We’re celebrating textiles throughout March at the Horry County Museum! Stop by to hear from local quilters on a variety of topics. In addition to the free programming, you’ll have a chance to win a door prize at every event! Join us Friday, March 8^th at 11 AM as local quilter Jill Messier shows off a collection of “First Quilts” and shares the stories behind them. The collection is supplied by quilters from the Conway Quilt Guild and many remain with the person who first pieced them together.

Jill Messier moved to Conway from Enfield, Connecticut in 2018 and arrived two days before Hurricane Florence. She began quilting in the 1970s after visiting a neighbor who quilts. Messier used the book Lap Quilting by Georgie Bonesteel to create a quilt in the Grandmother’s Fan pattern. After preparing and sewing the quilt by hand, Messier soon found that she had a new hobby. She has currently finished nearly 100 quilts ranging in size from baby to king, with all but 2 being quilted by hand. Many quilts have been kept or gifted to friends and family, while some have won ribbons at shows. She also likes to use leftover material to create other items, such as origami butterflies, wallets, cozies, iPad covers and purses.

The program will be held at the Horry County Museum, located at 805 Main Street, Conway SC. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 843-915-5320 or email hcg.museum@horrycountysc.gov. To view a full list of programs, visit our website at www.horrycountymuseum.org.