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.

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!

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

Quilting was probably born of necessity –to keep families warm. Worn clothing and scraps were used by the majority of the quilters. But in the twenty first century, most quilts are sewn from new fabric, and are made to satisfy a creative urge. The Quilters at First love to shop for new fabric–a trip to a Quilt Shop is a mimi vacation. But we also congratulate each other on “reusing” and “recycling” … it is easy to go buy fabric but it takes thinking outside the box to reuse or recycle.

Some quilts can be made from “free fabric” that might be wasted. My definition of “free fabric” is fabric that was left over from a project for which the fabric was originally purchased. Of course, it cost something in the beginning but once the original quilt was pieced, there are always scraps remaining and they are “Free”. Commercial patterns almost always require more fabric than necessary. For example, the following two baby quilts were made from left over fabric originally purchased to make three other baby quilts!

“Stair Steps”. 36″ x 44″. $60. “Dot, dot, dash”, 45″ x 64″. $100

Scrap quilts refer to quilts that use many different fabrics from many different projects.

Some scrappy quilts are less color coordinated, but no less eye catching.

Well loved but worn, tattered quilts demand respect. Each vintage quilt was once brand-new but after years of use show their age. If they could just tell us their stories! Quilters have found ways to share the very last parts of these quilts with another generation. Shirley recycled a well loved quilt and a chenille bedspread to make these pillows and bunting.

The pillows made from a wedding ring quilt are 12″ x 12″ and are $25.There is chenille on the back side. The center pillow is chenille on both sides and is $20. SOLD The bunting with 10 pennants is $20.

Smaller pieces of the quilt were used to make country Christmas trees. The large one is $25 and the smaller ones are $20.SOLD

Quilters at First receive many gifts from families sorting and organizing their parents and grandparents homes after a life change. Most of the items are from a different time — lovely but not particularly current in style. Paulette repurposed these beautifully embroidered butterflies into a quilt more appealing to today’s shoppers.

.Paulette used a batik fabric and set the five blocks in a more more modern adaptation of a nine patch. I will wager the original artist did not imagine her butterflies in a field of batik. These repurposed beauties were not lost to the trash or hidden in a closet but will shine in a place of honor in someone’s home. Measuring 50″ x 55″, it is for immediate purchase for $175.

It isn’t always fabric that we reuse/recycle/repurpose! We have more quilts for the October Quilt Etc. Sale than we have ways to display them! A good dilemma… but how to show off each quilt? I found instructions for a “inexpensive” PVC pipe quilt hanger. My husband priced the needed supplies! Oops, I had forgotten about inflation. But when I was exploring the sub basement at Church, I discovered long pieces of PVC pipe that had been used to create a “Country Store” at previous Quilt Auctions. So after securing permission to use this valuable commodity, I ask my husband and grandson to “repurpose” the pipe into sturdy quilt hangers.

Four more quilts can be displayed; I only had to buy some t-joints and they are easy to take apart for transporting. Win-win-win!

Quilters by large are a thrifty group. But the feeling one gets from creating a quilt or gift from “throw aways” is great! Come to the Quilts Etc. Sale in October to see all the ways we reuse, recycle or repurpose.

The air was crisp at 7 am when I walked the dog–but my elderly neighbor who walks miles more than me, reminded me it was just a tease, that there will be more days of 100 degrees. But I have seen signs that summer is on the downhill slide, bringing joy to my heart.

The third sign fall can’t be too far away is that the cupboard and shelves in the quilting rooms at Church are full to the max with handcrafted items that will be offered at the October Quilts Etc Sale. Each Wednesday quilters bring more finished projects to add to the huge inventory. The first hour of our time together is usually spent admiring each others work. The following is just a sample of yesterdays contributions.

Tammie finished her baby quilt with colored snow flakes surrounding a panel based on Barbara Joosse’s book MAMA, DO YOU LOVE ME? It is 45″ x 46″ and is $125.SOLD

Phyllis contributed these three table runners…completely different vibes. The 15″ x 32″ carrot would be great for spring time with Easter baskets full of colored eggs–yours for $30.SOLD The fall leave table runner has 3-D leave sewn on the batik runner. This centerpiece is 24″ x 32″ and is $40.SOLD The bright star runner is perfect for summer or a children’s party. It measures 14″ x 42″ and is $50.

I’ll bet you have not seen placemats like these! Each placemat is really 4 in 1–Halloween, Christmas, Winter and “I am the Vine” which is great for summer or anytime. Phyllis made these all cotton oval placemats that flip to another season much like a book–the two are $40. SOLD

Oh, I identify with these ladies! The look in their eyes–their “hair”–just how I feel some days! Janis came through again with a winner. (So tempting to say “winner, winner, chicken dinner” but probably best not to do so!)

I didn’t get a photo of the backing but it is yellow with a chicken wire print–perfect for this flock. Measuring 43″ x 53″, this small quilt would fit many places in your home—hallway, over a chair back, on the table–anywhere you need a pop of color and a reminder not to take life too seriously. Janis does impeccable work and it is custom quilted. $175

More and more items -large and small- are being gather together for the sale. Just two months to go—put October 21 and 22 on your calendar for some serious shopping!

Don’t forget we will ship items for the cost of postage.

Remember the museums of your childhood? Although I have been to many wonderful modern museums, I still have the image of a dusty, cram packed room full of hundreds of artifacts when I read/hear the word “museum”. So, when my husband suggested a trip to Nebraska to the International Quilt Museum as a bribe for me to agree to a trip to the minor league ball parks in Lincoln and Omaha, I wasn’t that excited. In fact, I told him, “Just take me to several quilt shops and I will be happy”. Sometimes, the excitement of creating another quilt is more satisfying than looking at what someone else has done. I had been to Paducah, Kentucky to the National Quilt Museum…could anything beat that? But he was insistent that we go after he read that the Museum has the largest collection of quilts in the world. So, I looked the International Quilt Museum up online. Guess What??? The featured exhibit was The Joanna S. Rose Red and White Collection!

Oh, my goodness! The fates were smiling at me! I had wanted to see these quilts since 2011 when this collection of 651 red and white quilts were shown in New York City. Joanna Rose’s husband had arranged for her to see all her quilts together as an 80th birthday present. The quilts were displayed so fanciful, so non-museum like. The photos below are from the https://folkartmuseum.org/exhibitions/infinite-variety-three-centuries-of-red-and-white-quilts/.

After Mrs. Rose’s death, all 651 quilts were donated to the International Quilt Museum and 80 were on display when we were Lincoln. How lucky was I? I would have set through ten games in the July heat to see these quilts!

Right off the cover of the book–Oh I would have loved to meet this artist!

Take aways from this exhibit—simple is as striking as elaborate, even the best quilters make mistakes and lived with them, and put a label on your quilt so later generations know a bit about you!

This was the high light of the visit, but the Museum is great—nothing like the museums of yesteryear. The building is light and airy with open spaces between displays. (Lesson here for quilters, our eyes/brain needs space to appreciate designs/colors in a quilt.)

Three main galleries showcase three different types of quilts. The first gallery was international items –a story quilt from Africa, a whole cloth quilt of silk from China, a quilted flag from a former British colony.

The middle gallery contained more of the traditional antique quilts I had expected.

The third large gallery was devoted to contemporary quilts. This was my favorite–made by a male U of N professor/artist.

Small displays were in hallways — graphic designs on the main floor and on the third floor a charming group of 30’s to 50’s floral quilts.

We chose to join a docent giving a tour but it would not have been necessary to have enjoyed the museum. There was a small gift shop. We spent a couple of hours –my husband’s feet were finished and I was satisfied and inspired. So–if my husband manages a trip to the College World Series in Omaha some spring, we will go through Lincoln—it will be an entire new group of quilts on display!

Best of all I shall live by Joanna S. Rose’s quote-

“Quilts look better when you have a lot of them”

Concordia, KS is only two hours plus away from my front door; but it was all brand new to me! We were on our way to the International Quilt Museum and some minor league baseball in Nebraska and Concordia was a great stopping place for lunch, historical site seeing and fabric shopping.

Lunch was at Jitters, a cafe and coffee shop, in a repurposed building downtown. The decor was unique with piggy cutting boards, old rolling pins and lots of books. Most important, the food was delicious and seemed very popular with the locals.

Since the Orphan Museum was still on it’s lunch break we found a fabric store on the same street! (It pays to scout out the territory via the internet before visiting a new location.). Fabric Essentials was also in a building that has a history but had found new life as a quilters paradise with over 5,000 bolts of fabric, pre-packed kits of every sort of projects, patterns, and notions. Tea towel material by the yard was available!

The major reason we stopped in Concordia was to visit the Orphan Train Museum. After reading THE ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline and THE CHAPERONE by Laura Moriaty and hearing super positive comments about the museum, a visit had been on my bucket list. A video in the visitor center/research center explains the motivation behind the program and its history.

(I borrowed these photos from the web site–mine include my husband who is blog-sly.)

The town’s Visitor’s Center features a “bas-relief” sculpture on the side of the building in red brick. I was fascinated by the use of brick this way.

After driving around the town to check out some of the impressive buildings,

we found another quilt shop! Full of Scraps is right on the highway–which isn’t surprising since it is in a re-purposed gas station!

On the way out of town, we drove through the remains of Camp Concordia, a Prisoner of War Camp. In 1945, there were approx. 4,000 German officers and enlisted men, mainly from the North Africa campaign. Again, I let my imagination go back in time…

I still want to visit Ayers Rock in Australia, a pub in Ireland, the Shetland Islands and the Alps. But it is very satisfying to learn new things about the world close to home. If you haven’t been to Concordia, consider a day trip. You won’t spend a lot on travel, you speak the language, and there are two great quilt shops!

What is your “passion”? Maybe passion is too strong a word for what I mean, but do you have a hobby or interest that consumes a lot of your time and a significant portion of your budget? Passions or hobbies or interests are the flavoring or seasoning that makes person more interesting. It is the frosting on the cake. A person can be kind, intelligent and have strong values, my top three criteria for a person, but a passion makes that individual stand out. Sometimes, the career is that person’s passion. We know doctors, teachers or baseball players that use all their energy on their chosen field. But isn’t it fun to find out a person has an interest that is totally unrelated to their career? I just read that “Bend like Beckham”, the English soccer player extraordinary, keeps bees! If nothing else, these passions/interests/hobbies, give friends and family a help with shopping for birthday presents or the holidays!

My husband loves baseball–the game, the ball parks, the history, We just returned from a six day baseball tour. Six games in seven nights! He may have a career that most people wouldn’t know about–but you can always talk baseball.

My daughter is into researching our ancestors. She finds the most obscure facts and stories that fill out the sterile information making up a family tree. She spends hours determining the validity of traditional family stories…and discovering the “rest of the story”. Family lore was that a particular branch of our family went to Texas area to escape the Civil War–nope, they went in 1830’s when it was really tough going!

We have soccer aficionadoes, gardeners who remember the scientific names of plants, and football fiends in our family… and of course, Quilters!!! It is a happy family when two passions can be combined! Later this year, we are heading north on a short trip to visit a couple of museum quilt collections and a couple of minor league baseball parks. Win-Win.

Update from the Common Threads Quilt Show— I had a great time! So many exciting quilts to see–so much lovely fabric to buy! Added bonus was getting to know some of the members of the Prairie Quilt Guild. And ribbons were won!!!!

Paulette’s whole cloth quilt, hand quilted by the Quilters at First, won the “Best Hand Quilting” of the entire show! This one will not be for sale at the October Quilt Sale but it is a lovely example of the quality of the Quilters at First work.

And I won a second place ribbon!! I think the judge liked the little sawtooth stars.

Of course, now I am challenged to make something better for the 2024 show!

I am already getting excited about our annual sale in October. A coffee shop with goodies will be added this year. It will be located right off the lobby so after your initial shopping tour, you can rest, build up your energies, and return to the displays and do a bit more shopping!

There will be a vintage corner. Just last week we were gifted six large antique quilts–five are beautifully hand quilted. I am spending the weekend, soaking , rinsing and drying them to allow them to shine.

Yup, my passion is quilting. That is why when you see me out and about with threads hanging from my clothes, know that I have been in my happy place.

When I retired ten years ago, I announced that one item on my bucket list was to enter a quilt in the Prairie Quilt Guild bi-annual quilt show. Ten years later it is finally happening! I have judged quilts in a country fair for several years and graded hundreds when I taught Sewing in High School. I knew what judges look for in a quilt, but I was nervous about having someone “grade” my quilts. Two years ago I decided it was time to put my quilt out there—but COVID occurred and the Common Threads Show was canceled. Thanks to vaccines and lower numbers, the show is back–smaller but back!

I urge you to attend—if you don’t quilt, come enjoy art and crafts. A mixture of traditional and contemporary, of machine and hand crafted, huge and tiny will be on exhibit. Some vintage quilts will be on display. If you enjoy shopping, dozens of venders will have booths full of fabric, patterns, and tools—not all the items are intended for quilting. (I will spend as much time browsing in the mini-shops as admiring the entries.)

There is an “opportunity” quilt for which you may purchase chances to win.

Two “Quilters at First” quilters have quilts in the show. Here is a sneak preview of these quilts. In the hand quilted category, three quilts have been entered.

The most elegant of quilts is the “whole cloth” quilt. The hand stitching creates the pattern. There are no colors or piecing of fabric to distract from the quilting. Thousands of tiny stitches were made by needle and thread one stitch at a time. Paulette treasures this beauty in her home.

This simple pieced quilt is a show stopper due to the hand quilting. The understated color and simplicity of the pattern plus the quilting have created an heirloom. It was pieced by Barbara N. and quilted by the Quilters at First and purchased by Susan last fall at the Quilts Etc. Sale at First United Methodist Church.

Sharon is sharing her quilt that was machine pieced by Paulette and quilted at First Methodist by the hand quilters. Come see this contemporary quilt up close at the show.

I am not a hand quilter! I don’t have the patience to develop the skill– therefore my Bernina was used to make my entries.

I fell in love with the cover of the Feb.2018 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting and challenged myself to make the quilt for the Common Threads Show. It is semi-scrappy- the various fabrics are from my over flowing scrap tubs.

This is my second entry —and it is not all machine sewn. The “orange peels” are hand appliquéd.

If I missed your quilt, my apologies. I urge you to attend the Common Thread Show. It only comes around every other year. It is a feast for the eyes and mind.

What is the best part of summertime for you? I look forward to grandkids coming to visit. I enjoy fresh tomatoes, basil and zinnias from our tiny raised garden beds and even some nights at the ball park. But what I wait for every year is to simply walk out the house at 7 am to walk the dog without spending a good ten minutes putting on multiply layers, zipping up parkas and adding thick gloves! Summertime and I just put enough clothes to be modest and I am out the door! I would be curious to learn your little summer pleasures.

Summertime has a special look or color. Red, white and blue for Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Bright primary colors suggest fireworks. Pastels for all those lovely flowers in you garden. The Quilters at First have some new projects that suggest warm weather and lazy days.

This scrappy masterpiece by Vicki is 60″ x 72″ and features sawtooth stars lighting up a neutral background. Great for the back of your sofa or thrown over the back of a rocking chair on your deck or porch. $225

We planted sunflower seeds this spring, but we will have to wait to late summer to enjoy them. These sunflowers are ready for picking now. The sunflower table runner is 12″ x 42″ and is $40. The pillow measures 18.5″ x 18.5″ and is $30.

I pitted “bushels” of cherries for my Grandma Ella—well, maybe not bushels but lots! But every company meal at her house ended in wonderful cherry crisp for dessert. Now I look forward to fresh cherries from Washington in the summer. This table topper has several cute cherry prints for a summer vibe. The backing could also serve to brighten up your table. 39″ x 39″ and $50.

Happy Summer! Here is to cool morning walks, warm afternoons at the pool, lazy afternoons with a good book, a house full of family or whatever means summer to you!

May was my birthday month and I believe that birthdays should be celebrated! My family and friends did not disappoint me, although this year’s events won’t soon be forgotten….waiting for three hours plus in a hospital’s emergency room parking lot and KFC tenders eaten at a park. To top it off, I received an edger for the lawn from my husband! To be fair, I did ask for either a trip to Australia or an edger!

So, what do you give a quilter for their birthday or for Christmas? I have been ask by fellow quilters’ husbands and friends many times. The answer depends upon how long the person has been quilting—basic tools or extras?

First, check their “wish list”. Online, Amazon is a great source for tools, notions, and batting. Fabric.com is a division of Amazon and most of the fabric can be purchased through Amazon and your Prime membership can be used. But if you want to shop locally, most of the quilt shops will have a “wish list” for their customers, especially around the holidays. Just discover where your quilter spends most of their money and go there!

What would I like to receive? After 25 years plus I have the basic items that a new quilter needs. But there is always something new and exciting. The following items are “extras” that have made my sewing life easier. I will mention brand names–I do not receive free items or money for showing these particular brands. Probably many different brands are equal in cost and quality

A vital part of piecing quilt blocks is the pressing of fabric and seams. All you need is an iron and a padded surface..ie an ironing board. But these two items make the process a bit more satisfying.

The wool felt pressing pad retains the heat for a “professional” press. Seams are crisper and lay flat. Pro quilters have huge pads the size of the average iron board, but I use the standard 18″ x 24″. The mist bottle, on the right, sprays a fine mist and one squeeze results in a longer than average mist. Starch or water may be used; so two different bottles would be a luxury

The following two items are pure luxury–but if you want to pamper your quilter, they will be greatly appreciated!!!

A “for sure”– “can’t fail” present is a gift card to a quilt shop. Your quilter can choose the exact ruler she wants –just because the quilter has one or two rulers doesn’t mean there aren’t five more that would be nice to own! Fabric is expensive–“free”(purchased with a gift card) fabric is great! Local quilt shops all have gift cards to purchase.

Extra hint–If you know your quilters’ interests, wrap your present in fabric. My daughter-in-law used Christmas theme fabric to wrap my gifts since I use holiday prints preparing for the Quilt Etc. Sale in Oct. Solids, stripes and dots are always welcome.

Our ancestors made exquisite quilts using only scissors and needles and in many parts of the world it is still done. But many tools and gadgets have been developed to make our sewing experience so much easier. Take advantage of all those ” Ah Ha” moments someone else had— resulting in “wheels on the luggage”. Your quilter will appreciate your gift.

When does an item become “vintage” or “antique”? Cars can obtain a special vintage or classic license plate after 25 years. Furniture, china etc. need to be close to 100 years old to be labeled antique. But quilts—sort of up to the owner and what the quilt itself tells us. (This is why labels on every quilt is important…I certainly agree but am very lackadaisical about it.). Quilt appraisers and fabric hobbyists look at the color and designs of the fabric to date it fairly accurately. The construction of the quilt gives clues also…most quilts before the 1900’s were entirely hand stitched both in the block assemble and in the quilting of the layers.

This year at the Quilts Etc. Sale in October we will have a few “vintage” or “gently used” or maybe a few “antique” quilts that have been donated and are for sale. Most are from quilters who are paring down their collection and have saturated their families with quilts. Also included are some lovely table linens and even a couple of “for dress up” aprons from the 50’s.

The stripes and the geometric prints pairs well with the floral fabrics, keeping the look fresh and not so “Little House on the Prairie”.

The back is white but the quilting shows off better with the darker photo. I dream of having stitches this even and small, but……..

The quilt measures 74″ x 92″ (would fit a full or double size bed) and has been freshly laundered. $300 and it is yours! SOLD

This is a “vintage” , almost antique quilt…

Known as a “Yo-yo” quilt, it really is more of a decorative top than a quilt. Made to be spread over a solid quilt or sheet, it would be removed before anyone slept in the bed!

The top measures 77″ x 77″ and is for sale for $75. SOLD

The Butterfly quilt has been shown previously but is definitely “vintage”. The hand quilting was done by a past member of the group with a reputation for her small even stitches–no higher praise!

The folded triangles of fabric are called “prairie points” and are used instead of binding to frame the quilt. Measuring 65″ x 74″ , it is $200.

The line in the poem by J. Perry–“Make new friends, but keep the old; Those are silver, these are gold” could be applied to vintage/antique/classic quilts as well!

If you are interested in a pre-owned quilt, please leave a comment.