National Quilting Day!!

Today is National Quilting Day!  From The National Quilting Association's website, I learned that they began sponsoring National Quilting Day in June 1991.  The third Saturday in March is officially designated as National Quilting Day and this year marks the 23rd celebration.
I have been reading all week about online specials and special events going on to celebrate.  I decided to go check out an event the Sunset Slope Quilt Guild sponsored at our local mall.  My hubby graciously agreed to go with me.

I guess I expected just a small table with pamphlets and information to share with curious onlookers, but this was really quite the event!  I had a good time looking around at the quilts displayed and the education they were providing to the public about quilting.


In this picture, Val is demonstrating hand quilting on a lap hoop.  The quilt she is working on was pieced in the late 1800's.  Val is Laura Pedge's mother and helps her with quilt restoration work.

They had a "bed turning", however instead of a real bed they used tables.  I have read that in the past a quilter would invite her sewing circle friends over, serve refreshments, and show off the quilts she had made by layering several of them on the bed and then showing them one by one.  Today, bed turnings are popular at quilt shows, as a unique way to show quilts and tell their stories.  You can see in the picture that the ladies handling the quilts are wearing white gloves and answering questions about the quilt from the onlookers.

There were several quilts to see in the bed turning.  The Fan quilt below was made by Mary Biesecker.  She had given it to her son-in-law so he drove it over from Denver, arriving at 1:30 AM to get it here in time for this event.  That meant a lot to Mary and her daughter.

I really liked this Paper Doll quilt and the Owl quilt below.

I love the "wise old owl" quote!

This is June with her Kaffe table runner.  The runner is border with yo-yos.  I can't begin to tell you how many yo-yos June has made :)

They had someone demonstrating fabric painting as well.








And they were tying a Bronco quilt.

June's rabbit table runner - more yo-yos!

Kudos to the Sunset Slope Quilters for sponsoring an amazing event and helping the general public to learn more about the art of quilting!!