Quilt Show

I visited a quilt show on Saturday last (September 14th). It was quite near to the location of a conference I was attending. I visited the quilt show during my lunch break on Saturday.

Driving back and forth all week to the location were the conference was held, I had seen the signs announcing the quilt show.

It was an extremely pleasant surprise and diversion after sitting all week and industriously taking notes at the conference.

It took place at the United Methodist Church of North Chili, NY. The entire sanctuary was filled with quilts. They were draped over every alternate pew so you could walk by them without disturbing them. The church hallway had quilts hanging on the walls. In a huge room - I don't know what the church used this room for - perhaps a gymnasium or a large conference room - there were large bed size quilts. This room also had a few quilt related vendors around the perimeter.

 

sorry about the legend taking a bite out - this quilt was so beautiful - the stitching so elegant

 

the quilts had a legend with the name and how the quilter came to make it

 

 

 

 

Very large quilt - very wintery scene - in strips


 

 

close-up wintery scene - lots of shiny snowflakes heat set


 

child's quilt - all animals wore different shoes
 

A totally lovely surprise - tea was served in their tea room.

 

 

 

 I never plan to actually make a quilt but I so admire the dexterity of those who do. They seem like a giant mathmetical problem to me - matching all those right angles. I do, however love quilts, especially vintage ones. I have several of them, including a doll bed one. I treasure each one. They seem like a huge undertaking to me. I'm an "instant gratification" type of person. I want to see the results of my work in the twinkle of an eye. How about you?

Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...........Ecclesiastes 9:10

My little hands have been busy sewing, knitting and crocheting and I want to show you some of the results of my labor. It's been a "labor of love" making things for people I love and it delights me to bless them in this way.

One of my many nieces is getting married in August. She's (as they say) getting married on a shoestring. She's a graduate student doing medical research in Vancouver, BC. Her fiancee is also a grad student. They will return to their studies after they're wed.

Because I'm a collector of vintage lace and love re-purposing it into something that's very "today", I wanted to make her wedding related gifts. I made a wedding garter and a little wristlet, both from vintage lace.

I made the garter from a strip of hand crocheted lace. These pieces of lace were once use to embellish bed linens, and other household linens. The Victorians even embellished undergarments with hand made lace. Many times these strips were made by little girls who were learning the skill of crochet in order to fill up their "hope chests" for their own "way in the future" weddings.

The most interesting thing about this lace is: it did not wear out. The sheets or pillowcases, towels or petticoats that the lace embellished, wore out. But the frugal Victorian housewife separated the lace from the worn out piece. They then saved the lace to embellish something else. Oftentimes, this is where I step in and discover it at a household sale, estate sale, garage sale, op shop or somewhere else.

The wristlet evolved from a rectangular doily that was used to line a bread dish. It has the word "BREAD" crocheted right in the middle of the piece. I folded it into an envelope purse shape, lined it with silk and added a crushed ribbon wrist strap - so the bride's hands would be free to hug people.

I think it's so cool to have heirlooms as part of a wedding day. You know how the old saying goes : "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, a sixpence in your shoe...."

Taken from THE KNOT wedding website
 Something old represents continuity; something new offers optimism for the future; something borrowed symbolizes borrowed happiness; something blue stands for purity, love, and fidelity; and a sixpence in your shoe is a wish for good fortune and prosperity............................

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Another project that I've been working on is making little trinkets to go into what is called a "swag bag" - a special gift bag for the first 100 visitors to visit my friend, Angel's. upcoming craft show. I am making tiny Christmas wreathes to pin onto your lapel, or to use as a giftwrap embellishment or even a tree trimmer. The swag bag will be chock full of the cutest ever little tchotchkes.

If you can get to Chambersburg, PA on November 2nd and do your Christmas shopping at this show, yours will be the best gifts ever.

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