Maine Quilts 2006: A Show Review
by Patricia Cummings
photos by James Cummings
As usual, the statewide Pine Tree Quilters' quilt show, which represents works from all over Maine, was an exciting event. In spite of the crowds and the heat, it was fun to see the quilts that were made over the long Maine winter. There were so many quilts, it was difficult to “take it all in,” particularly in the heat, as the air-conditioning unit had broken down.
Upon entering the hall on the first level of the Civic Center, we were met with two rows of lobster-theme, “Lobsta Chowdah,” quilts. The one that caught our fancy was a small quilt in the shape of a state pf Maine car license plate. The word “Chowdah,” says it all. Yes, we really do talk like that in New England, especially “down east,” as they say.
The 18” x 9” quilt by Ann Woodhead of Auburn is colorful and riveting. She says, “The design and pattern came courtesy of the on-line site of the Maine State Department of Motor Vehicles.”
A special exhibit was that of quilts inspired by Linda Poole's “fairy” design, and the fantasy stories created about each quilt.
Overall this year, the quilts seemed to be mostly traditional in theme. A star quilt captured a “Judge's Choice” award. Many quilters took home ribbons for their work. As we quickly breezed through the show, it was clear that we would have stopped longer with each quilt, were it not for the number of people in attendance, and the soaring temperatures of the hall.
Special Exhibit
The Antique Quilt Exhibit this year was chaired by Cyndi Black and Stephanie Hatch, and offered a gathered assortment of examples of so-called “potholder quilts.” One of them belongs to the Maine State Museum, and others are privately owned. The small room was intensely hot, but it was fun to at least catch a glimpse of the quilts which ranged from the 1840s to the 1940s.
This type of quilt has blocks that are completed with a finished edge, and then they are whip-stitched together to make a quilt. They appear to have only been created in a small area of Maine.
My favorite one was made in 1851, and was a Sampler quilt that has some unusual blocks and a substantial amount of chrome yellow fabrics. The quilt was made for a four poster bed and had its original "ties" for securing the bottom of the quilt around the bed posts.
Outline Stitch Embroidery
The above photo is the center portion of the quilt, "Just Plane Crazy,"
described below.
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This year, I mainly noticed the quilts made with Outline Stitch embroidery. One Bluework quilt entitled, “Just Plane Crazy,” (81” x 92”) was created by Jeri Kahl and Jesse Salk of Monmouth, ME.
The quilt honors two family members who love airplanes and it features seventy-two small blocks of various airplane designs. The center features one airplane motif in Redwork. All of the line drawings for the planes were found in magazines, or on the Internet, and the project partners just “flew away with this project.” Alice Koroski machine-quilted the project.
Above is a portion of a quilt entitled, "Halloween Redwork in Rust"
“Halloween Redwork in Rust” by Jill Fox of Falmouth Maine, was created from a pattern given to her by a friend, and was machine-quilted by Jacalyn Lander-Millard. The rust color embroidery floss seems unusual, but appropriate, to stitch pumpkins and other fall motifs. The quilt measures 47” x 47”.
"Green Romance" is a lovely quilt that utilizes many techniques.
“Green Romance,” a 34” x 35” Greenwork quilt by Diana Reinhardt had its origins in a 1986 issue of Better Homes and Gardens. The designer's name is not mentioned. The centered features two embroidered hands holding a bouquet of flowers.
The quilt sparkles because of the little green jewels that are attached in strategic places, such as the finger of one hand. The show bulletin states that the following techniques were used: hand embroidery, trapunto, micro-stippling and machine quilting. I fell in love with this beautiful little quilt.
“Frisky,” is a 32” x 61” quilt composed of embroidered blocks that Pamela M. Livingstone of Winthrop, Maine, made as a child. She hand-quilted the piece and says that the “quilt is very much like the ones my grandmother made.” The quilter added prairie points on the quilt's edges.
Civil War Quilt Reproduction
This "Civil War Reproduction Bar Quilt" measures 62" x 84".
Another quilt that caught my fancy was a Civil War Reproduction quilt made by Eileen M. Adams, of Rehoboth, MA. The fabrics are all Civil War reproduction fabrics, reproduction shirting prints, or "homespun" fabrics. The quilt was machine-quilted.
New Policy Needed?
One thing we could not help but notice was the lack of a mention of a number of designers whose work was represented in the show. To us, it seems misleading to the public to not list where a quilter found the design she made. Perhaps the show organizers might make that information a requirement on the show entry forms, in the future.
For example, a distinctive wall hanging of “Santa with a Birdhouse,” is actually a Jan Kornfeind design. However, no mention of Jan was made. This is just one example. The quilt jumped out at me because I know Jan's work well.
To acknowledge other people's work is always a good thing to do. Machine quilters have fought long and hard to have their names included when a quilt is published in a magazine or placed in a show. The same regard should be afforded to designers.
Great Effort
Overall, we were so happy to attend this year's show! A lot of work goes into creating a large show of this magnitude and our hats are off to all of the guild members and show organizers, vendors, teachers, and judges. Without them, this kind of event would not be possible. Thank you!
Maine Quilts next year will be held at the Augusta Civic Center again from July 27-29, 2007.
Visit the Pine Tree Quilters Guild at: http://www.mainequilts.org
Questions? Comments? Write to: pat@quiltersmuse.com
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