Artbeat

Featured this month at Meadowlark Gallery in Grant are quilts from Prior’s New Generation Fabrics of Imperial.

Prior’s began on Dec. 1,1980 when Lila and Wendell Prior purchased the store. The current owners, Merlin and Janet Prior and Marcia Prior-Miller purchased the store from Lila’s estate, and began a “new generation” of operation in October 2009. Janet manages the daily activities of the store with the advice of Merlin and Marcia.

The quilts on display at Meadowlark Gallery have been created by Janet  and store employees Anna Strand and Linda Greene, and former employee Kristy Eskew. They serve as models for classes the store offers. Some of the patterns were purchased, and some were their own creations. Many of them feature fusable appliqué. One of them, “Lovely in Lavender” was a “block of the month” quilt made by Janet.

“Longtime employees Strand and Greene are a great source of ideas for the samples made with new patterns and fabric,” said Janet. They and others serve as teachers for classes offered.

The store offers many panels which are a good starting point for children’s quilts, wall hangings and also some full-size quilts. Customers can be introduced to new notions, rulers, patterns and cutting methods. 

The Priors invite crafters to try their newest adventure, open sewing day, where participants bring their own machine and project, and sew all day. Prior’s provides lunch. 

Visit the store’s Facebook page for more information.

The quilts can be seen at Meadowlark Gallery Friday and Saturday evenings 6-8 p.m. and noon-1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.