Busy weekend

Friday was spent getting ready for Saturday's state quilt guild meeting.  We started out grocery shopping, and then I baked some pumpkin bread to take along Saturday.  We loaded the car with coffee makings, a tub for the Quilters Auction, paperwork, and show/tell items.  Saturday, bright and early, I met some of the other board members at the Park 'n' Ride, and off we went to Randolph, about half an hour south via interstate.  It was a gorgeous day, so I worried that no one would come.  I was wrong, thank goodness.

We had a good-sized group, and all seemed to appreciate the day's activities.  The Quilter's Auction made $385, and we signed up a bunch of new guild members.  The morning panel of Vermont pattern designers went well, and the designers sold quite a few of their patterns.  I saw crowds buzzing around them at break time.  

It was hard to get everyone back together after lunch, but they all seemed in a positive mood as the head of the Vermont Quilt Festival told us why and how the VQF board pulled the plug on this year's festival which was to be held in six weeks.  Vendors are retiring and focusing on online sales more these days.  The deficit had been building since before the pandemic.  Fewer people signed up for classes, despite a fabulous lineup of nationally known teachers.  A perfect storm, unfortunately.  But there is an effort afoot to hold a festival, perhaps a little differently than it had been.  We will stay tuned.

On the way home, Robin and I stopped by the former Historian's home to pick up the state guild archives.  There are 40-plus years of papers in tubs for me to go through this winter.  I will try not to think about them until January.  Eventually, I hope, they'll go to the state historical society.

After a few hours at home, Paul and I headed to the library's Spring Fling, complete with cash bar, great hors d'oeuvres and desserts, a magician, and a band.  The Friends sold raffle tickets for a pie, and we all had fun.  Sunday was a catch up day, and I even managed to finish the top of a baby quilt and begin quilting.  That's what I'll be doing today.  It's double-sided so I'm quilting it simply, in a 3" grid.  Looking great so far.  Pictures soon!

More quilts for VQF

After a few years of virtual shows, the Vermont Quilt Festival is going live and in person once again.  I have missed the classes in particular, but the show was always a great place to gather ideas and visit vendors with new gizmos and fabrics.  This June's show will include a special exhibit of quilts from the various guilds around the state.  As I mentioned in an earlier blog, the Green Mountain Quilters Guild, the statewide organization of which I am president, will show a small group of quilts by members.

Carol used a set of antique Japanese kimonos to make "Log Cabin Suprise."  Jane's "Sudoku 2022" quilt is a new twist on a sampler, with the same nine blocks rearranged in each section.

Tess' "Ode to Ash" is one of the prettiest quilts I've seen in a long time.  She's a retired naturalist and a fabulous quilter.  The quilt is stunning in person.

Life without Elna

We drove to the Burlington area and back on Saturday to deliver my Elna for service.  It may be ready in a couple of weeks.  I was happy to see Lisa minding the shop.  She used to own a shop of her own, quilted a few of my quilts with her long arm, and also taught math at a local high school.  She's now happily retired from all that and was substituting for the shop owner.  

This time without Elna will be spent doing some clean up of the sewing room and, if I get lucky, starting work on my taxes.  I cut out a bunch of Hunter's Star blocks this week and just couldn't resist the slow process of sewing them together on the trusty Viking 100.  It isn't as smooth or precise but the blocks don't looks as bad as they might.  My seam ripper was close at hand, though, as it is wobbly.

I also thought I'd spend more time hand appliqueing some Dear Jane blocks and did finish "Gloriae" (G-12) with all of its sharp angles.  My fingers are definitely not as dexterous as they were ten years ago, but I will keep going with the tiny appliques or add some fusibles.

This week I gathered the state quilt guild's entries for the special guilds exhibit at the Vermont Quilt Festival, including the guild banner, hand appliqued, embroidered, and quilted by a member in 1984.  It is really something to see in person.  The maker even quilted the name of the guild founders in the area with the guild name.  

My machine pieced and quilted wall quilt that mimics the center block is also going in.    It uses hand-dyed fabric by Ricky Tims and was part of a 1999 challenge in the guild.

The other quilts submitted are really beautiful.  I'll share them in a future blog.

Vermont Quilt Festival

It was weeks ago, but I am still studying the photos of some of the quilts I saw at VQF.  The festival website has not yet been updated, but it should have this year's winners and all the contest quilts up eventually.  Here are a few of my favorites.

 I was looking hard at border designs, especially appliqued ones, and I just love the red and white "infinite variety" quilt.   The setting was so unique!