This week I have a very uplifting story to share!
My dear friend Linda works with young girls in 4H and a few weeks ago she called to tell me about Josie. Josie is 14 and very talented. She has entered the Waukesha County Fair in many different categories, but is especially good at quilting. This year she decided to make an art quilt of her own design and was planning to enter it, but when she was in the quilting stage someone had hinted that it wasn’t good enough. Her mother and Linda were looking for a way to encourage her so Linda brought Josie and her quilt to my house. I wasn’t sure what to expect and had put on my best “face of encouragement” when she brought out her truly amazing quilt. It was a pictorial quilt of a horses head and when I asked her if she knew this horse she said only in her mind. Josie had used black and white prints in raw edge appliqué on a blue background with yarn embellishment for the mane. She had done a bit of quilting and was adding the borders “quilt as you go” with piping. The quilt was wonderful! There was a bit of what I’d call “poofiness”, but I was sure that would be remedied with more quilting, so we talked about how to quilt it and finish the borders. I then shared a lesson I’ve learned over the years: We shouldn’t make a quilt to win awards or please a judge. We should make quilts to please ourselves. She left with a smile on her face and I felt grateful to have met her.
Linda called me a while later to let me know that Josie finished her quilt and not only entered it in the County Fair, but won the grand champion award and it would go on to the State Fair. I was so happy for her and glad that she persevered! This past week my dear friend Sharon Grinyer and I went to the Fair together and we were delighted to see a merit award hanging on Josie’s horse quilt!
I can’t wait to see what she does next!
After enjoying the 4H exhibit we decided to “eat our way through the Fair” (a term we borrowed from a winning photo album in one of the exhibits)
And began with the Lion’s Corn roast.
YUM!
I am a member of Patched Lives Quilt Guild and we sponsor 2 awards (non-4H) at the State Fair. So once we were sufficiently full we headed over to see the quilts. Our “small quilt – appliqué” ribbon was awarded to Nancy Gruenewald for her lovely hand quilted piece.
Our “small quilt – pieced” award went to Chris Motl for her delightful circular red and white quilt.
Congratulations to all the winners. The entire exhibit was a feast for the eyes.
From there we went to Oconomowoc to spend some time enjoying the Milwaukee Machine Quilting Show. The Milwaukee Art Quilters had an exhibit of our recent challenge quilts: “Objet D’Arc” hanging there. Each member was given a vintage arc that never grew up to be a Double Wedding Ring quilt and we all did something innovative with it. Sharon was enjoying the creativity.
The quilts and vendors were all very nice and we were glad we had made time for a visit to the show.
The next day I packed up to teach at the Sewing and Quilting Expo held this past weekend in Platteville, WI.
I even talked the ladies in one of my sessions into smiling and waving for you!
I was invited to present 4 different lectures on Saturday, so packing was an adventure. The students were great and I’m sure a wonderful time was had by all.
If you get to the Wisconsin State Fair be sure to look for Josie’s quilt :-)!
Did you get to any fun, quilt related events this past week?
Gail says
Hi Chris!! Last Saturday, my friends, Moe, Geri, Mary, Kathy, Winnie and I went to Cedarburg!! First we stopped at Mars Cheese Castle in Kenosha. Then on to Ye Olde Schoolhouse near Cedarburg, a wonderful shop, we’ve been there a few times before. After that we went to the Wisconsin Quilt Museum. Only one in our group had been there since it opened. A group of us had gone to a fund raising luncheon in the barn, in August. 2005. It was wonderful to see what they did to build the museum on to the barn. First, we were treated to a special tour in the lower level of antique quilts and coverlets. Then upstairs to see the exhibit and we saw your quilts displayed. Then we shopped in the gift shop and went down the lane to the Farmhouse Gallery. After that, we went to downtown Cedarburg for some shopping and wine tasting. Back on the road and stopped at the Cheese Castle again. It was a wonderful trip – shopping, looking at quilts, yakking, blabbing, laughing and of course eating!!
PAtricia G Hayes says
HI Chris, thanks for sharing Josie’s quilt. she is a talented young lady. Wow, good for her. Would loved to have seen it more up close, but I amso happy for her that she is on to more showings. Catch us up please over time as she travels with the her in born talent to show us. Thanks again.
Joanne Howe says
Thursday I had a 4-hour class with Karen McTavish learning the McTavish method of quilting. This was using a domestic machine. Then Friday I took another of her classes on Designing your own quilt designs. I am really looking forward to putting all these ideas to use. The quilts were stunning.
PAtricia G Hayes says
Not familiar with Karen, must check her out. Glad you were learning good stuff, hehe
ary Van Grinsven says
Hi Chris,
This past weekend the Ladies of the Lakes Guild you taught at in May had their quilt show. We have one once every three years! About 250 quilts, quilted garments and challenge projects were on display at the Minocqua, HS. So many awesome displays of talent- it is truly inspiring. Glennes and I and the rest of our guild were very busy for 3 days, but a wonderful show was presented to the public. A bonus for us- we were able to meet Laura:-)) Glennes took a lot of pictures- maybe she will share some:-). I love the horse quilt- I’m sure glad Josie met you and was able to get another perspective. Making a quilt you enjoy yourself is tops on my list, too.
Evelyn says
Great job by Joise. I have a picture of you eating corn at a fair in Alaska. Joan and I are going to the Quilt Museum later this month.
Doreen says
Well done to Josie, it is a beautiful quilt, she is going to go far with her talent!
Lyn says
Hi to all and especially Chris Kirsch,
Chris, I thank you so much for what you have written about my granddaughter Josie, and her quilting. Linda’s time and 4H work is very much appreciated. Josie is an amazing and talented teenager.
clkquilt says
Hi Lyn, You’re welcome. I’m so glad to know Josie – and you too :-)! You must be very proud of her.
Susan Schultz says
Your challenge piece at the Machine Quilting Today show was awesome! It is incredibly creative and drew lots of attention. It was fun to watch people discover the “secret”!
Connie says
I did something fun this past week-end… Sat. my daughter and I were on our way to Door Cty and I suggested we stop in Cedarburg at the Quilt Museum as I had never been there. I was excited to see the awesome quilt you had on display there.,..very interesting. We enjoyed the whole show.. Love your blogs.
Liz Faron says
Josie’s quilt is spectacular. I can’t imagine why anyone would hint it wasn’t good enough. They should be ashamed. Anyway, she got a professional opinion from you, Chris, and the encouragement to keep creating. Thank you! Go Josie!!!!