The Quilting Bee: The origin of “bee” comes from dialectal 'been' or 'bean' (meaning "help given by neighbors") and a Quilting Bee started out as an important means of socializing for colonial and pioneer women (and men). Through the winter months, the women would piece their quilt tops. Since there was no central heating in these homes, there was usually only one main heated room that was too crowded during the winter months for a quilt frame to be assembled. When the weather became warmer, an invitation was sent to the surrounding neighbors for the quilting bee.
On the day of the quilting bee, the quilters would arrive early and begin marking the quilt top which had been put into the quilt frame by the hostess. Very often, plates, thimbles and tea cups were used to mark the quilting patterns.
The quilters would then begin to quilt the top while exchanging conversation. The quilt had to be finished before the husbands and beaus showed up in the late afternoon when dinner was served to all, the hostess being given a chance to show off her cooking skills. After dinner, there was very often a square dance or country dance with fiddles accompanying the dancers.
The quilting bee was an important part of the social life of these people surpassed only by religious gatherings.
Post Credit goes to Kimberly Wright. Keep pedaling,
Janice
June 2025 meeting
Show and Tell
Follow-up to Jan Pitman's workshop
Discussion and planning for the last retreat of 2025
Report on visit with Piedmont University museum staff
Planning for July meeting with Art Club staff of Piedmont University
Bring your lunch!
2025 Meeting Schedule
June 10 - Follow up to Silk Dye workshop
July 8 - Surface Design Techniques by Susan Barrett
August 12 - Follow up on Surface Design work shop
September 9 - Study in Black by Janice
October 7 - Follow up on Study in Black and Fall Retreat planning
As part of our meeting in May, we were joined by Drema Montgomery and Rebecca Brantley as well as Rebecca's daughter, Imogen Spates. They were there to meet us and participate in the workshop. Janice and Jan had reached out to the Piedmont College Art Club in anticipation of a collaboration between our guild and the students in the Art Club at Piedmont who might be interested in the textile arts. Before the workshop began some of the Bee Artfuls shared examples of their past work to show our guests the range of talent, techniques, and, skills in our group. A sampling of those are shown below.
Another idea for hanging : metal furring strip from Home Depot attached to wall with Command strips - then either magnets in sleeves or as shown magnets on furring strip then metal pole in sleeve.
One is a checklist that can be used as a guideline when looking at a quilt - this is published on her website as part of her creative strength training class.
The second is a detailed essay she wrote concerning the process.
I hope that these documents will help the Bee Artful group conduct critique sessions that are productive.
Letter from the editor
This newsletter is a feast for the eyes with all of the beautiful photos. We are looking forward to seeing all of the beautiful hand-dyed pieces in June as well as discussing a possible fall retreat, etc. I am making progress on some of my UFO's as well as some gifts, etc. Keep pedaling and stitching ladies!
I am happy to convey all of these wonderful "goings on" via this newsletter. Try to get things to me in advance of the end of the month via email (mandmoliver@gmail.com) or text. If you put the word "newsletter" somewhere in the message line I will be able to find it easier (if using email). See you soon.
Melinda
Melinda Oliver
Melinda is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters
