AQS Quilt Week Branson - Wrap Up

Aerial View of Vendors at AQS Branson 2023

There is no shortage of sensory overload one experiences when attending quilt shows.  Between the workshops, things to buy and/or experience and the people, it's an exhilarating adventure.   The AQS Quilt Week Branson, 2023 was no exception.

One of the workshops my friend, Elizabeth and I took was "Free Motion Machine Quilting" with Author/Designer/Instructor Cindy Needham.  Cindy was pretty funny.  She referred to me as "Glamour Girl" throughout the day.  In all of the things I've been called during my lifetime, I can honestly say "glamorous" is certainly not one of them. 🤣.  In any case, it kept the class interesting. The workshop was not only fun, it was quite helpful.  Cindy brought along floral fabric for us to practice on using decorative, colorful threads.

My friend, Elizabeth and I before our workshop with Cindy Needham.

Classroom sample of a free-motion embroidered quilt.

Classroom sample of a free-motion embroidered quilt. Detail pic.

Classroom sample of a free-motion embroidered quilt. Detail pic.

My practice piece of fabric. I used variegated thread for an extra pop of color.

Me with Cindy Needham.

I met some wonderfully engaging and fun people during this show.  A couple of people really stood out to me this time around.  The first was Bernie Collier of WonderFil Specialty Threads, all the way from Canada.  Bernie was an absolute riot.  We had a few good belly laughs while I shopped in their booth.  He was a real character.  WonderFil has the most beautiful selections of threads for sewing, quilting and embroidery.  I purchased several spools of thread in addition to merino wool for some needle book and pincushion designs I am working on.  

The Exuberant Bernie Collier. 

Me with Bernie Collier of WonderFil.

Me shopping at the WonderFil vendor booth.

Another person I met when shopping at the show was the bubbly Rebecca Lidstrom of Studio R Quilts.  Rebecca is a modern quilt pattern designer and instructor.  I enjoyed visiting with her most days of the show.  Be sure to check out her patterns here.  She has some wonderfully unique and fun designs.

Rebecca Lidstrom of Studio R Quilts

One shop of note that I enjoyed spending a ton of money with visiting was the Midway Wool Company.  I have been on a wool buying kick these days as I work on developing new patterns and designs for the sewist.  What I liked about this vendor - besides the wonderful, friendly service I received - is that they offer smaller cuts of wool and loaded scrap bags for little projects. I think it's nice - especially for beginners in this craft - to have the ability to try working with the medium before making a large financial commitment for supplies and the like.  Midway Wool has a YouTube channel where they share several techniques. 

The Midway Wool Company Christmas project display.

The Midway Wool Company Christmas project display.

The Midway Wool Company pincushions display.

 Legit Kits offers their colorful foundation paper-pieced quilt kits for sale.  Some of the quilts are reversible.  (Be sure to check out Michelangelo's David.  Very clever, indeed!)

My friend, Elizabeth and Michelangelo's David. 🤣🤣🤣

 And that's a wrap.  I hope you've enjoyed this series on the AQS Quilt Week Branson 2023.  

If you haven't done so already,  please be sure to follow me here on my blog so you don't miss anything new.  I'm also on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.

Until next time,

Antique Store Find -Vintage 1940's Girl Quilt

 

Four block view.

Hello, there!  I don't know about you, but one thing I am always thrilled to find are unique vintage quilts when wandering around antique stores.  (Especially if I can buy them at a low price.)

I purchased this adorable 1940's quilt recently.  It features sweet little girls dressed in typical feedsack fabrics of the time.  Each one was hand-embroidered.  Other than a small stain on one of the blocks, the quilt is in pristine condition.  I'm definitely chalking this up to a great find.

1940's Girl Quilt

Four block view.

Detail pic.

Detail pic.

Detail pic.

Detail pic.

Aren't these little girls adorable?  They represent a simpler, more innocent time. I think that is what I really love about them.

Until next time,

Antique Store Find - Green and Pink Vintage Quilt

1940's quilt top

  One of my absolute favorite things to do is peruse antique stores.  I love seeking out and finding treasures like vintage quilts, hankies, linens and other gems.  I enjoy repurposing the hankies and linens into other things, like pin cushions, quilts and home decor items.  Cutter quilts are fashioned into cute home decor items while more intact vintage quilts are gently cleaned and stored or displayed in my home. 

Recently, I took a road trip to Joplin, Missouri and found this beautiful, 1940's hand-pieced quilt top at an antique store there.  It is in pristine condition, with just a couple of small stains that need to be removed.  Prairie points border three sides of the quilt; the fourth side was left plain.  More than likely, this was because the plain side of the quilt was situated at the top of the bed.  My plan is to complete this quilt and display it in my home.  As time permits, of course. :)

1940's vintage quilt top

              

1940's vintage quit top - detail pic

1940's vintage quilt top - detail pic

1940's vintage quilt top - block detail

I have a few more vintage quilts to share with you in coming posts, so please be sure to follow my blog for the latest posts.

Enjoy your day!