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Honoring Women's History Month 2008

Three members of the Southwest Florida Quilters' Guild recently presented this quilt honoring Women's History Month to the Multicultural Student Development Services at Florida Gulf Coast University. Guild members are Martha Albert (left) and Judy Campbell (behind quilt) and Gayle Edwards (right). From FGCU are Jessica Landi (left of quilt) and Shelly Neal, Director of Multicultural Student Development Services at FGCU (right of quilt).

Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) celebrates Women’s History Month by honoring the role of women who have impacted history, politics, education, and culture. The theme for Women’s History Month 2008 is a quote from Susan B. Anthony; “Failure is Impossible.”

Multicultural Student Development Services (MSDS) at FGCU will be inducting two outstanding students, Taunesha Dix and Taylor Cohen, into the first annual MSDS Women’s Hall of Fame. On March 27, 2008 MSDS will dedicate a quilt to Taunesha and Taylor honoring their achievements in leadership, community service, and character.

The quilt squares were created and embellished by students from the University. The squares represent influential women who have inspired the student’s lives. MSDS' intention is to continue honoring student women yearly by adding names to this quilt.

MSDS would like to thank the women of The Southwest Florida’s Quilters' Guild for assembling the blocks, and Susie Q’s Quilt Shop for machine quilting it. After the honorary ceremony, the quilt will be displayed in the office of MSDS at FGCU.

FIRST CLOTHESLINE QUILT SHOW A HUGE SUCCESS

On Saturday, November 3, 2007 the Edison & Ford Winter Estates hosted the first annual Clothesline Quilt Show together with the Southwest Florida Quilters’ Guild. There were over 40 contemporary and antique quilts on display as well as several historic quilts from the Estates’ collection. The quilts were hung between the beautiful palm trees lining Palm Allee in front of Henry Ford’s winter home as well as over the front and back porch railings. Some quilts were also hanging from his fence along McGregor Boulevard. Members of the guild as well as the curatorial staff from the Estates were on hand to answer questions.

This quilt show at the Estates recognized the interest that Henry Ford and his family had in the 1900s with regards to collecting quilts and other historical objects. His collection grew into the Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan and later shared with the Winter Estates in Fort Myers.

Marianne Fons and Liz Porter, two nationally known quilt authors, wrote a book on Henry Ford and his quilts. It is called, Quilts From the Henry Ford.

On hand were guild members who were busy selling raffle tickets to our beautiful raffle quilt (also on display) and quilted postcards. Postcard proceeds will go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Both of these activities AND the quilt show proved to be very, very successful! The guild hopes to make this an annual event

Created by Southwest Florida Quilt Guild

Quilting is an art form recognized around the world. Organizers of the International Women's Peace Colloquium wanted a special display for their meeting on July 13-15, 2007 in Miami. They contacted the Southwest Florida Quilt Guild in April and asked if we would design a quilt to symbolize the efforts of women worldwide who are working for peace. Over forty guild members submitted blocks, each 12 1/2 inches square. Many of the blocks were mailed from ladies who have returned to their northern homes. The colors requested were blue for the sky that gives us strength to envision and create peace; green for Mother Earth who heals, energizes and teaches us, and purple for all creation that teaches us humility of mind and heart. The finished quilt with 48 unique blocks, is 86 inches by 115 inches...bigger than a king size quilt! Members of the guild who added a special touch were Kim Mann whose embroidery business (Threads by Design) did the title blocks and Renee' Kennedy whose quilt shop (Susie Q's Quilts) quilted the creation. After the colloquium the quilt will be displayed within the United Nations community and in other venues that request it.