I’ve attempted to volunteer at the Billings Farm a few times this year but outdoor events got canceled. Today I was fortunate to be able to volunteer (1330-1700) inside during the Annual Quilt Exhibition! The participants were asked to incorporate parts of silk neckties into the quilts and the results were spectacular. My favorites were a quilt with squares and patches that reminded the creator of their visits to all of the National Parks. There was an unbelievably realistic image of a cow and a painting-like quilt of the Big Sur coast. Lots of other submissions were more traditional but quite memorable too. It appeared that most people who participated had made the best of the COVID-19 lockdowns! Since I have very little direct experience with the design and sewing of a quilt (I watched my mom make a few), I was only able to fill in as a docent with the help of several fact sheets. I was also supposed to encourage visitors to vote for their favorite quilt. As my shift went on, though, I figured out that my main job was really to keep people from touching the beautifully made creations. Luckily, that wasn’t too hard if I engaged them in conversation about almost anything else but quilts. Some of the visitors told ME about the quilting process and then I used that information with later guests. So I guess “fake it until you make it” is a real thing… Biggest bonus of the afternoon, though, was when two of the people who made quilts that were hanging in the Events Barn came for a tour. Ten year old Norah and seven year old Helen brought their grandparents to see work they’d done under the supervision of their (other) grandmother. The pride they felt in showing off their amazing quilts was palpable and other visitors soon surrounded the young celebrities with praise for their patience and creativity. It was awesome to be around that vibe! During the later part of the volunteer session, I got to run two different scavenger hunts (one for kids and one for adults) and really enjoyed watching (and helping) people locate tiny details on the quilts. Before I left, the Farm gave me a delicious maple creamie. Beyond that, though, I’ve again learned that volunteering can be very uplifting and rewarding. On the way home, checked out Vermont Sprits Distilling in Quechee. Glad to have such great options for participating in so many community events near my home!
