The Whatcom County Museum presents these upcoming quilt exhibits and events:

American Quilts: The Democratic Art
opens to the public August 4 - October 28, 2012

Along with the exhibit they will be offering two programs opening weekend:

Quilts in Women's Lives: Threads Through Time Saturday, August 4, 3 p.m.

$3 suggested donation; Museum members free
Old City Hall

More than just blankets, quilts commemorate beginnings, endings, passages and celebrations. Julie Silber, co-curator of American Quilts: The Democratic Art, 1708 – 2007, offers a rich, illustrated presentation that places quilts in the context of the lives of the women who made them, and those who lived with them. Julie is one the world's most respected quilt authorities. Curator of the renowned Esprit quilt collection in San Francisco, she is co-author of "Hearts and Hands," and "Amish: The Art of the Quilt."

Quilt Market Sunday, August 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

$3 suggested donation; Museum members free

Internationally known quilt dealers Julie Silber, Jean Demeter, Jane Lury and David Hupert display 19th and early 20th century American, English, and French quilts in this one-day pop-up market — a great opportunity to see and learn about these wonderful textiles. Beginning and advanced collectors will find suitable quilts for purchase as will someone wanting just one piece to warm a room. Verbal appraisals of quilts brought to the Market, $10 per quilt.

For more and updated information, visit:

www.whatcommuseum.org

Congratulations to Angie Cynkar of Everett who won our quilt, "All Around Town" at the drawing on Saturday, June 2nd.  She is pictured here, picking up her prize at Cascade Fabrics.  She purchased her ticket at the Skagit County Fair last summer and was so surprised to be the winner!  She is thinking about becoming a quilter...this might give her the inspiration!

Finding our audience - from car show to quilt show!

Special poster positioning for car show attendees on June 3 in downtown Sedro-Woolley!

[Yes, this is lime green duct tape.]

"Blast of Stars" People's Choice Winners!

Woolley Fiber Quilters “Blast of Stars” Quilt Show 2012 – June 1-2-3
Winners in the People’s Choice voting categories:

"Retirement, O Retirement" by Roxanne Freberg

Large Quilts

1^st           Roxanne Freberg, Stanwood                       “Retirement, O Retirement”
2^nd          Judy Johnson, Sedro-Woolley                      “Apple Core” [pieced by Mary Pixley, Cedar Grove NC, quilted by Carol Stonecipher, Madison, IN]
3^rd          Erin Swieter, Sedro-Woolley                        “Celebrating 40 Years”

Small Quilts

1^st           Julie Anderson, Sedro-Woolley                   “Coneflower”
2^nd          Janet Quam, Sedro-Woolley                        “African Pie”
3^rd          Janet Quam, Sedro-Woolley                        “Tilting Tulips in Red”

Miniature Quilts

1^st           Elinor Nakis, Sedro-Woolley                        “Coming Home”
2^nd          Janet Quam, Sedro-Woolley                        “Orange and Red Tulip #2”
3^rd          Judy Johnson, Sedro-Woolley                      “Tiffany Kitty”

Youth  Quilts

1^st           Lydia Williamson, Sedro-Woolley                             “Rose Patch”

Theme Quilts – on the theme “Stars”

1^st           Charlotte Furchert, Sedro-Woolley                           “Freedom”
2^nd          Linda Downing, Sedro-Woolley                                 “Woolley’s Starry Night”
3^rd          Noni Moody, Sedro-Woolley                                      “I see a star…I see a star”

Challenge Quilts – quilts to represent a book

1^st           Sharyn Erickson, Mt. Vernon                                      “Hens on Heels Go to Town”
2^nd          Amy Lanning, Sedro-Woolley                                     “Happy Hoo Hoos”
3^rd          Joy Neal, Mount Vernon                                              “Dragons and Dreams”

Category – Other

1^st           Marilyn Dite, Sedro-Woolley                                      “Chick Table Topper”
2^nd          Linda Downing, Sedro-Woolley                                 “Medallion Jacket and Purse”
3^rd          Jan Schuirman, Sedro-Woolley                                   “Purrfection” [jacket]

Winners in the Judge’s Choice category

Judge Nick Van Jaarsveld selected “Giant Dahlia” by Gail Hinds of Sedro-Woolley
Judge Kathy McNeill selected “River of Gold” by Shawnie Kaminski of Sedro-Woolley
The staff of Joy’s Bakery selected “Glacier Star” by Debbie Wallace Dietrich of Kennewick

Blast of Stars is over, but WHAT A GREAT SHOW!  Thanks to everyone who worked on the show and showed quilts, and a very special thanks to those who attended.  We appreciate you all and hope you enjoyed our effort to share quilting with you.  The Skagit Valley is full of enthusiastic quilters! 

People's Choice winners and more photos will be posted here in the next day or so.  Visit often!

Day 2 of Blast of Stars!  More fun with many local folks in attendance along with some who came from a little farther away, such as those from Vancouver, WA and Silverdale!

We added new members and wrapped up our People's Choice voting.  The ribbons have been awarded - who won?  We'll find out in the morning at 10 a.m.

Take a look at these samples of our quilting fun and plan to join us on day 3!!

Wow!  What a great first day of the Blast of Stars Quilt show!  Great attendance and support from the community - and some traveled quite a ways to see our fun show!  200+ quilts on display, seven vendors, a member boutique with finished items for sale, demonstrations of various types of quilting, and lots of spontaneous frivolity!  SUPER THANKS to all the dedicated volunteers who made this happen and MEGA THANKS to the quilters who let us display their quilts.

Here are a few tidbits to whet your appetite for more!  Come see us at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning!