Quilt Shop Rally to Highlight Virginia Attractions

On July 11th-14th, more than 800 quilters and quilting enthusiasts are expected to travel through Martinsville-Henry County while participating in“Quilt Shop Rally: Vacation Virginia”. Over the course of the four day rally, participants will travel to six different communities in Southern and Southwestern Virginia to visit locally owned quilt shops. The participating communities are Martinsville-Henry County, Boones Mill, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Radford and Wytheville. At each location participants will receive free quilt patterns, see quilting demonstrations and have the opportunity to win door prizes.

 

This year’s Vacation Virginia theme is a celebration of road trips, Virginia tourism and exploring the unique and authentic points of interest that each community has to offer. The featured quilt at each shop will highlight a local tourist attraction and participants will be given the patterns needed to create each quilt on their own. The Sewing Studio, Inc. of Martinsville, owned by Brenda Feeny, has a very special quilt to showcase this year's theme. The finished product is a surprise that will be shown on opening day. Be sure to visit The Sewing Studio on Memorial Avenue during the Quilt Shop Rally to see which local attraction she highlighted!

 

In addition to visiting the six quilt shops, the Martinsville-Henry County Visitor Center and The Artisan Center are also participating as a rally location. The public is invited to come see a quilt show at 54 West Church Street featuring more than two dozen quilts made by artisans from all over Virginia. Rally participants that come to the Visitor Center will receive a Quilt Shop Rally T-shirt to wear and show their love for quilting and Virginia.

 

The Virginia Tourism Corporation and Virginia State Parks contributed prizes for the rally to celebrate the Vacation Virginia theme. According to Jennifer Doss, Director of Tourism for Martinsville-Henry County, “We are excited to have the opportunity to highlight our area attractions to all the visiting quilters. Right in the middle of summer travel season, this event exposes the quilters and their families to ideas for other fun road trips to enjoy in Southern and Southwestern Virginia.”  

 

According to data collected at the Martinsville-Henry County Visitor Center, 820 people participated in the rally last year and that number is expected to grow.

 

If visiting quilters would like a place to stay overnight, The Virginia Home Inn in Fieldale is offering a special package for quilt enthusiasts that is a $20 savings off of their regular rate. Each room is adorned with several hand stitched or treadle stitched quilts for the visitors to admire. 

 

“Each shop will offer many unique experiences during the 13th year of our rally,” said Feeny, “with demonstrations, special guest designers and educators. Prizes, refreshments, and lots of lovely quilts will make this an event you won't want to miss.”