Saturday, June 24, 2023

Bigfork Piecemakers Quilt Guild Quilt Show

I am lucky enough to be in Montana the weekend of the local quilt show.  Thought I'd share some eye candy and information from it.

The Bigfork Piecemakers' Quilt Guild is made up of a wonderful group of ladies of all age and skill levels.  They gather to share their love of quilting and to create new memories.  The Build meets at The Swan River Elementary School the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m.  There is a short business meeting along with demonstration of new quilting techinques and patterns.  It wouldn't be complete without our members "Show and Tell."  They are very involved in the Flathead community.  They provide local scholarships, donate quilts to people in need, donate pillowcases to children for comfort.  They host an annual Quilt Show, which supports the Guild's activities for the community.

The following quilt, a Rose of Sharon Variation, was hand appliqued, pieced, and quilted about 1850.  It's told that it was a part of a hope chest.  It has been successively inherited and passed down through several generations.  It was displayed as an antique at the guild's very first quilt show and was given an award as "Best in Show."


This one is called Stepping Up Again and was pieced by Virginia Compton and quilted by Peggy Aagenes-Janzer.  She writes, "I had so much fun with this pattern.  You can change it so many ways.  It just makes me happy to see how it comes together."  Such a cool use of Dresdans.


More vintage fun.  The one on the left is a Tulip Variation quilt made around 1850 to 1900.  The redwork crib quilt was made by Emma Louise Hodgkiss for her son in 1910.  It was hand-pieced, embroidered, and quilted.  She machine stitched the binding.


Blooming in Full Color is the name of the next quilt.  It was done by Laurie Schmitt and she says, "Love, love, love Phillip Jacobs and Kaffe Fassett floral designs.  This quilt celebrates their work in addition to a few other fabric designers.  Each diamond is bordered with a fabric which is different in scale, graphic print, color and/or value.  As a result, each pieced diamond stands on its own, showcasing the floral design.  The quilt is enveloped which allows for an interesting zig-zag edge."


This gorgeous Wedding Ring was made by Karen Morton and Carol Martin, then quilted by Gail Olson.  Karen comments, "this quilt sat in my UFO pile for several years until my friend Carol helped me finally get it finished.  So thankful for her working on it!!"


Spotted this One Block Wonder in a display.  I'm super excited about attempting one of these next year.


Potted Petals is next and I love this so much.  It is by Thori Hodge and quilted by Teresa Friede.  Thori writes, "I call this quilt my 'Covid Quilt' as all the blocks are wood hand applique, which I worked on during the Covid outbreak."


On The Front Porch is 21"x 21" and I love it.  It is by Janet Masten and says, "The cross-stitch was designed by Paula Vaughn and I stitched it in 1993.  I just couldn't decide how to display it, so it remained unfinished -- for years!!  I finally decided to make some Churn Dash blocks to match the quilt in the embroidery.  It's also the block used in the raffle quilt this year."


How fun is this?  Chicken Feed is 32" x 42" and made by Linda Deines.  It is her own design has great inspiration.  Her note says, "Applique and paper piecing utilizing vintage feed sacks from the 40's and 50's.  My Aunt and Uncle had a chicken hatchery in Glendive, Montana.  Aunt Vi would take out the seams of each sack, launder, iron and fold it.  My grandmother made curtains, table cloths, dish towels and dresses (she always wore a dress).  Making this quilt brought back a lot of memories of farm life growing up."


How about a mop doll?  Moppy Ann was made by Maureen Gleason.  Her face is hand painted and the clothes are hand made as well.


Maureen Gleason also created this fun quilt.  It is Tie's Go Crazy and was a guild challenge to repurpose something.  It was quilted by Gail Olson.


Maureen Gleason has some creative ideas.  This is Galaxy and was also completed as the guild challenge to repurpose something.  She had doilies given to her by her mother and decided to use them as her challenge.  She also found a few at 2nd hand stores and put the whole thing on a canvas frame.  It was quilted by Chris Schroeder.


More tie fun!!!  This is I Spy Diamonds by Clara Clark and quilted by Monique Kleinhans.  Clara purchased 23 old ties and along with previous items gifted by a friend, she cut up 63 different ties.  The black satin is primarily from a cut up prom dress.


We spotted this display at the back of the room.  FABULOUS!!!  This one is 12" x 12" and was Best in Show in 2021.  It was made by Janet Masten.


Another past Best in Show.  WOW.  This one is from 2021, I think.  It has such incredible three-dimensional work on the flowers and the embroidery on the sashing is phenomenal.


Here are some up close views ---- love this so much.



Well, that's it for this run.  Hope you enjoyed the show.

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful quilt. I love the way the tiny flowered print has been used on each block. I bought a wonderful floral striped print fabric and nothing I have come up with excited me. This is exciting. Again, thank you.

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