Thimbleanna

A Virtual Quilt Festival

60 Comments / Quilting / February 22, 2011

Well, Hello There! By now you’ve probably heard that Amy is having a virtual quilt festival.

Since we can’t all go to the same quilt show, Amy has decided to bring the show to us and she’s asked us all to show our favorite quilt. You know, that’s kind of like asking a mother to choose which one of her children is her favorite. Oh, the pain! I’ve already shown you my very favorite quilt (several times), so I’ll give you my runner up.

Bear Paw Quilt

There are so many beautiful, modern quilts being shown today, so, I’m feeling a little frumpy with this throwback-to-the-80’s quilt, but I love it anyway.  This is the very first quilt that the quilty peeps and I made together.  We formed our quilt group and I got to go first because no one had been in a “friendship” group before, so we used my quilt to learn how to do it.  (And btw, I took pictures of the quilt on the really cool big ol’ dump truck in our driveway.  We don’t have a dump truck — so you know what that means?  It means the roofers are in on the house!  WooHoo!!!)

Bear Paw Quilt

We started out with 11 girls in our group and I gave each of them the background material and the pattern for the bear’s paw and requested that they make the bear’s paw out of their own red and blue scraps.  I love how everyone chose different fabrics.  Then I asked them to embroider their name, where they were from, the date, and something they loved.  Of the 11 blocks that I got back, 1 was unusable, so I asked MeMum and MyDadLovesMeBestSister if they would each make a block to round the number out to 12.  Here are blocks from my best buddy quilty peeps and MeMum.  They love(d) houses, old jukeboxes, cats and fairy tales.    I wonder what they would put now, 21 years later?

Bear Paw Quilt

I love that everyone chose something different.  (Other fun things were “my dog”, daffodils, chocolate, rainbows, wee babes, flowers, baskets, and crafts.)  And I love that you can see everyone’s handwriting.  And I really love that of our original group, four of us have stayed together and we’re best quilty peeps!

Bear Paw Quilt

So…now, you’ve seen one of my favorite quilts. Git along lil’ doggies and run over to Amy’s — there are enough quilts being shown to make your fanny tired from sitting at the computer! (Oh, and Thanks Amy for hosting — what a fun idea.)

Have a great weekend!
XOXO,
Anna

P.S.  If you want to see something funny, go check out the quilt that Carolyn just finished for the Quilts of Valor program!

60 thoughts on “A Virtual Quilt Festival”

  1. Shawn ; )

    I remember the Bear’s Paw Anna, what a special quilt and memories to go along with it, and watch out for falling (roof) debris. The quilt show looks like fun I may have to join in.

  3. raina

    Call me strange, but my favorite way to see a quilt is when it is folded up…there is something so comforting and home-like about a folded quilt.

  8. molly

    Speaking of stories—doesn’t every quilt have a story?

    I LOVE your favourite quilt! This one is also very nice, full of great memories…..I took one look at the list of participants and already felt exhausted….need to be quilting my own [deadlines upcoming!] not drooling over others!

  11. Jewels

    I love that Bear’s Paw Quilt and really enjoyed Our Friendship Group, I am so glad we are all still Friends…..Have a wonderful Week end. xoxo jewels PS Need some ear plugs?????

  15. Kimberly

    What a darling quilt and there’s nothing to feel frumpy about. It’s beautiful and I love that you did it with friends. Those are some of my favorite kind of quilts. The one’s with memories.

    I especially love the picture taken with the quilt on the truck. How clever!

  16. nicolette

    Yes it will be long computer sessions this weekend to see all the quilts and read the stories. At least we don’t have to walk all those miles!

    Love to see your bear-paws quilt and the meaningful story that goes with it!! I especially love to see quilts from the past!!

  17. Janine

    Hello Anna,
    that Quilt- Festival sounds very interesting.
    I love to see, what people are able to do with love, passion, fantasy and fabric.
    I don´t no much more about quilting, than I saw in that lovely film “An american Quilt” with Anne Bancroft and Wynona Ryder, but maybe one day I will try myself.
    Have a wonderful weekend and drop in when- and however you like :0)
    Schönes Wochenende
    Janine

  21. Jackie

    Oh yes, I remember your favorite quilt…. Love it! But this one definitely deserves that honor too for many reasons. The best reason is the memories that you have of how it came to be and who was involved!! Fantastic picks on the dump truck and hooray for the roofers!

  22. Elaine/MuddlingThrough

    I don’t blame you for making that number two on the hit list. It is a very pretty quilt, and the personalization just makes it that much more special. I love things that bring back a flood of memories just looking at them, don’t you?

  23. rohanknitter

    I love how you’ve got that quilt posed on the truck! I can see why it’s a fav, it’s so pretty, not to mention all the memories.

  29. Stina

    Ohh.. I love this quilt and the way you signed this one.. it will always be a treasure to you..:o) Thanks for showing..:o)

  31. Susan

    Anna, did you give the roofers this quilt as the pattern for your new roof? You and your quilty peeps have such fun…I love this color combo.

  32. Miss Jean

    I wish I could participate but as you know my computer is in the shop with cooties. Yes, that’s a technical computer-y term! I’ll have to just visit and drool from afar!

  36. Jade

    What are you talking about?! Your quilt is gorgeous and very modern for one made in the 80s. And if you didn’t mention it, I would’ve assumed you finished this one very recently. I love the different shades of red and blue everyone used in the blocks, too.

  37. Julia

    Hi Anna,
    what a wonderful & beautiful quilt! I wish I had a quilt older than two years ~ it’s so special to have such memories from years ago…
    I love your quilt, and I have to remember that idea…
    Hugs, Julia

  43. Andi

    The bear’s paw quilt is great.
    But I popped over to see your favourite quilt and just love it. So much detail.
    Well done.
    Andi :-)

  44. Dee Light

    What a great quilt! Red and blue always make me think of summer and time with family. So I love this quilt.

    What great memories with the names of the creators on each block. A very special quilt!

  45. happy zombie

    My first thought was HOW COULD YOU NOT SHOW OUR FAVORITE QUILT!?! But then I saw this quilt and understood. It’s so pretty, and I love it hanging on your roofer’s dump truck. Great shots!

    I do think the block is called “Best Friend”. Four bear paws and a center stone I think make it a Best Friend. Which of course, is so fitting!

    I <3 you sw1!

  46. Janet

    Great quilt Anna! I’m sure you’ve got a bunch of them though! Isn’t it amazing how many quilters are participating in this online festival? Keepin’ me busy drooling over so many pretty things!

  47. MaryLou Rupp

    Is it too late to join the Siggy Swap? It sounds like such fun! I LOVE your blog; the way you’ve organized it with so much wonderful information. Gotta make those bunnies!

  48. Jody

    I like this quilt and the simplicity of it. I especially like the old truck that’s modeling it for you. Hooray for the roofers! Please take a pic of that new roof of yours.

    Jody

  49. meggie

    I am glad I decided to join in the fun. I love reading about how quilts came to be. Yours is lovely!

  51. Sandra

    There was mention of the pattern name-so I checked in Brackmann’s encyclopedia and it has 10 names mostly referring to a body part: Bear’s foot and paw, cat’s paw, hand of friendship, small hand, duck’s foot in the mud. And yes, also ‘the best friend’.
    Come see my favorites
    #210 Sandra Starley -funky petroglyph quilt
    #215 Utah Quilt Appraiser-civil war era red & green quilts

  53. Nanette

    I’d have taken them to a long armer. Tshirt quilts – no thanks! I’ve seen some beauties out there but I do not like the idea of putting them together. You are some kind of friend to do this.

  54. Nanette

    Can you believe this quilt show Amy started!? Holy cow it has taken on a life of its own. I saw the hundreds of participants and decided I would watch from the sidelines. This is wonderful. The memories make it special too.

  55. Rowan

    Hang in there with the t-shirt quilt – at least you haven’t been doing it for 8 years as I have with the cross-stitch sampler I finished today! I’ve never been so glad to see the back of anything – I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever finish it! Soldier on – you’re nearly there.

  58. brigita

    i’ve quite enjoyed looking at all of the quilts in the virtual show!
    how you coming along on those quilts?
    how was sb’s bday party?
    :waves madly

  59. Kellie

    I’m sorry that I am such a crap bloggy friend .. but I do love you … I really do … oh and I love the quilt too by the way!

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