The Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail (UHQT) honored Stamie Cline, from Anderson, SC, as the 2019 Quilter of the Year. The Quilter of the Year award was initiated in 2010 to recognize a quilter who has provided community service and leadership through their quilting. She was present her award on Nov. 2, 2019, at a reception provided by the Prickly Fingers Quilt Guild and the UHQT, held at the Anderson County Library and attended by family and community members.
Stamie Cline
Stamie is small in stature with a voice and passion for life that belies her physical self. She started sewing at the age of 12 making her own clothes and learning to embroider. During the Bicentennial in 1976, she began quilting. As a young adult, maybe 25 – 26 years old, she went to the local library in Dyer, Indiana, and searched through all 141 books of patterns, ideas, and sewing directions. Her plan was to display handmade items – clothing and quilts -in the glass case at the library featuring these books.
Stamie comes from a long and distinguished family of seamstresses. Her Aunt Nell taught her to sew and both grandmothers sewed. Her mother’s Aunt Jeanine made custom suits for men. Stamie still has the Slant-a-Matic Singer machine she learned how to sew on as a girl. Her Aunt Floss also inspired her because she did alterations on wedding gowns. Stamie said, “I can still see her at night in a pool of light bent over her machine.”
While living in Indiana, Stamie joined a group of women and learned to hand quilt. When she was 28, she moved to Simpsonville, SC, and two years later to the Anderson area. Now, as a retiree, she devotes her time to philanthropy sewing efforts. Stamie is the philanthropy coordinator for both of Anderson’s quilt guilds, Electric City and Prickly Fingers.
She also is active in the Production Team of the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail and assists in painting the blocks and teaching others how to master the craft every Friday. She had been teaching a friend, Laura Shiffler to sew – simple blocks and nine patches for PAWS- cats and dogs. Laura says, “Stamie was an introvert when we first met- shy and quiet. Now she is self-confident and when she talks- you know it is her heart coming out.”
Stamie spends much of her time making quilts for children, Quilts of Valor, the Cancer Association and sometimes family or custom orders. After Stamie’s mother passed, she chose to donate the use of that home for teaching quilting, promoting philanthropy efforts, utilizing a midarm quilting machine, and storing the guilds’ library and donated fabrics. Stamie is also part of Quilts of Valor for Veterans and thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to have classes there.” The house, dubbed the Sew Inn, is open to anyone who wants to learn sewing and machine quilting on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
In 2009, Stamie lost her job at Bosch and recounts, “I believed my dream of the Sew Inn was unattainable. But I remembered what Pastor Berry said and stepped out in faith – and look where we are now!” When asked what encouraged Stamie to be involved in philanthropy sewing she said, “Pastor Berry used to say, ‘Pursue your passion – God gives everyone a gift- find your gift, your passion, and pursue it.’” Stamie continued saying, “When you pursue your passion, you will find your purpose. These children who receive our quilts and other gifts will never know who we are. But as adults, they will remember someone did something for them who didn’t have to – and I hope that makes a difference.”
At one point, Stamie owned her own craft shop and was dedicated in teaching many students and encouraging their creativity. Her work – much of it unique and her own design – has been displayed in several venues, including the Anderson County Museum, the Anderson County Library, and the Anderson Quilt Show.
Across the nation, many quilters see that the art of quilting is enjoying a resurgence. Stamie states it is because “People have a need for self-expression that remains after we are gone – something that says I was here – a legacy of love and time.”
For further info call 864/723-6603 or visit (www.uhqt.org).
Carolina Arts News 