Does anyone recognize this quilt pattern? My mother and I thought this would be a great table topper quilt done in seasonal fabrics. This quilt was also at the fair, but unfortunately, the pattern was not identified.
UPDATE: The mystery is solved. Thanks to Kim @ A Peach in Stitches, the name of this pattern is BQ from Maple Island Quilts. Several sent me the name, but Kim provided a copy of the pattern jacket so I know exactly what I am looking for in the quilt shop. Thanks, Kim!
Of course a fair is not complete without quilts.
This quilt was my favorite quilt–I loved the drama created by the bright colours on a black background.
This quilt was machine quilted with bright green thread. The contrast of the thread against the black background really showcased the excellent quilting skills of the long arm quilter. 
I liked this quilt for the picket fence border treatment. It was an effective way to frame the “garden”.
I thought this quilt would be an excellent stash buster. The alternate blocks were random strips of fabric in various widths. I thought the striped blocks went well with the stars.
I have not been doing much quilting, but I have been busy. Yesterday we headed south to Lynden, Washington to attend the Northwest Washington Fair. We stayed for the evening concert–Terri Clark. 
This was one of the best concerts I have seen in a very, very long time. Terri is a proud Canadian artist who has recorded three platinum albums and who holds 13 Canadian Country Music Awards. Terri is reigning Female Vocalist of the Year and has won the Fans’ Choice Award five years in a row. Terri is the only Canadian female member of the Grand Ole Opry. Terri definitely plays for the fans–her enthusiasm for her music and impromptu comments between songs makes you feel as though you have known her for a long time.
While at the Pacific Northwest Quiltfest on Saturday, Dot and I were on the lookout for two friends that we had shared a room with in Sisters, Oregon the year before. These ladies were part of a quilt guild in the interior of British Columbia. We had joined their guild members on a bus trip to the famous outdoors quilt show in Sisters, Oregon in July 2005. We have been sending the odd e-mail message, but we have not seen each other in person since. We knew from a quilting newsletter distributed to the province that this group would be attending the Seattle quilt show. It was not until the very end of our day that we stumbled upon each other.
Pictured from left to right: Lucy, Laurie, Dot, and myself.
Lucy and Laurie: Look for Dot and I next spring at your guild’s 25th Anniversary Quilt Show–Silver Threads! We picked up a flyer advertising the date and location and are putting this one on our calendars.
Pictured from left to right: Dot, Patti, and myself.
While waiting to pay for my quilt show pin, there was a lady ahead of me paying for her purchases. Because I was standing parallel to her, I could get a good look at her profile. I had been looking for her all day–her picture was imprinted in my brain. All of a sudden it occurred to me that the woman I had been looking at was the person I had been looking for all day–Patti!
Patti: Although we only spoke briefly, your smile and enthusiasm are infectious and reflect a warm personality. I look forward to meeting up with you again at future quilting events. I am sure our paths will cross again!
Now you might be asking who Dot is. Dot is my quilting travel buddy. We have been to several quilt shows together, including Sisters, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington.
Meeting up with old friends and meeting new a new friend was the perfect ending to a perfect day. This is proof positive that quilt shows bring together great people!
As I mentioned in my last post, yesterday was the Pacific Northwest Quiltfest. Our guild organized a bus trip to this event two years ago and again this year. We filled a small bus with 20 quilters and headed south. (We had one extra seat at the back of the bus. One of the quilters joked that we should try to find someone to bring back with us to fill that seat. She mentioned something about him being good looking.)
If I had to sum up what I thought of the quilts at this show in one word, it would be WOW! We were told by one of the show’s Board of Directors that 556 quilts were submitted for possible inclusion in the show, but only 223 quilts were juried into this show.
The outside of the Seattle Center was lined with bus after bus and everywhere you looked there were people! The show organizers were expecting at least 7,000 people to visit this show over the three days. Each person entering the exhibit was being presented with a donated quilt book–they ran out after 10,000 so I am confident that the 7,000 visitor mark was surpassed!
The Seattle Times ran a nice article showcasing this event and quilting in the Pacific Northwest in general. Take a look at it here: The Seattle Times: Northwest Quiltfest: nostalgia, technology fuel hobby’s popularity
We started by looking at the special exhibit of antique quilts from 1850-1950. These quilts were housed in the same area as the collection of Boxes and Bowls and the “Wish You Were Here…” exhibit. The quilts in the “Wish You Were Here…” exhibit have been traveling for the last couple of years so many of you have likely seen them. They were to be auctioned off last night at the Gala dinner.
I was prepared to show you pictures of my favorite quilts, however, I was reading the show brochure last night and came across this:
The public is allowed to take photographs of the exhibit. … Photos taken at Quiltfest are for your personal enjoyment only. Copyright for the displayed quilts belongs to the quiltmakers. Photos are not to be used for any commercial purpose, and are not to be posted on websites without written permission from the copyright holders. Please be responsible in your use of the quilt photographs–help us to protect the rights of the quiltmakers.
So it would seem that my photos will remain in my private collection for viewing by me when I am in need of inspiration. I can tell you that my vote for Viewer’s Choice was a quilt by Janet M. Fogg of Lake Oswego, Oregon called, “Kitty Corner”. This quilt was also the favorite of the judging panel as it received Best of Show. This quilt was a large cat coming over the corner of the quilt and was a play on the traditional Puss in the Corner block. I also enjoyed the quilt by Shelia Finzer of Terrebonne, Oregon that featured the Kodiak brown bears, called “Welcome to Kodiak!” This quilt was also the favorite of my husband. (No, he didn’t go, but he did watch some of my slides when I got home.) The near lifesize bears on this quilt were heavily threadpainted and looked like they were ready to walk off the quilt canvas.
As I walked around the vendor mall, I remembered my fabric diet and I did not weaken and purchase a single piece of fabric. I was on the lookout for a fabric that featured tulips for use in my quilt guild’s challenge project, but alas, that piece of fabric was not to be found. I did purchase a pattern for Chicken Potholders and a show pin. That was it. The pattern was one I had seen on the internet a couple of years ago. I have never seen it in a quilt shop here in Canada and so I bought it at the show as I am not likely to come across it again. I collect quilt show / quilt guild pins so this pin will be added to my collection.
As we got off the bus at home, we were presented with packages of goodies that had been donated by our local quilt shop, Hamels Fabrics. Thank you Pauline for your generosity! The two fat quarters and packet of squares for Moda’s “Cats that Cook” line are “calorie free” as they were a gift and I did not purchase them. We also received a cute Minkee Bear kit, pattern to make RJR Fabric’s, Vineyard quilt and a Super Stitcher Card for Hamel’s.
I am tired from a long day of traveling and walking, but at the same time I am energized! I can hardly wait to use some of the ideas gleaned from this show in some of my own projects!
