GIBSON CO., IN (WFIE) -
The planning for Gibson County's Bicentennial is underway and the celebration starts in April.
One of the ways residents can show off their Gibson County history is by making a quilt block.
One of the first quilt blocks that went up several years ago in Patoka, and there are close to 30 now in the county. The visitor's bureau hopes dozens more will join along with their own creations.
Although similar in geometric patterns, these quilt blocks will be painted and not sewn.
"The quilt blocks themselves will be painted on pieces of wood and displayed on the outside of buildings, barns, fences, different things for people to view," said Gibson County resident Kathy Will.
Will is also the owner of Quilts and Bloom in Haubstadt and plans to put one up on her business. Her family has been in Gibson County for generations and their history will be represented in the quilt block.
"Actually picked out a block that was in one of the last quilts that my mother made, so we thought that would be kind of a neat tribute to mom," Will said.
Every block has a story.
"This one here at the grain system is an ear of corn. We are farmers and that represents what we raise," said Paula Key, who is participating in Quilt Trail. "And the one at my home in Patoka is called star gardener. I love gardening and I just decided that's the one I like there also."
"We've been kind of researching the colors, seeing what would show up good from the road. Kind of like when you are planning a quilt with fabric, the colors that would go together well and things like that," Will said. "This one of my mom's is a star design, so it's one star and then a lot of these stars that make up the quilt. So we will just try to replicate the one star."
All of those stories will be compiled in a pamphlet next spring as part of the Gibson County Bicentennial Quilt Trail.
"Just so everybody can see the beauty of our county. If somebody is on a Sunday afternoon drive, they are looking at the Quilt Trail, they will hopefully get to see all of the little communities that we have and the landscapes, the farms, and you know, just the countryside," Key said.
Anyone can participate, and you can create your own or the visitor's bureau can put you in touch with an artist who can create a block for you.
"Just know that it doesn't have to be real complicated. We can help you with the picking out of the design, the colors if you need that. It can be very simple, yet, very tastefully done," Will said.
The visitor's bureau says the bigger the better. They've had some submissions two by two feet or even eight by eight feet.
If you want to be part of the Gibson County Bicentennial Quilt Trail, you've got to have your quilt trails up by the end of February.
Daviess County, Kentucky also has a Quilt Trail with more than 50 designs. Click here to see all their designs.
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Although similar in geometric patterns, these quilt blocks will be painted and not sewn.
