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Published
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Friday, November 10,
2006
Quilt Show a Big Attraction
By PAULA ALMALLAH
Ledger
Correspondent
Patty Stein (left) and Sharon
Seeright (left) look over the
"Breast Cancer Awareness Quilt"
on display in the Davenport
Community Center. Tickets were
being sold for a chance to win
the quilt in Saturday's drawing
with proceeds going to breast
cancer research. (PAUL
JOHNSON/The Ledger) |
One of two horse drawn carriages
at the festival, is seen passing
in front of the historic
Davenport City Hall built in
1927. (PAUL JOHNSON/The Ledger) |
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DAVENPORT - From far away they came, in
abundance, seeking their favorite
things.
What drew them was the sixth annual
Quilt and Tea Festival in Historic
Downtown Davenport.
"We wouldn't miss this," said Shirley
Williams of Spring Hill. "Five of us
came over from the Hernando Quilters
Guild. This is our third year coming and
we wouldn't miss it.
"As long as you have food and fabric,
quilters are going to come," Williams
said. "We always come on the Friday and
it is always worth the trip."
Historic Bok Sanctuary in Lake Wales
joined with the Davenport Historical
Society this year to display items
geared toward the tea connoisseurs.
Among other items from its retail gift
shop were its new variety of 19 Numi
organic teas.
"This is our first year participating
and we are very impressed with this
tremendous turnout on a weekday
(Friday,)" said Stephanie Conner, Bok's
sales and marketing manager.
"This is a great format because we are
able to tell people about the tea
parties that we do at Historic Bok
Sanctuary," Conner said.
"These are the people who are interested
in teas and special social occasions,
and we offer Garden View Tea Parties, as
well as upscale tea parties at Pinewood
Estate, so when the festival is over
(today), they can come have tea at the
tower," Conner said.
Sandra Dent, director of retail services
at Bok, said, "We have had a lot of
customers, but the most interesting was
a family of six, who just moved to
Lakeland from Oregon, and were looking
for things to do in Polk County.
"We have been so busy that I sat down on
my lunch," she said of the bag of shrimp
she had brought to munch on.
The horse and carriage rides were the
favorite of fourth-year quilt vendor
Anne Petro of Winter Haven.
"It is very well organized and the
attendance is wonderful, and all of the
old things they have displayed outside
really bring back the history for me,"
Petro said.
The back yard of the Davenport Fire
Department turned into an antique car
lot when Norman Mathews arrived.
Mathews and his partner, Jim Emmitt,
both of Haines City, brought in several
dozen restored antique cars, including
Buicks, Model A and Model T Fords,
Studebakers and Dodges.
On display were a 1928 Rio, 1924 and
1925 Model T Fords, 1929 Model A Ford,
1925 Oakland, 1937 Chrysler, 1928
Durant, and a 1903 Olds replica with
both original and duplicate parts, and a
1954 Jeep.
This is the third year that Mathews and Emmitt have brought in some old
cars from their collection.
"This is my life. It keeps me from going
insane," Mathews said of his hobby. "I
don't pay anything to come and I don't
charge anybody to look at them."
The cars provided a center of interest
for the men, whose wives were drawn by
the tea and quilts.
During the 6th annual "Quilts &Tea"
Festival, Barbara Marksbury serves up
some mint tea at the Historic Bok
Sanctuary booth early Friday afternoon.
(PAUL JOHNSON/The Ledger)
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