On Display at the Iowa Quilt Museum
Letters from the Past
It’s ‘Back to School’ time and kids and teachers everywhere are sharpening pencils and practicing their penmanship. Show them the picture of the Frakture lettering in this quilt and they’ll probably be grateful that they don’t have to learn this type of script!
This Grandmother’s Pride Frakture Quilt was hand pieced, hand inked, and hand quilted by Sara Heimbach of Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 1854.
Ms. Heimbach was a prolific quilter who made hundreds of quilts in varying designs from the same fabrics for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The script used in these blocks is called Frakture and is the lettering style used by many Germans living in Pennsylvania for formal announcements and documents such as births entered in the family bible, marriage certificates, and deeds. This unique style of lettering helped maintain cohesiveness within the German community in Pennsylvania.
Also note the beautiful polychrome Turkey red prints used in these blocks. This particular type of red print was complicated to produce and colorfast. Quiltmakers in the mid-19th century found these prints irresistible: they provided a sparkle and liveliness that solid reds could not match. The tiny black details in such prints sometimes rotted away due to the metallic mordants used in the dye process. These particular prints are in wonderful condition and still sparkle after 170 years.
You can see exhibit curator Judy Schwender talk more about this quilt (and see the quilt in greater detail) in this video.
“Thank You” to our sponsors
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The Iowa QuiltScape
Iowa Quilt Guild 40th Anniversary & Quilt Show
September 6th – 8th
Reiman Gardens, Ames
The Iowa Quilt Guild is celebrating 40 years this weekend with their annual Garden Quilt Show at Reiman Gardens in Ames.
Show hours are:
Friday, September 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 7, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The three-day show will encourage the art of quilting through beautiful displays of garden-themed quilts created by talented Midwesterners as part of a juried show with prizes awarded by central Iowa sponsors. Guests can be inspired by the quilts as well as the living beauty through the Gardens, in the Hughes Conservatory, and within the Christina Reiman Butterfly Wing.
No preregistration is required. Cost is free for Iowa Quilt Guild members and Iowa State University students with ID. The general public pays $8 for adults, $7 for seniors ages 65+, $4 for kids ages 4-17, and free for kids ages 3 and under.
Instruction, demonstrations and lectures for both novice and experienced quilters will be scheduled throughout the three-day event such as…
Fabulous Feedsacks
Saturday • September 7th• 10:30 am
Judy Proksa Martin will share a presentation about Fabulous Feedsacks following the guild’s Annual Meeting on Saturday. Judy began quilting in the late 1970s and started collecting feedsacks about that same time. She has been involved in several feedsack clubs over the years, has lectured on feedsacks and helped write a book on Feedsacks with author Linzee McCray (Feedsacks: the Colorful History of a Frugal Fabric).
Annual Meeting Agenda
8:30 AM Registration with coffee
9:00 AM Business meeting, Show and Tell. Break to setup for presentation
~ 10:30 AM Fabulous Feedsacks Presentation – Judy Proksa Martin
Laura Ingalls Wilder Remembered Quilting Bee
September 7th, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum, West Branch
The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum is hosting Laura Ingalls Wilder Remembered, Sunday, September 1, 2019. A part of this event at 2:00 p.m., A Long Way Home, will feature Kirkwood Community College Reference Librarian and historical interpreter, Sarah S. Uthoff. A Long Way Home is a presentation about the famous author and pioneer, Laura Ingalls Wilder.
As part of the Laura Ingalls Wilder event, guests are invited to participate in an old fashioned quilting bee. There will be a bear paw quilt on a large frame in the Museum lobby for anyone to come and quilt, stay a little while – or stay all day. Needles and thread will be provided. The Bear Paw quilt pattern was chosen because it is mentioned in the Little House books. The quilt blocks have been donated by Laura fans from near and far and the Cotton Creek Mill Quilt Shoppe in West Branch has kindly assembled the blocks into a quilt top.
The day will be great for both children and adults and everyone is invited to wear period clothing! A Long Way Home is at 2:00 p.m. and the Quilting Bee is from 10:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. A Long Way Home is free with paid museum admission, the quilting bee is free.
Sac County Quilt-A-Fair
September 21st & 22nd
Sac County Fairgrounds in Sac City
You’re invited to the Northwest quadrant of the state for a quilt show on September 21st and 22nd, 9:00 – 4:00 both days. Admission for one day is $8 or $12 for both days. This show, which will display over 300 quilts, will also feature vendors, demonstrators, scissor sharpening, a silent auction and a Quilt of Valor program. Quilt artist Mickey Dupree will present a lecture each day during the show.
Sac County also has a barn quilt trail that you might enjoy while you’re traveling to and fro, and Sac City is home to the World’s Largest Popcorn Ball of all things.
We Color the World Quilt Show
September 26th – 28th
Cultural Center, Iowa State Fairgrounds, Des Moines
Show Hours: 9:00 to 6:00 on Thursday and Friday, 9:00 to 5:00 on Saturday
Iowa’s largest quilt show, sponsored by the Des Moines Area Quilters Guild, is set for Thursday through Saturday, September 26, 27, and 28. This, their 37th annual quilt show, will be held at a new location, the Cultural Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
“We Color the World” is the theme of this year’s show. The third floor of the Cultural Center will be filled with more than 400 quilts created by the group’s members. Dozens of vendors from several states will be displaying and selling their goods on the first and second floors, including our Gold Level Sponsors: APQS, Bernina-Woodside Quilting, Gruber’s Quilt Shop, Off the Rails Quilting, The Iowa Quilt Block, and The Woolen Needle. Several special exhibits will be on display, including a “We Color the World” collection of treasured quilts; a “Color Me with Wool” exhibit; and the President’s Challenge quilts.
Free demonstrations and quilt turnings will take place throughout the three-day event. A “Little Quilt Silent Auction” features numerous little quilts and treasures created by members. This year’s raffle offers not one, but two colorful member-created quilts. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $7 at the door. Shuttles will be available between the parking areas and the quilt show. The three floors of the Cultural Center will be fully accessible by two sets of elevators and several stairways. Find more information on the DMAQG website or follow Des Moines Area Quilters Guild on Facebook.
Coming Soon to the Iowa Quilt Museum
A Fons & Porter Homecoming
October 1, 2019 through January 4, 2020
Special Events on October 3rd and 4th
You may remember from a post earlier this summer that Liz Porter & Marianne Fons were inducted into The Quilter’s Hall of Fame this past July. When we learned that they had been selected for this honor, we knew that we wanted a chance to honor them as well. After all, they started their quilting journeys right here in Winterset, Iowa! So now we’re just a few weeks away from opening the exhibit dedicated to Liz & Marianne, their quilts, and the impact they’ve had on the quilting industry, A Fons & Porter Homecoming.
We’re asking for your help in two areas:
Bed Turning Quilts
If you have made a quilt using a Fons & Porter pattern, and would be willing to loan it to us for the duration of this exhibit for use on our bed turning display, please send a photo and a short description to our director, Megan Barrett (director@IowaQuiltMuseum.org), by Thursday, September 12th. Six to eight quilts will be selected for the bed turning, and notifications will be made by Monday, September 16th. Quilts will then need to be shipped or delivered to the Iowa Quilt Museum to arrive no later than Thursday, September 26th.
Share your Stories
Our concept for this exhibit is to share more about Fons & Porter than just their quilts. Liz & Marianne have had an impact on the quilting far beyond anything we can measure and we want to share some stories that speak to that influence. If you have a story or anecdote to share, or want to send a note of congratulations, we invite you to do so before Friday, September 20th. We’re particularly interested to hear how Liz & Marianne influenced your own quilting journey. Cards or letters can be mailed to the Iowa Quilt Museum, 68 E Court, Winterset, Iowa, 50273. They can also be emailed to director@IowaQuiltMuseum.org.
You’re Also Invited to the following events…
Gallery Walk • at the Iowa Quilt Museum
Join Liz & Marianne on a guided tour through their homecoming exhibit. The duo will share the stories behind the quilts and anecdotes about their making.
Thursday, October 3rd • 11:00am – Noon
Tickets – $10, includes admission to the museum
Our Love of Quilting • The Iowa Theater
On the stage at the Iowa Theater, one of Marianne’s post-LOQ projects, hear Liz & Marianne share some of the stories from their years teaching the world to quilt and what they’ve been up to since. Megan Barrett, director at the Iowa Quilt Museum, will lead the discussion and your questions are welcome.
Thursday, October 3rd • 4:00 – 5:00pm
Tickets – $15, includes a small popcorn with real butter!
Exhibit Opening Reception • Iowa Quilt Museum
Tour the exhibit, visit with Liz & Marianne and enjoy refreshments.
Thursday, October 3rd • 6:00 – 8:00pm
No Admission Charge
Brunch with Liz & Marianne • Iowa Quilt Museum
Join Marianne & Liz for brunch as they reminisce and share stories of how they built their business from two moms teaching quilting classes in Winterset to teaching across the country and publishing the most widely-circulated quilting magazine in the world.
Friday, October 4th • 11:00am
Tickets – $25, includes light brunch
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