Guild donates ‘COVID Curves’ quilt to thank Beebe Healthcare
The local Delaware Modern Quilt Guild recently donated its 2020 community outreach challenge quilt named “COVID Curves” to Beebe Healthcare.
“Our members are all local residents who want to express our deep gratitude for the steadfast presence of Beebe Healthcare, our community-based, independent, nonprofit healthcare system, during this global pandemic and beyond,” said quilter and guild member Pam Smith.
This year's Modern Quilt Guild Show, QuiltCon Together 2021, was a virtual event held in February. Encouraging philanthropy, and building and supporting individuals and communities through modern quilting, the guild requested submissions for its community outreach quilt challenge. The theme for this year was curves, and the challenge had a specific color palette.
Local members organized, planned, designed, communicated, cut, sewed and chronicled Delaware COVID-19 data from March 28 to June 15, 2020. All of this was articulated in fabric and thread using artistic expression that translated into the “COVID Curves” quilt shown at the QuiltCon Together event.
Members Debbie Iammatteo and Joan Flanigan-Clarke were co-leaders of the challenge. During a quilt retreat, members had been introduced to the quick curve ruler by Sew Kind of Wonderful, which was later used to make the quilt. Joining the co-leaders and learning to navigate Zoom together to maintain safe meetings were guild members Kathleen Burke, Janet Denson, Stacy Hennigan, Judy Iaquinto, Heidi Kuchta, Barbara Lee, Mary Lu Pool, Jennifer Price, Mary Reddington, Mary Shepherd. Melissa Sopko and Jane Stokes.
“Our group decided the theme would be COVID-19, since many of us had already been affected in one way or another. We worked with statistics and figured out a formula to turn this information into a readable quilt similar to a temperature quilt. We conducted weekly Zoom meetings, which really helped us get to know each other. It was exciting to watch the quilt come together from the first step to the next, and finally to registering and submitting it. We all were thrilled to learn that our quilt had been accepted into the show. We thank Beebe Medical Foundation for giving us this opportunity to donate our quilt!” said Iammatteo.
“We are grateful to all of the loving hands who designed and created this beautiful piece of artwork. This quilt speaks to the dedication of our frontline heroes and the incredible bond that has woven this community together over the past 15 months. We will display this proudly for the entire community to enjoy and remember this unforgettable milestone in our lives,” said Kay Young, Beebe Medical Foundation executive director of development.
