Autumn, A Time For Quilts and Quilt Shows...

Friday was a crisp Autumn Day at the Common Ground Fair in rural Maine. One large tented area was devoted to Quilting and Home Arts. My heart sang with the colors, designs and textures of these lovely quilts and I adored the shining, smiling faces of their creators. This is not your typical country fair, it features organic and recycled everything from Vegetables to Home Goods. Looking at the quilts and other fabrics I was reminded that during the other "Great Depression" women were very clever about finding fabric that had other uses before it was cut and stitched into a warm quilt. These very quilts were not only fun to make but a wonderful addition to a cold winters night! Think about shirts, blouses, dresses and even pieces of old table cloths that could be incorporated into a quilt, today. Sometimes it is not what you don't have but what you do with what you do have!
This particular show featured Quilts with 3-D style flowers, patterns reminiscent of Granny's Quilts of yore and also some made with fabric from old flour sacks. I particularly liked a few that had the feeling of stained glass and multi colored quilts that featured with silhouette's of kitties. All homespun and beautifully done. A long honored tradition continues with quilters today, groups of women help each other cut, piece and then quilt the piece together. This wonderful and often necessary hobby gave them a chance to visit, catch up on the comings and goings of friends and family and always netted the result of a warm and cherished quilt for someones bed.
Quilt shows are featured in most regions of America this time of year. Check your local newspaper or just google "quilt shows" and type in your state. You will be amazed at the amount of quilt shows going on in your home state in the months of October and November.
Mary Jo's Cloth Store continues to be a great source for inexpensive and high quality quilting fabric. Log onto the website or stop into the store today. Don't forget to click onto the special editions section. In Mary Jo's language, "Special Edition" really means SALE!
Life is short, get together with your friends and quilt to your hearts content!