HERITAGE QUILTERS OF HUNTSVILLE QUILT SHOW 2024

 My local guild, the Heritage Quilters of Huntsville AL recently had our every-other year quilt show. Held at the Von Braun Center, this show has a great reputation as one not to be missed if you are anywhere in the Southeast USA.

This show didn't disappoint. More than 200 quilts were entered in the judged show. There were several Special Exhibits, and a lot of great vendors. Here is a sampling of the quilts and the show. In no particular order:

Core Values  Elaine Wick Poplin

Blue Star Baby Sam Swieszcz

Karma  Trish Harmon

Best of Show Patty Wilson quilter, Karen Measels made the top

Spring Fever  Cyndi Russell

Kiwi Peel  Ben Darby

Full Circle Cyndi Russell

Cosmic Curves  Ben Darby

Christmas Delight  Donna Daniel, Robin Ruth design for The Quilt Show

Main Event  Ben Darby

Quilting 101 with Barbara    Maureen Griffin--student work made in my beginner class

Mandala  Elaine Wick Poplin

This quilt, "EMPTY" by Elaine Wick Poplin, got a lot of attention and was awarded the Judges' Choice Ribbon. Elaine is a retired high school teacher. Elaine says "It features the names of all 175 innocent victims of every mass school shooting since Columbine. I created the graphic and had the fabric printed by Spoonflower. Red quilting, backing made of red solids, raw edges and sutured letters all reflect the sadness of mass school shootings". It is a moving piece of art:

                                                

There were LOTS of quilts made from recent Block of the Month quilts featured on www.thequiltshow.com.  As I work for The Quilt Show, helping those who are working on these quilts over the course of a year, I feel like they are my "babies". 

COLOR MY WORLD, 2021 BOM, designed by Wendy Williams:

Sally Wright

Anne Clough

Beverly Penaranda

Marci VanderGriend

detail showing the quilting, awarded Best Machine Quilting -- Track Machine

Evelyn Spaulding

Lynda Kronenberger

GARDEN PARTY DOWN UNDER, 2022 BOM, designed by Irene Blanck:

Evelyn Spaulding

Cyndi Russell

Amazingly talented Longarm quilter Patty Wilson quilted many of the quilts in this show. This is just a peek at her work.

Judi Hollingsworth

HOMEWARD BOUND, 2023 BOM, designed by Sarah Fielke: 

Beverly Penaranda

Detail showing quilting

AFTERNOON DELIGHT, 2020 BOM, designed by Sue Garman: 

Patty Wilson

My only entry this show was Full Circle, quilted by Patty Wilson:

Another favorite was "Finding Teal Mountain" by Suzie Wilbanks. She worked on this for many years, gathering every teal fabric she could find. I added a few to her stash:

Suzie and I in front of our quilts for the "photo op":

One other quilt I made was at the show. SUNRISE SUNSET was on display in the Southern Charm Quilting booth. I taught this class there and they had a few kits left so this was a good place to sell them. The name of the quilt pattern is "Aether" by Patty Murphy:

One of the vendors had a wonderful antique quilt on display. It wasn't for sale, it just captivated me.  To be as old as it is and in such fine condition, oh, wow. The hand quilting is awe inspiring:

I wish I had taken a few "overview" shots, but I didn't. Fortunately, Kari H did so I snagged these to share with you. It was a great show!

Let's quilt!

Barbara

My Joyful Journey Retreat #5

 For 5 years I have hosted a Retreat at the Red Rooster Retreat Center in Crane Hill, AL. This year I missed it because my flight home from EMPTY SPOOLS SEMINAR was canceled due to weather. I got stuck for two extra nights in Dallas.

So the SECRET PLAN to have me surprise everyone by showing up unexpectedly was for naught. 

But it looks like they had a great time. These photos were shared with me. And we did FACETIME  a couple times. Enjoy!

Conna

One part of the room

Cyndi

Julie

Kathy--who makes everything run smoothly

The other part of the room

Pam's quilt, I think

Pick a Petal--definitely not Australian fabrics

Pick a Petal--bright

Sally telling Julie something important

Sally

Suzie

Kathy 

Suzie and Victoria

Victoria

First timer Sandy

Mandatory Group shot on the Stairs

First timer Suzanne

Janey

Sue 

First Timer Sandra  

Instead of the usual "20 Questions"  asked at meals, this year everyone was asked to provide a Tip, or great idea. Then they were added to the "What I Learned" board. AND someone is always listening, so there was a "What I Heard" section too:

What I Heard and What I Learned Board

Since I wasn't there, there are NO pictures of FOOD! Suffice it to say the food was great and everyone had plenty to eat, including goodies brought to share.

In September all those who attended this year get a week's advance notice to sign up for next year's amazing event: March 5-9, 2025. If there are openings after that, I start working my WAITLIST.  If you would like to be added to the Waitlist, just let me know. Several of these women have been at all 5 and wouldn't miss it. We had 3 newbies this year who have already said they want to come back. 

Who wouldn't want to spend 5 days with smart, funny, creative, happy women? And have all your meals provided too!! Makeup free zone, stay in pj's all day if you like. It's just the BEST!  So sorry I missed it.

Let's quilt.

Barbara