Hey Ho, Hey Ho, It's off to Maine we go...

As you can no doubt guess, I have been away... again! My friend Sandi Mac called me the other day and said she had been reading my Blog and thought I was just having too much fun! Well Sandi, you're right!! That's what summer is all about!! I am just back from a four day trip to Maine to attend Maine Quilts 2010. My friend Karen Henry and I traveled to Augusta on Friday and enjoyed the Show and Merchants Mall on Friday and Saturday; we each took a class on Sunday (more about that later) and made our way back across the border on Monday. We had a blast together: lots of chat, good food and laughter....
Maine Quilts is always an excellent show and they bring in top name teachers for 3 days of classes. I don't understand why more quilters in our area do not take advantage of the high calibre "faculty". It's only a four hour drive and the registration cost is very reasonable. I'll tell you more about our classes in another post, tonight I want to share with you a few of the prize winners.
"Best of Show" went to Nancy Prince of Orlando Florida for "Life in Holly Ridge", above. This
75" x 53" piece contains approximately 50,000 yards of thread and 5 million stitches in the thread painted designs. (No embroidery cards were used.) The background fabric was hand painted and inks were used to ink the doors and windows on the buildings. This hand appliqued, thread painted wallhanging was exquisite. It certainly deserved the "Best of Show" and "Exceptional Merit" ribbons it received. There was always a cluster of people around it ooohing and ahhhing... therefore it was challenging to get a good "straight on" shot. I have included several detail shots so you can appreciate the threadwork and detail. Click on each for a closer view.

"Viewers Choice" went to Jo Bunker of Auburn Maine for "My Garden Quilt" (82" x 82"). This beauty was hand pieced, hand appliqued and hand quilted on a 14" hoop. My photo has the quilt edges cut off , but you can view the full quilt on the Maine Quilts website here. This detail shot below allows you to see the hand quilting a little better. (Click for a close-up view) This quilt was entered as a "display" piece only- i.e. it was not entered for judging, (what a shame!) so I am glad it won Viewers Choice. The colors were lovely and the applique and quilting were beautifully done. The artist statement said she used patterns from various sources, plus a garden catalogue! Well done indeed!
I have many more quilts to show you from this 33rd annual show, but it is late, I am tired and I still have a few things to do before I can lay my head down. Tomorrow we are off to a friend's cottage for a few days so you will have to check back on Friday for more from Maine Quilts 2010.

Piece,
Linda

My soul is fed by needle and thread.