The Enquirer

Quilts for a Change, today and Saturday, is not just about teaching and improving quilting methods with advice from needle-and-thread experts.

It's about another kind of change - the abuse of women and children. Profits from the juried show, sponsored by Provident Bank and Zonta Club, a women's service group, will go to programs to eliminate violence against women and children.

At the event at Xavier University's Cintas Center, more than 250 traditional and art quilts will be in the spotlight, in addition to exhibits of the work of judges - Carolyn Mazloomi and Susan Shie - and some of the instructors.

Full-day classes and bonus one-hour sessions will cover decorative machine quilting to Victorian crazy quilting, painting with dyes to turning your hobby into a business. Hobbyists will have a vendor mall with quilt and sewing products.

The highlight of the event will be today's "Evening with Faith Ringgold," a painter, quilter, author and professor at University of California.

Hours: 9:30 a.m.- 8 p.m. today and 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday. Admission: $14 both days or $8 each day. Classes $10-$125. Information: www.quiltsfor change.org