Feb 28, 2014

Keizer Quilt Show




I am a "short sleeper" but without the benefits that genetic and truly authentic "short sleepers" are afforded. They never get more than four hours of sleep a night but are never tired, never yawn, and don't need caffeine, nor ever feel the need for a nap. They live happy, healthy, productive lives on less than 4 hours of sleep a night.

 




I am short. I am a 'short' sleeper who gets less than 4 hours of sleep a night and I don't take naps, but boy do I wish I could fall asleep to take a nap and I do need my caffeine to keep the yawns at bay.

Then I remembered that today is the last day in February (or 'Febrary' as the copy of "Keizer Senior News' informed me in a headline about activities this month. And right above an article about improving your memory) and not long after I'd read an article that said no one pronounces Feb-RU-ary correctly any more!  Apparently, no one spells it correctly, especially if they are prone to mispronouncing it, anymore either! 

But what it really meant, was that it was the last day of February and I had one day left to hop in the car and over to Keizer to see the beautiful quilts made by members of our Mid-Valley Quilt Guild as part of the arts program at the Keizer Civic Center!







And as these beautiful quilts attest, it was well worth the drive!











                                                  



  





Our Mid-Valley Quilt Guild managed to snag a free contract to display quilts there...for free..for THREE solid months!





So, I combed my bird's nest of a hairdo, brushed my teeth, and slipped on some clothing and shoes (don't ask) before I headed out, and over, to see the show right after the doors had barely opened and long before they were due to close. (show can be seen from 8am to 5pm.weekdays, only)


The quilts were just great! They lined these beautiful spacious new hallways and a windowed front area that faced the main street (and not parking!) and it so lovely, so peaceful and quiet.

I felt like I was truly in an art gallery. It was more than worth the memory prompt and the short drive over to Keizer from my north Salem home connecting cross street home. Since, I knew all of the quilters and recognized some of their work, well..that was even more fun!


So, here..the last day of Feb-RU-ary, and the last day of their display...are some lovely quilts from a few talented members of the Mid-Valley Quilt Guild.  I was totally dressed, wearing shoes that matched each other, my hair was combed, my teeth brushed, and I had a wonderful, wonderful time!


And the quilts were display in two hallways that made an "L" shape, so it wasn't too difficult to find my way, back to the door, again!


And I have to show how they are arranged on the walls, above the coordinating settees...some one did one great job of quilt hanging!





 So, peaceful, so quiet, all I hear is the sound of my footsteps and the gentle click of my camera.



A lovely early morning visit to a beautiful home town quilt show!  Thank you for sharing your quilts and thank you to the city of Keizer, the Keizer Civic Center for allowing our guild to showcase these beautiful works of art...completely for free, for three months!

 

It turns out that Keizer Mayor Lore Christoper comes from a family of quilters and see them as art. Well, ma'am, so do we ...so thank you for sharing our sentiments and brightening my day!



 
Note:
For all who asked about the "Labyrinth Walk" quilt made by Linda Doerfler of Keizer, Oregon.

The pattern out of a quilt magazine, "Quilt" - the issue was the April-May 2012. 
 The quilt designer blogs at:http://theguiltyquilters.blogspot.com 
*If you make the quilt from the magazine, there are some errors in the pattern, according to the quilt maker of this particular quilt, above, which she did not discover until later. Please contact the designer through the blog, or Quilt magazine for the pattern and for any corrections she made.
 

Michele Bilyeu blogs With Heart and Hands as she shares a quilting journey through her life in Salem, Oregon and Douglas, Alaska. Sewing, quilting, and wildcrafting, with small format art quilts, prayer flags, and comfort quilts for a variety of charitable programs. And best of all, sharing thousands of links to Free Quilt and Quilt Block Patterns and encouraging others to join her and make and donate quilts to charitable causes.   Help us change the world, one little quilt, art quilt, and prayer flag at a time!

4 comments:

Nellie's Needles said...

Thank you for sharing this delightful quilt show ... and your thoughts.

Michele Bilyeu said...

You mean I actually described the quilt show? I bet you could feel it though! ;-)






Celia said...

Truly, it looks like an art gallery to me. Thanks for the showing.

Winifred said...

It certainly does look like an art gallery. Such gorgeous designs.

I just wish I could survive on less sleep.I always thought that as you got older you needed less sleep. Not true in my case. I can sleep for 10 hours easily & still struggle to get out of bed. Weird how people vary so much.