

Beach Basket Christmas

Birdnest Gallery & Framing

Brix 25

Ebb Tide Gallery of Gifts

Flowers to Go

For Art Sake

Gig Harbor Beads

Gig Harbor Gift Mall

Green Cottage Pets

Harbor Gallery

Harbor Kitchen

Harbor History Museum

Harbor Quilt

Imagine Great Things

Kit Kuhn — A Jeweler Designed for You

Le Bistro

McBeckland’s

Mostly Books

Reverence,

Rexall Drug

Judson Street Cafe

SeaGlass Interiors

Sharon’s Consignment Shop

Spiro’s Restaurant

Sul Mare Salon & Spa

The Harbor Peddler

The Yarn Garden

The Maritime Inn

The Queen’s Cabinet

Tides Tavern

Vanilla Bean

Water’s Edge Gallery and Framing, Inc.

Water to Wine

Wild Birds

Reach reporter Susan Schell at 253-853-9240 or by e-mail at susan.schell@gateline.com.