“Once Upon a Time I Was Little”

Mill Brook Craft Series Returns Every Thursday in August!

August is here! The sun is still high in the sky, the days are long, and summer vacation is in its final stretch. It also means it’s time for one of our favorite traditions at the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society: the Mill Brook Craft Series.

Held every Thursday afternoon at 1:00 PM in the Twitchell Education Center (the small building on the Mason House lawn), this series brings local artists, artisans, crafters, and experts of all kinds, to share their work, stories, and traditions with the western Maine community. From fabric to feathers, and from fishing line to our little fluttering friends, the pollinators, each week offers something different — and all are invited to attend!

We kick off this year’s series on Thursday, August 7, with a special program by our very own Donna Gillis, “resident quilter” at the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society. Donna will share her work creating memory quilts — one-of-a-kind pieces made from the clothing of loved ones. These quilts transform worn shirts, favorite fabrics, and everyday materials into deeply personal scenes honoring the lives of those remembered. Join us as Donna walks us through her creative process and the meaning woven into every stitch. She will bring her current project, “Once Upon a Time I Was Little,” made from clothing once worn by a little girl who is now a young woman entering college.

Full Schedule

August 7 – Memory Quilts with Donna Gillis

August 14 – “Meet the Pollinators” with Julie Reiff

August 21 – Fly Fishing with Kevin Windsor

August 28 – Quilling with Sarah Hemeon

All programs are free and open to the public. Come for one or come for all — and bring a friend!