Angel Oak quilt to be at new library
The first public library being built to serve Johns, Wadmalaw, Seabrook and Kiawah islands has the support of a Sea Islands group all sewn up.
Fifteen women working together and separately created a large quilt that depicts the aged Angel Oak as a centerpiece, surrounded by images of Sea Island birds. The quilt earned a third prize in a recent quilting competition and will become a permanent display at the Johns Island Regional Library when it opens this fall on Maybank Highway near Main and Bohicket roads.
Friends of the Library, which has members who also are in the Kiawah and Seabrook Islands Night Herons Quilt Group, sponsored the quilt and provided $200 for supplies, according to Lee Hurd of Seabrook Island, a member of both groups.
Hurd said the quilt, which bears the Friends of the Library slogan, “When books are opened, you have wings,” was started last May and took hundreds of hours to make. The Angel Oak, estimated to be between 300 and 1,400 years old, was selected for the centerpiece “because it symbolizes Johns Island,” Hurd said. Hand-sewing the oak alone took 80 hours: More than 40 needles were broken while creating the image, which incorporates heavy fabric bunched to simulate the tree’s texture, quilter Sally Catlin of Kiawah Island said.
Fabric with density and texture were chosen to make the tree. “The fabric is so thick, to match the grain of the tree leaves and the bark,” Catlin said.
Forming the tree image had to be done on a sewing machine, but the process was slow and tedious and delayed by snapping needles, Catlin said.
The quilt shows in spaces surrounding the oak the images of birds, including a pelican, blue jay, egret, hummingbird and cardinal.
The proud quiltmakers believe the quilt’s images represent the Sea Islands and symbolize ‘the grass-roots support for the $4.3 million new library under construction.
“What’s neat about the quilt, I think, is that it pulls together~ through natural scenes the areas of Johns, Wadmalaw, Kiawah and Seabrook island - the areas the library will serve,” Hurd said. “It’s going to be pretty in the library, and it’s going to be hanging on your left.”
The quilt was displayed March
13 and 14 at the “Celebration Of Quilts” show at Galliard Auditorium, where it earned a third-place ribbon in its category.
In addition to Hurd and Catlin, quiltmakers included Sharon Albrecht, Kitty Walter, Kathy Heikes, Denyse Eisenhardt, Mary Lu Kagler, Pat Gresch, Julia Coor, Ann Crane, Kathy Abrams, Shirley Passino, Addie Novaco and Sherry Sims, all of Kiawah Island, and Ruth Mclver of Johns Island.
Eleven of the 15 Night Herons Quilt Group who made a quilt to hang In the new Johns Island Lbrary are shown with their project. From left are Sharon Albrecht, Sally Catlin, Kitty Walter, Kathy Heikes, and seated Is Ruth Mclver. Standng at right are Denyse Eisenhardt, Mary Lu Kagler, Pat Gresch and Lee Hurd. Kneeling are Juka Coor and Ann Crane. Not pictured are Kathy Abrams, Shirley Passino, Addle Novaco and Sherry Sims.
