Birmingham Festival of Quilts—British Quilt Study Group

What a whirlwind two weeks it has been for Teri and me! We hit the ground running at the Birmingham Festival of Quilts and didn't stop until Teri hopped on a plane to return home. With all that activity behind us—trips to France, castles, and cathedrals—posting about the amazing quilts we saw at the quilt show is now possible. There were so many wonderful quilts, that it would be challenging to show them all in one post. Today's quilts are from the exhibit hosted by the British Quilt Study Group (BQSG), while some of the other quilts from the festival will have to wait for another time.

The BQSG began in 1998, and you can read more about their aim and purpose here. Of course, any time there is an exhibit of antique quilts, Teri and I make a beeline for it, and this one did not disappoint! Here is a gallery of just some of the splendid quilts from the past and a little information from the display about them.

Whole Cloth Quilts

Red wholecloth quilt, circa 1900.

Detail: red wholecloth quilt.

White wholecloth quilt, circa 1920-30.

Detail: white wholecloth quilt.

Blue wholecloth quilt, circa 1920-30
This quilt was quilted in the "Hawick Style," which included motifs such as thistle,
hearts with spiky-leafed centers, and daisies, 

The thistle motif.

Crazy Quilts

The level of detail in this crazy quilt is fantastic!
The Seward Wall Hanging, circa 1889
This quilt was made by an invalid, Emily Seward, who passed away at the age of 29.

Center with signature of maker.

Very detailed dancers.

The shading on the lions mane is perfect!

This quilt was a history lesson in and of itself!

 Crazy quilt, circa 1900
Made by Mrs. R. Ruttle

What a clever way to make this posy.

We can't wait to try these flowers!

Another spectacularly embroidered crazy quilt!

The maker of this quilt used the smallest scraps to create this masterpiece.

What a creative way to use a Log Cabin square.

Center medallion

Signature Quilt

Bratton Baptist Church Bazaar Coverlet, circa 1913
Made by the members of the church to raise funds.

Detail of a few of the 270 squares.

Patchwork Quilt

This patchwork quilt, circa 1800-20, is pieced with four different sizes of half-square triangles.

Some of the scraps in the center are from the late 18th century!

Finding out how to become a member

We had such a wonderful time examining these beautiful examples of Britain's quilt history. The members supporting the exhibit were so helpful and willing to share their knowledge and passion. Who made the quilt? What was going on in society at the time the quilt was made? How old is the quilt? Why were those fabrics used? These are just some of the questions asked by those whose research and dedication allows the stories of these quilts and others to be brought to light and shared with the world.

Do you have a passion for old quilts and their stories? No matter which side of the pond you live, there is a quilt study group for you. To join the British Quilt Study Group click here and to join the American Quilt Study Group click here.

Quilt Odyssey—Hershey, PA

As I (Teri) sit here in Germany at Kara's computer, reflecting on the quilt show we just attended in the UK, I realized that I had photos from the show that I visited a few weeks ago that were waiting to be shared. The quilt exhibit at Quilt Odyssey in Hershey, PA, was absolutely exquisite this year. I was greatly inspired by the work shared at this show; I hope you will be as well. Enjoy this virtual tour of the exhibit hall.

The Merchant Mall did not disappoint.

It's always a joy to visit with Pat and Arlan Christ—and their antique quilt collection is fabulous, too!

This year's exhibit: "A Tisket–A Tasket"

Blossoms from the Far East, by Barbara Korengold

Best of Show

Detail: Blossoms from the Far East, by Barbara Korengold

Ruffled, by Linda Roy

Best Hand Quilting

Detail: Ruffled, by Linda Roy

Taking the Unmapped Road, by Margaret Solomon Gunn

Best Artistry, Longarm Quilting

Detail: Taking the Unmapped Road, by Margaret Solomon Gunn

Dove at the Window, by Barbara Zygiel

Best Traditional

Oh, Be Joyful, by Cindy Seitz-Krug

Best Machine Quilting

Barn Window, Wendy Sanden

Best Innovative

Mesa Verde Cliff Palace, by Kathy Adams and Joanne Baeth

Best Pictorial by Machine

Detail: Mesa Verde Cliff Palace, by Kathy Adams and Joanne Baeth

Take Five; by Elsie Campbell, Kathleen Baughman, Marilyn McSpadden, Pam Goggans, and Donna Lynn Thomas

Group Quilt, First Place

Moonflower, by Molly Hamilton-McNally

Large Quilt, Predominantly Appliqued; First Place

Farm Market Blooms, by Nancy Simmons

Large Quilt, Predominantly Pieced; First Place

Dineh (Navajo) Madonna, by Denise Havlan

Wall Quilt, Predominantly Appliqued; First Place

Cardinal Points, by Gail Stepanik and Jan Hutchison

Two Person Group Quilt, First Place

Song of Summer, by Bethanne Graves Nemesh

Wall Quilt, Mixed/Other Techniques; First Place

Chasing Rainbows, by Teri Cherne

Wall Quilt, Predominantly Pieced; First Place

President Nancy Raley, left, and Past President Ann Corbett of the Baltimore Appliqué Society were demonstrating appliqué skills and answering questions about the BAS exhibit, Bits of Baltimore and Beyond. To see many of the quilts in the exhibit, click here.

There were so many fabulous quilts, and I indeed took pictures of nearly all of them. In the interest of time and space, however, I have only shared the top winners. But there were a few that I must share, because of our love of appliqué, and Baltimore Album Quilts, in particular. 

Tribute to Ann, by Judy Bankson

Detail: Tribute to Ann, by Judy Bankson

Old Glory Under His Wings, by Julee Prose

Detail: Old Glory Under His Wings, by Julee Prose

Civil War Bride, Nechama Cox

Detail: Civil War Bride, Nechama Cox

Lenora's Roses, by Sara Madson

Detail: Lenora's Roses, by Sara Madson

To read more about this Rose of Sharon block pattern, click here.

12 Years in Baltimore, by Caroline Nihiser

Quilt Odyssey has been a huge part of my quilting journey. I went for the first time during its second year of operation—it was a brand new experience for me, as I had only started quilting a couple of years earlier. For years afterward, I would go and take classes. It became a regular girls' weekend, and it would be doubly fun because my parents live in Hershey, so we all would meet for dinner and then they would host the pajama party.

There is something special about this quilt show. When you go, you almost feel like you are visiting family. One big quilting family. It is well-worth the trip to Pennsylvania to visit Hershey the last weekend of July. Maybe I'll see you there some time!