The Gee's Bend Experience Quilt Exhibit & Book Tour

The Round Bobbin Quilting & Sewing Expo will feature the quilts of Gee’s Bend sisters Tinnie (“Tiny”) and Minnie Pettway and other resident quilters and also the book of poems, short stories and ‘tidbits’ from Gee’s Bend’s first published author, Tinnie Pettway, The Gee’s Bend Experience (available on www.amazon.com)

Says DeLon Charley, COO of the company, “What started as an opportunity to give visibility to the quilts of my mother-in-law and her sister, to represent the heritage and history of the community through Tinnie’s’ book has now turned into what we believe is a wonderful presentation that will feel more like a down-home, sitting around the house, listening of stories your grand and great-grandparents told when you were a kid” In addition, he adds “This show is going to make the quilts, our history and heritage more accessible and personal for the listener” “Tinnie will keep you laughing as Minnie will add even more colorful interjections of their life growing up…they will put you in the mind of early Bill Cosby comedy, where the sisters will just sit comfortably and share themselves with you”

DeLon’s wife and CEO of the company Claudia Charley explains, “After listening to so many supporters, lovers of the quilts and our community over the years, we kept hearing the one question asked; the well-being and changes for the better for the community and what good has come to the town. Reluctantly Tinnie and Minnie have answered with a heavy heart and from that, we forged into another extension to do something through our company; to tell of our story, our history and our heritage, but on a grander scale” She also adds “This presentation will be what Gee’s Bend represents; simple living, perseverance through hard times and a gratefulness for living to see a day such when our quilts have traveled the globe when they were just to keep us warm”

“That’s SEW Gee’s Bend” was started in 2007 and through the popularity of the Gee’s Bend quilts touring the world, DeLon and Claudia Charley heard the need of those who were interested in wanting to own a Gee’s Bend quilt but not the affordability to purchase one. Their quilt collection, aptly named “Tinnie Pieces with Minnie Designs” is composed of the private quilts the sisters have made since they were children cultivating the fields to coming through the Civil Rights Movement to the present day. The company is also planning to represent other quilters from Gee’s Bend as a way of giving back to the community. The company is also preparing to establish their non-profit foundation “Taking Back Gee’s Bend”, the company’s community plan through improving public services; development of businesses and jobs and to create a tourism plan that will have an impact on the community in improvements and increased revenue for the county.

Stop by their booths and be inspired!

THAT’S ‘SEW’ GEE’S BEND, INC. HISTORY