Quilts by Rose-Marie Newcomb at the MOarts Gallery in December

Rose-Marie Newcomb will show her quilts at the MOarts Gallery in the Moneta/ Smith Mountain Lake Library from December 1st through December 30th. A long time machine quilting enthusiast, Rose-Marie finds happiness in constructing colorful wall hangings and full sized quilts in a variety of fabrics and stitches. Careers with both Stretch and Sew and Sulky prepared Rose-Marie Newcomb for life as an unusually adventurous seamstress. While she was employed by Pfaff, Newcomb traveled throughout the United States representing Pfaff sewing machines, teaching the useful art of sewing in classes in exotic places like Hawaii and on cruise ships. During a trip to Kentucky she was invited to make a quilt of national importance. While displaying her quilts for a show in Paducah, Kentucky she was asked to make and donate one of thirteen quilts for the inauguration of President George W. Bush. She accepted the challenge and she made a quilt that was used by one of the family members during the inaugural ceremony. The title of the quilt she chose to make was “Robbing Peter to Pay Paul.” With sparkling eyes and a friendly smile, Newcomb is happy to share her sewing secrets with anyone, “I don't make my own patterns, I do purchase them. I also subscribe to many magazines and use patterns from them. As far as color goes, I embroider first, or piece first, then pick out the borders and bindings.” Her exhibit will include many of her embroidered quilts, including the embroidered blue work holiday quilt in the photograph and also examples of red work quilts. Newcomb uses fabric from “big box” stores and is generous with the final product of her craft. A member of three different quilt guilds that make and donate quilts to charities, she gives away one quilt each month. Newcomb explains that “The Lynchburg guild has a bee called Queen Bees. It is a charity group meeting on Tuesdays at a church, just to make charity quilts. I do a lot of the quilting. It is so rewarding. God has blessed me in so many ways. I try and pay back.” A member of Peaks and Pieces Quilt Guild, she was honored by being voted as the member of the guild who “exemplifies friendship and goodwill of quilting,” receiving the “Juanita Slocum Award” for these qualities. Her sewing passion is soon to become her own business: “Sew and Quilt with Rose-Marie.” This new business will be located in an A-frame building on the corner of 608 (White House Road) and 626 (Smith Mountain Lake Parkway). Quilts will be available to purchase at “Sew and Quilt with Rose-Marie” and sewing instruction will be offered including sewing machine classes and hand or machine needle arts classes including crochet, knitting, lace making, and embroidery. Newcomb’s friends who are expert in the various needle arts will teach some of the classes, while Newcomb herself will teach machine techniques including computerized machine embroidery. Rose-Marie Newcomb’s quilt exhibit will show at the MOarts Gallery through December. The gallery is located at 13641 Moneta Rd. Moneta call (540) 425-7004 for hours and directions. Contact Rose-Marie Newcomb to request information about classes she will offer soon at “Sew and Quilt with Rose-Marie” by phone: (540) 397-7788 or by email: quilterrose@mindspring.com