Southern Highland Craft Guild Annual Meeting 2010
Blue Ridge Assembly
Black Mountain, NC
April 17, 2010

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend this year's SHCG Annual Meeting. In addition to taking care of Guild business we enjoyed a wonderful weekend of seeing old friends, meeting new ones, and sharing ideas.
During the awards ceremony the following were recognized:

Honorary Membership
Tim Barnwell

Life Membership
Bill Alexander
Nancy Darrell
Bob Wagar

Lifetime Achievement
Robert S. Brunk
Arval Woody

Mary Dashiell was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees, and Sandra Rowland and Freida Terrell were re-elected to serve, joining current Board members: Lila Bellando, Teresa Brittan, Hugh Bailey, Tom Bauman, Rob Mangum, and Tommye Scanlin.

So many people and so many details helped to make the meeting successful. Here are a few details I will remember from the weekend: Nikki Josheff's daffodils brightening each locale, Chuck Hunner's signs leading the way, Tamela Well's handmade nametags to help us remember and get to know one another, the buzz of excitement during the tool swap, seeing good friends Sherry Masters and Andrew Glasgow during Friday evening's reception, hearing the punch line of one of Lee Davis' well told jokes between meetings on Saturday, hearing all about Jim Rittmann's Alabama adventures, working on the group art project hosted by Sandra Rowland, the merriment of a square dance called by Billy Edd Wheeler on Saturday night in the Bryson Gym at Warren Wilson College, and a delightful Sunday morning brunch hosted by the Herricks on top of the mountain (I've got to get that french toast recipe!).

If you have your own fun stories to share about Annual Meeting leave your comments here. Thanks, April Nance.

"The Guild sometimes seems to be an overloaded bus full of weary pilgrims and squawking chickens groaning up a steep incline. At other times it is an ark, a moveable feast, an improvised drama."
Robert S. Brunk, Guild Member since 1973

Quilt Block by Connie Brown depicting the tunnel at Craggy Pinnacle
on the Blue Ridge Parkway

I'm pleased to share with you a sneak preview of what is sure to be an amazing work of art created by the Asheville Quilt Guild in honor of the Blue Ridge Parkway's 75th Anniversary. Several members of the Guild will be creating their own "square" which will be incorporated into a wall size quilt. All the images on the quilt will relate to the Parkway. Examples include flora and fauna of the area as well as some recognizable landmarks such as Mabry Mill, Linville Falls, and the Folk Art Center.

The quilt will be unveiled at the Southern Highland Craft Guild's Heritage Weekend in September and will be installed at the Folk Art Center for visitors to enjoy for years to come. Stay tuned for more updates on the quilt's construction and the many wonderful artists donating their time and talent to this fantastic project.

To learn more about the events going on throughout the year to celebrate the 75th Anniversary checkout the website: brp75.org.

Last Friday we had the pleasure of visiting with textile artist Bernie Rowell at her studio in Candler, NC. Bernie has been a member of the SHCG since 1975. She creates art quilts from painted canvas, building layers of highly textural collage. She will be demonstrating at the Folk Art Center during Fiber Weekend and exhibiting her work at the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands in July and October.

This post is the first in a series called "Studio Conversations" which will give a brief artist profile of a SHCG member followed by a short video clip of them in their studio.

Last week we visited with Jude Stuecker in her studio in west Asheville. She is a fiber artist who has been a member of the Guild since 2004. She creates quilts, clothing and accessories. She will be demonstrating her craft at Fiber Weekend at the Folk Art Center on May 8 and selling her work at the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands in July and October.

Jude and her daughter, Silvia, posing in front of Jude's quilt,
"Honeybee" at her studio in west Asheville.

Display of Keepsake Quilts

Connie Brown aids visitors in learning more about their own quilts.

Robin Brooks demonstrating how to make "string" quilts.

Saturday was a lively day at the Folk Art Center. Not only were the Carolina Mountain Woodturners meeting in the auditorium (which always draws a great crowd), the SHCG was also celebrating National Quilting Day.

Connie Brown and Robin Brooks, both members of the SHCG and the Asheville Quilt Guild were demonstrating in the lobby. Connie presented an exhibition of family keepsake quilts. She also stayed busy all day helping visitors learn more about their own quilts. Connie was able to help them identify patterns, time periods and other interesting bits of information.

Robin Brooks demonstrated quilting on a small scale by showing first hand how she makes string quilts.

Several people were interested in the techniques used when working with t-shirts. Connie provided a handout that explained the technique she used for working with t-shirt fabrics. For visitors that had further inquires about the process she would show them the materials she used and how to prepare and stabilize the t-shirts.

Many people had questions about vintage and antique quilts. Many brought in their quilts for Connie to give suggestions about use or care of the textile or for her to give them general information about the quilt. Crazy quilts were a common theme with 3 different people bringing in a crazy quilt, all very different but all having that special hand embroidery that was fashionable during the Victorian era.

This National Quilting Day was the perfect example of how quilts can be a common and connecting thread. On several occasions, as a visitor was getting information about a quilt, a second visitor would make a connection. "I think I know you" or "Don't I know you from somewhere" was heard over and over, and before you knew it these visitors were reminiscing about past events. One visitor was a "blast from the past" for Connie, in the fall of 1996 they both worked at Erwin High School. A very special visitor from Black Mountain, rushed in near closing time, she just wanted to share a quilt that she had made in the 1960's, a wonderful hand appliqued "Tree of Life." Come to find out she and Connie have a mutual friend. Of those that brought in quilts, almost every one of them made a connection to someone else. After all-it is a small world.

Speaking of "small world", people were amazed by Robin Brooks' miniature quilts. Over and over, you heard "the pieces are so small, I don't know how she does that." Robin used her antique sewing machine to demonstrate how she makes them. Visitors loved seeing a vintage sewing machine and loved the fact that Robin was actually sewing with it. Robin displayed several family keepsake quilts and was delighted to share their history with interested visitors.

The Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, with shows in July and October, may seem like a long way away, but it's never too early to begin planning for a great show.

Yesterday we met with Anna Littman and Mary Timmer from Arts for Life. Anna is the organization's Executive Director and Mary serves on the Advisory Council. These talented women are also members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild - Anna is a potter and Mary is a jeweler.

In the past, Arts for Life has hosted a children's activity table at the Craft Fair and they have agreed to return for the July Fair this year. Stay tuned for more information about the activities they will offer, activities which will be a great opportunity for kids to have their own art experience in the middle of an inspiring Craft Fair.

Arts for Life will also be curating an exhibition along the ramp leading from the Concourse to the Arena level of the Civic Center. The show will highlight work by children participating in the Arts for Life program along with photographs of the artists.

I encourage you to check out the Arts for Life website to learn about their amazing programming.

"Arts For Life is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children and young adults facing serious illnesses. Through art education, we enrich patients’ lives and encourage positive healthcare experiences for children and their families. Arts For Life helps children all day everyday in four cities across North Carolina."

Usually on January mornings the Folk Art Center has a tendency to be on the quiet side. Last Tuesday morning was a welcome exception as four groups of kindergarten students from Isaac Dickson Elementary School made their way through the center. The children, along with faculty and parent volunteers, were participating in a program developed by the Southern Highland Craft Guild Education Committee. The committee has been working hard to strengthen school presentations. During this visit, organized by the Guild librarian, Deb Schillo, the groups made their way through four stations, each focusing on a different craft including broom making, spinning, quilting and pottery.

Barbara Merrell (pictured above) and Marlow Gates demonstrated how to make a broom. They talked about the materials used, different types of brooms and the history of broom making. They also showed the kids how to make their own small broom.

Mary Nichols (pictured above) showed the children how she spins wool into yarn. She explained that she can use raw fleece which has just been shorn from a sheep, wash it, card it, dye it, spin it and finally knit it into a shawl. This process, from sheep to shawl, gives new meaning to the phrase, “made from scratch.” She had several examples of fleece for the children to feel and she showed many of the products, such as scarves and dolls, that she makes with her own yarn.



At the quilting station Norma Bradley talked to the group about how she makes quilts, beginning with a design and ending with a finished piece of fiber art. She showed them one of her quilts, explaining the technique of applique and how she turns inspiration into various designs. The children also had an opportunity to experiment by cutting and pasting their own designs on paper. Back in the classroom the students will collaborate in making a group paper quilt.


Jennifer Hoolihan from Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts demonstrated how to throw a clay pot on the potter's wheel. She talked to the kids about where the clay comes from and how people through the years have been making pottery out of necessity. The group marveled as a lump of clay became a vase in Jennifer's hands. After the wheel demo the children were each given a bit of clay to create their own pinch pot.


Thanks to a great group of attentive students and supportive faculty and volunteers the morning of craft education was a success. Special thanks to the craftspeople who volunteered their time and expertise as well as the Guild members who were there to lend a helping hand: Marlow Gates, Barbara Merrell, Mary Nichols, Deb Schillo, Norma Bradley, Pat Bauman, Jennifer Hoolihan, and Tamela Wells.

If you are interested in learning more about craft education at the Folk Art Center feel free to call Deb Schillo at the Folk Art Center (828-298-7928) or email her at library@craftguild.org.