Calendar of Events – Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center

Through March 23 – “Cover Stories: Quilts and Bed Coverings from Regional Collections.” An exhibition of more than 30 quilts, bed coverings and other needlework, which tells the stories of area families whose livelihoods were often tied to local industries, including textile production, sewing machine manufacturing, and needle and button making. Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center

Jan. 17 to Feb. 17 - Community Quilt Making Project. Pick up a fabric square and design your part of a community quilt. Finished squares will be returned on February 24. Volunteers are then needed to finish the quilt, which will be unveiled on March 22.

Feb. 7 at 4 p.m., Whittemore Gallery of The Mattatuck Museum Arts & History Center. Share Your Quilt Stories. See the historic quilts in the gallery and learn how your bed coverings fit into a stylistic or social context. Bring your quilt and your story. Karen Pierce, Education Coordinator, will lead the group and talk about her personal collection of quilts made in honor of various family members.

Feb. 7 – First Thursday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Music by Timmy Maia, dance instruction and demonstrations by Connecticut Dance Theatre, plus hors d’oeuvres, wine and time to get together with friends. Members pay $7, non-members, $15. Join at the door and get free admission.

Feb. 23 – Connecticut’s Textiles – A Bus Tour of Historic Mills. Discover the history of textile manufacturing with Mattatuck Museum Education and Program Director Jerry Sawyer and quilt historican Sue Reich. Tour will visit the Cheney Homestead, Manchester, the Windham Mill & Textile Museum, Willimantic, lunch at Willimantic’s Main Street Café, historic mill sites in Danielson and Killingly, and the Ashford studio of award-winning quilter and teacher, Pat Ferguson. Fee is $85 for members and $90 for non-members.