This weekend I unexpectedly was able to attend the 35th Annual Capital City Quilt Show at the Museum of Florida History. I have only gone to one other quilt show, and was blown away by the quilts that I saw there that I went into this one with high expectations. This show exceeded my expectations and has set the bar rather high for future shows that I attend.
Sentimental Journey, the 35th Annual Capital City Quilt Show
The Capital City Quilt Show is put on by the Quilters Unlimited guild of Tallahassee. This year the quilts were all part of the theme Sentimental Journey. Since different things can be sentimental to different people, the types of quilts were extremely varied, yet all of them were impressive in their own way. My favorite aspect of this show was that every quilt had a small blurb explaining the story behind the quilt.
People’s Choice Rings of Time by Betty Ford-Smith
Some of these were short and to the point but others were more elaborate like the People’s Choice Rings of Time that was hand pieced and hand quilted by Betty Ford-Smith, a first-time exhibitor. “This quilt was made under the watchful eyes of the 92-year-old master quilter who taught me her grandmother’s cuckleburr pattern. I cut and folded five inch squares for five months, sewing each triangle on one at a time by hand and carefully selecting the colors for each row.”
Close-up of People’s Choice Rings of Time by Betty Ford-Smith
I had never seen a cuckleburr quilt (aka a pine cone quilt) in person before and was fascinated by this quilt and the Purple Katell Pine Cone quilt that was also submitted by Betty Ford-Smith.
What Was She Thinking? by Shelley Woodyard
Some of the quilts left an emotional impact like What Was She Thinking?, hand quilted and hand appliqued by Shelley Woodyard, a first-time exhibitor. “As a child, my only exposure to quilting was the double wedding ring quilt from my grandmother who placed my mother, with her brothers, into an orphanage in 1921. In 2008, this photo-the day the children left home-was found. The woman looking on is my grandmother. What was she thinking?”
Three Sisters, One Quilt by Barbara Springthorpe
And Three Sisters, One Quilt, hand pieced, machine pieced, machine quilted and hand appliqued by Barbara Springthorpe, a first-time exhibitor. “This quilt is a combination of five finished works by my two late sisters. One was a traditional quilter and loved applique. The other sister learned Hawaiian quilting while living there in the 1980s-1990s. It was time to take these pieces out of storage and bring them into the light for my sentimental journey.”
Another one of Shelley Woodyard’s quilts really hit home for me, as I went through something similar not too long ago. Garland Instead of Ashes, hand quilted and machine pieced by Shelley Woodyard. “During a series of crises, I lacked the required energy for my quilting projects. ‘Star Patch,’ by Marcie Patch, begins with cutting 2,403 1 1/2” squares. I knew I could cut squares! The tiny scraps accumulated. Little by little these pieces became a ‘garland instead of ashes’ (Isaiah 61:3).”
Garland Instead of Ashes by Shelley Woodyard
Throughout my quilting journey, I have realized that every quilt has a story, be it the fabric used, the person it is for, or what was going on at the time it was made. I think this is one of the things that makes quilting so special for me. I spent almost two hours roaming the Museum of Florida History looking at quilts and reading their stories. These are only a small selection of the quilts that I was able to enjoy and I could probably go on for days about all the quilts I saw there. Sadly, I didn’t know about the show until I arrived in Tallahassee, otherwise I would have extended my vacation to be able to spend more time with them.
The 35th Annual Capital City Quilt Show runs at the Museum of Florida History until September 24th, 2017. If you are in, or planning on visiting, the Florida panhandle, I strongly suggest taking some time to check it out. Admission and parking are free, though donations are encouraged. If you are unable to make it in time, the Museum of Florida History has a pinterest board featuring the quilts.
