Artfull Bras

Members of Quilters of South Carolina have been busy creating pieces for The Artfull Bras exhibit (click here to see more photos of the entries) for Breast Cancer Awareness The exhibit consists of "fifty original works of art which are unique, entertaining, humorous, and beautiful to make the public aware of breast cancer, to memorialize those lost to the disease, and to honor survivors."

The exhibit will tour South Carolina until Oct. '09 (Breast Cancer Awareness Month), at which time the pieces will be be auctioned off, with proceeds going to Best Chance Network, a South Carolina agency that provides cancer screening at no or low cost.

When I started quilting wayyyy back in about 1975, my sister Barb said, "Now Laura, you know that's just for old ladies!" Begging to differ, I informed her that I considered quilting to be an art form. Little did I know how the art of quilting would evolve in the coming years! With amazing pieces being displayed and judged in such places as Paduka, Kentucky and at Pacific International in Santa Clara, CA, quilts have come a long way from the log cabin pattern women pieced together on the prairie! (A personal favorite of mine the first 10 years or so of my quilting career.)

I've been a member of Annie's Star Quilt Guild here in Chico since about 1990. What a great group of quilters! We meet monthly (1st Thurs.) at 6:30 at the Masonic Family Center. We have over 200 members of every age and skill level. In addition to educating members on new techniques, most meetings showcase a nationally-known quilter. Also, the club has made and donated hundreds of quilts of all sizes to such organizations as Catalyst Women's Shelter, Meals on Wheels, Feather River Hospice, and many others. Feel free to contact me if you'd like more information or to attend a meeting. And mark your calendar for the big QUILT SHOW Oct. 24 & 25, 2009!