October and Pine Belt Quilters 16th Show

After several weeks of preparation, my guild's 16th show took place on October 7-8-9, 2016. We hung 250 quilts plus a Hoffman traveling exhibit, held hour-long lectures on all three days, gave door prizes, shopped at 16 vendors, silent auctioned about 30 small quilts, drew for our Autumn Splendor raffle quilt, had quilt appraisals . . . and thoroughly entertained our visitors to the show. Any time you don't lose or damage a quilt, you count it as a successful show! Those of you who have been involved in the behind-the-scenes workings of a quilt show can fully appreciate this statement. As show chair, I was extremely proud of our members who worked so hard and willingly to create this unique event.

On a personal note, it was exciting to win my first Best of Show-Small for a friendship quilt made with four others: Marcus Weekley, Cathy Reininger, Julia Graber, and Rita Warnock. (Our show awards two Best of Show awards--a Large and a Small.) I have shown the five sections in this earlier post. We were pleased at how the finished piece looked when the five sections were presented together. The award was a Nechi EX100 machine, and we thought of King Solomon's wisdom in what to do with one award to share among the five of us. We plan to sell it and split the proceeds.

Mississippi Ag Museum in Bloom, 120" x 36"
by Marcus Weekley, Martha Ginn, Cathy Reininger, Julia Graber, Rita Warnock

VisitHattiesburg has sponsored a purchase award for our last five shows, with this show's theme commemorating Curious George's 75th anniversary and the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at USM's 50th anniversary. The theme was "Curious George Visits de Grummond," and my quilt was titled "Curious George Reads Ezra Jack Keats" (with scenes from The Snowy Day). I was especially honored to have my quilt selected for this award since I am a supporter of the de Grummond and my daughter is a catalog librarian at USM.

My Round Robin Pathways won a third place ribbon; it is amazing me with its third award in the three shows it has appeared in. Since it "grew like Topsy" by being designed in six stages with each round being a surprise, it seems appropriate that it continues its adventures.

Round Robin Pathways, with Shapes on the Green beside it, both challenges in our guild

What Happened to July?

Where did the month of July go? It’s been a whole month since I posted about my Rise

and Shine, Inner Quilt coming home. It’s been fun seeing it on the guest bed. Rah-Rah wanted to sleep on it, so I added a fleecy to take care of cat hair. Of course, it lost its charm and she moved on. 

I 'm taking care of two little foster kittens from Southern Pines Animal Shelter--solid black,  just like Tarbaby when he was a kitten. They live in the garage and quickly learned to escape the fence, meaning they have a large place to run since my car stays on the driveway. They were frightened and hissing when I got them. It's amazing what a soft voice and canned cat food can do. Now they run to be picked up and loved, purring before I get them up.

 

I submitted my Round Robin Pathways quilt to the Smoky Mountain Quilters 2016 show and received a 2nd place and an impressive red rosette ribbon. It is being entered in the Old Man River Quiltfest in Vicksburg next month as well as our PBQ October show. This quilt won “Best Quilt by an Individual” last September in Jackson.

Our Pine Belt Quilters show is fast approaching--October 7-8-9 will be here soon. I have my entries ready and am busy contacting possible sponsors for our awards as well as businesses who will advertise in our show catalog.

I have grieved over the tragic loss of lives I see and hear on the news. Some days I prefer not to turn on the TV for fear there will be another senseless act of violence. It troubles me to wonder, “Am I doing anything to change things? If I am not helping with a solution, I am part of the problem.” These thoughts encourage me to be patient, seek the good in others, and treat others as I want to be treated. Sounds so simple. And it’s not a new message.

As much as I love making art quilts, recently I have been enjoying stitching some colorful Log Cabin blocks.