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Representative from Uganda being presented with an Olympic Quilt, 1996
Violette Denney presenting her quilt to the representative of the Olympic Committee from Uganda, as part of the Olympic Quilt Project, 1996.

The West Georgia Quilters Guild: A Legacy in Stitches

The guild was founded in September 1987 by Carol Kelley, a quilter, after she moved to Carrollton from Omaha and, much to her dismay, found that there was no local quilt guild. The guild has grown to forty members whose goals are to share the craft, history, and love of quilting with their community, family and friends. The making of a quilt is an art that can take many forms. Some quilts are made from traditional patterns, such as the Log Cabin Quilt or the Wedding Ring Quilt. Others take on historical patterns, such as the Crazy Quilt. Many quilters choose to use a combination of traditional patterns, as well as blend their own interests and personalities into the quilt's pattern. Among the group's most important projects are its group quilts.

The West Georgia Quilters Guild is a blend of old and young, experienced and novice quilters, and with this blend comes a variety of techniques, patterns, and quilted art. The guild wants to share their talent with the community and to show how quilts can tell much about our history. They have accomplished this feat with many community service projects, such as providing handmade quilts for charity raffles and for placement in new community buildings.

The guild participated in a project of international scope when Atlanta was honored to host the Summer Olympic Games in 1996. In preparation for this event, the West Georgia Quilters Guild put out a call to all quilters in the state to submit quilts for a special project. The aim was to provide the flag bearer and the president of the Olympic committee from each country with a quilt from Georgia. Six quilts were chosen from guild members and given to the countries of Uganda, Hungary, Ethiopia, Albania, Nicaragua, and Turkmenistan.

The guild shares their work with the community at their annual February exhibition in the Bess Harman Williamson Cultural Arts Center at the Neva Lomason Memorial Library in Carrolton. This exhibition features at least 50 quilts and quilted wall hangings. No quilt is shown twice, except for two Olympic quilts. The popular exhibit attracts 12,000 visitors each year.

Documentation includes a report, photographs and newspaper clippings.

Originally submitted by: Bob Barr, Representative (7th District).



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The Local Legacies project provides a "snapshot" of American Culture as it was expressed in spring of 2000. Consequently, it is not being updated with new or revised information with the exception of "Related Website" links.

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