From the beginning, however, there were also quilts valued for their beauty and rarely used. These quilts might be made using fabrics imported from Europe, fabrics which were hoarded for their decorative uses, not their practical ones. Even in prairie homes, quilts became artistic espressions of their makers. Quilts told family stories, honored loved ones, stood as mute political opinion, recorded history. Today's quilt artists have a huge variety of fabrics, patterns and techniques to use to create unique pieces of art.
Some pieces challenge our notion of what a quilt is.
Others achieve their visual impact through the use of subtle shadings available only through the use of hand-dyed fabrics. Quilts may be made to assault the eye as well instead of to please it, depending on the message the artist is sending. Using the World Wide Web, quilters can now share their craft world wide. We in the Charlottesville Area Quilters Guild invite you to share what we are doing in Central Virginia and to join in the fun of quilting.