Quilters bring flair to capital city

The Museum of Florida History and Quilters Unlimited are the hosts of the 33 Annual Capital City Quilt Show: Starry, Starry Night until Oct. 19. The event is free and open to the public.

Stormy Harrell, team leader and collections curator of the Museum of Florida History, said the museum hosts the show every year and hopes to keep the legacy going.

"The quilt show draws lots of attention," Harrell said. "The people like to see the hand crafts, the colors, style and like to view the quilts in general."

Museum volunteer and occasional quilter, Sharon Pollock walked into the quilt show with a needle and thread in hand and ready to perform her duties as show volunteer.

The Tallahassee native was among dozens of quilters whose work was exhibited at this year’s quilt show.

Pollock attended the show with the hopes of performing her civilian duties and to award her quilt to the highest bidder if chosen as this year’s "Opportunity Quilt."

“I put a lot of time into both quilts,” Pollock said. “Guests can donate $1 to hopefully win the quilt they bided on to partake in a silent auction in hopes to win the quilt.”

Pollock is no stranger when it comes to displaying her creativity on a knitted canvas. Coming from a generation of quilters, sewing comes natural to her.

"My grandmother made quilts and passed it on through the family. All of my family has a quilt. Quilting is just embedded in our lives," Pollock said.

Pollock began quilting in 1987 when she became an ER nurse. She used it as a way to cope with the stress that comes along with being a nurse and immediately got hooked.

"Quilting is an addiction," Pollock said.

Briana Lynch, a junior at Chiles High School student, said she likes to sew in her spare time and is looking to pursue quilting as a hobby.

"The creativity is amazing," Lynch said. "I came out to get a look of all the homemade creations done by local quilters. I am looking to get advice from experts who've been sewing for years."

The exhibit is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.