July Quilt Installed at Library

The collaborative quilt project between Virginia Public Library and the Going to Pieces Quilt Guild continues in July with a quilt aptly filled with sparkle.  With a surprising color combination of red, purple and silver, “Ladies Choice” was designed and quilted by Karen Lamppa, a long-standing member of 4 regional quilt guilds.

Mrs. Lamppa was raised in a family that valued the art of handwork in the form of knitting, embroidery, sewing, weaving and also quilting.  She believes this is why she was destined to embrace the fiber arts which led to a major in Home Economics.   She became a local celebrity in 2007 when one of her quilts was accepted by the Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky to be displayed in a series called “Stitches from the Upper Midwest”.  This work was one of only 30 selected from entries from 4 States.

Ladies Choice

“Ladies Choice” is the result of a 6 month block of the month challenge for the All Range Quilters project for which the primary requirement was to include an umbrella and a flower.  Karen’s personal challenge was to use fabrics from her stash for her blocks.  It was only after she finished the blocks that she found the perfect fabric for her outer border which highlighted her unusual color choice. 

Nancy Maxwell, Director of Virginia Public Library has been “amazed by the quality of works displayed by our local artists and their dedication to their craft.   This project has been an inspiration for many of our patrons.”

The motto of the Going to Pieces Quilt Guild is “Inspire, Instruct & Improve.”  Area sewers are welcome to attend the monthly meetings of the Guild.  These are held the 3^rd Tuesday of each month from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the basement of the First Covenant Church at 232 5^th St South.  Quilting retreats are sponsored by the guild every Spring and Fall.  For more information, contact Darcy at 750-7035 or Betty at 741-4348.  New members are always welcome!

Be sure to visit the library to tour the lobby throughout the next 4 months to see each new installation.  For more information on this project, or other services the library provides, please call 748-7525 or check the event calendar at www.virginia.lib.mn.us.