Spin to Stitch: Cape May Quilt and Fiber Arts Show

Historic Cold Spring Village is featuring all things fiber arts at the 29th annual Cape May Quilt and Fiber Arts Show, Saturday and Sunday, June 27-28, from 10am-4:30pm. The event will feature exhibitions and demonstrations of quilting, spinning, lace making, basket weaving, broom making, wool dyeing and more. On Saturday visitors can vote for their favorite quilts at the Viewer’s Choice Quilt Show, and on Sunday continue to enjoy the display and see the winners. A rare wedding quilt, c. 1714, handmade by Cape May Countian Sarah Spicer, will also be on display. The quilt was restored in 2012 through a grant from the Cape May County Culture and Heritage Commission. The event will also feature a retrospective exhibition of reproduction quilts from fiber artist Mary Archibald which trace the history of American Quilting.

The event’s keynote speaker is Mark Lipinski, world-renowned artist and founder of the Slow Stitch Movement. At 2pm on both Saturday and Sunday, Lipinski will discuss the Slow Stitch Movement, helping guests recharge their quilting creativity. Clare Juechter, Chief Administrative Officer for the Village, will present the history of Early American Knitting and the Cape May Mitten Trade at 11am on both Saturday and Sunday. The Corson-Hand House, home to fiber arts demonstrations at the Village, will feature use of the “Great Wheel” along with wool preparation and dyeing. Bobbin lace making and tatting will also be demonstrated by a fourth generation artisan. Seasoned fiber artists and newcomers alike will learn from these discussions and demonstrations.

Historic Cold Spring Village is a non-profit, open-air living history museum that portrays the daily life of a rural South Jersey community of the Early American period. It features 26 restored historic structures on a 30-acre site. Tuesday through Sunday, from late June to early September, interpreters and artisans in period clothing preserve the trades, crafts and heritage of “the age of homespun.” Fun and educational activities for children are featured Tuesday through Sunday, with special events every weekend through September.

The Village is located on Route 9, three miles north of Victorian Cape May and a mile and a half west of the southern terminus of the Garden State Parkway. Admission during the season is $12 for adults and $10 for children ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are admitted free. Unlimited free admission is available with Village membership. The Village Nature Trail at Bradner’s Run is open to the public for free self-guided tours. Visit the Country Store, Bakery, Ice Cream Parlor and Cold Spring Grange Restaurant. For more information on events, membership, volunteering, or booking private affairs, please call (609) 898-2300, ext. 10, or visit the Village website at www.hcsv.org.