Tuleberg Quilt Show

Mom used to make the 80+ mile trek to my house every week to see us, cook us dinner, buy clothes and stuff for the YM and visit. Since the YM left for college, she isn’t making the drive (it is pretty grueling) and we don’t see each other as much. 🙁 We have plans to meet halfway for lunch or other things, but we have both been so busy lately that it hasn’t happened. When she mentioned that her guild was having a quilt show, I decided to trek out to the boonies and visit the show with her. Short version: we had a great time!

Friendly Quilt Ladies: Dessie & Faye
Friendly Quilt Ladies: Dessie & Faye

She lives an hour and a half plus a bridge away. Even though she made the trek once a week for YEARS, it seems super far to me. I was really glad I went. First and foremost, mom was really, REALLY happy. Second, the people were so friendly and genuinely pleased to meet me. They also appeared really like my mom. These ladies are like the BAMQGers! Their positive demeanor made me have a much better time. Third, the quilts were great. Yes, the show was small, but there was some very good work. Fourth, I got to see Colleen and actually talk to her (at PIQF I just did a drive by as her booth was mobbed and I had an Opportunity Quilt booth shift to man). Finally, the attention to detail in all aspects of the show was superb.

Partway through my drive, mom called and asked me to pick her up, so I stopped by the house to get her and see the Big Guy and my dog-sister. We gathered up all of her stuff and headed out.

The quilt show was housed in an old Mazda dealership building. The lighting was a little tough, but they rented the building for about 10% of what the guild paid the Scottish Rite Temple last time. Great deal and people couldn’t help passing by cars on the way in and out of the show. There seemed to be a sales guy stationed near the entrance greeting, not bothering, quilt show attendees at they came and went. Interesting marketing strategy!

We had to park a little way away, but we got some steps in. The first thing we did at the show was walk around the outside edge of show to get a feel for the size and extent of the show. The vendors were stationed along the outside of the building and the quilts were in the middle.

After checking out the lay of the land, we started looking at the quilts. This guild likes to applique’ and likes to get inspiration from patterns and books. The work is, generally, of very high quality. Many of them machine quilt or long arm their quilts. I don’t remember seeing any handquilted quilts.

The theme of the show was Quilt of All Seasons and the show was arranged by season. This seemed to be that quilts of certain colors or themes were hung near each other. It was a clever arrangement.

by Alice Cox
by Alice Cox

One of the quilts we saw in the first row, with the guild challenge quilts, was a summer themed quilt. I am not much of  a fan of watermelon (never tastes like much and all those seeds!), but I loved the watermelon quilt. I liked the octagon shapes in the middle. I also liked the shape of the watermelon blocks and the way the appliqued rickrack made the eye move around the quilt. I also thought one block could be used and, with a border, made into placemats for a lovely summer table. Three or so could be a table runner.

by Dorian Berg
by Dorian Berg

I saw a spiderweb that was really interesting. The maker said that her inspiration was from Kathy Doughty of Material Obsessions fame. Mom was having a hard time imagining that this quilt was the same pattern as my Spiderweb. I pulled up a photo of my spiderweb and showed her and then pointed out the block structure and she could see it.

The lighting was a little tricky, so this quilt was a tad brighter than it looks in my photo. In looking at this quilt, I really thought it looks like Millefiori glass. If you zoom in on the photo you can see some really interesting and clever use of stripes towards the center of the webs. I have said it before, but I really love the way you can use the same block and never make the same quilt twice. I think people could be given the same fabric and pattern and not make the same quilt.

by Carole Price
by Carole Price

My favorite quilt was a summer themed applique quilt. They didn’t have names on the attached cards, so I don’t know if the maker gave it a different name. It is a pattern from Cherry Blossoms Quilt Studio called Sunday Ride. Do you love that bike? I want a bike like that! I am a little embarrassed that it was my favorite. I do love applique’ quilts, though and this one was so bright and cheerful. I really liked the predominant turquoises (no big surprise!). I also think the maker may have used American Made Brands solids as those fabrics glowed within the quilt. The grey and white border was fantastic as well. Really a good solution. I was so impressed with the needle-turn applique’. It looks amazing. I would love to do needle-turn but even after a class with the magnificent Elly Sienkiewicz, needle-turn is not my strength. Finally, whoever did the quilting was a master. She (he??) did a perfect job matching the quilting motifs to the areas of the quilt.

Mom demoing
Mom demoing

I mentioned “all her stuff” above. Mom agreed to present a demo on the Exploding Star block. She had tools and supplies and step-out samples. After retrieving her stuff from the car, we headed over to the demo area at 2:30 and set up the area. I meant to take a photo of the whole setup, but only took a picture of mom. She did great job showing people how to make the Exploding Star. She was extremely patient and didn’t mind explaining over and over. She originally saw a YouTube tutorial for this block from Jenny Doan of Missouri Star Quilt Company, if you want to take a look.

I restrained myself and didn’t buy much: a few pieces of fabric, some SoftFuse and some chocolate. Cello Chocolates had a booth there and we engaged in an extensive tasting session. I couldn’t resist a few bars.

Tuleberg Quilt Show purchases
Tuleberg Quilt Show purchases

Yes, I bought a few pieces of fabric. I love those American Made Brands solids. When business picks up I am going to order a bunch of half yards from Colleen. I also needed another peacock panel to put on the back of my nearly in process Peacock quilt.