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| 2017 Ringgold Quilt Expo at The Depot, Ringgold, GA. |
Two guild friends and I were able to attend a local quilt show last weekend in Ringgold, Georgia, a town just south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The end-of-August weather was pleasantly cooperative and the event was well attended by quilters and visitors who were treated to over 100 lovely quilts made by area quiltmakers.
The show offered a menu of concurrent events— vendors, Quilts of Valor presentations, a bed turning, demos and my friend,
Holly Anderson, a certified quilt appraiser, was available on Thursday for quilt appraisals and consultations.
With the quilt show's theme of Civil War and Underground Railroad (the exhibit was held at the Historic Ringgold Depot), many of the quilts were traditional in design, pattern and fabric choice. But the show was open to other categories and styles and a few modern style quilts, quilts made from fabric panels and vintage quilts were sprinkled throughout the exhibit. An exquisite Baltimore album quilt made by a local quilter and long-arm machine quilted by my friend and fellow CMQG member, Carolyn Rippee, was awarded Best of Show.
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| Baltimore album quilt awarded Best of Show. |
Many of our area quilt shops had tables at the vendor mall. These wonderful local quilt shop owners are fabulous supporters of the quilting community!
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| Jacki Cory teaches classes at Old Woolen Mill studio in Cleveland, TN. |
Here are a few of the quilts of which I was able to get a picture. (If anyone knows their makers, please leave a comment and I'll fill in the captions.) The fabric colors and values in this scrappy one were wonderful.
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| Scrappy Star string quilt. |
This one spoke to me. I love the juxtaposition of the classic hatchet block patchwork with a fusible applique border. Contemporary Broderie perse!
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| Patchwork with an applique border. |
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| House quilt and a holiday quilt. |
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| This contemporary quilt incorporates a panel. |
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| Underground Railroad (left) and a row quilt. |
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| Variation on a Bethlehem or Lone Star pattern. |
This one reminded me of Mary Kerr and her vintage-with-a-twist method of patchwork.
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| Vintage quilt. |
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| Another Baltimore Album quilt. |
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| Applique map of the United States by Anna McDonald (age 12) or Ringgold, GA. |
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| Redwork quilt. |
There was also the opportunity for anyone to take a seat at the frame and hand quilt this quilt-in-progress. These vintage blocks were found and pieced into a top specifically for this hands-on experience.
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| Hand quilting a vintage quilt top at a quilting frame. |
Whomever participated in this hand quilting activity had their name submitted into a jar for a chance to win the quilt. What a wonderful prize that would be.
For a first-time quilting event, the hard work of the volunteers, participants and sponsors paid off and it was a lovely showing of work by area quiltmakers. Any suggestions or ideas for making this show bigger/better/bolder for next year, let me know and I'll pass along the feedback.
