Valley Quilt Guild to host show

The Valley Quilt Guild of Tuscarawas County will present its biennial quilt show on Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1725 N. Wooster Ave., Dover. Admission is $5, and children 12 and under are free.

The show will feature a large display of quilts, quilters' technique classes, a boutique, vendors, raffle baskets, challenge blocks and winners, bed turning featuring interesting stories about donated quilts, and a cafe.

The raffle quilt, "Connections," is a king-size quilt and will be on display at the show. Tickets are available for purchase at the show with six tickets for $5 or $1 each. The drawing will be held on Oct. 21 at the conclusion of the quilt show. The winner does not need to be present.

Jane Gingrich is the chairperson for the quilt show and is assisted by co-chairperson Marianne Wright.

The featured quilter for the 2017 Tuscarawas Valley Quilt Show is Marilyn Foland-Perrone. Foland-Perrone was one of four who founded the guild and served as its president the first five years.

Early on Foland-Perrone was influenced by her grandmother and great aunt to pursue her interest in quilting, but it was her husband who took her to her first quilt show.

Foland-Perrone considers herself a modern traditionalist quilter, adding a colorful twist to her projects. She only does machine piecing and is challenged by more complicated patterns. At present she is a long arm quilter and enjoys doing more geometric patterns for her quilts.

Her friends can easily recognize her quilts because of her love of color. On occasion she will challenge herself with a white and beige quilt.

Foland-Perrone is not sure how many quilts she has made over the years. Her favorite quilt was made from a pattern that included her two favorite things: pink and stars.

One of her first quilts was given to her father for being so supportive of her quilting venture. This king-size quilt was a black and yellow scrappy log cabin pattern.

The largest quilt she has ever made was a commissioned king-size quilt with an 18-inch drape. It took her six months to complete it.

Foland-Perrone's advice for those first starting in quilting is to "start small" and work up to larger bed-size quilts.

Foland-Perrone makes quilts for Wounded Warriors. She also helps to raise money for the Marine Corps with her quilts.

The Valley Quilt Guild is a nonprofit organization formed in 2005. The meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the First United Christian Church of Christ at 201 Fair Ave. NW in New Philadelphia. The building is wheelchair-accessible. New members are welcome.

The meetings include a short business meeting, educational workshops, guest teachers, instructional technique demonstrations, and participation in community and charitable projects.

For more information about the Valley Quilt Guild call Gingrich at 330-343-5617, Wright at 330-364-7570 or Chris Brauning at 330-365-9707.