Nothing makes me feel more normal than quilting, so yesterday on my first full day back from being at my parents' house for 3 weeks, I drove out to see my friend Mary and pick up my quilts. I received news of my parents' fatal accident before the Sauder Village Quilt Show was over, and Mary and her husband graciously offered to pick up my quilts after the show and hold onto them until I got home.
Mary had made me lovely, zippered fabric bags for both of the quilts to protect them (thank you!!) and carefully preserved my ribbons. Somewhere in the blur of the last 3 weeks I remember being told that I had won the people's choice award for my music quilt in addition to winning first place in its category. It didn't sink in until I was driving back to Ypsilanti yesterday with the quilts and ribbons in the back seat, and I cried all the way home. I am so touched by receiving this award from my quilting peers...it means more to me than any ribbon from a judge ever could!
I was going to get a picture of the music quilt hanging in the show on the last day when I went to pick them up, but I never got the opportunity. I really couldn't get near it to photograph it on the day I went to the show, so I took the following picture, lurking NEAR it, behind an adjacent quilt on the next row of the set up...
It is fun to lurk near your quilt at a show and hear the comments...comments like, "no WAY are the edges turned under on THAT tiny piece," or "do you think it is really FUSED instead of hand appliqued?!?" Hee-hee-hee...all fun and games...here's the picture from the day I tore up my family room for photography's sake...
My little version of Lori Smith's "Songs of Spring" did well, too, also taking a first place ribbon in the appliqued, hand quilted wall hanging category.
I had to pull out of the NQA Show in Columbus, OH this past weekend due to circumstances, but "Baltimore Rhapsody - Symphony" will be making its way to Shipshewana, IN in June, the AQS Grand Rapids, MI show in August, and the AQS Chattanooga, TN show in September. My parents were very supportive of my quilting, this quilt in particular, and the launching of my fledgling pattern business. I hope to endeavor to live up to their opinion of my abilities.
I will follow with posts of the Sauder Village Quilt Show pictures in the next few days...tardy, but still full of beautiful quilts and much inspiration! I managed to photograph about 130 of the 400 entered into the show on the day I went.
In stitches,
Teresa :o)
