AROUND THE FRAME: POSY POWER PACKS PUNCH AT STRING-A-LONG QUILT SHOW

POSY POWER PACKS PUNCH AT STRING-A-LONG QUILT SHOW
The biennial spring quilt show hosted by the String-A-Long Quilt Guild of Valparaiso was truly outstanding. There were more vendors, attendees and quilts than ever before at this year’s show “Patchwork and Posies”.

The floral quilts, the string quilts, the raffle quilt, the silent auction quilts, the quilts to benefit Alzheimer’s research ($14,000 raised by the guild and counting). The historical quilt display courtesy of the Porter County Museum. The Porter County Expo Center is crammed. Cousin Janet Levihn the guild’s treasurer informs me that on Saturday the show was so packed cars cruised up and down the lot trying to find a parking space. The quilt makers proudly discuss their quilts while the attendees snap photos, shop and eat the great homemade food. Not only is the food delightful, but, so is the table company as my friend Christine and I meet Pat Atwell, Lynda Krueger and many other friendly quilters and show volunteers. They now plan to come to Fort Wayne for the Grand Opening of Sweet Violets Teas and Antiques and the Appleseed Quilt Guild Show June 21-23.

Of all of the hundreds of quilts on display I am most struck by the quilts created by Joan Zugel. One of the volunteers points her out to me and she graciously takes me around and details her amazing body of work. Joan is a longarm quilter and quilt teacher. She grew up sewing through 4-H, Home Ec and for her children. She fondly remembers purchasing fabric three yards for a dollar at Goldblatts in downtown Gary in the early ’60s. Now retired and widowed Joan spends her time looking after her grandchildren and quilting.

Her quilt “Wedded Bliss” first catches my eye. Created with new fabric including batiks purchased in fat quarter size it has a look of simplicity but as Joan points out the intricacies of the piecing is actually complex. Joan made the quilt for a co-worker who was taking over her position at Urschel Laboratories. After experiencing a less than happy marriage and subsequent divorce, the co-worker found true love and this beautiful quilt to reflect her new state of happiness. Wedded Bliss took 12-14 hours to quilt.

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Influenced by Gee’s Bend quilts (www.quiltsofgeesbend.com/) “Cozy in Wool” is primarily strip-pieced from wool skirts purchased at the Salvation Army and other resale shops. Only the outer border is made of yardage wool. Much like the Gee’s Bend quilters she made up the design as she went along.

As mentioned, Joan is a grandmother and her grandchildren love her quilts. Joan takes the traditional “bridal bouquet” block and turns the bouquets into ice cream cones. This quilt with its vivid colors is delightful. The border with its swag effect just sets the entire piece off. This quilt was made for granddaughter Nikki.

These are just three of the many quilts Joan displayed at the show. Her creativity has been rewarded with the number of ribbons her quilts won.

A big “thank-you” goes to Joan for sharing her insight with Christine and me.

As the day draws to a close, it is time for me to go back to the flea market to check on my favorite flea. Not only is the ironing board with a pad marked as a measuring gauge still there, it is now half price! Another means to measure fabric when the autopsy table is occupied.

Cousin Susie who accompanied me two years will be so disappointed when she reads about the show. She was on a cruise with husband Dan and children celebrating 30 years of marriage. Congrats to Sue and Dan Christman!

Do you want to learn to hand quilt? Do you have a quilt in need of restoration? Contact Lois Eubank, Born Again Quilts at 260-515-9446