This quilt, which we call Crossroads, was handcrafted by Getty Sew & Sews Prima Casetta, Sheila Cummins, Nancy Enneking, Melissa Piper, Leslie Rainer, and Sabine Schlosser for the Getty Winter Quilt Raffle, December 2020.
The Getty Sew & Sews have been busily crafting and raffling off their fundraising quilts since their inception in early 2003. What started as a group of Getty staff gathering to learn quilting from then-GRI cataloguer and resident quilting expert Prima Casetta, evolved quickly into an enthusiastic fundraising endeavor.
In 18 years, the Sew & Sews have
created 20 quilts and have raised a total of $46,221, which has been divided equally between the
Westside Food Bank and
Sojourn Services. Using donated materials, and Getty-provided infrastructure, we have been able to donate 100% of our proceeds to benefit these extremely worthwhile organizations, which provide much needed assistance throughout our community.
In January 2020, GSS began deciding on a pattern and color story for this year’s quilt, and were well along when the Getty Center and Getty Villa closed on March 16th. The Sew & Sews were disappointed to delay progress on our project, and as the weeks wore on we began to wonder if we would have a quilt – or a raffle -- in 2020.
When we were finally allowed to go back on site for quick trips to our offices, Sabine retrieved the unfinished quilt and we agreed to keep moving forward no matter what. We had no idea whether we would be able to raffle a quilt this year, but we forged ahead.
We met via zoom to talk over our design, passed blocks and supplies from house to house—safely masked and distanced of course—and by September found ourselves with a very nearly completed quilt when the Trust Events Department reached out. We were thrilled to report “Yes, we do have a quilt this year and we would be pleased to move ahead with a raffle for 2020.”
Measuring 96 x 80 inches, Crossroads is constructed of over 1,170 individual pieces of 100% cotton fabrics, sourced completely from donations. The front features 30 blocks in warm and cool pale neutral tones, crisscrossed and connected with white intersections inspiring the title Crossroads. The back features a simple, crisp, white-on-white patterned fabric selected to show off the intricate geometric stitching.
Special thanks goes, as always, to John Landau of the Getty Volunteer program for his generous donation of fabrics. We also thank Getty staff and volunteers for their generous giving spirit, making possible the 2020 Winter Quilt Raffle.
