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I learned to quilt while living in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, and I was blessed to immediately become a part of a group called the Prairie Heritage Quilters. This group puts on a quilt show in Sun Prairie every Spring and it has the distinction of being the longest running show, headed by the same person for 40 years! The leader of this group of quilt lovers is Klaudeen Hansen, and I’m very pleased to be able to say she’s a friend of mine.At this year’s show there was a special room filled with memorabilia from the past 40 quilt shows. It was in this room that we had a photograph taken of the current Prairie Heritage Quilters group. A Madison area art quilter, Marlene, made the crown Kaudeen is wearing, and dubbed her the Queen of Quilting.

Klaudeen has been a positive influence in my quilting career and I thought it would be a good idea to do a tribute to her as this week’s blog post.

Klaudeen started teaching sewing for Madison Area Technical College in the early 70’s. Somehow that transitioned into teaching quilting for them as well. We’re quite sure she was the first quilting teacher MATC had.

The Prairie Heritage Quilt Show started basically as a show and tell display in 1974, so all of her students could see what the others were creating.  The first year or two this was held at St. Chad’s church.  It moved to St Albert’s as it grew and was held in the lower level. The first contest was in 1977 and it had 66 entries. The show moved upstairs and included vendors in 1979. This is a picture of some of the original members in their quilt aprons at a show in the early 80’s (Klaudeen is on the right).

The show has always been on a Monday, and then it grew to add Tuesday (they couldn’t start on Sunday because the show was held in the sanctuary of the church and thus, the quilts were hung on Sunday afternoon). These are unusual days of the week for a quilt show, but it’s worked well in Sun Prairie. Our group would have to move out all the chairs (assisted by some husbands, sons and brothers) and move in the quilt racks. Then the hanging of the quilts would begin.

Over the years the show has become very popular. There was a time 11 tour buses brought quilters to the show in one day! and … one year a TV show called PM Magazine (like a local entertainment tonight) filmed their show from our show! Quilted ribbon toppers were first created by Arlene Statz in 1983, and were hand quilted by her! We believe we were the first show to ever make them, if not the first anywhere, definitely the first in our area.

I joined the group in the late 80’s and this photograph was the first one I have of the group (I’m bottom row center, next to Klaudeen).

In going through my photos, I came across a quilt I entered in the show in the early 90’s, called “The Sidewalks of Sun Prairie”. It was the first quilt I made using my Repliqué technique and it won 2 of Arlene’s ribbons! A First in wallhangings, and a special Originality ribbon too.

Klaudeen (and the Prairie Heritage Quilters) have also been a big part of the American Quilters Society’s history (AQS). She met Bill and Meredith Schroeder in Bell Buckle, Tennessee at the National Quilting Association Show, over 30 years ago. The Schroeders owned a publishing company that published Collector Books. They decided quilting was an up and coming past-time and wanted to put on a show, but weren’t sure how to go about it.  They were introduced to Klaudeen and she helped write the rules for the AQS show. She also hand typed the show book for them for years! Quilts were entered by slides, full size and detail, those were logged by Klaudeen to be sure they were entered in the right category, etc.. Then two slide projectors were set up side by side, in Sun Prairie, to view the quilt entries. Klaudeen and the Prairie Heritage Quilters juried the AQS show for the first several years. They also made the Viewer’s choice boxes (still in use at the Paducah show) and hung the quilts at the AQS show as well (we still help with the hanging of the show every year).

The dogwood ribbon toppers for the AQS show have been hand made by the Prairie Heritage Quilters all these years. Klaudeen’s daughter Janell is an active part of the PHQ and was the ribbon maker one year. She, along with Jean Sessions (one of the original members and our unofficial historian), shared information and pictures for this post with me. The above topper was made by Jean. Judging of the AQS show was Klaudeen’s responsibility. She does not judge the show in Paducah, but is the one to convey the expectations to the judging staff.

Klaudeen is also the editor of the AQS Quilt Art Engagement Calendar. These wonderful desk style calendars have a beautiful quilt featured next to each week of the year, and – each year at the Paducah show an Autograph party is held at which many of the quilt makers are invited to attend so that purchasers of the calendars can have the pages autographed. It’s a fun, free event to attend at the show!

Klaudeen continues to work every AQS show, along with her husband Merv, and she doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all! Besides her work on the various shows, she is a teacher, lecturer and quilt judge. If your group is looking for a speaker with a wealth of experience and a delightful enthusiasm for our craft, I can garauntee you’ll enjoy Klaudeen. You may contact her at: Klaudeen Hansen, PO Box 253 Sun Prairie, WI 53590;  608-837-2298

 

Well, this past week just flew by – and it was a wonderful Quilt Week in Paducah! The quilts and vendors were very inspiring, the weather couldn’t have been better, and Wendy, Emily, Katherine and I even got to catch up with Quilt Man at the Grace church luncheon on Friday (his sidekick “Bobbin”missed it because he has a day job :-).

Later that day I came upon the Statue of Quilterly (my name, didn’t know what else to call her) posing near the gazebo on Broadway … only in Paducah!!!

Here are some non-documented, but interesting statistics we heard from a dear man in a van who gave us a ride to the Convention Center one morning. The city of Paducah has a population of about 26,000 and around 40,000 quilters descend upon the city for 1 week!

There is so much to do! Besides the AQS show, classes, and vendors, there are many lovely antique and specialty stores downtown, and almost all of the empty storefronts fill up with vendors. There is an antique quilt display and more vendors at the Rotary club every year.

This year we also did an evening stroll, called Parlors and Porches, that wound through the Lower Town area.

A number of years ago Paducah came up with an artist relocation program where the old, deteriorating homes in the downtown area were sold, at a great discount, to artists who would then renovate them and move their studios there.

Caryl Bryer Fallert was one of the artists who relocated there (although she built a new home/studio in the area).

On Friday night we purchased a wristband and then were treated to tours of studios and some of these renovated homes. It was great fun. Some were so lovely, some extravagant and one oddly fascinating.

We ended the evening with “Bubble Tea” at Etcetera.

I highly recommend you experience a Lower Town tour for yourself during next year’s show!

And finally, here’s the “I Spy” portion of this week’s post:

Last week I shared a picture of the kitchen studio Wendy and I set up in our Paducah abode. We actually did do quite a bit of stitching during Quilt Week. This year I brought along the components for two “I Spy” quilts that I’m making for my older grandchildren. Prior to the trip I collected 6 inch “I Spy” squares. Then I cut enough backing and batting squares for two twin sized quilts. Here are some 6″ squares for Hanna’s blocks (white batt, various “I Spy” prints and flannel squares in yellow and “Hello Kitty”, which will alternate on the back of the quilt):

While in Kentucky, I layered and quilted all of Willy’s squares (the back of his quilt is flannel too, and will alternate between blue and “Spiderman”)

I got over 3/4’s of Hanna’s squares quilted also

I hope you can see that Willy’s are quilted with a free motion “W” and Hanna’s with an “H”.

Now it’s time to do some unpacking. Then I’ll finish Hanna’s squares and hopefully get started on putting both quilts together using Sharon Pederson’s “Reversible Quilts” technique.

I’ll keep you posted as things progress.

 

The AQS quilt show is this week and the quilts will be hung on Monday. So, Wendy and I decided to drive down yesterday (Saturday) and spend Easter Sunday together! The drive was sunny and pleasant, and it was such a joy to see the trees leafing out part way through Illinois. As usual we looked forward to going over the “Flying Geese” bridge that spans the Ohio river just before we arrived in Paducah.

We stay downtown in a B&B that takes up the entire second floor above a Mexican restaurant. So, the first order of business was to haul all of our stuff up the very steep staircase.

At that point we needed a break and decided to take a walk by the river (stopping briefly to take a picture)

That done, we couldn’t put off the “studio set up” any longer.

Then it was time for a dinner of Fajitas downstairs and a bit of stitching before heading to bed.

This morning we attended a joyful Resurrection Sunday service at the church which hosted part of the quilt show during the year of the flood. What a blessing.

While driving we were overwhelmed with the beauty of all the blooming things.

The dogwoods are at peak and the prettiest we’ve seen them in years.

This afternoon we did something very unusual for us on Easter. We went to a play. Our place is right across the street from the Market Street Theater and they were performing a matinee of Steel Magnolias. It was very nice and the walk home was short (this is the front of the theater and the arrow in the tree is pointing at the windows of our abode :-).

Tomorrow we’ll help to hang the quilts and then the excitement of quilt week in Paducah begins.

Just a little aside. Wendy’s birthday always falls during quilt week. This time it is the day we’re heading home. Prior to the trip I was trying to come up with something special to do for my dear traveling friend – then the idea hit. We not only do Paducah together every year, but we lead tours in the US and Europe together under the name “Sew We Go”. So, as a remembrance of our journeys together, I made her a “Sew We Go” pillowcase.

Complete with project fabrics from some of our previous adventures.

It was a joy to make and I hope Wendy enjoys many good nights resting her head on it!

Happy Easter, one and all! And may the weather be warm and sunny, wherever you are!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It seems every so often I just have to share a post about jewelry. I came up with a unique way to store dangly earrings and I hope you find this helpful (or at least interesting). I enjoy wearing artsy earrings, but there’s a problem:  most artsy earrings dangle and when stored – dangles tangle!

While untangling one morning I got to thinking that the inside of the vanity door beneath my sink could be put to use. I went out and bought a couple packs of cup hooks and then smiled sweetly at Mike. He fell for it and headed to the shed to get his drill. About 10 minutes later my problem was solved!

It works great! They’re right where I want them when I’m getting ready and they’re not at all in the way!

The best part is, there’s plenty of room for more cup hooks :-)!

Do you have any clever ways you store your jewelry?

Oh, here’s one more quick pic – the charity quilt I was having free motion fun with in the last few posts!

 

 

Have you ever been quilting a large quilt on your domestic machine and needed to cut the bobbin thread? Climbing beneath the mass of quilt can be a miserable act of contortionism. Here’s a simple way to cut the bottom thread from the top!

1. Sew a number of tiny stitches close together and stop:

2. Raise the needle, and pull the quilt away so you can grab the top thread:

3. While holding that thread, place the needle back in the same hole (close is good enough):

4. Raise the needle again, then tug on the thread you’re holding. You may need to grab the thread above the eye of the needle with your other hand and tug on both threads. The bobbin thread should pull to the top:

5. Pull the quilt away from under the needle while holding onto the threads. Continue to tug on the threads until about a 1″ loop of bobbin thread comes to the top.

6. Cut all 3 threads that are coming out of the hole (the top thread and both ends of the bobbin loop.

7. The top thread will now be cut even with the quilt top, and the bobbin thread is now severed, with no tail on the back. Here’s a picture of the loop of bobbin thread cut off:

It really works! Try it, you’ll like it!

This week I’d like to share a second topic. I hope you’ll enjoy:

Quilting With Kids Revisited

This past week, my nephew’s 7 year old daughter, Lily, came for an overnight visit because she wanted to learn to quilt. She had seen the quilts her cousin Hanna had made and wanted to make a quilt too (click here to read about my granddaughter, Hanna’s, quilting adventures).

Right after a breakfast of Uncle Mike’s waffles, we had to head to the studio (she didn’t even want to change out of her jammies). Lily is very bright … but she’s always moving, so I thought this might be a bit of a challenge (here’s a typical shot of her :-)):

She did great! I had her pick out 12 charm squares from my box of 6″ squares, in order to make a doll quilt. She arranged them in a 3 x 4 set and the sewing began. She listened well and was very careful.

Once the top was pieced, she chose a piece of flannel for the back, layered it with batting, pinned all around, and sewed – leaving an opening for turning.

She then poked out the corners.

And quilted 1/2″ away from the outer edge and with an “X” through the middle. She sewed every stitch herself!

Then she wrapped a dolly in it and said “can we make another one?”

By this time Aunt Chris decided we all needed to take a walk in the woods :-)! It’s so much fun to share your passion with the younger generation!

 

 

 

In the past 8 days I’ve taught in 3 states and packed and unpacked suitcases 3 times! I’ve met so many wonderful quilters and my quilts have enjoyed getting out and being seen. I’m so blessed to be able to do what I love and have the energy to do it :-)!

In Princeton, IL I presented my lecture: “Journey With a Compass” and the following day they chose the Mariner’s Compass workshop. We found a large, oval platter in the church kitchen where the workshop was held and these 4 talented quilters really made great progress towards getting them done.

 Kate did it all with her hand in a cast (I was impressed)!

From there I stopped home for a day to regroup and then traveled to Iowa City for a Threads Untangled lecture and a Parallelisms workshop. What a friendly and fun group. The fiber art created in class was delightful, but I was remiss and totally forgot to take a few pictures :-(.

I then returned home for 2 days to pack up for the Fox Valley Technical College – Sewing and Quilting Expo in Oshkosh, WI. I taught an all day Free Motion workshop on Friday, and on Saturday I did 5 lectures in 8 hours – Whew!

The toughest part was packing 7 bags and loading them in the car. I’m so glad I have an SUV that can hold it all.

The students were interested, and interesting, and there was so much information to share and many beautiful quilts to see. It really was great fun, and I slept very well last night :-).

One of the interesting things I learned was in the evening lecture with Karen Kay Buckley. She highly recommends serrated scissors for cutting out fabric. They enable you to cut through many layers without having things slip around. She has them available on her website:  http://www.karenkaybuckley.com/store.php?cat=5. Her quilts are wonderful (you’ve probably seen them on the cover of a magazine or two), so do spend a little extra time checking out the gallery section of her site.

Thanks to everyone who made this past week so enjoyable!

Did you attend the Expo? Did you learn anything you’d like to share?