Yesterday I attended the St. Cloud Heritage Quilters Show, Running with Scissors, at the College of St. Benedict. The quilters hold the show once every two years. I'm not a member, and not even really much of a quilter, but I like to attend. Once again I went by my lonesome, since none of the quilters at St. Anthony's were able to go with me. Had to give my husband a full report when I got home just to relate my adventure. Good thing he did not ask how much money I spent, although I did not hide my bags of vendor purchases. More on that later.
The time for submitting Viewer's Choice Awards entries was over by the time I arrived, but I would surely have nominated the Grandma's Fower Garden hexagon quilt and bed runner (Bed runner! Great idea for people with cold feet, or people with white bedspreads who need a splash of color in the room, or who have smaller amounts of fabric to use up, or less time or patience!). I think the quilter had actually named this her "Forever" quilt, since it took forever to make. She had taken up the project when her youngest child went off to college, so that she would have something to worry about. It was completely hand-pieced and hand-quilted in gorgeous pastels. The green used was very spring-ish, fresh and restful. The hand quilting was a nice 1/4" away from the seams in all of the hexagons. I also drooled over Barb Kuklok's machine embroidered and embellished quilts. I have been to Just Sew! Studio (formerly Associated Sewing) where Barb works, for a few classes and trunk shows, and I always enjoy the beautiful machine embroidery. It has such a polished, finished look, besides being well executed. I was thinking that Barb's quilts would hold together for a very long time.
I had planned at least three hours for viewing, so I was able to read many of the stories accompanying the quilts.
One woman submitted several quilts made from her mother's fabric stash, quilts which would be shared amongst 11 siblings. Two of her commnents brought tears, her saying that her mother was afraid that all of her fabrics would end up in a dumpster, and also that the daughters making the quilts wanted them to become lumpy and fuzzy like the well-loved quilts that their mom had made for them.
I marveled at the frequency of comments on the stories such as, I got frustrated and had to put this project aside for a few years, or, I did not know what to do with this fabric so I set it aside, or, I decided I needed to finish old projects before starting something new, or, I found this while cleaning out my closet. These sentiments are sure familiar to me, and I am sure to many other crafters. Two weeks ago when I got to St. Anthony's for quilting, I looked at the new quilt on the frame and asked where it had come from. One of the quilters had found it in her closet about twenty years after she had put it there. The other comments which struck me were the candid confessions of difficulties and mistakes, even from the experienced quilters of the guild.
I purchased a new pattern book from Barb at the Quilts on Broadway table. I told her I had to, since she made me laught twice that day! I also bought a Bittersweet wool felt pattern which I can use for projects with my mom, and another bag of walnut shells for stuffing, because they are hard to find without having to stop at the Crow River Mercantile in St. Michael.
For inspiration I also have to check out the book, One Block Wonder, which some of the quilters used. I am tucking into my memory the vintage sheet quilt made simply of squares, much prettier than those which I have seen on Pinterest. I also saw a quilt with large design motifs cut apart and appliqued onto the fabrics. Good idea. I also have to look up the terms "prairie style", and prairie architecture.
Oh! Two of the quilts used Downton Abbey fabrics from Andover Fabrics. I had to laugh when I saw those.
Last but not least, I won a quilt in the small raffle drawing.
