Noooo! Billings Fair, I'm Angry with You!

I thought this holiday would give me one more epic quilt extravaganza. It did not.  Here was the barrier awaiting me at the Billings' Fair quilt area.

We're leaving Billings right after the morning farmers' market so I won't get back to the fair.

Therefore, the next quilts you'll be seeing here will be from the guild's September show-and-tell.  It's almost time to start the new quilt year.



Missoula County Fair Quilts

We can't resist fairs and this is a huge one for a county. 

I can't believe I got a blurry photo of the next one and it was my favorite.  It's monstrous, for a king size bed.

This next one won Best of Show.

I don't think this next quilt can ever be washed.

I love that this cat quilt has one mouse on it.

This next one has a beautiful center ....

Then it's as if the quilter got tired of it so she just added an 18" plain border.

 

This table topper is 34" across.  The number of pieces in it is amazing.

Eureka and this fair both used clothespins like the one below rather than worrying about gloves.

The next four are 4-H entries, each created by someone 17 or under.

A 17 year old made this double wedding ring queen size quilt??????

Here's something non-quilty ... tatting, beautiful, beautiful tatting.

I've always wanted to learn tatting.  When Bob and I were first married, his grandma tried to teach me.  After numerous attempts she finally said, "Brenda, either I'm not a good teacher or you're not a good learner."

 

 

 



Eureka, MT Outdoor Quilt Showxt

This little Montana town was having its tenth annual outdoor quilt show and they have never been rained out once.  I cannot imagine the number or people it takes to set this up and take it down ... and to be nearby in case a rainstorm develops.

 

Even the program amazed me as it showed the location of every quilt as well as who made it and what its selling for.  There were over 500 quilts so making the programs would take a very focused committee.  I couldn't believe how many of the quilts were for sale.  I also couldn't believe how many entries some ladies had ... one had over 50 and more than a few had over 30.

No, I didn't shake the camera when I took the next one.  It's made like that!

Jill, does this look familiar?  You haven't been teaching a carpenter's wheel class down here, have you?

Bob gave the following one "best of show."  Judy Niemeyer lives in the area and her patterns and her quilts are sold in quantities.

My favorite area was one of the old buildings which held miniature quilts.  One of the three guilds sponsoring the show, is a guild just for miniature quilts.

 

This one's dimensions are 14" by 14"

This Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Sam is also 14" by 14"

Someone must have taught a class on the next one or else it was a challenge, as there were a number of hangings like this.

This Double Wedding Ring is 23" by 27"

This one is 12" by 12"

The next quilt was selling for $100.  What a crazy price for a machine-quilted, generously-sized lap quilt.

The lady who made the next two had four quilts for sale, each for around $900.  They were created from her own designs and were beautiful.

She had worked brands into the one pictured above.

The following one mesmerized me and I would give it "best of show."  It depicts trees through the seasons and it's the most beautifully embellished quilt I've ever scene.  I kept wondering how much it weighed!  There is lots of machine embroidery, hand embroidery, beading, lace, and other embellishments.  With all those add-ons, it still was very flat with no distortions.  I'm in awe of the creator.