Quilt show, Northwest Arkansas

Every two years springtime in the Ozarks brings our guild quilt show. Quilts bloom along the aisles of the Benton County Fairgrounds. It is so much work we could not possibly pull it off every year! But what a way for quilters to "recharge our batteries."

We spend three whole days immersed in the realities of sharing our quilts with friends and with strangers. We spend whole days with our quilting friends--laughing and enjoying the show we have created. This year we had more space and added a fine display of antique quilts belonging to our members. One of the oldest quilts featured a large collection of fabrics from the 1890s with lots of indigos and many double pinks. I actually found this quilt top in a flea market here in northwest Arkansas about a decade ago. All the edges are cut on the bias so the top is stretched and will not lay flat. However the colors are vibrant and when quilt historian Terry Thompson saw the quilt she considered it a "library of late 1890s fabrics."

I repaired any of the damaged triangles and added the two borders to stabilize the edges. Then I added a backing to support the weight of the top and tacked it in place. Next I put on the binding and hanging sleeve. On the extensive label, I included samples of each of the four reproduction fabrics I used in repairs to help future quilters know what they are seeing here. Without these improvements I would not have been able to share this orphaned top with quilt lovers. And I feel my work has incresed the likelihood that the top will survive many more decades.

When this quilt with its simple collection of triangles is seen from a distance, the dynamic arrangement of lights and darks reminds viewers of the artistry of our foremothers. I plan to write more about the show in the next few days. Right now I am still recovering and the car is not fully unloaded!