Local quilters featured during annual quilt show
The Rev. Dr. Ann Schmid, senior pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, McMurray, will be featured at the Three Rivers Quilters show April 26-27 at the Meadows Casino. Schmid is pictured wearing one of the pastoral stoles she created.
This quilt will be raffled off by the Three Rivers Quilters during their annual show.
Several years ago, the Rev. Ann Schmid wanted to give a pastoral stole as a gift to a church intern who was graduating, but couldn’t find one that she liked.
“So I created one myself,” said Schmid, senior pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in McMurray.
After that, she started making them for herself, for her husband — the Rev. Steven E. Broome is associate pastor of Our Redeemer — and for friends.
A selection of her hand-appliqued creations will be featured during the Three Rivers Quilters 2018 Quilt Show, April 26-28.
The Rev. Ann Schmid enjoys using colorful batik fabrics.
The South Hills-based nonprofit, previously known as the Keystone Quilters, moved the show to the Meadows Racetrack & Casino last year, drawing its largest crowd ever. The show will once again be held in the North Strabane facility, in the lower level Triple Crown Suites.
About 150 quilts will be on display, in addition to vendors, raffles and demonstrations. This year’s theme is Seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall.
Schmid will be available from 1 to 3 p.m. April 27 to discuss her creations.
“In some ways, applique is the opposite of quilting. It’s free-form. There’s no pattern. Quilting is very precise. I don’t have the patience for precision work,” she said with a laugh.
Schmid hand sews the stoles, usually using colorful batik fabrics. The church season dictates which stole she wears, such as blue for Advent, purple for Lent and white for Easter.
When her son, Wes, was married, she created three similar stoles — for the two officiating pastors, and one for herself — that illustrated verses from the Song of Solomon. It’s the stole she wears when she officiates weddings.
In addition to making stoles, Schmid also creates decorations for her church, like these “stained glass” ornaments.
The pastor is also involved in decorating her church. With the worship committee, Schmid creates displays for each season, including “stained glass” panels made from tissue paper and sheer fabric.
Ruth Ann Lowery, a member of the church and the Three Rivers Quilters, said Schmid’s creations enhance the worship experience, and her themed stoles are inspiring.
While hand-appliqued stoles are a newer venture for Schmid, she started weaving stoles on a loom soon after she and her husband were ordained, more than 32 years ago.
“Stoles are expensive,” she said of the garments, which are referenced in the Old Testament, and are now worn as a symbol of the office of pastor.
Admission to the Three Rivers Quilters 2018 Quilt Show is $5 from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Friday and $10 for all other times. Children under 14 are free. A multi-day pass is $12. For more information, visit www.threeriversquilters.org.