Music fills the hills

couple of weeks ago, the local Summit Star Quilters took off for the coast to sequester themselves for a weekend of planning and sewing in preparation for next year’s raffle quilt. The annual retreat gives the quilters a chance to get together and discuss ideas while working out the intricacies of a new design.

The 2009 quilt marks a new direction in quilting for the group, which has created a raffle quilt a year for the past 30 years.

Made of a brightly colored array of batik fabrics from around the world, the new quilt is a modern design, which breaks with a long history of traditional American quilts that the group has produced. Each of the seven women at the retreat created her own colorful pattern and made 10 quilt blocks based on that pattern. The process brought out everyone’s inner artist, and even though there might have been a few doubts at the beginning, the final product was voted an overwhelming success by everyone.

Although the Summit Star Quilters have their roots in the early 1970s, it wasn’t until 1979 that the group began producing a yearly quilt to be raffled off at the Summit Summer Festival. (The first quilt, done in 1978, still hangs in the Summit Center after the quilters decided to keep it for posterity rather than raffle it off.) The proceeds from the raffle quilts have been used for various community projects, including the wheelchair ramp, the Summit Center water system and general building maintenance. They have also endowed the Jean Newman Memorial Scholarship and the two local volunteer emergency teams.

Over the years, the constituency of the Summit Star Quilters has changed, but the sense of camaraderie and purpose has not. Recent newcomers have brought fresh energy and creativity to the group.

The 2009 quilt will be put on the quilting frame after the holidays, and the stitchers will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. Friday at the Summit Grange Hall. Anyone willing to thread a needle is always welcome to join in the fun.

For more information call Debbie Boyd at 453-4229.

Holiday Market at Summit Grange Hall

The Holiday Market at the Summit Grange Hall has become a tradition. Now in its sixth year, the market has attracted a number of local vendors and is an anticipated event in the community. It has become an opportunity to do some last-minute shopping while schmoozing with neighbors, snacking on holiday goodies and listening to some local musicians.

This year’s market is happening from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday.

Holiday musical programs set for Dec. 16, 18 and 21

Tired of the canned Christmas music in all of the stores? The hills will soon be alive with the sound of live music!

The Winter Program is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Blodgett School. Students from kindergarten through grade four will perform songs of the season.

The students at the Eddyville Charter School will sing holiday tunes at 7 p.m. Thursday night, Dec. 18.

And last but not least, the Blodgett Community Church’s Christmas Cantata, “The Holy Child” by Marty Parks, is scheduled for 10:40 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21.

All are invited to these holiday programs.

Nashville resident Kathi Downing can be contacted at ramdown@peak.org or 456-4252.