Quilts - Rain or Shine

Hi everyone:

Not even the deluge of rain that Calgary recently experienced could dampen the enthusiasm of quilters for a quilt show. The Heritage Park Festival of Quilts was a little wetter than usual, but the sun did eventually come out for a beautiful Sunday so that quilts could be hung outside for all to enjoy.

Some of the quilts on the Wainwright Hotel balcony

Heritage Park is a 1910 prairie railway town in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. When you enter Heritage Park, you take a step back in time and can imagine what life would've been like in the early 1900's. I can't imagine a more appropriate venue for the Festival of Quilts, which is held annually on the last week-end in May. This year there were over 800 quilts on display. 

I was helping out at the Quilter's Connection magazine booth for the week-end, but did manage to sneak in some quilt viewing and shopping (just a bit). 

Heather McArthur of Quilter's Connection magazine

On Saturday I was able to chat with the Prairie Quilt Mercantile gals, Devon and Sharon. They've just released their first book, Fresh from the Prairies, and I was fortunate enough to snag a copy. I love the quilts in this book - so traditional, yet fresh. I'll have a review of their book in a future blogpost.

Sharon Smith and Devon Lavigne from Prairie Quilt Mercantile

As the weather wasn't very cooperative on Saturday and very few quilts were hung outside, I saved most of my quilt viewing until Sunday. My buddy, Lee of Lala's Lovelys accompanied me as we enjoyed the quilts and the sun. Here are a few of my favourite quilts.

Curling Fun by Naoko Miyazaki, Calgary

Lee's quilt, 430 Days, her version of Bonnie Hunter's Orca Bay

Spider Web by Vanecea Greene, Calgary

Kitty Among the Flowers by Lori Slack, James River Bridge
Based on a Laundry Basket Quilts pattern, Location, Location, Location

Tree of Life by Doreen Ryning, Calgary
Quilted by Chris Tessier

Mumbo Gumbo by Marie McEachern, Calgary
A Pie in the Sky pattern

Pineapple Party by Nancy Basserman
Inspired by the book, "Pineapple Quilt" by Loretta Smith

Santa's Backup Crew by Gail Banks

Grand Canyon Splendour by Thelma Lucille Traub, Calgary