Pride of the Prairie Quilt Show

This weekend my large quilt guild had it's bi-annual quilt show.  I love this quilt show.  It is one of the reason's that I joined the quilt guild. 

I had a booth showing off and doing demo's on some of my vintage sewing machines.  This is the 4th time I've had a booth.  No, I do not sell anything at the show, but, I do take my cards, and hand them out to people who have questions about machines. 

I took 16 machines this year.  I only take one treadle each time, since they take up so much space in the car.  Speaking of cars, it's been a crazy week.  We arrived home from Alaska late on Tuesday night.  On Wednesday morning, when I got in my car, it wouldn't move.  I thought the transmission was out, but, the parking brake was frozen to the back brake drums.  The car hadn't been moved in 3 weeks, after snow and rain.  Hubby started working on the car on Wednesday night, and, by Friday noon, he finally freed the last wheel.  Until then, I wasn't sure how we'd get all my machines to the show, since it takes 2 cars. 

1881 Singer 12 treadle

My booth is down the hall, behind this treadle.  I get the hall to myself, so I can spread out as much as I like.  They offered to put me in with the vendors, but, then I'd be limited by space.  I'd prefer the hall. 

more machines

Behind the treadle, I put my folding chairs that I'd decorated in January.  The wheelies were on the folding chairs.  The chairs and the wheelies got lots of attention.  I'm thinking that Menard's will be selling out of the furniture movers this next week.  Oops!  Menard's went up in price.  Oh well, still worth the extra $1. 

I had 2 long tables full of vintage machines. I used some of the antique quilts that I've collected, to display the machines on.

13 machines on these tables

Here are the machines I took.

Approx 1927 Frister & Rossman Model E

1927 Singer 15

early 1900's Gritzner VS (back, left) 1925 Singer 99 (front) 1914 Singer 66K (back, right)

1911-12 Bradbury VS, 1878-1885 Wheeler & Wilson #8

W&W #8 (back, left) 1939 Singer Featherweight (front, left) 1923 Singer 128 (back, center) 1930's Casige (toy, front) 1921 Singer 66 (back, right)

1921 Singer 66 (back, left) 1880 Willcox & Gibbs (front) 1950's Home Mark (electric, back, right)

At the table, at the front is where I sat and stitched.  The table is for a Singer 401/301 short bed machine.  I put one of my 301's in the slot for the machine, then set up another machine to sew on.

1953 Singer 301A, sitting in it's card table

Post WWII Universal Japanese class 15

I stitched all weekend on the aqua 'Universal' hand crank.  I am participating in 2 different block exchanges with my Treadle On group.  Over the weekend I finished 3 sets of blocks for the exchanges.

I finished a set of Chocolate 9 patch blocks (2 sets left to stitch).  I thought the 'mint chocolate' went well with this machine.

Chocolate 9 patch blocks

I also finished 2 sets of 4 patch blocks for the Spring Basic exchange.  I also color coordinated the fabrics to the machine.  Check out the aqua green sewing machine on the red fabric.  The other fabric is pins.

4 patch blocks

4 patch blocks

Half of my blocks are done now.  I never expect to get much sewing done, since it's more fun to answer questions about the machines than to stitch. 

I got to meet a member of Treadle On at the quilt show, and also a few people who read my blog.  Also, I already have 2 emails from people asking for information on machines.  Great!  I love to help people get their machines up and running. 

I know it was a quilt show, and you are expecting to see quilts.  When I finally got to go see the quilts, I forgot to bring my camera.  Sorry.  The only pictures I have are of my entries.

This is the Peter Pan quilt that is hanging in my new granddaughter's room.  I thought I'd show it instead of it's twin, that was at the show. 

Peter Pan quilt

Here is my Family Reunion quilt.  There are 2 of these quilts, too, one for me, and one that was raffled off at the reunion.

me, with the owner of the 2nd Family reunion quilt

Here is the Elephant challenge quilt. (only one of these quilts)

Elephant Walk

I also entered one of the purses that I've made.  It was the first one of this style.  It was from a class with my other quilt guild.  I've since made several of this style.

purse

And my last entry was one of my project bags.  Yes, I've made quite a few of these.  I also made 2 project bags that were donated to the silent auction at the quilt show.  Several people noticed, since I also had 3 of my project bags at my booth, holding my sewing projects.

project bag

It was a fun weekend full of quilts, vintage sewing machines, and new (and old) friends.  I even got some time on Sunday to visit the vendor booths.  Oops!  I came home with more fabric (hey, who can resist those great, discounted prices)? 

I'm taking a break, then I'll start putting machines away in the morning.  I don't think you can walk in my living room at the moment (the floor is covered with machines). 

I'm looking forward to the next quilt show, in 2020.