Artist Of The Month

Jo Ann Worsencroft With Quilt.

View Image Gallery

Parma is home to a great many talented individuals, artists, and craftsmen, both professional and amateur, who specialize in a variety of mediums. This article is the fourteenth in a series which will showcase a Parma area artist and introduce you to many of your talented neighbors. 

Jo Ann Worsencroft - Quilter

Jo Ann & Dave Worsencroft have called Parma Heights their home for over 35 years. They were blessed with four sons, and five grandchildren. Jo Ann retired as a Health Center nurse from Baldwin Wallace University. Dave is a wood carver and member of the Great Lakes Wood Carvers. 

About 10 or 12 years ago, Jo Ann made it a mission to learn something new each year. She has done cake decorating, flower arranging, read books, followed new authors, learned to play the harmonica, and to tap dance, to name a few. While browsing the class schedule for adult evening classes for the Parma City School District, she spotted one on quilting. It was there that she found her passion. Jo Ann said, “I quilt with a happy heart and it is my saving grace. I have met wonderful people with this craft.” 

Since retirement, she travels with Dave, who attends wood working and carving shows. While Dave attends the lectures, she stays in the hotel room and quilts all day, and finds a quilt shop after dinner to buy more fabric in the evening. Every quilter knows you never have enough fabric. 

She joined the Common Threads Quilt Guild many years ago and is in her second year serving as their president. The guild was established in 1986 with 15 quilters. They now have more than 45 active members. The monthly meetings have a speaker, refreshments, and a show 'n' tell portion where members show their recent quilting efforts. Jo Ann said, “I am so proud and thankful of all my friends at the guild, as quilters are people that care – in good and sad times and excuse the pun – keep you in stitches.” 

Their November 2014 quilt show was a huge success with over 350 quilts on display. Abe and Mrs. Lincoln made an appearance. The quilts were judged, they had door prizes, and close to 800 people visited during the two day show. Jo Ann is very proud that the guild came together as a team and worked hard to make this such a successful show. 

Community service is a big part of their mission. They make various sized quilts, stuffed bears, and pillow cases for various organizations. These organizations include Providence House, Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy, Guidestone, Cleveland Police Department, Leah House, NICU at Fairview Hospital, Church Street Ministries, Redeemer Crisis Center, Calvary Lutheran Church, and nursing homes, to name a few. They have also donated for auction to animal shelters, youth groups, and more. So far, in 2015, they donated 50 quilts, 200 bears, 150 pillowcases, and “hopefully countless smiles.” 

This month they joined Parma Area Fine Arts Council as an affiliate organization. Their monthly meetings are now held at the Donna Smallwood Activities Center at 7001 W. Ridgewood Drive, on the evening of the third Monday of the month. Common Threads has also installed a display at the Smallwood Center in the lobby showcase. If you are interested in joining Common Threads or have questions, contact Jo Ann by email at jworsenc@bw.edu. 

If you are an amateur or professional artist, living in the Parma area, or know of someone who is, and would like to be featured as an artist of the month, please contact me by email at kathrynmabin@att.net.