8/30/2006

Filed under: The Quilt World by site admin

On Thursday, August 24 in Rosemont, IL the opening ceremony for the 39-cent stamps for Gee’s Bend happened at The American Philatelic Society’s annual convention. While waiting in line to get in, I eavesdropped on a conversation by some of the Society’s members as they talked about the “strange world of quiltmakers” which made me chuckle. The place was packed and it was exciting to watch history being made. There was introductions and short a short film about Gee’s Bend. But what happened next, I will take with me to the grave, the minute the stamps were unveiled, Mary Lee Bendolph (one of the quiltmakers) broke into a gospel song and we all joined in. The happiness and pride that exudes from her can be felt across the room. She shared that her biggest joy is now she can help poor people. I also thought Matt Arnett of Tinwood did a particularly wonderful presentation. The women love Matt and Matt loves those women. There is just to faking that. The 30 minute ceremony ended up being 50. Everyone (US Postal people, the women and the Arnetts) was still happily signing autographs when I left 1-1/2 hours after the ceremony ended. I’m so happy to have quilt stamps for my letters. It’s been five years since the Amish quilt stamps were issued. I think it is good for all of us in the quilt community because it creates awareness for what we all love. Karen