Quilt Trip: A quilt show of sewing masterpieces is awe-inspiring!

Murder of the Viking, scary title, beautiful quilt, by Judy M.

Quilting, per Wikipedia, is "the stitching together of layers of padding and fabric, [and] may date back as far as 3400 BCE.  Historically it was a practical technique to provide protection and insulation, however. . . many now are primarily art pieces."  A recent quilt show, where we walked through a maze of hanging masterpieces, exemplified the latter.  We were in awe and awesomely inspired.

Judy, Barb and Cara at CAMEO Quilt Show

Last weekend, Cameo Quilter Guild held a quilt show at the First Methodist Church of Troy, and I'd been counting down the days to the event ever since Judy M. (our son-in-law's grandmother and Cameo member) notified me of it several months ago. Making this more of a family event, Cara R., sister-in-law and quilter, drove up from Cincinnati to join me at the event.

Judy had many quilts on display and they were not only beautiful but varied in themes and colors. Hard pressed to pick a favorite, we voted for "Murder of the Viking", a rather scary label for an artfully sewn scene of a pleasing palette. 

Decorative stitch mystery quilt, Judy M.

Murder in Yellowstone, Judy M.

I am passionate about quilts, but more as an observer. My one and only "master-piece" was started thirty years ago when Cara, still living in the Detroit area, and I took a quilting class together.  Cara was a star pupil while I, although off to a decent start, struggled to keep my blocks straight. 

My sister-in-law immersed herself in the craft and leaned into "old school" hand quilting, bringing her supplies and projects on many family gatherings. While Cara still has some "loose ends" to complete, she continues putting quilts together for her church charity that collects personalized blankets for foster children. 

Refresh on my first and only quilt. 

A nice fold shows less of uneven blocks

           

I've admired both Cara's and Judy's quilting artwork for years, not only for their craftmanship, but for creative customization as well. When our daughter and son-in-law were married five years ago, Judy gifted them with a nature-themed quilt, befitting this couple who have a goal of visiting every national park. 

I asked Judy what got her started in quilting and, she too, has a history of sewing for charity. While taking care of her mother, she contributed to "little dresses for Africa", a non-profit organization that provides clothes to children in orphanages and schools in impoverished communities.  Ready to take her sewing skills to the next level, she purchased a new sewing machine and stitched together a couple of quilts on her own before connecting with CAMEO. The rest, as they say, is quilting history.

Barb T.'s (grand) baby quilt, one

Barb T.'s (grand) baby quilt, two

Another fabulous quilter of my acquaintance is great friend, Barb T. (we met over another shared passion, TeaTime Magazine) who has made over seventy quilts, many as gifts for babies, including her own grandchildren. Barb still sews on her 1940's sewing machine and, like her quilts, it's another timeless treasure.

Barb's appreciation of quilts began early. She grew up in a house filled with them, furnished by her parents who acquired the vintage treasures at antique auctions. 

It was later, however, before she created her own. Barb took several quilting classes and then, at the office, a co-worker showed her the brushed flannel rag technique.  They used to work on them during their lunch hour and it evolved into a tradition. Everyone Barb knew who was having a baby, received their own special quilt.

Barb T.'s brushed flannel rag quilts

Quilts, perfect for baby showers & grandchildren

For Cara and I, the quilt show inspired us to take on new projects.  I gave my quilt a "refresh" with a delicate wash and air dry, folded it artfully (the less straight lines are tucked behind) and added it to our guest room bed for a bit of tasteful granny chic. (I will also add that Cara saved my quilt from total non-compliance with a much-needed intervention and gifted the completed covering to me several years ago).

Family, friends, (some quilters) together for afternoon tea. Barb T. & Judy in red, Cara, in white patterned blouse.

Cara has a plan to resurrect some of her grandmother's more utilitarian, but still pretty, quilts and salvage pieces to be framed and shared with our family. 

In the Venn diagram of people I know who love to quilt and go to tea, the ladies mentioned above overlap. In fact, at our last afternoon tea outing in October all these quilters, not surprisingly, we're in attendance.

We're ready for another "quilt trip" to admire more works of art. And, perhaps, another afternoon tea outing, too.