There is a story behind “The Gathering”. Last November after the quilt sale, most of the Quilters at First were already planning for next year’s event. In the months immediately before the sale, we are finishing up–but the months after we are loving the search for new projects. Also, in November we are planning for our annual Christmas party. At this party we exchange two fat quarters per quilter.
( A fat quarter measures 18″ x 22″ and is usually pre cut. This particular cut is really 1/4 of a yard but in a configuration that is more useful to a quilter. Smart quilt shops offer hundreds of fat quarters for their shoppers.
Each member of our quilt group will select a particular type of fabric she would like, usually with a project in mind. We know each other so well that we can predict choices–Lorrie wants fall colors, Susan likes soft baby flannels, I like polka dots. But sometimes, a quilter has particular quilt in mind with a specific color scheme
During November a list goes up on the white board in our room with our color choices so shopping may begin in earnest after Thanksgiving. (Sometimes the requests require visits to several quilt shops—there was the pastel paisley!).
Janis, our appliqué artist, sets near me in our quilt room with our work stations about 6 feet apart thanks to COVID. We were chatting as we worked—with sewing machines running, other quilters visiting. Janis had ask for bright colors–solids or marble, print on print. I ask her how she was going to use her fat quarters. She excitedly told me about the new pattern she was anxious to start. The large wall art required many different clear bright colors to be used in the rows of large and small “whales”. Ok, fanciful whales. Quilters, like other artists take a great deal of artistic leeway. The pattern had thirty five different “whales”–all different. Then she said that between the rows of “whales” were rows of eggs, but that they were variations of grey, and black and white. What “whale” eggs??? But not wanting to question this project or my hearing, I accepted the idea.
Next week she brought the pattern to show me!
It was QUAILS, not whales. Wow, that made a lot more sense. The pattern is by Barbara Persing, a fiber artist who creates for artists like Janis.
At our Christmas party, Janis opened many packages of fat quarters in bright teals, yellows, oranges and purples. What fun it was to shop for her—so many to choose from and to pick only two!
Last week, Janis brought her masterpiece to share with us.
We immediately hung it in our quilting room to enjoy and for visitors to admire.
This masterpiece measures 48″ x 58″. It is custom quilted…notice the quilted frame that surrounds the piece. It will be at the Quilts Etc. Sale in October if someone doesn’t purchase it before the sale. It is $275 and we will mail it for cost of postage and insurance.
I really think quails are better than whales—but who ever ends up with this beauty should know that in my mind it will always be “the whale quilt”. SOLD
Quilts, Etc. 
This is so beautiful and fun! I hope I’ll get to see it in person at the quilt sale!
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Thanks….hope to see you there
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