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Brown Sugar Stitchers are a diverse group of African American Quilters from all over the metropolitan Atlanta area. Our organization was conceived in Winter 2000 as the culmination of the vision of Nancy Franklin and Jocelyn Carter who saw an opportunity to bring quilters in this area together. 

If you would like to become a part of our Guild, we extend a warm invitation for you to join us. If you would like more information, please e-mail us at bssquiltguild@hotmail.com.

ELECTED OFFICERS:

Quilting As Public Service

 Brown Sugar Stitchers has been active in the cultural and educational affairs of our community since its formation. BSS have made quilts for Kwanzaa activities at the Wesley Chapel Library, displayed quilts at the Dekalb County Courthouse, have participated in enrichment activities in local public schools and have entered quilt shows.

Our signature public service activity over the last three years has been the donation of quilts to children residing at the CARRIE STEELE-PITTS HOME FOR CHILDREN  in Northwest Atlanta.

The CARRIE STEELE-PITTS HOME FOR CHILDREN has existed in Atlanta since before 1888 when a railroad maid, Mrs. Carrie Steele Logan, began taking in orphaned black children and caring for them in a railroad box car. From those first selfless acts of sharing has grown a home staffed by professionals who care for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned. As a testament to its enduring quality, the Home has had only 4 executive directors in its 114 years of operation. Portraits of the Home’s Founders hang prominently in the Georgia State Capitol. The current Executive Director, Mrs. Ollivette S. Allison, B.A., M.S.W., was herself raised in the home and she returned to institute a top-notch professional social work staff for the benefit of hundreds of children raised there in the past 40 years.

In 1999, Brown Sugar Stitchers became inspired to take on the project of furnishing quilts to the long–term residents at CARRIE STEELE-PITTS HOME. The idea was to complement the nurturing taking place at the Home by letting a child know that something warm and special was made for him or her. The first group of quilts was given away at a joyful celebration at the home in November 2000. The members of BSS receive as much joy presenting the quilts to the children as the children themselves experience in receiving them.

The presentation of quilts in May 2002 was covered by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, which led to an outpouring of interest to support the work of making these quilts. The MARTA EMPLOYEES CLUB, JOANN’S FABRICS, GRANNY TAUGHT US HOW, Pamela Ashmead, Nancy Brooks, Susan Fisher, Laverne Hart, Andrea Huff, Mary Hutchinson, Jerrie T. Miller, Journalist Betty Parham, Tina Schuman, Mary Stewart and Eloise Wiant, donated money or materials to enable Brown Sugar Stitchers to continue our most import public service. We thank them for their generosity.

The 2003 theme for the BSS Quilt Show: Quilt A Village, represented the commitment of Brown Sugar Stitchers to care for our children in a tangible fashion, using our beloved craft. The 2003 Spring donation quilts were displayed in an exclusive grouping so that our guest were able to view the creativity expressed for the enjoyment of some very special children.