Quilting is a talent that not everyone practices. It takes a true love of sewing, a lot of patience, the ability to envision the final product, and even the talent to follow a pattern over 100 years old, to create masterpieces that can be used in many ways.

The Shadow Mountain Quilters truly fulfill those requirements.

In late June these ladies (Lynn MacDonald, Sonia Wittenberg, Mary Carroll, Charlotte Rowland, Carol Wertsbaugh and Judy Toll), gathered together at the Pahrump Valley Museum to work on their projects and share completed items with each other and the public.

It has been said that women always sat by the fire and made quilts. Nothing could be further from the truth. Prior to the early 1900s, women's tasks were many as they were expected to have many children, help out on the land or, unless part of the privileged few, clean the home, cook, do laundry, teach the children if schools were not available and meet the demands of the husband.

Not much time for quilting.

In the late 1800s, the westward movement increased the need for quilting to meet the requirements of the trail. Quilts were used to block out dust, cover wagon seats, as gifts and more, so they had to be made months in advance of the actual trip. Some were known as friendship quilts, with the quilters aware that they would never see the recipients again.

The Shadow Mountain Quilters try to recapture the designs and patterns of those early days by making their own quilts. Wittenberg and Carroll are working on the Grandmother's Garden pattern, which is thought to have been passed down for at least a century.

The quilt is made up of blocks consisting of pieces sewn together to form the pattern. In the smaller pattern, there are 19 pieces in a block; 120 blocks are needed to complete the quilt. The larger pattern still contains 19 pieces to a block but must have 130 blocks to complete it.

Such quilts are worth $1,000-$1,500 apiece.

In contrast, MacDonald, the artist in residence, undertakes what is known as "red work," which requires the use of only red thread or fine yarn. A pattern is drawn on the fabric of choice, then brought to life with the red thread or yarn. The outcome is unique and quite beautiful. Her talent is exceptional.

Rowland, on the other hand, is working on "Tenerife," a spider weave that is embroidered to a piece of fabric to create unusual designs for framing or other uses. It is made of small thread or fine yarn, and the patterns are only as limited as your imagination.

Wertsbaugh does what is called "stump work" which consists of embroidering in a 3-D manner. This is a unique product that is created by using both puff and appliqué paints by applying paints at different levels on the fabric, and 3-D image comes to life.

Toll uses large pieces to create a quilt, pillow or wall hanging using the Sun Bonnet Sues pattern. Again, many pieces make up many blocks that create the quilt, but as little as one block can be used for the pillow, and one or two or even more for the wall hanging.

Toll encourages those of all ages to try quilting or other fabric related art. Do you like to sew? Are you interested? Then do quilting if you want. Start small, learn the basics, take classes and the rest will come.

It's a great way to express yourself. And don't be afraid to not be perfect.