Two New Quilt Blocks in OC

Two new quilt blocks were recently installed in Oconee County. Friends, families and employees of Lila Doyle joined to sponsor the first quilt block.  A pattern called a 9 Patch was installed on the Long Term Care Rehab Facility’s exterior and can be viewed from both Highways 123 and 28 in Seneca.  Lila Doyle has a long history in the community since it was established in 1971 as a nursing care facility renovated from the original hospital.  It was named for Lila Stribling Doyle, wife of Dr. William Doyle who donated the land to be used to serve the needy in the area. The art of quilting has been woven in the fabric of the residents at Lila Doyle.  Many residents proudly display their quilts in their rooms, on their beds, as wall hangings and on display.  There is one resident currently living at Lila Doyle who is hand sewing a quilt in her room.  She is 99 years old and going strong!  The residents and staff are thrilled to join the quilt trail and keep the memories alive.   The original quilt, used as a model for the quilt trail, was made in 2005 by a former resident, Louise Elliott, who lived at Lila Doyle from 2009 until her death in 2013.  This was the last quilt project that Mrs. Elliott created before her admission to Lila Doyle.  The quilt was donated to the facility as part of a new renovation project in the long-term care unit.  It hangs proudly above the double-faced field stone fireplace.  The second new quilt block was installed at the home of Verla and William Warther in Tamassee.  The new quilt block on the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail is called Bouillabaisse.   It was originally made by Mrs. Warther and is based on a pattern thought to have been designed by South Carolina quilter, Pam Johnson.  Mrs. Warther is the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail 2013 Oconee County Quilter of the Year recipient.  She was honored for her leadership and community service through her quilting.  Her many contributions include volunteer efforts with Keep Oconee Beautiful School Program; Tamassee DAR School programs; Leadership positions in the Lake and Mountain Quilters Guild; as well as an active participant in charity quilt efforts and the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail School program. Verla’s iteration of the Bouillabaisse pattern was started in a class at the 2010 Quilters of South Carolina Fall ‘Peaceable Retreat,’ taught by master quilter Marge Edie.  Verla hand quilted and finished it in August 2011.  She used fabrics that were Civil War Reproductions, about half of which were given to her by her daughter, Sharon DiSanto of Dover, OH.  One piece of the fabric was given to her by her twin sister, Laura Miller of San Jose’, CA, also a quilter.  The two have established a tradition of using a piece of fabric from the other in each of their ‘Special’ quilts.  Verla’s painted Bouillabaisse includes this piece of fabric from her sister.