CSQ Quilt Show

The Columbus Star Quilters Guild biennial show was a huge success.  Despite the rain and the detour into town, we had an excellent turnout and a great time.  We added several new features this year, including a preview night for members and spouses - well attended and with delicious treats.  During the show we had several scheduled demonstrations on various topics - from hand quilting to rug hooking to making batiks.  Thanks to Sharynn's Quilt Box, we also had a longarm and a midarm quilting machine on display that generated interest.  Of course, there were lots of quilts, quilters and non-quilters who visited during the two day show.  If you missed it this year, put October 4th and 5th 2014 on your calendar!

Guild President Sue Paris making some opening remarks during the pre-show Reception.

Columbus Mayor Kristen Brown came to the evening reception and selected Susan Wilson's quilt, Four Into One, for the Mayor's Choice ribbon.  One of the things that Kristen liked about this quilt was that Susan did all of the work on this quilt.  Susan did a fabulous job on it, too.  

Carol Walp's quilt, Paducah Block of the Month, won Best of Show.  Carol's getting ready to tell me something.  I had the distinct honor of quilting this for Carol.  The gridwork in the center was tedious but the result is stunning.  And Carol's applique is wonderful.

The theme for our Challenge was "Into the Woods."  There's quite an assortment of designs around the theme.  And some lucky Guild member will be able to bid on these blocks when we have our Auction in 2013.

I was thrilled when my good friend Kathy's quilt Filmstrip won a ribbon.  I just love the black and white filmstrip border around the vibrant colors in the center.  What you can't see in this picture is the variegated thread flame quilting on the black border.  I credit Kathy and another friend, Debbie, for getting me so involved in quilting.  

Jan's quilt Ice Cream Cone Flowers was my personal favorite of all of the quilts in the show.  Jan's a great fiber artist - dying fabrics, painting fabrics and using all sorts of other interesting techniques to create quilts.  Her quilt won the Viewer's Choice - Art Quilt category.

Dottie did a beautiful job on this New York Beauty quilt, titled Let's Do New York.   I couldn't convince her to let me keep the quilt when I was done with the quilting.  These really are my colors - especially the blue border she used.

Jeannette, Lois and Jamie enjoyed some time doing some hand quilting.  It was a  nice way for them to  share their love of hand quilting with others at the show.

Jamie's quilt, Sedona Reds, was made with fabrics she purchased while visiting her daughter in Arizona.  It's a gorgeous medallion quilt with an interesting collection of red fabrics.  In particular, I loved the fabric in the two skinny borders that has yellow spikey things on a red background.

Thanks to Kay, who led the Quilt Show Committee in our efforts this year.  She had everything very well organized and things went off like clockwork.  Thanks to The Republic and photographer Andrew Laker for the wonderful full page spread of pictures of the show.  It was a wonderful weekend of all things quilty.

Cheers!

Margaret

Quilt Show Frenzy

This week has been Quilt Show week.

Monday saw me driving to Grand Rapids to observe in the judging room prior to the West Michigan Quilters Guild.  Andi Perejda and Beverly Fine were the judges.  Having taken a design course taught by Andi and Beverly at NQA in June, I was looking forward to observing their judging.  The only picture I was able to take was of Andi and Beverly signing the judging forms - couldn't take pictures of the gorgeous quilts as they were being judged and I wasn't able to stay for the show.  If you're in the Grand Rapids area this weekend (Oct 6-7, 2012), it's worth a visit to this show at the Delta Plex Arena.  They have fabulous quilts, lots of vendors and you'll be in for a real treat.

Andi (on the left) and Beverly getting ready to review the judging forms.  I think I caught Andi with a cookie in her mouth - the treats prepared by members of the West Michigan Quilters Guild were delicious.

This weekend is also the Columbus Star Quilters Guild and the Evening Star Quilters Guild Biennial Show.  Early this morning we loaded all of the poles (I provided the pickup truck - the supportive spouses loaded the poles).  Observing in the judging room at our show was interesting, as well.  There was just a single judge and she was meticulous and thorough.  It may be odd to say this since I'm a machine quilter, but I was pleasantly surprised at the number of hand quilted quilts.

Kristen Brown with the quilt awarded the Mayor's Choice.  You can see the special ribbon with the Columbus  "C" on the blue background on the right edge of the quilt.

We had a reception for guild members this evening with a special award - the Mayor's Choice.  Kristen Brown spent over an hour walking through the show, talking with guild members and learning about quilts.  She selected this quilt as her choice - beautiful applique and wonderful piecing.  On a personal note, it was fun to talk with Kristen about her parents.  My office was next to her Dad's office for several years and her mother is one of the nicest people I know.

The Best of Show award went to Carol Walp, president of the Evening Star Quilt Guild.  Her quilt is absolutely gorgeous and deserves this recognition. 

I'm on the left; Carol is on the right.  Her quilt is a beautiful medallion quilt with a variety of quilt blocks surrounding the quilt.  She does impeccable work and her quilt is certainly deserving of the Best of Show award.  She invited me to stand in the picture because I quilted her quilt.  Why didn't someone tell me I had my glasses hanging from the neck of my shirt?!!

Carol and Ann are at the Quilter's Boutique.  We have many unique gifts this year, reasonably priced and Carol has done an excellent job of preparing the Boutique for the onslaught of shoppers.

This year's Challenge was to design a block depicting a scene based on the theme "Into the Woods."  What a lovely collection of blocks using a variety of quilting techniques.

So - if you're near Columbus, Indiana or Grand Rapids, Michigan this weekend, make sure you stop by to see our quilt shows.  They'll be a treat and are certainly worth an hour or two of your time.

Cheers!

Margaret

Quilt Connection Guild of Greenwood Show

Friday afternoon, Deb, Kathy and I took off to see the quilt show sponsored by the Quilt Connection Guild of Greenwood.  Here are some of the items that caught my eye.

I had made a presentation to the guild about the Fractured Quilt technique earlier this year.  I was delighted to see that at least one member of the guild attempted a Fractured Quilt.  I love the look of this quilt.

The note with this pillow said the material had been purchased on a trip to Hawaii 18 years ago.  What a wonderful way to showcase the material and the Hawaiian applique.  Maybe this is what I'll do with the 2 and one half blocks that I've completed with a Hawaiian applique motif!

I loved the beading along the bottom of this fanciful quilt.  Great embellishments.

They also had a display of some antique quilts.  This was a lovely way to combine some examples of quilt history with contemporary quilts.

Of course, there's also the fun quilt - this was a hoot!

There were also several vendors and I couldn't help myself - bought a Hallowe'en table runner kit from In Stitches.  Cathy carries the greatest kits and panels.  Deb bought one of the kits, too, and she sent me an email this morning saying she had finished the table runner.  What an over achiever!

Cheers!

Margaret

Boutique Preparation

The Columbus Star Quilters Guild biennial show is coming up next week.  If you're within driving distance, plan on visiting us on either Saturday October 6 from 9 - 5 or Sunday, October 7 from noon - 5 p.m. at Donner Center, 22nd & Sycamore Streets, Columbus, Indiana.  If you're from out of town, let me know you're coming as they'll be doing railroad track repair on IN-46.  I can give you a shortcut into town rather than the official detour which goes a few miles out of the way.

Anyway, Lisa, Lillian, Carol and I got together this afternoon to price the collection of items we have for the Quilter's Boutique.  There are lovely quilts, purses, credit card wallets, pillowcases (scads of them - in fun fabrics), jewelry keepers, pin cushions (again - scads!) and several unique items that will be for sale.  All proceeds from the Boutique will be used to bring top notch speakers to the guild for our monthly educational programs.

Can't write too much more now - have to go piece a backing for a quilt I'm entering in the show.  Then to quilt it and attach the binding.

Cheers!

Lisa & Lillian hard at work.  Carol kept records of items and recorded our recommended pricing.  Me - I flitted around but finally was put to work packing things up so they could be transported to the show next weekend.  Come check it out!

Margaret