Marianne Fons opens premiere Georgia Quilt Show!

Noted author, teacher and television personality, Marianne Fons of Fons & Porter's Love of Quilting opened Georgia Quilt Show with a captivating presentation entitled “Why We Quilt".

Addressing 200 enthusiastic quilters, Marianne examined the motivations which have produced hundreds of thousands of quilts since 1776. She artfully described four reasons she believes quilters are so actively involved in their craft – necessity, therapy, fame and fortune and, lastly, love.

Speaking of the emotional need to quilt and the therapeutic relief provided by doing something tangible, she made an instant connection with many in the audience. Through a collection of slides and her usual delightful commentary, Marianne took us on a brief historical tour of quiltmaking, including along the way her own beginnings as a quilter alongside friend Liz Porter. She shared with us the joys and sorrows of their journey as young mothers starting a quilting business, culminating in the fame (and good fortune) of being part of the number one quilting magazine and television show in the country.

A show-and-tell session of new quilts ended with this heartfelt comment: “Quilting? It's a job – one that (happily) involves fabric.”  Whether or not our own jobs involve quilting or fabric, the historical importance and always meaningful nature of quiltmaking made everyone in attendance stand a little taller, and leave feeling a bit more proud as a member of the quiltmaking community and tradition.