Last week I was in Hampton, Virginia at the Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival working with Deb Tucker in the Studio 180 Design booth. We were busier than a one armed paper hanger! I felt so fortunate to see so many of my friends. When I first arrived I had time to chat with my friend Paula Harr.
I met Paula about 5 years ago through the Tidewater Quilt Guild in Virginia Beach, VA. I liked her immediately. She has a wicked sense of humor and a sparkle in her eyes that can light up a room. Paula was raised by her grandmother and as a child played under the quilt frame as quilts were made by hand. Paula has been quilting since the 1980’s. She owned a quilt shop in Fairmont, West Virginia called “Uncle Bertie’s”! I asked questioningly “Uncle Bertie’s”???? Paula replied that for some unknown reason her children called their Great Grandmother “Uncle Bertie” and there you have it!
Paula was a Psychiatric Nurse for 47 years; I think that explains the twinkle in her eyes! She retired on a Friday the 13th in 2014 just for luck! Several Years ago Paula was approached by the Neptune Festival Committee in Virginia Beach, and asked if she would make them a T-shirt quilt to raffle as a fund raiser in exchange for a free booth at the fair, she said yes and a new business was born. Below is the gorgeous quilt she made for the festival.
The Neptune quilt was fabulous, and Paula enjoyed making it. I say that because for anyone who has made a T-Shirt quilt and you ask if they will make another, usually the answer is a resounding “NO”! But, Paula began answering “yes” to those who wanted a T-Shirt quilt made for them. Paula only uses Quilters Dream Batting when making her quilts. Her favorite is Dream Select for all its versatility. Below are examples of Paula’s wonderful T-shirt quilts:
Paula says “every quilt tells a story”, and she so enjoys meeting the people, hearing their story, creating a T-Shirt Quilt that captures their story and their most cherished memories. She has made so many that she now has one hour quilt guild presentation on making T-shirt and Memory quilts.
If you would like to have a T-Shirt or Memory quilt made especially for you or if you would like Paula to visit your guild and share her informative presentation please contact her at:
Patchwork by Paula – FB page
patchworkbypaula@gmail.com
757-572-1919
