This quilt we have titled Beach Day was handcrafted by Getty Sew & Sews Prima Casetta, Sheila Cummins, Nancy Enneking, Melissa Piper, Leslie Rainer, Sabine Schlosser, and Anna Woo for the 2021 Getty Quilt Raffle.

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 technique from then GRI cataloguer and resident quilting expert Prima Casetta, evolved quickly into an enthusiastic fundraising endeavor. In the 19 years since, the Sew & Sews have created 21 quilts [twice creating two quilts in one year] and have raised a total of $49,623, which has each year been divided equally between two extremely worthwhile organizations: The Westside Food Bank and Sojourn Services. Using donated materials, and with the Getty generously providing the infrastructure, we are able to donate 100% of our net proceeds to benefit these organizations, which provide much needed assistance throughout our community.

In January 2021, the GSS decided on a pattern and color story for our quilt, and, though most of us were still teleworking from home at least part of the time, we forged ahead knowing that, if we did it last year during the closure of our worksites due to the pandemic, we certainly could do it this year. We met via Zoom to talk over our design decisions, passed blocks and supplies from house to house—safely masked and  distanced of course. And, when the quilt was completed in mid-October, we were very excited to be able to gather again at the Getty Center to take our group photo with the quilt. It was an exciting moment to see each other all together again in person.

Measuring 88 x 65 inches, Beach Day is constructed of over 365 individual pieces of 100% cotton fabrics, sourced completely from donations. The front features 88 blocks in vivid cool blues, and warm green tones, contrasted with a crisp white off-center diamond pattern resembling a beach umbrella as seen from above; while on the back, a simple stripe pattern of the saturated blues and greens resembles a beach towel, thus inspiring the title Beach Day. 

Special thanks goes to Patagonia for their substantial donation of the beautiful solid organic cotton fabrics; and to John Landau of the Getty Volunteer staff, as always, for his generous fabric donations. We also thank Getty Staff and Volunteers for their kind and giving spirit, making possible…