July 2014 – Everything Old is New Again
Around 300 viewers came to see our fourth biennial show, “Everything Old is New Again”, featuring our 2010-11 charity quilt for the Swallowtail Keepers Society, entitled “Fogbound”. In keeping with our theme, many very old quilts and needlework items were solicited from members and other islanders, and our guild raffle quilt, with the theme name, featured old blocks found in an island attic, then assembled and quilted by guild members. Viewer’s Choice Award went to Mary Brown for her “Storm At Sea” quilt in beautiful shades of blue.
Our small room display was that of a 1940’s kitchen, complete with appliances and furniture of the day, kitchen linens, and cookbooks. The guild challenge was to make an apron to wear at subsequent shows, and these were displayed on the walls of our “kitchen”.
Again we welcomed Sande Gunning of River Gallery, as our vendor. Quiltmobiles were available to those who came by ferry, and light refreshments were served. On Saturday we were all surprised by a strong summer storm which prevented some visitors from coming over on the ferry, and caused a power outage for a couple of hours, which cut down on the number of viewers.
July 2012 – Tidal Treasures
Nearly 100 entries of quilts and other needlework lured 300 viewers to our third biennial show entitled “Tidal Treasures”. New wooden quilt stands made by guild member Beverley Parker’s husband David worked perfectly to hang the quilts for display, and eliminated the time-consuming job of travelling to and from the mainland to pick up rented stands. As usual, light refreshments were provided to viewers. Those who arrived by “Quiltmobile” were met with a comfortable patio just outside the hall’s entrance, providing a space to eat a snack or await a drive back to the ferry. Flower arrangements and the guild’s small raffle quilt greeted folks as they entered the hall. One special item, a wedding shawl knit by Dawn Locke, was displayed on a mannequin dressed in a 1960’s wedding dress.
Our small room was decorated in pink and green depicting a baby girl’s nursery as it might have appeared in the 1930’s and 1940’s. A metal crib rescued from the old Grand Manan hospital was displayed draped with a 1930’s quilt and an old doll, and items such as antique children’s books, antique doll tea sets, and family photos completed the scene.
“Setting Day”, our charity quilt made in 2010-2011 and machine quilted by Jill Lloyd of Quispamsis, NB, was a focal point of the show. Used as a fund-raiser by the Grand Manan Art Gallery, it is now the property of a part-time island resident who won the quilt in 2011. Viewer’s Choice Award went to Jeanne Ingalls with her “Nautical Quilt”, each block illustrating a facet of the fishing industry on Grand Manan and her family’s part in it.
July 2010 – Island Living
Over 300 viewers attended our second quilt and needlework show “Island Living”, including over 30 members of mainland quilt guilds. Our feature room was furnished as an old-fashioned sewing room with treadle sewing machine, wooden ironing board with a small collection of heavy flatirons, a vintage fabric stash, and a quilt frame with a guild member showing the process of quilting. A focal point of the show was our 2008-2009 charity quilt, “Let It Shine” made to benefit Action Ministries. A guild challenge was met by 15 members who designed and made small projects based on the show’s theme. Maudie Morse’s quilt, “Tree of Life”, won the Viewer’s Choice Award at the end of the show. Sande Gunning, owner of River Gallery fabric and wool shop near Brown’s Flat, NB, was our vendor and many guild members as well as visitors took advantage of the chance to purchase some of her beautiful wares.
July 2008 – The Warm Island
July, 2008 marked our first island quilt show with the theme “The Warm Island”. The show, at the North Head Baptist Vestry, featured thirty large quilts and several small ones, as well as weaving, needle point, embroidery, hooked rugs, knitting and cross stitch. Of particular interest to the spectators was a small room furnished cozily as an old-fashioned bedroom with spool bed, antique cradle, and crazy quilts of velvets and silks made in the late 1800’s. All of the work on display was made or owned by islanders, and many of the quilts were of historical interest. Our community quilt, “Herring Days” was on display, and narrowly won the Viewer’s Choice Award at the end of the show. Mary Brown’s quilt, “The Learning Quilt”, was voted second most popular with viewers.
Visitors arriving by ferry were provided free drives from the wharf to the church hall in “Quiltmobiles” driven by friends and husbands.
