|
Greetings,
Journal Readers.
For
the Fourth of July my family and I traveled to the coast
to spend the three-day weekend along
with other family members at Oak Island, NC.
Just
a few miles away in downtown Southport, the annual holiday
festivities were well underway for the Fourth. Southport,
a quaint little maritime town, is
the official home of the Fourth of July celebration for
North Carolina and
has
been celebrating the Fourth of July for over 200 years.
Howe
Street, the main road leading to the Southport waterfront,
was lined with patriotic flags, streamers of red, white
and blue and festival-goers. The town's fire engines
were on display for all to see. As I traveled up and down
several side streets in search of a parking space, I
saw many homes decorated with patriotic banners and flags.
It was refreshing to see such a collective display of American
spirit and symbolism.
I spent
most of Saturday afternoon at the Franklin
Square Park arts and crafts fair. Many small
artisans set up booths under the beautiful oak trees to
sell their handmade wares. From hand-blown and hand-painted
glassware to handmade quilts and children's clothing,
there was something there for everyone to enjoy. Perhaps
your plans for next year's Fourth of July will include a
mini-vacation to Oak Island and the Southport areas to celebrate
the Fourth. The festival is growing and gaining popularity;
book your reservation well
in advance as accommodations in the area sell out early.
Our feature
story this month showcases the
quilted works of art by Bernie Rowell, an
artisan from the western part of North Carolina. In her
contemporary art quilts, she uses a variety of materials
from computer parts to painted canvas, beads and raw silk.
Her one-of-a-kind quilts grace
the halls of some of America's top companies,
as well as homes and hospitals of clients from around the
country. I've often admired
those who can conceptualize a work of art then sit down
and patiently put all the pieces together to make their
idea and craft come to life. Read the story
on Bernie Rowell and you'll see what I mean.
At this
point I'd like to offer SPECIAL
THANKS to Rebecca's
Fabrications (416 N. Howe Street, Southport,
NC and Rainbow Upholstery
& Furniture (911 Northwest St, Raleigh,
NC) for their fabric donations towards the quilts
for the needy efforts. Their donations will be
given to a local quilter who is part of two quilting groups
that make quilts for orphans and refugees.
GET
INVOLVED and make a difference! Here's how:
find
local quilting groups in your area that make quilts for
the needy by
- contacting
local churches in your area and ask for names
of women who might belong to a quilting group at that
church
- contacting
a local sewing center, craft store, fabric/notions store
and ask for names of names of local quilting groups who
shop at the store
- searching
the web for North Carolina
quilting groups or associations in your
area
once
you locate a group in your area that you would like to assist,
ask the group's leader what materials they need. Even
the smallest donated items such as thread, needles, quilt
stuffing would be appreciated.
Good
luck in your search, and please
don't hesitate to contact me if I can
help you get involved. I always have ideas on ways that
others can make a difference.
See you next month!
Paula
Monahan |
A
resident
of
Raleigh,
North
Carolina,
Paula
Monahan
is
a
past
President
of
the
American
Marketing
Association,
Triangle
Chapter.
With
over
fifteen
years
of
experience
in
sales
and
marketing,
Paula
is
putting
all
of
her
learned
skills
and
talents
to
good
use
in
this
online
publication
for
women.
As
a
way
of
reaching
out
and
connecting
with
women
from
a
variety
of
backgrounds,
her
goal
is
to
create
a
networked
community
of
online
women
readers
who
value
inspiring,
insightful
and
empowering
content.
