Museum of Appalachia Commemorative Pin

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CONTACT AQT
1-888-775-4AQT
PO Box 379
Rutledge, TN
37861


For Immediate Release
Contact Person: Cynthia Sellers
Phone: 865-828-4586
Toll Free: 888-775-4AQT
Email: cynthia@clinchpowell.net
www.vacationAQT.com


Museum of Appalachia “Mountain Lily” Commemorative Pin


The Museum of Appalachia supports the heritage and artistry of quilting and the
Appalachian Quilt Trail (AQT) with a commemorative pin and t-shirt.


CLINTON, TN — The (October 9th – 12, 2008) Tennessee Fall Homecoming event’s logo pin is shaped in the pattern of their official AQT heritage square mounted to the red barn at the Museum of Appalachia. The pattern is commonly referred to as “Tulip in Vase”, a variation on “Mountain Lily”, which is a popular, traditional Appalachian quilt pattern. Elsewhere in Appalachia it may be called “Lily”, “Fire Lily”, or “North Carolina Lily”. The pin is priced at $4.95. They have t-shirts to match, both found in the museum gift shop at 2819 Andersonville Highway, Clinton,TN 37716. ph. 865-494-7680 www.museumofappalachia.org.


The Museum of Appalachia’s quilt barn pattern choice has a personal origin. It was derived from a quilt that once belonged to the grandfather of museum founder, John Rice Irwin. It’s among the collection of antiquities on display in the the museum’s Hall of Fame. They call it a “Friendship Quilt” and it’s written about in John Rice Irwin’s book about Appalachia, “A People and Their Quilts”. The practice of making friendship quilts was once common throughout most areas of Appalachia and elsewhere in the country. According to Mr. Irwin, the quilt was made around 1888 by unmarried girls in Big Valley, located in Union County, Tennessee. The girls formed a quilting bee and set out to make enough friendship quilts for all the eligible young men in the area. Unfortunately, Grandpa Rice was a bit too young at that time to be considered “eligible” and so was teased by the other young men for being the only one in town to not receive a quilt from the group. When the girls learned he was being teased, they promptly made him not one, but two quilts, monogrammed with their names. (Mr. Irwin did not reveal in his book whether or not Grandma Rice’s name would be found on the quilts.)


The Tennessee Fall Homecoming is an event that celebrates the traditions of Appalachia with music, clogging, and traditional Appalachian crafts and skills demonstrations. The Appalachian Quilt Trail (AQT) will have a presence at the Tennessee Fall Homecoming to answer questions about Appalachian Quilt Barns and Heritage Trails. The AQT will be joined by one of its newest member trail sponsors, Pappy’s Quilting Place of Maryville, Tennessee, who have hosted a colorful, hand-painted “Log Cabin” AQT heritage quilt block based on a quilt that’s on display in their shop. Folks from Pappy’s will be on hand throughout the Homecoming event to talk quilting and share information about their stop on the Appalachian Quilt Trail.


The Appalachian Quilt Trail is a project of Clinch-Powell Resource Conservation & Development Council, a 501c(3) non-profit organization and equal opportunity employer/provider. The AQT program is dedicated to improving understanding, awareness, and appreciation of the unique traditions and communities of Appalachia through the promotion of heritage tourism and sustainable rural economic development. More about us and our “tales & quilt trails” can be found at our website: www.vacationAQT.com


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