FARMINGTON —  A monthlong quilt walk in Farmington continues with one downtown store displaying colorful, Christmas theme quilts and stockings through the holiday season.

Quilts of many colors and designs hung on walls of 29 businesses during October, organizer Sally Rowe said of the second annual Art Quilts Maine showing.

A statewide quilting group with 27 members from around the area displayed 115 quilts they created. It was more than last year’s initial showing, Rowe said.

After attending a national quilting convention in Kentucky where businesses on Main Street in Paducah displayed quilts in their windows, Rowe came back last year with an idea for Farmington. 

People stopped to view the quilts and dine or shop in those businesses, she said.

The Farmington Business Association listened and endorsed hanging quilts made by group members during October. The Quilt Walk extended into Wilton with businesses there showing the quilted pieces.

A passionate quilter and teacher of the art, Rowe wanted to also open doors for others who share her interest and bring people to area businesses.

When the quilt walk was over this year, Rowe asked Kenny Brechner of Devaney Doak and Garrett Booksellers about continuing a display of Christmas-based quilts in the downtown book store.

The work of a couple quilters, Julie Weaver and Rowe, are now on display. Rowe added some handcrafted holiday stockings to the display in preparation for those picking up stocking stuffers in the bookstore. The quilting pieces displayed can be purchased at the store, she said.

This year, Pat Libby of Farmington helped coordinate the Quilt Walk and Cheri Tompkins of Pins and Needles provided a drop-off of quilts by participants for the Quilt Walk, Rowe said.

The Art Quilts Maine is under the umbrella of Pine Tree Quilters Guild, which has more than 70 chapters throughout Maine.

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