Saturday, March 14, 2026

Pride of the Prairie Quilt Show (2026)

My large quilt guild is having it's bi-annual quilt show this weekend.  I only had time to take photos of the quilts & items that I entered this morning. I entered 17 items, and 13 of the items were in judged categories.  There is a new category, Found and Finished, for items that we 'found' somewhere and finished.  This category isn't judged, just displayed.  I wasn't expecting to win any ribbons (we have many excellent quilters in this guild), BUT, I got 4 ribbons!!!  Two First place ribbons, a 2nd place ribbon and a 3rd place ribbon!!!  WOW!!!

I have rushed to finish these quilts since the end of November.  Most of December I didn't get anything done, since I aggravated the arthritis in BOTH of my thumbs, and they were VERY painful most of the month.  

I don't have photos of the ribbons yet (I found out I won 15 minutes before the show closed for the day).

I also have a booth with 14 of my vintage sewing machines (didn't have time to take photos of the booth, either).  My booth is the first booth as you enter the vendor mall area, so quite a few people checked out my machines.  I handed out lots of my business cards for people to contact me about parts and how to get their vintage machines up and running. I don't sell anything, so I get the booth for free.

Here are MY quilts that are in the quilt show:

Storm at Sea Cross quilts (#1) (42” x 51”) quilted by ME (1/9/26), Pattern: Storm at Sea Cross (from online photo) Finished 1/27/26, Won First Place!!!


Challenge Quilt (The Snowstorm) (30 ”x42 ”) quilted by ME, Pattern: mine, Finished 3-9-26, Won First Place!!! The challenge was to make a quilt about a book that has special meaning, like a book from our childhood, etc.  Well, I chose a book I have read almost every year since 6th grade.  The Scholastic book version is call 'The Snow Ghosts', but the original title is 'The Snowstorm' by Beryl Netherclift (1967).


Striped Circle Shadows (68” x 90”) quilted by Ann Jordan (10/6/25), Pattern: mine (circle shadows), Finished 12/28/2025, Won 2nd Place.


Duffle Bag (20”x7”x11”) quilted by ME, Pattern: Dots + Blocks Modern Duffle (Sew4Home), Finished 2025, WON Third Place!!!


This quilt was from a block exchange with my Treadle On group way back in 2015.  It took me over 10 years to finish this quilt, but it was worth it.

Modern Twiggy (2015 Kona Ash TOBE) (66.5 ”x77.5 ”) quilted by Ann Jordan (1/28/26) Finished 2/17/26.


This is another quilt from a Treadle On block exchange.  I'm including a photo of the back to show the creative signature blocks.

Radiant Suns TOBE (58” x 77”) quilted by Ann Jordan (11/3/25) Finished 11/29/25

front

back (signature blocks)

Patriotic Storm at Sea (63” x 72”) quilted by Ann Jordan (10/6/25). Pattern: GO! From Sea to Shining Sea. Finished 1/22/2026


String Crossroads (Family Reunion Blocks Baby quilt (#1)) (49” x 49”)(quilted by me 10/31/25). Pattern: String Crossroads (The Eclectic Abulela). Red Minkee backing, Finished 12/13/25.

I made 3 of these, but I've already given one away, and I still have one to quilt.  These were made from leftover Family Reunion blocks from 2023.  I also had enough blocks leftover to make the table runner, which was also in the quilt show.



I taught a table runner class 2 years ago at my church.  I made this one using different fabrics and finally finished both, but only entered this one in the quilt show.


Here is the table runner that I didn't enter:


I didn't finish the quilting on this quilt, since my Janome jammed, and it took several weeks to get it fixed.  I got the binding done on another machine, and turned it in.  I'll finish the last of the quilting in a week or two.  Other than the judge, I don't think anyone noticed that it wasn't finished.

Angels Among Us (58” x 72”) as finished as it will be before the quilt show, Pattern: Angels Among Us Calendar Quilt. Binding is done! (2/23/26) (still needs 8 blocks stitched around in the frames - Janome jammed and had to be serviced, and ran out of time).


I made this quilt for my grandkids.  It is an I Spy quilt.

I-Spy (large) (80” x 80”) quilted by ME (1/6/26) Pattern: Tickety-boo (AU). Bicycle backing fabric, finished 2/6/26.


I've made two baby quilts with these blocks in the last few months (both already given to the babies).  Here are the other quilts, set differently, that were NOT in the quilt show.



I made 3 bags for different exchanges in the past 2 years.  I made 3 at at time (different fabrics) and kept this one for myself.


These last 4 quilts are in the 'Found and Finished' category.  

This first one was in my friend Marilyn's stash when she died.  I finished it. It is a table topper.


This quilt top was finished, but put on the 'freebie' table at my large quilt guild.  I just had to quilt and bind it.


I found this quilt at an antique mall in Burkburnett, Tx last year.  On block of the garden maze setting was turned the wrong way.  It came with the binding.  I fixed the block and had it quilted.


And lastly, this block was on the freebie table.


There is one more day of the quilt show.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to take photos of some of the other quilts tomorrow.  There are 282 quilts/items in the quilt show (did I mention that there are LOTS of very talented quilters in this guild?!?!).  


8 comments:

  1. Congrats on all your awards.
    I have a couple of children's books that I re-read over and over. So "welcome to the club." ha ha

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  2. I so enjoyed this wonderful parade of your gorgeous quilts. You mention there are lots of very talented quilters in your group and you definitely are one of them. Bravo on winning all those ribbons. (FYI, the photo for String Crossroads is missing. I'm sad I didn't get to see this one. I'm sure it's as lovely as the others.) Radiant Suns is spectacular, front and back. I also like the addition of the rick-rack in the I Spy quilts. What a great idea! ;^)

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  3. Congratulations on your wins!

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  4. Congratulations! Beautiful work, well deserved!

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  5. So much work you did, and all of it glorious! And lots of variety too. I love the Storm at Sea Cross. And the Stripe Shadow Circles scared me until I realized that the striped circles are fabric, rather than pieced. Still...are they applique? Impressive and fun. Kids' books I still love to read are A Horse Came Running and The Chestry Oak. I don't know your Snowstorm, but will look for it. 🤗

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    1. Thank you! Yes, lots of work, especially since most of them weren't quilted (or even pieced) last Fall. The Striped Circle Shadow was my own pattern. I used striped charm squares, and made them turned circles, then appliqued them onto squares, using a cardboard template that I made. (used non-fusible interfacing sewed in a circle to each charm square, then turned inside out, super easy and fun to hand crank all those circles). All the circles were hand stitched to the background. Easy project to take anywhere.

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  6. Congrats on the wins. You have some great quilts there! I love Radiant Suns with the signature blocks (very cool!) on the back.

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