Barn Blast 7/11/11 – One Month and Counting…

Here at the museum we are finishing up construction in quick order to open the new facility on time for the Grand Opening, August 11, 2011, 5 to 7 p.m. with the ribbon cutting at 5:30 p.m.! We should get the keys soon and will begin moving our gift shop inventory to the new, brighter, and spacious Museum Gift Shop. Betty and Carolyn have been getting the inventory squared away for the big move. New artists consignments and retail goods are awaiting shoppers!

As you enter the new facility through the front doors, the Gift Shop is straight ahead. Here visitors will pay admission, check on their membership status (remember: Members have free admission to all exhibits). The exhibit hall is through the sliding barn door in the gift shop. For those of you who have been at events held in the barn, it will be an overdue welcome home! The barn has been preserved pretty much down to the last detail minus hornet’s nests, toads and mosquitoes..heating, cooling, better lighting and a new wood floor were added, but the charm of the old barn still resides in the new facility.

Our first exhibit will feature collections of vintage to non-traditional quilts, basket weaving, art dolls and knitting and so many more fiber types. Exhibits in the future include the Quilted Yurt from Scotland, vintage quilts, and wearable arts.

The Museum isn’t the only thing new around here! We just launched our new version of the website! You can now see upcoming exhibits, email Museum Representatives, view class schedules and register online for classes and Memberships. The new website is quite dynamic and easy to use. If you have any difficulties, please contact us at info@wiquiltmuseum .

Aug 1 is the Deadline for the Koval Fabric Barn Challenge. Basic requirements: use three identifiable pieces of the Koval fabric collection based on the Baltimore Album Quilt in our permanant collection. Your entry may be a quilt, wearable art garment, tote, purse, jacket, rug or other fiber art piece needs to be dropped off at the Museum office by Aug 1, 2011. Cash prizes or a Bernina sewing machine, donated by Bigsby’s Sewing Center, Brookfield, WI, will be awarded to the top three winners. If you need any information, please contact Terri Kirchner, President, at President@wiquiltmuseum.com .

As we wrap up our construction, we hope you find the time to stop in and see all the new changes to the homestead. Please join us Thursday, August 11 for our big reveal!