New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale

Talk about a quilt buzz!  I went to the Quilt Preview for the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale today in New Hamburg. Tomorrow is the Quilt Auction for one of Canada's largest quilt auctions.

One could take a look at the quilts today and register for the auction. I hadn't been to the preview or the auction before, and I'm thrilled to have checked this one off. There were excited quilt enthusiasts like no other. It is one thing to see such quilt beauty all in one show, quite another to think of the prospect of bidding on and owning such an item!

I noticed people moving up and down the rows of quilts, taking notes on quiltmakers, colours, item numbers, etc.

And these people were not all quiltmaker types you encounter at the usual quilt shows. There were a lot of people there who looked serious about buying. It would be interesting to see who buys what, but that will have to wait for another year for me.

I saw a lot of other activities related to the Mennonite Central Committee. It was apparent that this was a fundraiser, with fun and food for all. Early tomorrow, strawberry pies go on sale. Apparently they sell out fast! And the line-ups to get yummy Mennonite food were all 100 people deep. And I also saw quite a large number of Mennonite people of all ages there. So while the quilt excitement was palpable, it was the entire experience of exitement that was so enjoyable.

So that's it for me for this year's St. Jacobs Quilt & Fibre Art Festival. I've been to every venue on the list, every show, every community! Quite a marathon of quilts. Next week I will turn my attention to Quilt Canada in Halifax. I'll have a few days off from quilt shows, and will be ready by then. Stay tuned for more quilt stories.

A Wee Quilt Challenge

McDougall Cottage, Cambridge, Ontario

I've been meaning to get to Cambridge this week for the Wee Quilt Challange at the McDougall Cottage, link here, and finally had my chance today. This McDougall Cottage is in the historical area of Galt, and was home to two Scottish families for over a century.

What a treat. Each year is slightly different. This year, each participant had a piece of the challange fabric, a plaid designed for the Vancouver Winter Olympics, and had to use it to portray the theme of Plaids at Play.

And play they did. From kites to bears, from board games to sports games. It is amazing how people interpret a theme. Each quilt is of wee size, so they are all in one room. The quilts are all very charming in themselves, in a charming cottage, with charming gardens, to make for a charming show!

St. Jacobs Quilt Festival 2012 Part 6

This was my last day in St. Jacobs, for this year's Quilt & Fibre Art Festival. Good thing I'm not working at my actual job this week, or I wouldn't have had time for all this quilt stuff. And it seems my quilt quotient level is way up. I can hear a little voice in my head telling me to save some for next week in Halifax, but I'm going all out. I come home and work in my garden until it's dark, with a little sprinkling of sewing in my day, too. It all feels great, though.

Quilt by Ruth Kennedy

So today, I went specifically to see a trunk show with guest artist Ruth Kennedy from Fergus. She has been quilting since 2000, but had a lot of sewing exposure and experience since she was very young. Ruth loves sewing curves, and she showed us a beautiful quilt, shown at left. Her award-winning quilt, "You Still Give Me Butterflies" is featured on the International Plowing Match brochure. Check it out here.  Surrounded by some of her family, she showed us an incredible array of quilts she has made. She teaches quiltmaking as well, and it was fascinating and inspiring to hear her story. She wound up her speaking with a very moving tribute to her mother for encouraging her and giving her space and freedom to sew when she was young. Reminded me of my own mother.

 

Needle Sisters Quilt Guild display

Quilts for the World display

Also on the slate for today were the quilts at the St. Jacobs Mennonite Church. I enjoyed this show. As I've mentioned before, the local Mennonites are so much a part the area's quilting, and some of their quilts were on display at the church, some destined for the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale this Saturday. Other local quilters also had quilts on display. Included in the show was Susanne Williams' very impressive collection of local antique red & white quilts, and a special display by the Needle Sisters Quilt Guild from Elmira.

Quilt Festival St. Jacobs 2012 Part 4

Very exciting today. I went to St. Jacobs to take in a bit more of the Quilt and Fibre Art Festival.

I had signed up for a class with Judy Gascho-Jutzi. I have seen her work around town on several occasions, and wanted to learn a few of her secrets, see her working. It's very inspiring for me to see an artist at work.  She makes fabulous landscape works of art, and I really like her style. Check out her website here. And have a look at the very cute piece, about 6x6", that she instructed us to make. Isn't it amazing that a few bits of fabric and thread and trim can make such an impact. She does longer classes, with larger more complex pieces, from her design or from your own.

Also, while in St. Jacobs today, I took in a couple of other events that are part of the festival. I saw the Grand Guild of Fibre Artists display, the Group of Eight Fibre Arts Guild, the Canadian Embroiderers' Guild Guelph display, and Kerry Knickle's Magnificent Apron Collection. Whew!  What a lot to take in during an afternoon.

I really wanted to do the other parts of the show there as well, but it will have to wait until later in the week, since I must spend some time planting in the garden, if we are to have any flowers at all this summer.

St. Jacobs Quilt Festival 2012

I had a taste today of the Waterloo Region Quilt & Fiber Art Festival, link here. 16 events in 7 communities! I have learned in previous years that it is nearly impossible to take in all of the events in one or two days, so this year, I have started early.

Part of the whole festival is the Mennonite Relief Sale in New Hamburg. Over 200 quilts and many other items are generously donated and auctioned to provide funds for the Mennonite Central Committee. I greatly admire their work. 100% of funds raised goes towards funding projects around the world. Not many (any?) other charities can make this 100% claim. In addition, many other quilts and blankets are made here to be shipped overseas for use in times of crisis. And to think that different individuals and groups are spending these vast number of hours making beautiful quilts to be donated. It is quite wonderous. With Mennonite country just minutes away from our fine city, and such a large part of our local culture, it is a heritage worthy of mentioning. These three caught my eye.

Quilt Maker Unknown

Night & Day by Erika Isaac

Amish Courtyard by Ester Alexy

There are three public places that display a preview of these quilts, for most of May. Kitchener City Hall, Waterloo City Hall, and Joseph Schneider Haus showed about 75 of these amazing quilts, which will go on to be auctioned the last Saturday in May. These venues are all only a few minutes away, so it is easy to cover them in one afternoon. Both City Halls have great atriums with natural light, and show off the quilts very well. And Joseph Schneider Haus is a local heritage museum of the first Mennonite settlers in the community. It has an impressive collection of old quilts, which I have seen before, and great respect generally for the contemporary and ancient quilting arts.

Isn't it wonderful to be able to see so many quilts so very close to home?  I don't get much done in the quilting department at home, but I thrive also on these visual delights, so it is worthwhile for me to go out and see what else is happening in the quilt world.