Story and photos by Shaune Lee
Painting might be the first thing to come to mind when you hear the word “art.” But if you have a chance to look at a well-made quilt, such as the ones Danette Morning makes, “art” seems to be an appropriate word for them too.
In her second term as the president of the Tavern Quilt Guild at
Rice’s Hotel/Hughlett’s Tavern in Heathsville, Danette says quilting “came at a good time in my life” when she found herself in the middle of several big changes. Her husband was recovering from a major stroke, she had closed her printing shop in Kilmarnock and was feeling a little bit directionless as things were beginning to settle down again.
Then she was introduced to her “very dear friend and mentor,” Mildred Huffman, betterknown as “Milly.” Milly, a longtime member of the Tavern Quilt Guild, suggested quilting as a possible hobby after Danette complimented her work during a visit to Milly’s house. But Danette had her doubts. She owned a sewing machine and knew how to sew clothes, but quilting seemed beyond her, she said.
The amount of time and skill a single quilt can demand felt impossible to reach—especially with her husband still on the mend and needing her assistance, said Danette.
But Milly persisted, and Danette admits that she was “so intrigued by how beautiful her quilting was.” So Danette began attending a weekly quilting bee, armed with a preassembled kit which Milly helped her get, and got to work learning the basics. Each of the members taught her something, from how to square off, to set backing, and to cut without wasting fabric, she said.
A few of the women she met quilted by hand, which she admired because of the additional time and effort required, but Danette quickly found she prefers to use her sewing machine. She started going to bees, then to guild meetings. Then she began attending quilting retreats hosted by the guild. Soon, Danette even started volunteering for the guild in hospitality and membership, and helping at summer programs for children and their grandparents.
“There’s always a story behind a quilt,” Danette says. It’s immediately apparent that this is true for every one of her lovely pieces.
A block quilt completed in blacks, grays and reds was made during her first quilt retreat— and has already been claimed by her son T.J. because the colors are his favorite.
in the Tavern Quilt Guild’s “My Favorite
Book” challenge.
A “To Kill a Mockingbird” quilt came to be because Danette discovered that other quilting groups sometimes held themed challenges and the guild immediately started one of their own: “My Favorite Book,” in honor of Betty Turner, the guild’s librarian.
“Tumbling Glory,” an American flag quilt, was the result of Danette’s determination to learn how to use a certain type of ruler—and her refusal to give up when the new skill was slow in coming.
Her “Scrappy Quilt”—a quilt made from fabric scraps—brings a chuckle: it might be made from scraps, but Danette’s preference for order is apparent in how the quilt is still neatly laid out in a pattern. It’s hard for her to choose a favorite from all the quilts she’s made, because they all have different stories, each with a special place in her heart, she said.
The time it takes to start and finish a quilt depends on a lot of things. For one, the desired size plays a large part in the length of time needed to make it. Intricate designs and designs with many pieces require more time and dedication. It also matters whether a quilter works with a machine or by hand: quilts done by hand can take years to complete. So it’s not at all unusual for a quilter to have UFOs: UnFinished Objects, said Danette. Even so, she enjoys moving from project to project—though her favorite part is when she’s finally able to attach a label to a finished piece. “No quilt is complete until the label is on it,” she insists, because the label holds the name of the artist and of the quilt, and the date of completion.
She also enjoys finding inspiration in many different places—especially from other guild members. “There are so many creative minds” in the guild, Danette says. “A lot of the members give me inspiration, and I have so many ideas for future quilts.”
She’s turned some of those ideas into what she calls the ‘President’s Challenge.’ Guild members who choose to participate have a year to complete their quilt, following a common theme and specific size requirements; in December, outside judges are brought in and awards given for first, second and third place, and for special categories. One year, participating members made star-themed quilts. This year, the creative prompt is “My Favorite Shoe”—whether high heels, slippers, or Crocs, the quilters have free rein to interpret how they like.
“Quilting is wonderful,” Danette says. “There’s so much room for imagination. It’s really something to be able to take some pieces of beautiful fabric and make beautiful works of art.”
