Monday, July 3, 2017

Queen's Bush Quilt Show

The local quilt guild held a big show a couple of weekends ago, so Mrs. F.G. was inevitably involved, and had submitted several quilts for display.  I only got in a quick visit this time, but was really impressed with the work of all these creative local ladies.

This pattern has been popular with quilters this year, with a wide variety of specific fabric choices.  Of course the theme of the show this year is Canada 150, and these make a great display when they're all lined up like this - the work of 11 different quilters.

There were a number of other quilts that picked up on the maple leaf theme in one way or another.

Others made use of Canadian symbols, this one with symbols representing ten provinces and 2 territories.  Can you associate each block with the right province or territory?  My guesses are below.

The quilt show was held in the arena in Markdale, and it was full of quilts!  It's a lot of work to set up these frames, hang the quilts, and afterwards take them all down.  This seems to be the role of a few hard-working volunteer husbands.  I organized this last time, 3 years ago, but I only helped a little this time.  I was partly impressed by the sheer quantity of quilts on display.

As you know, I'm a magpie, so my favourite quilts are always those with bright colours.  This one certainly qualifies.  I suppose I should also look at how carefully the quilting is done!

This is one of Mrs. F.G.'s small wall hangings, with a very strong horizontal quilting pattern.  This sort of quilting makes a big difference to the final appearance of the quilt; some other quilting patterns are much less obvious, such as the one above where you can't even see the quilting pattern.

Mrs. F.G. also organized the Fabric Challenge, a common element of quilt shows.  Quilters are given a kit with selected fabric, and a theme.   The theme this year was 'My Canada'.  Quilters can add other fabrics, but the three fabrics they were given should be used in clearly recognizable amounts on the quilt.   They also have to provide a brief explanation of how their quilt represents the theme.  Mrs. F.G.'s contribution is the one in the lower right.

There were also several of these small dolls, quite striking to me.  Mrs. F.G. first made these several years ago, but other members have picked up on them since.  Overall, it was an impressive and successful Quilt Show for a small community like Markdale.  And I'm sure that this creative outlet makes a big difference to many of the local women.  (Lest you think I'm being sexist, there are male quilters, but none in this guild).

So if you want my answers to the Canadian symbols quilt above, here they are, going clockwise around the outside first, starting with the puffin in the upper right - Newfoundland (puffin), New Brunswick (Hopewell Rocks), Nova Scotia (Peggy's Cove Lighthouse), Prince Edward Island (Confederation Bridge and Lady Slippers), Manitoba (owl), British Columbia (totem pole), the Yukon (dog sled), Nunavut (polar bear and Inukshuk).  The inner four starting with the loon on a northern lake - Ontario (loon), Quebec (making maple syrup), Saskatchewan (wheat farming), Alberta (bison).

***As Shirley pointed out, I had Nova Scotia and New Brunswick reversed when I posted this.  I've correct it now.***


18 comments:

  1. The quilts are a real treat for the eyes.

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  2. Aha!!! A quilt show!!! This is a wonderful display, and the maple leaves, then the symbols, then Mrs F.G.'s wall hanging, lovely autumn colours and strong quilting lines,a delight to see. Dolls, I can only imagine the hours given to each one. And yes, like any show or event, huge number of people,volunteers and hours to set up, quide visitors through, and dismantle it all again. Thanks so much for this look at the quilts today.

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  3. What an amazing quilt show. I do love the Canada theme and the one that you matched up the squares is brilliant. But the best is the Fall Colors---love it!!!
    MB
    Oh PS thanks for the nice comment on my blog

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  4. That is a very impressive display of quality quilts, thanks for the great photos.

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  5. Hello, love all the pretty quilts and the wall hanging is lovely. The dolls are so cute. Happy Tuesday, enjoy your day and the week ahead.

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  6. Wow! What great quilts, and I think my favorite of the ones you showed is the same one your chose. Oh Canada, eh? :-)

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  7. Beautiful! Of all the crafty things I've tried, quilting was not one of them. I feel they are out of my league and this proves it. They are amazing! Kudos to the ladies who made them.

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  8. Hopewell Rocks are in New Brunswick. Maybe NS and NB are reveresed?

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  9. The first quilt was fantastic although I loved them all. The dolls are fabulous. Love those. Carol

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  10. Mrs FG's small hanging is stunning. I have done lots of patchwork but no quilting. Very impressed.

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  11. The ladies certainly have created some beautiful quilts. I also liked the multicolor one.

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  12. Spectacular works of art. Thanks for posting photos of them, and my daughter, who is also a quilter, thanks you also.

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  13. A feast for the eyes, these beautiful quilts. Love the dolls!

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  14. i have never seen a show/collection as large as this. mrs. f.g.'s gorgeous, i love the colors!!! it's nice that she gets to display them like this and share her work with others!!!

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  15. I would have loved to see ALL the quilts..

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