When we found out that my Aunt was coming for a visit, we decided to look and see if any quilt shows would be happening in our area during the time she would be here. Lucky for us, the National Quilting Association was having their annual show this past weekend, so we made the three hour drive.
The quilts were beautiful. As is the norm these days, there were lots of art quilts.
For you Tolkein fans, this Lord of the Rings quilt took the Masterpiece Quilt award. It’s a thread painted quilt and most all of the work on the quilt has been done with thread. The inner panel represents Aragorn’s wedding to Arwen. (I got that info from the tag — I have no idea what I’m talking about.)
These horses ran along the bottom border of the quilt.
There were plenty of traditional quilts too.
And lots of beautiful applique.
We particularly liked the pieced sashing on this quilt.
It was great to see some beautiful examples of hand quilting.
And there were quite a few quilts that were tiny.
With teeny-weeny pieces.
We had a wonderful time. And if the quilt show wasn’t enough, between viewing the quilts in the morning and shopping the vendors in the afternoon, we decided to go across the street to get some lunch. As we exited the convention center, the very first thing to greet our disbelieving eyes, was a woman dressed in black leather up to just below her um….breasticles, and from there up she was, well, naked. Right behind her were a bunch of dancing, middle-aged overweight men dressed in nothing but black leather g-strings. We’d unwittingly landed smack dab in the middle of a huge Gay Pride Parade. The NQA website said there was to be a parade that day, but they didn’t say what kind. Too bad those mostly naked people weren’t wrapped in quilts.
When you come to the all the way to the midwest to visit the relatives, we treat you in high style!!!
XOXO,
Anna
Yeah, my jaw is on the floor. I have never ever seen quilts like that. I had my first summer day today, I gardened. Can’t believe it. It has been either snow or incessant rain here since pretty much last November. I could not believe how much I was craving warm weather.
I ended up in the middle of a huge Gay Pride parade in Portland, Oregon once. I was in Portland for an Education Leadership conference back when I was teaching. Shocking, isn’t it? Not the part about me being at a leadership conference, but the Pride parade. I’m not sure what naked breasticles and g-strings have to do with gay, but I must say it got my attention. Not in a good way, though. Awkward, really. Shaking those thoughts out of my head right now.
On a different note…lovely quilts. What a fun way to spend the day with Auntie.
Oh my goodness, those are unbelievable!
Amazing quilts! Those art ones could almost be paintings.
They really are beautiful quilts! I am not sure I like the non-traditional quilts particularly but I can appreciate the work.
I love the traditional quilts – I guess I’m just an old-fashioned girl at heart!! But I do appreciate the work in art quilts – some years ago I was fortunate to do a workshop in Houston with Hollis Chatelain.
As for the Gay Pride March – each to their own, but please don’t flaunt it!!
Wow, that must have been a sight ;). Happened to us once in NY city! And those quilts; one is humbled by such talent.
Oh my dear, some people overhere don’t need a Parade to dress up like that…LOL! Please warn me when you plan a visit, I will personally take care of a Royal Reception!
The art quilts are beautiful, but I heart the ones that keep us warm and cozy!
The quilts look beautiful. So glad you gals got to go to a show while Auntie was here, as for the parade…………well just a bonus LOL
WOW………definitely worth the 3 hour drive……thanks for sharing……….
Dear Anne, thanks for showingus this unbelievable quilts. I never heard of artquilts before and I am amaazed that people can create things like that. The one with the reading girl is beyond phantastic.
But however I like the classic ones more.
I really had to laugh, when I read that you were bumping into the gay- pride- parade. You are really funny.
Have a great week
Janine
Those quilts are incredible – I love the one with the bikes against the sunlit wall.
Glad to hear you entertained your aunt in style. What a stroke of luck to be treated to scantilly clad dancers – what with that and the quilts it sounds like a perfect day out ;o)
Ha ha haaaa :oD
xxx
Oh dear! We were in the same building at the same time! :) My mom came down and my daughters and I went. We had to cross the parade (we crossed in the front of the drag queens in carts being pulled by bikes) to get in and saw all the wonderful quilts-and vendors! :) So bummed that we missed you! Maybe that can be our meet-up next year? My mom comes for it every summer! :)
Lol, sorry but I couldn’t help but laugh at the parade chuckle…. I’m not sure I like the art quilts,I can appreciate the work that goes into them but mmmm, nope, not sure.
great looking quilts!
interesting parade!!
no pictures???
im heading to shipshewana quilt show this weekend with a friend…what about you?
My favorites are the traditional quilts, geometric and applique so pretty! Yup you treat your relatives special ~ nothing like bresticles (I’m going to remember that one) and g-strings, I’m sure it made for great conversation during lunch!!
I’d love to see that Tolkien quilt in person. I admire thread painting but am hopeless at it.
That must have been quite a parade!
The only thing worse than finding yourself in a gay pride parade is finding yourself in a gay pride parade with your mother…ask me how I know! :o)
No pictures then eh? That would increase the traffic to your blog!
The quilts from the show are amazing..I particularly love the appliquéd ones…I’m a traditional girl through and through.
The juxtaposition of the quilt show and parade reinforces to me that life is all about choices. I choose to craft and sew. I also choose to read your blog regularly … and somehow or another you always make be chuckle at this life and world we live in.
Those top ones are quilts? That is simply amazing…What beautiful work in all of them.
If I had known you were going to NQA I would have told you to stop by and say hello to my friend Carol Britt at Batiks Etc…Carol is a lovely shop owner and has some of the neatest stuff in her booth….
I love the bike quilt but I’m not sure i could have coped with the breasticles and leather thongs! Lucy x
OMG!! That just made me laugh out loud!!! HOW FUNNY!!! Those quilts are beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for sharing these with us! Amazing, simply amazing. There are some really talented folks out there aren’t there?
Anna, I can’t believe you were in Columbus and we didn’t get to take a Wilson picture! Next time!
I don’t know why the call them Gay Pride parades. I don’t know any gays, but I’m sure that most of them would not conduct themselves in such a manner. Just because they are gay, doesn’t mean they are stupid. Should have told them to buy some fabric and cover up! Boy, do I sound old fashioned or what? LOL!
Those quilts are amazing. It must take them years to make them. They are so talented. I love the handquilted hexagon quilt. It’s so happy.
I think you wanted to go see those nearly-naked people all the time, and the quilt show was just an excuse ;)
Fabulous quilts – that hexagon one is divine – so much work. Thanks for the pictures – anyone who doesn’t believe quilting is ‘art’ needs their head read!
x
Yikes!! Breasticles on display!! (and that’s not all, sounds like!) lol
Those quilts area all so amazing – I just love the bicycle one and of course the Lord of the Rings one, WOW. I think I see the horn and tree of Gondor, the gates of Moria, AND an Ent (!)- not to mention the horses of the Rohirrim!
Well as a LOTR geek all I can say is woweee! That quilt has blown me away. In fact they all have! I am however disappointed that you didn’t add any photos of the parade :-)
Hi –
I was there too – how funny was the pride group. we saw some revelers at dinner on high street friday night.
the quilts were something.
ha ha ha ha i am laughing at the parade,,,ha ha
those quilts are amazing…
The quilts are beautiful but I can’t stop laughing at the parade that a bunch of unassuming quilters found themselves in! LOL
Jennifer :)
I just love all of the quilts you took pictures of. Those art quilts are very amazing and must take a long time to make. The sights you saw at the parade had to be quite a shock for all of you, especially when you’re not expecting it. lol. Say Hi to your Auntie and give her a hug for me. It was so fun to meet her last year.
I have a friend who has made a lot of “modern” quilts. I never liked them as well as the traditional ones, but “Wow,”the quilts in your pics are simply amazing. Love the bicycle one especially…seems French to me for some reason.
LOL about the Gay Parade. We were in San Francisco one time for the Wharf to Wharf race, a lot of the same types of characters ran in that race. I thought it was cute that one of your commenters said she didn’t know any gays because I’m sure she does but just doesn’t know it. I agreed with the rest of her comment though. Those events draw a lot of nuts. The gay people I know prefer to walk around fully clothed in public!
Um… wow. What a sight! Well, so many sights, in fact… I definitely would have enjoyed the quilts more than the parade. ;)
Hee, hee, hee! Maybe I should be laughing he, he he?!!!
S.W.A.K.
where are the parade photos?
That’s what I’m sayin’ Brigita! I think Miss Anna dropped the ball by not showing us a photo of breasticle lady and her retinue!
Gorgeous quilts! Especially the applique one with pieced sashing….are those teeny tiny nine patches on point? Wow!
Oh my gosh, those quilts. Wow. The last quilt show I went to featured neon colors and cartoon characters. Your quilt show rocks!
The parade must have been quite a shock! That is so funny.
Wow, what gorgeous quilts. Good thing your aunt came to visit so you could go to a quilt show! I was trying to pick my favorite but then there were more lovely ones below… I do love the blue riders on the Tolkien quilt.
Amazing quilts! I am drawn more to the traditional styles, but the artsy ones are really incredible.
It always bugs me that “Gay Pride” stuff is all about being as obscene as possible. They sure did need quilts to wrap up in.
Jody
Those quilts are completely amazing!!!! I never knew they did anything at all that fancy before. I need to get my fanny over to a quilt show and NOW!
HUGS crazy lady.
KNock out quilts! Fantastic.
Yes, quilts do wonders for most naked people. LOL. Those quilts especially…lovely.
Wow, those are quilts, they look like paintings. I cannot even begin to imagine, what it takes to transform fabric into that. Stunning. Clarice
Oooo what did your Aunt make of that? Moving on to the quilts … they are beautiful, worth the visit and the spot of lunch (or didn’t you eat lunch after all!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Kimx
Oh my goodness. Those quilts are breathtaking. I cannot keep my eyes away from the one with all the different floral designs. Amazing!
Amazing quilts, especially the art quilts but I’m with Brigita – where are the photos of the breasticles!? *laughing* toni xxx
these are beauties!!! and that grandmother’s garden is amazing!
and I had to laugh at your comment about the LOTR quilt. I had no idea what you were talking about either!
Fabulous quilts. Thanks for showing us.
sorry it’s been a while..
sounds like the gays were “draggin” that day… :)
the bicycle quilt would live so happily in my home, but for now i’ll just look at it on your blog.
the hubby is home now from the hospital stay of 13 days…the puppy and i missed him at home so much. his marginal zone lymphoma that’s not supposed to go to the brain mutated and headed north. there is only one other patient in a study that this has happened to – so he(we)will have chemo every two weeks 4-12 times, depending on how fast those bad cells can be destroyed. he will have to stay at least overnite or longer each time to make sure the chemo is urined out enough. that methotrexate is some strong stuff – we can’t even use the same toilet for several days (i know, tmi). he is tired but has his appetite back – we have to fatten him up since he’s lost 16 lbs in 4 wks. those are the grizzly details – all good thoughts, prayers, crossed fingers, positive karma, etc. are gratefully welcomed to keep him going.
it’s good to see/read your blog again sweetie, such a pleasant and happy place to rest your mind for awhile. anytime your down to see the kids let me know (text,call,holler), i’ll be hanging around iu med center quite a bit…maybe we can have a meal together.
always, robin
Thanks for the quilt pictures alone! That is some amazing work displayed. And gotta love for showing the LOTR quilt and you copied the facts just right ;-)
Here I was reading through the post composing my comment in my head about how lucky you are in America to have quilt shows whenever you want them with amazing quilts on display…..but now I’m just rolling about laughing imagining you and Beloved Aunt in the middle of a gay pride parade…
That’s not gay pride. That’s a bunch of “flaming” homosexuals displaying their nudity. Small children should not be subjected to such public displays. What ever happened to FREEDOM WITH RESPONSIBILITY???