Maine State Quilt Show

We just got back from our day at the Maine State Quilt Show.  Maine has a statewide guild, with chapters throughout the state.  Each of those chapters can have a show of there own, but once a year, there is a huge show in our capital, Augusta with quilts from all over the state.  So today, Brenda, Suzanne and I drove up and had a ball!  Of course, we stopped at a couple of Mardens along the way (huge discount chain here in Maine, and they have a fabric section....yay!)

There was quite a lot of variety this year again.....that's always nice!  And I noticed quite a few quilts have those little sparkle dots (like a small rhinestone) attached to them.  And a lot of beading as well.  Several quilts had so much quilting.....micro-stippling really.....that I'll bet they were stiff as a board!  But WOW, the quilting was really great!

I think you can click on most of the pics and get better detail.

The show is held at the Civic Center, and totally fills the floor.  Vendors line all of the walls, and an additional room!  The quilts were displayed in rows that were probably only 8 feet across to the next quilt, so standing back and getting full shots was nearly impossible......most of the pics are of the main design, or a special block I really liked.

This was really lovely, and the textured from the quilting was great!

Fun colors....and I really liked the built up circles.

These next 6 pics are all miniature quilts.....really fabulous!

This was the largest, and was only about 18 inches square!

This had the little sparkles attached.....and it truly glowed!  Wonderful quilting on it, too!

This was my favorite quilt.....it was such a splash of fun colors.....not my palette at all, but I just love it!

Gorgeous.....both of them!

Amazing hand quilting and applique on this one.....I just love the colors in it, too!  Who knew yellow and red could look so good together!  lol

This had a really sweet border with those sprigs of flowers.

The applique and the hand quilting on this one was so beautiful!  Really lovely work.

The show also had an antique quilt room, with more than a dozen amazing quilts, dating back as far as 1830's.    Unfortunately, they would not allow pictures of the antique quilts.....dang!

Suzanne purchased a great quilt kit from one of the vendors, and also a book she's been wanting.  Brenda and I behaved ourselves, and only spent a smidgen at Mardens on the way home.

And just before we got to Suzanne's house to drop her off.....she showed us a fun little local 'quirk'.  This is a tree stump turned upside down, and the roots have been planted with petunias!  It's so fun!  And there was a second one on the other side of the house, but not near as big.

That was quite a feat turning that tree upside down and 'replanting' it so it would stay!  Yikes!  As I walked around it, I saw the soaker hose peeking out of the center.....so they are really working at keeping those flowers going!  I love this!  Totally cool!

And now I'd better get busy on some quilting.....there are a few priorities already stacking up!  Oy!

Hope you are having a great weekend!

regan