HARRISON – On Oct. 7, the Clare County Crazy Quilters once again opened their doors to other quilting enthusiasts and the public for their Annual Quilt Show at the First Congregational Church in Harrison. The event featured a warm welcome to all, along with a Boutique Room where perusers could inspect and purchase various elements of quilting: fabrics, tools, patterns, and more.
The theme for this year’s show was “Welcome to Our County Fair,” and featured down home elements, including a circus clown photo backdrop. Multi-tiered table displays held fabric pin cushions crafted by club members in the form of items that might be judged at the fair: flowers, pies, fruits, vegetables, cakes, bagged bread and more, which attendees could select and take home as party favors.
Activities included a spirited bidding auction led by an enthusiastic Valerie Kusiak, who sported a long-legged chicken hat in keeping with the county fair theme. Auctioned were sewing related items, some of which were a quilter’s floor frame, a steam iron connected to a huge water reservoir, various collections of quilting fabrics, quilted wall hangings and table toppers, a quilting ruler, a light box (handy for pattern transfers), scissors, framed prints, a bolt of Pellon interfacing, batting – and believe it or not, a Husqvarna Viking Huskylock 4-spool serger that went for $40.
The group usually hosts a speaker who makes a quilting-related presentation, but this year the group chose to sing its own praises. Each year the group completes and raffles off a new quilt, and at least one member recreates a miniature of the quilt which serves as a tangible archive of that year’s creation. With attendees gathered in the church’s sanctuary, Kaye Brandt took to the microphone to announce each one of the 44 mini quilts, along with the name of its maker and some of the quilters’ histories.
Taking the microphone next was Kusiak who introduced each of the quilters who participated in the annual show-and-tell portion of the event. Club members, as well as quilters from other areas, stepped up to present some of the projects they had been working on. Some were traditional in nature, some whimsical, some fantastically detailed – and each came with a story of its inspiration and creation. All were appreciated by the audience. As they filed out, attendees had a second chance to look at and admire the mini quilts which were draped over the rear-most pews.
Next was the highly anticipated drawing for the raffle quilt “Birds and Blooms.” That lucky ticket had been purchased by Mary Secor who, unfortunately, was not present but will no doubt thoroughly enjoy her prize.
In addition to a bountiful buffet luncheon and the camaraderie that followed, there also was a drawing for gift basket door prizes: diplomatically drawn to award one for each table.
With all the attention to detail and respect for the art of quilting displayed during this Clare County Crazy Quilters event, attendees had to have departed wondering what the group has in mind for next year – and what quilting project they might like to share. Whatever those answers are, 2025 is sure to bring another needle arts delight.
© Clare County Cleaver
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