The show was hosted by The Quilt Patch in Moose Jaw. The Quilt Patch
I believe this was the 6th year they have hosted the show and it takes place in a lovely park just minutes from the shop in downtown Moose Jaw.
Step one - GET UP EARLY (4:30 AM)
Step two - check the weather - in the event of rain - the show is cancelled which has never happened
Step three - get moving cause there is a LOT of work to be done.
We zipped off to the quilt store to pick up the 300 quilts that needed to be hung. Oh yes - the show officially starts at 10 so no time to waste.
Arrive at beautiful Crescent Park - downtown Moose Jaw - about 6 AM with cars and trucks loaded with stuff for the quilt show |
Lay out tarps and look at those bags and bags of quilts!!!!! |
Quilts hanging in the park |
Quilts hanging in the park |
More quilts hanging in the park |
There were six vendors there and yes I had to visit them all. There are three shops in Moose Jaw - hard to believe. My favourite of course is the Quilt Patch. The owners of the store have written a book - if you do NOT have this book - you should get one. It has so many cute patterns in it. I just love it. I do NOT have the book because I have been to this store before and I had purchased a number of the patterns that were in the book. But I'm thinking I might have to buy the book and get them to autograph it for me!!!!! Yes - I know - you want to know what book is it - well here it is.......
Tis the Season. I got this picture from Amazon web site - go to the web site and you can see some of the inside pages. I just love love love this book. Of course I have NOT made anything yet, but I am motivated now to get something done. And did I mention that this book is a BEST SELLER and is in its fifth printing!!!! That's an accomplishment for a quilting book!!!!! Amazon Web Site for "Tis the Season" And the owners have a new book going to be released in October. Anyway - go to the link and you can flip through some of the pages to see their new and exciting stuff. They also have a line of fabric (I think there is a preview on their web site) and that will be available in stores in February. Exciting stuff - it was so neat to chat with the owners of the store - Jeanne and Shelly. For some reason ( and it was probably Marian's fault), I came across this store a number of years ago. I think they were also in The Quilt Sampler magazine in 2006????? (Where is Marian when I need her to check details!!!) I remember calling the store to sign up for their mystery mailout. They were having WAY TOO MUCH FUN at that store and I get the feeling that every day is like that. It really is a happy quilt store. And speaking of mystery mailout - you should call them and sign up for this (OK - I don't think they are accepting signups until September). But the cost is around $55 (if memory serves me right) and you get a six part mystery with all the fabric mailed to you over a period of six weeks. The projects are doable - they are cute and I can't wait for the next one to start. OK - so I still have two of them to finish!!!!! Oh - yes - back to the quilt show. At four PM - the volunteers appeared from all corners of the park, the men with their ladders, the women with their tarps. The quilts were dropped on the tarp (I got to be a runner!!!!). They were folded and stacked into piles so the owners could pick them up. I think we were out of there by 5:30. Could have been sooner, but we were waiting for some people to pick up their quilts. |
Tearing down the show |
Then we had a lovely BBQ hosted by the shop owners. All the vendors were invited and the volunteers. No matter where in this world you go - you have something in common with your fellow quilters!!!!! I also got to meet a designer - Debbie Richards who designs these quilts.
DJ Richards Design
I think we need to investiage a class in this technique. I love them and they are different.
And then the day came to an early end. Everyone was tired - no kidding - when do you get up at 4:30 AM on vacation except to hang a quilt show!!!!!
I had loads of fun and I've been invited back next year to help out. Hmmmmm - maybe I helped out a bit too much!!!!! Like I said - this is a fun place to shop and would be a fun place to work!!!!
If you want to meet Jeanne and Shelley yourself - they will be hanging out at the CreativFestival in Toronto in October!!!!! Make a point of checking out their booth - you won't be disappointed.
Oh yes - I made some observations while I was at the show - which I took tons of pictures at, but they are on my other camera and there are TOO MANY to post)
1. A LOT of the quilts are long arm quilted
2. A LOT of the quilts were quilted with a loose overall pattern (regardless of pieced or applique, pattern or style)
3. A LOT of the quilts had PLUSH or MINKY on the back. They were so warm and cozy - you wanted to curl up with one despite the fact that it was hot that day. The story is that once you put minky on the back - you never want to put cotton on the back or even flannel. I bought some to put on the back of a quilt that M liked.
4. A LOT of the quilts were fairly simple whether they were applique or pieced, but they were all GORGEOUS.
Well - there you have it - an outdoor quilt show. If ever you are in the area of Moose Jaw around the time of the show - you need to make an effort to get here. Or at least - get to the store!!!!!!
Did you notice the orange car in front of the store (the first picture today)??? Well I think they must like orange cars here - look at this one......
As I was snapping this picture, the owner came out and got in!!!! Great!!!!! |
I have to show you this gorgeous bracelet I found. Technically I didn't find it, but someone told me about it. I just LOVE IT.
Have a great day!!!!
Ciao!!!!!!!!