On March 6th I traveled to Merrill, Wisconsin to present a trunk show and hand quilting demonstration in the Consumer Education classroom at the local high school. Teacher, Lori, and friends meet weekly after school to quilt, exchange ideas and inspire one another. Ladies from surrounding cities of Tomahawk and Irma were drawn to the meeting despite snow-covered roads. With that kind of enthusiasm for quilting I very much enjoyed the evening sharing the history of quilting through my quilts, clothing and accessories.

I began the program with a discussion of the origins of quilting in the Far East and over the course of an hour moved to the present day. My hand pieced and hand quilted examples, Candied Apples, Dented Pinwheels and Missouri Fan, made with antique fabrics found throughout the United States illustrate our craft of the past. While Jubilee Album, employing needle turn appliqué, hand and machine quilting with embellishments; and Breaking the Barriers, using paper piecing, art design and specialty thread to enhance design, brought us to the present. Through Eastern Winds I, highlighting three dimensional butterflies created by fusing matching butterflies to timtex and gilded edges using gold acrylic paint; Jacket Fashions and Bags, like the one worn by me and those hanging in the background of the first picture, illustrating the use of tapestry and upholstery remnants using couching to affix specialty threads, novelty yarns and embellishments in my original designs and patterns; along with Spring Convergence, a sample of Ricky Timms’ Convergence Quilts technique, I illustrated the creativity of quilting today.

Following the trunk show I presented a bonus demonstration on hand quilting. I started with a discussion of tools needed – from needles, thimbles, thread, pins, guides and hoops to gadgets that make it easier. And then moved to a demonstration including concealing knots at the start and end of a stitch as well as how to stack stitches. The ladies were eager listeners, with excellent questions making for a great exchange of ideas.   Thanks for inviting me to your gathering.   Trunk shows are fun and can be tailored to your interests. As you read above the group added the hand quilting demonstration. If you are interested in developing an event please call, 715-370-3535 or email, sally@holzemquilts.com

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