The Muncy Historical Society is one of the most active historical societies in the area and pride themselves on the various programs they present to the public. This spirit continues when they present their annual Textile Show and Exhibition on Friday, July 9, and Saturday, July 10 at the Celebration Centre and Living Water Café located at the First United Methodist Church, 602 S. Market Street, Muncy.

The Muncy Historical Society anticipates that show entries will be stunning antique, vintage, traditional and contemporary quilts, representing virtually all styles. In addition, this year’s show will include contemporary quilt entries, which add new twists to an age-old craft.

This juried show is open to all quilters and offers opportunities for quilters to enter a quilt or quilts and for the non-quilter to exhibit quilts from their private collections.

Now in its 16th year, the event will showcase spectacular hand and machine workmanship, appliqué, and quilting techniques, reflecting the originality of the makers and their expertise with needle and thread. Judith Cole Costello, quilt designer, lecturer, and author, is the show chair. She has been interested in quilting since the Bicentennial observation in 1976, and she “sets the show” so that attendees can “step far away from the quilt to see the quilts geometric design and color patterns as a whole composition, or to stand inches away and observe the combinations of fabric, stitching, batting density, and handmade variations.”

A three-person panel will judge the quilt entries, and 1st, 2nd and 3rd place ribbons will be awarded in the Quilt Challenge, Appliqué, Other Techniques, Use of Color, Hand Quilting, Domestic/Hand-Guided Machine Quilting, Computer-Guided Machine Quilting, Wall Hanging, Youth and Contemporary categories. The judges will award only one winner for Best of Show, selected from all first-place winners, a Best Original Design winner, and a Judge’s Choice winner. Friday show attendees will nominate their personal favorite for the Viewer’s Choice award.
2021 Challenge Quilt Theme

The 2021 Quilt Challenge theme is “Log Cabin and Variations” — the quilter’s choice. The challenge quilts will be accessorized with miniature log cabins and early 19th century-relevant antiques from the museum’s collection.
Always More Than a Quilt Show!

Always more than a quilt show, the show activities have been selected to appeal to all ages, and young people are encouraged to attend. This event is designed to be a glorious, colorful, and educational experience. As with every year, there will be several special exhibits and demonstration areas!

In addition to quilts, this year’s show will feature 19th century woven coverlets, the products of William Lowmiller’s jacquard attachment. Lowmiller, who began his weaving career in Level Corners (today’s Linden, PA area), moved to Muncy in the late 1830s and began producing these special bed coverings from a detached building in the rear of his South Main Street property. The attachment, one of only six of this era known to exist in the world, will be on display along with the original patterns that he used to create his designs. Lacemaking pillows and European and domestic lace will be on display as well.

There will be hands-on weaving and spinning demonstrations using the Dorothy loom, weaving boards, lucets, and drop spindles during the show hours.

There will be shopping opportunities as well — the museum-sponsored fabric and sewing supplies sale, which has just been added as a 2021 show feature, will run both days or until sold out.

Show organizers are delighted to once again host Tammy Belsky, owner of Happy Valley Quilting, an online retailer based in the heart of Happy Valley, near Penn State University. Tammy’s love for American history and heritage is at the heart of Happy Valley’s product inventory, comprising of reproduction fabrics from the 1700s to the 1940s. Tammy acquires the store’s high-quality fabrics from among today’s most respected designers and manufacturers to ensure that customers have materials that will inspire their creativity, enhance the nostalgic beauty and traditional style of their heirloom quilting projects — and, of course, stand the test of time!
‘Artists in Residence — Wendy Etzel & Aleta Wynn Yarrow’

For over 40 years, Wendy Etzel has been a quilt designer, a teacher, and the author of five quilt books featuring both traditional and unique subject matter. She’ll have her workstation set up on both Friday and Saturday.

Join the Kite Revue will be the focus of Wendy’s stitching — gather up those fabric scraps, cut just one template (a kite), and come to the theater. The cutting (in layers) is quick, and the piecing is quite painless (3 kites =a pyramid & the et-in angle is a snap on the machine). Since all the pyramids in your chorus must march in a straight line, you’ll be thrilled with the simple construction. From placement to king-size quilt, the design possibilities are endless — as are your scraps.

Wynn Yarrow is known for her richly detailed landscapes in painting and collage. Recently she has turned her eye for color and love of pattern to the world of textiles. Her great grandparents came from Sweden to New England as weavers. This family history and a love of the Arts & Craft movement led her to design textiles for the Jacquard loom. Nature themes have always been foremost in her art, as reflected in her 2020 woven coverlets.

When Wynn joins the show on Saturday, at 1 p.m., she will highlight the design process while sharing some of her beautifully designed, reversible cotton throw blankets.
To Register a Quilt(s)

To exhibit a quilt(s) from your private collection, you must complete a show registration form, available by calling 570-546-5917 or online at http://www.MuncyHistoricalSociety.org. Registration forms and quilt entries must be received by the Muncy Historical Society on or before July 2, 2021, from 9 a.m. to noon or earlier by advance appointment. Quilts should include a cloth label with the name of the quilt, the owner’s name, and the address sewn to the back of the entry. A 4-4 ½” hanging sleeve should be affixed to the quilt. Quilt pick-up is scheduled for Saturday, July 10, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. or by appointment at the museum.
Directions

Directions to the Quilt Show at the First United Methodist Church are I-80 to exit 212W to I-180 exit 13A, Rt. 405 to Muncy. Turn left on South Main Street, 1.0 mile, right on Mussers Lane. One block, right on S. Market Street, the church is on the left. Please wear comfortable, flat-heeled shoes.

Program support was made possible in part through donations and grants from the PA Council on the Arts and quilt enthusiasts.