Images 2010 at the Lowell Quilt Festival

Images http://www.nequiltmuseum.org/events/lowell-quilt-festival.html  is the New England Quilt Museum's http://www.nequiltmuseum.org/  juried and judged quilt show, presented to support the museum.   This year the show was held at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, which was stuffed to the gills (oops, my Wisc side is showing!) with absolutely beautiful quilts, vendors, raffles, quilters and enduring fans.   One of the happiest quilts I saw was Owsley's Owls by Maria Shell of Anchorage, AK.   Would you believe this is Broderie Perse ? 

 

Members from my guild, The Squanicook Colonial Quilt Guild http://www.scqg.org/ , represented us well - Kathie Beltz, Angie Callbeck, Melissa Heys, Cath Hallsworth, Beth Helfter, Michelle Banton, Carol Conaway, Linda Brooke, Jeane Brown, Rose Wuoti, Norma King, Donna Rosander, Barbara Townsend, Janet Arsenault, Jill McCaffrey, Sue Fors - and Barbara even won a ribbon for her Watercolor Madness.   I apologize if I missed any Squanicookies !

How impressive, that so many of the most beautiful quilts were hand-quilted !   If only I had the time, patience and skill.   These quilters are to be commended for keeping the pure art alive.
Now, I don't want to offend the machiners out there, but there's just something really special about a hand-quilted piece.

Baltimore Album quilts seem to making a comeback big time.   My favorite was was Cape Cod Baltimore by Alison Lescher of Falmouth, MA (on the Cape)    Here's a couple photos of that quilt:

I love green and white quilts.   Some day I will make one.   In the meantime, I will enjoy others.  The green and white shown below is called Christmas Harmony and was created by Anne Smith of West Dennis, MA and Marjorie Lydecker of Yarmouthport, MA - both from the Cape.

Having seen as much as possible, we headed out for a bite to eat and stumbled across a small cafe, where we were greeted by the owner/head chef, with the biggest smile - I think she was actually happy we were there.    The little restaurant was bright and clean and fun.   The service was 100 out of 10 and the food, well, let's just say, right up there with the best.   If you're ever in the heart of Lowell, MA, look for Mama Lia's at 25 Merrimack Street.    And... we took some of her menus back to the show and passed them out to anyone, who looked hungry !

Having seen the show, we then walked to the Quilt Museum, where we viewed the wonderful Contemporary Broderie Perse: An Elegant Revival exhibit.   What a treat !   

As always, the day must end, but what a fun day it was !   Think the best part of the day was just being with and seeing friends and enjoying all that quilting brings to our lives.

                                                                               And sew on...

                                                                                    Jeanne