County Fair Quilter's Quilt Show

A beautiful weekend to attend a great quilt show in Claremore, Oklahoma.   The Country Fair Quilt Guild hosts an annual show and they do a fantastic job.  There were about 200 entries, lots of demonstrations, bed turnings, vendors, etc. 

I didn't get pictures of everything..even forgot to take a picture off my Dutch Gold which won another blue ribbon..how'd I forget that???????????????

But here are the pictures I got with labels indicating the winning Best of Choice and Viewer's Choice quilts as well as those entered by members of our Pittsburg, Little Balkan's Guild.

Enjoy the show  by clicking here

I'm Thrilled!

I was already more than pleased with the ribbons I'd won with my entries in our quilt show. But today ended with the announcement I'd won Viewer's Choice with Dutch Gold! I'm totally thrilled. Especially since last year my blue Dutch Treat quilt missed winning Viewer's Choice by one vote (and that after Tom had already informed me that while he usually votes for one of my quilts, that year he decide to vote for something else!).

It's a terrible picture of me, but I sure do like all those ribbons..1st place Applique, Hand Quilted, Work of One Person; Celebrity Judge Award (Pittsburg Mayor), Viewer's Choice.

Little Balkan's Quilt Guild 2011 Quilt Show

It's hard to believe that it's Labor Day weekend already.  Where has the year gone?  And that means it's Little Balkan's Days in Pittsburg and today and tomorrow is our guild's quilt show.

So much work goes into staging this annual show.  Thursday I spent the day assisting with scribing as the judging took place.  Yesterday the quilts were hung.  It was amazing to see how organized things were this year.  165  entries were hung by mid afternoon.  Having the some PSU basketball players there to assist with the final step of raising the poles is so helpful! 

And today and tomorrow Tom and I will spend hours surrounded by beauty!  Each year the quilts are more amazing than the last.  We'll take turns with others working as hostesses, selling donation quilt tickets, etc.  It takes lots of people to put on a quilt show and we are fortunate to have wonderful members who jump right in to help.  I love this weekend!

So without further ado, here is some eye candy for you.

click here for slideshow of quilts

Bentonville Quilt Show

Saturday was a gorgeous day in this area of the country and we drove to Bentonville, AR to see the 2011 Q.U.I.L.T. of NW Arkansas show.  There were over 350 beautiful quilts.  Kathy Delaney was the judge.

Best of Show

Click on this link to view a slideshow on my Photobucket site. Hope you enjoy!!

While we were there I rounded a corner and thought I noticed someone who looked very much like a quilter I met online several years ago.  I knew she lived in AR but had forgotten how very close to Bentonville she lived.  It seemed like she was also staring at me, but when she didn't approach I convinced myself I was imaging things.  Guess I figure with my prominent oxygen usage I'm pretty easy to recognize if someone has seen pics of me online.  I'm not the shy type so I don't know why I didn't approach here.

Saturday evening I was on Facebook and she posted a comment about attending the "quilt show" (didn't say which one) and then driving around Missouri a bit.  Then I KNEW it had been her I'd seen and was just sick about it.  I emailed her and she said she had done the same thing..thought she recognized me but since she IS the shy time waited for me to approach and of course I didn't.    I asked if she'd attended the Joplin, MO show too and learned she hadn't known about it.  I suggested she might want to drive up Sunday for that and she said yes, she'd love to and see my quilts in person. 

My second faux pas of the weekend was telling her the Joplin show ran until 4:30.  I was wrong..it was over at 3:30 and by about 3:50 we had my quilts in hand (well, Tom's hands..he's the C.E.O. of our team..."Carry Everything Out").  I was dissapointed she hadn't shown up but figured something had come up for her. 

Just as we were nearing our car I spotted Carla and her husband. I was so embarrassed and sad that she had missed seeing all the quilts but she said she mainly had come to see mine so we showed her those in the parking lot.  Then we went to a nearby fast food place for a drink and visited an hour or so.

It was GREAT, actully meeting someone I've so enjoyed "knowing" online.  My third faux pas of the weekend was not taking pictures of us together.  But hopefully we'll be getting together again and sooner rather than later.



Town & Country Quilters Guild Show 2011

It's been a busy weekend.  The Joplin Town and Country Quilt Guild Biennial show has been this weekend.  Tom and I worked Friday afternoon and I also took lots of pictures.  There were some beautiful quilts entered.  I am always so amazed by the creativity and talent that existss within the quilting world.  I'm glad I'm not a judge because often it is so hard to pick winners within categories.

Best of Show went to Cathy Wortarek for this amazing quilt

The workmanship was simply perfect!   Look at this closeup showing the cord which was rick rack couched in place

I was  thrilled that both of my Dutch Treat quilts received blue ribbons.  They were in the same category and the judge asked to be allowed to give two blues since she couldn't choose one over the other.  Made my day!  I also received two other blue ribbons and a third place. 

Today when we stopped back at the Joplin show after our trip down to AR, a lady came up to me and said "I just love your quilt".  I asked which one, and she replied "the butterscotch one".  I'd never thought of the color of Dutch Treat #2 that way, but she is right..it looks like butterscotch!  No wonder I liked the fabric so much.

I've given up trying to fight blogger and post slideshows directly to my blog.  So to view most of the quilts in the show (106 entries total) please click here.

Today we drove down to Bentonville, AR to see Tomorrow's Heirlooms XIII Quilt Show by the Q.U.I.L.T.  ((Quilters United in Learning Together)Guild of NW Arkansas.  There were over 350 quilts and they were wonderful!  I again took lots of pictures (though not all 350).  I'll try to get them uploaded and share with you in the next few days.

I also started something new yesterday.  Any guesses what?

Hope you enjoy the slideshow.



Quilt Show

I've been continuing to quilt on Dutch Treat #2 and have also been trying to do a little more purging and straightening up in my quilt room (and elsewhere around the house where quilt supplies seem to migrate). 

Since I don't have any progress pictures of my own to show you, I'll share some of the pictures I took 2 weeks ago at the Ozark Piecemaker's Quilt Guild Show in Springfield, MO.

As usualy, there  were some truly awesome quilts.

Best of Show

The other top award winners can be viewed on the guild's website  Click on OPQG Show link on the left hand side. Then scroll down towards the bottom of the page to see these winning quilts much better  than the pictures I took.

I was surprised to see one of my Purple Heart wallhangings on display with Judy Howard's Patriotic Quilt Exhibit

Here's a link to a slideshow of the pictures I took that day.

Yesterday was such a pretty day, we decided to take a break andspend a few hours at a nearby lake.  So we grabbed some Subway sandwiches and headed out.  What a gorgeous day!

We watched a blue heron patiently scouting for it's supper.

A good place to work on some Suduko.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone.

Jasper, MO Quilt Show

Got to see some awesome quilts and take part in the quilt show in Jasper, MO this weekend. 

The judge was Carol Owens, from St. Louis.  I'd met her a few years ago when she visited our guild and did a trunk show.  She had this gorgeous quilt on display using lots of vintage needlework that she rescued.

Great re-purposing!

My Dutch Treat earned another blue ribbon!

I took six quilts and four brought home ribbons. 

There were so many pretty quilts..so many this year that they had to drap many of them over chairs to display. It's a small show and not a lot of room for display.

There were a LOT of antique quilts on display and I drooled over them all.  This one had everyone puzzled as no one could identify the pattern.

It's similar to Star and Crescent but has additional piecing.  I love and would love to make it!

This was Viewer's Choice and I sure can understand why..it's beautiful!

Dutch Treat came in second in viewer voting..again. LOL.

You can see all of the pictures I took here



2010 Little Balkan's Quilt Show

I am EXHAUSTED.  I worked as a hostess all day Saturday, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.  That was TOO MUCH.  Wasn't originally planned that way, but I agreed to switch my Sunday hours for Saturday with someone and forgot I was already down to work the second shift on Saturday. So that meant 9 till 2:30. Then when we got there we realized Tom had signed up to work 2:30 to 5:00 But that was before he realized PSU had their first home football game of the season. For him, Gorilla Football  trumps Quilt Show! So I said I'd cover his spot.    Boy, did I collapse when I got home Saturday night. 

Yesterday we went to church in the morning, then back to the quilt show and although I wasn't working as hostess, I was pretty much on my feet from about 1:00 until 4:00, then sat and helped sign out quilts as people came to pick them up. So we got home about 5:30 and I collapsed again! 

But it was a great show. We had 202 entries or thereabouts.  Wonderful quilts!  I always come home feeling so inspired after I attend a show..ours or some other group.  There is so much talent..so many great ideas.   My "to do" list always expands greatly immediately following a show.  After a few weeks, reality trims it a bit. 

I only had nine entries this year.  That's quite a few less than I usually have.  Not sure why I made fewer things this year...could be a retired husband?????  Could be hand quilting my Dutch Treat and working on a second one????? 

I was thrilled to receive several ribbons.

The one that made me proudest of all.....

Dutch Treat won 1st place in the Applique, Hand Quilted--Work of One Person category.   On Sunday I learned that it missed being selected Viewer's Choice by one vote.  That is, the one that won got one vote more than I did.  I wonder who  didn't vote for me.....could it be my HUSBAND????  Yep. he told me on Saturday he voted for me every year, but this year he thought he'd vote for another he liked.  I didn't mind because I never dreamed any of my quilts ever had a chance getting Viewer's Choice.  My thoughts about his vote changed a little when I found out just how close I came. LOL.  We don't even have a couch..just a love seat..so I can't make him sleep there.  Maybe the recliner for awhile?

This is the quilt that received Viewer's Choice and I can certainly understand why. It was stunning!  It is called "Elizabeth's Fancy" and was made by Judy McVickers. It also received the 2nd place ribbon in the Applique, Hand Quilted, Work of One Person category.

This stunner received Best of Show. It is called  "Dresden Sunset" and was made by Madeline Woodfin.  The fabrics just sparkled and the quilting was superb.  It was in the Large Wall Quilt category and received the blue ribbon as well.   My "Exploding Star" received second place in that category. I posted a pic of that quilt with it's ribbon on Friday so I won't repeat it again.

Susan Stewart lives here in Pittsburg and she entered two amazing pieces again this year. 
This one is called "Oriental Lace"

It won the Superior Threads Master Award for Thread Artistry at the 2008 Quilts: A World of Beauty contest at the Houston International Quilt Festival.  Click on the link to her gallery above and then find this quilt.  At the bottom of the page is another link to a detail photo.  It's simply INCREDIBLE.

She also entered this piece in the show.  The two quilts were in the Special Artist category and received a 1st and 2nd place.

 Here's a link to a slide show of many of the quilts. I didn't get pictures of everything and I couldn't remember the names of all of the quilts, even though I've poured over my catalog today and tried to match my photos with the quilts.  I've labeled what I could match up.  There are a few awesome quilts I didn't get pics of and I'm trying to get some from the owners.  If I'm successful I'll edit the slide show later.

For now..enjoy...

2010 Little Balkan's Quilt Guild Show 

Fair 2009: Quilts, Fabrics & Threads

In digging around on the IPTV site I found this video from last year with lots more eye candy. They misspelled Cynthia's last name, but you'll still recognize her. Can you imagine 823 quilts to be judged in a single day?

Blue Ribbon Quilts - Iowa State Fair 2010

Here's a video from the IPTV site showing the blue ribbon quilt winners at the Iowa State Fair.  Would you believe that in the 40 years I lived in Iowa I never attended the fair even once?

My friend, Cynthia, from Iowa Star Quilts has been one of the judges for several years.  You'll see and hear her in the clip.  She also has a blog.

Enjoy!

Nancy Swanwick Part 3

As promised, here are the rest of Nancy Swanwick's beautiful quilts.  Like the earlier posts, the quoted information is taken directly from her printed hand-outs.


Kansas Spirit 2005
"Made from a project at the Kansas Quilter's Organization Golden Oldies retreat in Hays, Kansas 2003.  Jeanne Poore and Frances Shearer led the present and past board members of KQO in making traditional Kansas blocsk, introducing a new block every 45 minutes.  By the end of the long weekend, I had 20 of my 28 blocks finished.  In 2006, a book was published by Kansas City Star Books of our project which included pictures of finished quitls and biographies of the quilters.  At the time, I was President of KQO so Jeanne asked me to also write the foreward for the book.  We were encouraged to use Kansan designed fabrics, so mine is all Kansas Troubles fabric designed by Lynn Hagmeier.  This quilts was shown at Gov. Sebelius' second inauguration celebration in 2008."

Daylilies for Dad   2007
"Made in memory of my dad. His favorite color was orange, and he was partial to lilies. I think I can see X's and O's in the pattern to represent hugs and kisses. I first saw this fabric advertised on the weekend of Dad's memorial, so I feel this was meant to be."

The Star of County Down 2007
"Hand pieced and hand quilted.  Begun on our trip to Northern Ireland and including some fabric purchased in Banbridge, Country Down (near my family's home) and Carrickfergus, Country Antrim.  This is to recall all of the greens in Ireland.  The batting is also "green", literally and figuratively.  It's made from recycled pop bottles".

Ulster-American Star 2007
Created to replicate an antique quilt at the Ulster-American Folk Park in Omagh, Northern Ireland.  We were visiting cousins and retracing my great-grandmother, Mary Kerr's, emigration to American in 1873, and her parents and brother's return to Kilkinamurry, County Down."

Pine Burr 2008

"Paper pieced sawteeth. This quilt took several years to create, but once I started quilting I couldn't put it down."

  


 
  Schoolhouse Quilt 2007-2010
"120 3" hand pieced quilt blocks set in 6" schoolhouse blocks, to celebrate my teaching career in red brick school buildings.  Some blocks are specific to sewing/quilting.  Some used equipment from my classroom at Fort Scott High School. Counting down to retirement."

close-up

Random Access quilts
The quilts shown belowa  are part of a series of quilts Nancy calls "Random Acess", a method she has taught all over the Midwest and was published in Quilt magazine in 1990

Colors, Cats & Carolyn  2008
"Made in memory of my sister, Carolyn, using some of her fabric and other fabrics she would have loved.  The block pattern is called 'Sister's Choice', with backing fabric purchased in our home town (Parsons) in her favorite color combination."

I hope you've enjoyed the show.  Thank you, Nancy, for sharing your amazing talent with us all.

No Fooling...Just Eye Candy

Earlier this week I promised to share pictures of the gorgeous quilts by Nancy Swanwick that we saw in Ft. Scott last Saturday. Nancy is a hugely talented quilter from Ft. Scott and a past president of KQO (Kansas Quilter's Organization). She had over 30 of her quilts on display and I almost needed a bucket to carry around the room with me as I drooled. She graciously gave me permission to share pictures with you. She also had a hand-out prepared so I will quote from that as I begin showing  you her quilts.

Keep in mind all of Nancy's quilts are hand quilted and many hand pieced as well. She was (maybe still is?) employed as a FACS teacher and apparently filled every tiny bit of leisure time making these wonderful creations.

Enjoy!

This is Nancy standing in front of her Pine Burr quilt

For some reason I didn't get a picture of a Wild Goose Chase quilt made 1984-88. She said it was completely hand pieced at Little League games, soccer games, tennis tournaments and family trips, including standing in line at Disney World (Mary: now that's a dedicated quilter!) ....quilted every 1/4" using 6 spools of quilting thread. It hung in the first Capital Quilt Show in Topeka and was selected as Viewer's Choice. Chosen by the Kansas Dept. of Commerce as one of 13 quilts sent to Bloomingdales in New York City as part of the Kansas Exhibit.
(I'm sorry I didn't get a picture but had to share the info about piecing standing in line at Disney world!)

Thousands of Cabins
1985-1988 
Made from 3/4" strips, finishing 1/4". There is twice as much fabric in t he seam allowances as on the face of the quilt.  This took 27 yards of fabric, countless spools of thread for piecing and six spools of tan quilting thread.  This quilt has been named "Best of Show" in several quilt shows and hung in the second Capital Quilt Show in the rotunda of the statehouse in Topeka in 1992.  Over 14,000 pieces of fabric.
(Mary....this is an AMAZING quilt to see in person!)

Amish Pineapple 1988

Colors hand dyed in my backyard in Mason jars by my husband, sons and me.  We all had purple toes for a while.

Amish Ocean Waves 1988

The gradations we dyed made enough for several quilts. This is a sister to Amish Pineapple

Snowbound 1989

Made with the help of my sons to pick out combinations with the insructions "the uglier, the better".  A Red Wagon pattern, I used fabric from my statsh and a package of boxer shorts.  Won "Best of Show" at the Parsons (KS) Art Fair.

Angels & Love for Laura 1990

Made in honor and memory of my niece Laura Ann Brigman (1984-1995).  Many prayers were sent while planning and working on this quilt.  It was published in Quilt Magazine along with an article I wrote on the  inspiration.

Kirk & Barbara Austin's Personal History Quilt 1991

50th anniversary personal history quilt.  Mother and Dad's history told through quilt blocks.

Kirk & Barbara Austin's Golden Wedding Ring 1991

Made for my parents with fabric from their store in Parsons to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

(Mary:--- can you imagine her lucky parents..not one, but TWO anniversary quilts for their 50th?)

Miniature Sampler 1991-1995

Hand pieced and hand quilted.  Nearly 9,000 pieces.  Each block has a different name.  255 blocks.

(Mary:  my heart almost stopped when I saw this quilt)

Love and Friendship 1994

Made as a surprise (hiding in plain sight) for my long suffering, grudging quilt appreciator husband Daryl to celebrate for 25th.

There are many more quilts but I'll leave you to savor these today and post more later.