Hello everyone. I’ve had a great, albeit very busy, week in Wray, Colorado. With the help of many people, and many area businesses, we pulled off the 16th Annual Quilts of the Plains outdoor quilt show, this past Saturday, June 27, 2015.
We had a great array of wonderful quilts entered into the show, including many from far, far away. Our Viewer’s selected a lovely quilt by Valerie from Dove Creek, Colorado. They also awarded a total of 8 ribbons for the best in category voting. I’ve uploaded a photo gallery of all of the quilts. I think they all are winning quilts. Mixed in, you will also see some street and sidewalk shots. Perhaps, I caught you looking at the beautiful quilts, or driving down the street. You’ll see the kind of businesses that line our streets, and help to make Wray such a wonderful place to live, work, shop, or even visit.
Of course, photos never do full justice of an event like this. I do hope it’s a useful resource though, for quilters who entered or viewed the show, as well as a shameless promotion of our town, our people, and our humble little quilt show on the plains in Colorado. I hope it makes you want to be a part of it in the future.
Have fun looking through the gallery. I’ve made smaller versions of the photos, so it will load quickly on your computer, phone or tablet with ease. If you have a need for a more detailed image, I can provide that on a request basis for you.
Thanks for supporting quilting in Wray, and for your continued interest in my life, art and blog. I’d really appreciate if you could share this with others, and leave a comment when you stop by the blog. It really adds a richness to the place.
I hope you have been inspired, and this will manifest in your creative life, whatever that may be.
I’m busy quilting the last of my projected quilts for this years show. I really love how this is turning out, and it will be a perfect gift for a lucky person in my life. It’s a secret, so I don’t want to say much more.
Hi everyone! It’s been a great year, and I hope you’ve had some time to work on your quilt projects. I’m finishing up on the last two king-sized quilts that I intend to exhibit into the show. As you may, or may not know, I am the Chairman of the Quilts of the Plains annual outdoor quilt show, held in Wray, Colorado each year. The event is held on the Saturday AFTER Fathers’ Day each summer. That being said, This years show is on June 27, 2015!
The Quilts are on display for ONE DAY ONLY, June 27, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Most quilts are displayed along Main Street from 3rd to 5th Street, and antique and miscellaneous items will be displayed in the Wray Museum.
The quilts will not be judged, but the Viewers will vote for their favorites. The overall winning quilt will be awarded a BRAND NEW JANOME SEWING MACHINE, and Viewers’ Choice Ribbons will be awarded in each of the categories listed below!!! I hope you’ll enter, and GOOD LUCK TO YOUR QUILT!!!
We NEED your quilts, or we won’t have much of a show…. We don’t have a restriction on the items you enter. You may have made it this year, or many years ago. We kindly ask that you not display items that have previously been in the Quilts of the Plains Show. You may enter as many items in each category as you wish, and we LOVE seeing the creativity that each and every person has exhibited in their quilts.
The categories remain the same.
Large Bed Quilt
Small Bed Quilt
Baby Quilt
Quilted Wall-hanging
Quilt made by youth – age 18 and under
Antique Quilt – Made at least 25 years ago
Miscellaneous Quilted (Quilt Related) Item
Entries will be accepted at Rainbow Fabrics from Monday, June 22 to Thursday, June 25. If you have a need for an accommodation outside of that schedule, please let us know.
This photo was taken a few months ago, as I was beginning to quilt the raffle quilt for Quilts of the Plains 2015. As you can see, the colors are gorgeous, and the fabric is all batiks. The blocks were made by local members of the Quilters’ Anonymous group here in Wray.
Again this year, we have a spectacular raffle quilt. Made of batik fabrics in lovely shades of blue and cream, you are gonna love this one. The quilt is on display at Rainbow Fabrics. Tickets are ON SALE NOW through the day of the quilt show. The Disappearing Hourglass blocks create a very beautiful block, and the quilting was done by Fellow Quilter, Brian Clements. (ME!) Tickets are still only $1 each, or 6 tickets for $5.
We rely upon the help of many volunteers. If you can help, we’d be grateful for anything you can do. We need people to hang the quilts, take quilts down, push a cart along and hand quilts to the folks up on the ladder… At the end, we need some volunteers to take down quilts, fold quilts, sort and checkout the quilts to their owners. We will have an information table, and need people to sit and sell raffle tickets. Even an hour or two is a huge help! Please let us know how you’d like to help.
Lastly, I must thank our sponsors. The quilt show is presented by the City of Wray and the Wray Chamber of Commerce. The main sponsor is Rainbow Fabrics, and supporting sponsorships from Foltmer Drug/RadioShack/Main Street Clothing, Box Elder Ranch, First Pioneer National Bank, Leigh Floral, Wray State Bank, Ann & Steve Brethauer, and Wray Lumber Company are much appreciated.
If you’d like to receive information on this show, or be added to our email list for upcoming shows, please leave me a comment, or contact me at the following:
If you have any questions, please email Brian at fellowquilter@aol.com or call (970) 597-1313
Or to reach Wanda at Rainbow Fabrics, she can be contacted at rainbow@plains.net or call (970) 332-4343
Thanks for your support. I hope you can come to the show!!
Hello everyone. It’s been a busy summer here in Wray, Colorado. We did host the annual Quilts of the Plains show on Main Street on June 21, 2014. Once again, the antique quilts and the smaller items were showcased at our gorgeous Wray Museum.
Thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers, and especially the quilters! The winning quilt was by Hazel Chapman and her Grand-daughter. It was a beautiful appliqued quilt.
I won’t say a lot, but just invite you to peruse the show, by way of the photos I captured that day. I really appreciate if you could leave a comment about the show – perhaps your favorite quilt, or something relevant to the show.
Hello everyone. I had coffee with my good friend, Annie B on Tuesday. She mentioned that she completed a blog entry about the Quilts of the Plains show. I had a few minutes today, so I checked it out. She always has such descriptive blog posts, and includes wonderful pictures, too!
It was nice to read about the show from her perspective… and She and husband, Steve and always willing to lend a helping hand. I know how busy they both were, as they hosted a party for Steve’s classmates the very next morning.
If you’ve never seen one of Ann’s quilted creations, boy have you missed out… She finds the coolest fabrics, and makes so many cute things for her family and friends. We at Foltmer Drug are lucky to offer a few of her things for sale… so if you need a little something special for a dear friend… or yourself, you should give a thought to Annie B!
Lastly, I just want to thank Ann for her support, and thank you for reading my blog. Feel free to leave me a comment!
I took a photo of each quilt in the show, and I’ve uploaded them to an album on my webshots site. Please click on the link to be taken to my album. You may post comments to the photos. I tried to list the quiltmaker and many times the quilt name in the caption under the photo. You will also find a button on the right hand side to show you a slideshow of all of the images. There are over 170 images, and you can order prints and other related items on the website.http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/583013853CnwwuF?vhost=home-and-garden
Please post your comments regarding the show here on my blog, so that I can hear about your experiences!
We had an awesome grouping of quilts… 129 of them to be exact. The overall winner was Devonna Haines of Benkelman, Nebraska with her Sun Bonnet Sue Calendar quilt. Other winners were Keeley Confer, also of Benkelman, Laura Nicks of Loveland, Colorado, Nicole Howard of Saint Francis, Kansas, Sheena Burr of Seibert, Colorado, Millie Bracelin of Wray, Colorado and Anita Hoyer of Elizabeth, Colorado. Congratulations to all of the viewer’s choice favorites listed… however, each and every one of you who entered quilts was someone’s favorite quilter, so I think you are all winners!
The raffle quilt was won by Gene Bainbridge of Wray, Colorado. Gene is the Mother of winner Anita Hoyer, a long-time participant in the show, and multiple viewer’s choice winner, as well.
If you have yet to pick up your quilt… they are being saved for you at Rainbow Fabrics in Wray.
Again, enjoy the photos… whether you were able to attend or not. I think it gives a pretty good representation of the show.
The next years show is scheduled for June 22, 2013 and upcoming details will be posted at www.wraychamber.net/quiltsoftheplains.php so check back periodically for updates.
Hi everyone! I’ve been a bit absent on the blog this past week. I’ve been really busy, though… so I thought I’d give a bit of an update. Last Saturday, June 16th, the Carousel Quilt Guild hosted an all-day class from Jessica Vaughn of Aurora, Colorado. You can find Jessica on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/jaymarie0826?ref=ts
The class was using the Bonnie Hunter techniques to work on two projects at the same time. Bonnie has a load of quilting information on her website… free patterns, tips, etc., so got to http://quiltville.com to check it out.
The main project is a free pattern on Bonnie’s website called Scrappy Trip Around the World http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/scrappy-trips-around-world.html and here is a photo of many of the blocks from many of the students. Notice how well the blocks blend together, and although we each have different fabrics in our stash… the blocks are very harmonious. It is pretty easy to do, and a great way to create something useful out of your odds and ends, or scrap basket. You should give her technique a try.
At the same time, we were sewing using the Leaders and Enders technique to work on blocks for a second quilt… this one from the book called “Leaders and Enders” from Bonnie Hunter. The Blue Ridge Beauty quilt is shown in the book in lovely blues and tans, however, I’ve had this collection of Daiwabo fabrics for several years now, and this seems like a perfect choice for this pattern. I only got a few blocks done in between strips for the scrappy quilt, but here is a peek at them.
Aside from that, I’ve got the Quilts of the Plains this coming Saturday, June 23rd. I decided a week ago to pull out a quilt top that I pieced AT LEAST 16 years ago, called Burgoyne Surrounded. With Independence Day right around the corner, the patriotic nature of this quilt made it jump to the front of the line. I have another quilt in the show… but, if only I could quilt this up, and get it bound, I could have another, right? Here it is on the machine, and you can see the design… however, come to the show to see the whole thing.
The quilts are coming in… and there are some beauties!!!! I hope you’ll join us in Wray on Saturday. Don’t forget to vote for your favorites, buy some raffle tickets, and bid on the great items at the silent auction. This event helps raise funds for the Chamber of Commerce for all the events it offers throughout the year. visit www.wraychamber.net/quiltsoftheplains.php if you want more details.
Hello again, quilters! I hope you are excited for Quilts of the Plains. The 13th annual outdoor quilt show is just one week away. This year’s quilt show will be held on Saturday, June 23.
There is just enough time for you to finish those last minute bindings, and put your newest quilted creation into the show. Or, maybe you’ve got a project from months, or years ago that could use a bit of fresh air. We encourage you to exhibit your work for everyone to enjoy. And who knows… you might be the viewer’s choice quilt, earning you a wonderful new Janome JEM Gold sewing machine, courtesy of all of our sponsors.
Again, I remind everyone that there will be an open sewing night at RR Branded, 305 Main Street in Wray, on Friday evening, sponsored by the local quilt guild, Quilter’s Anonymous. You are welcome to bring any project that you are working on, and spend an evening with friends. We will have some items on display; just to give you an idea what this group is all about. A fun time is guaranteed.
This is a rendering of the Quilts of the Plains Raffle Quilt 2012. The quilt is pieced using batiks, made by many local quilters… I hear Christine Wade made 35 blocks. Wow! Thanks to all who helped!!!
We are currently selling raffle tickets on a beautiful patchwork quilt. This quilt would look great in your home, but that won’t be possible, unless you buy a ticket. The quilt is on display in the window at Rainbow Fabrics, and you can buy tickets there, or from any of our committee members: Shana Gardner, Nicole Harford, Wanda Harford, and myself, Brian Clements.
If you would like to volunteer some time to help with QOTP, we are hosting a party at the home of Joe Foltmer and Brian Clements on Tuesday, June 19th at 6:30pm. The address is 403 Franklin in Wray. Dinner will be provided for all of the volunteers, and final assignments will be given at that time. If you can help, please contact Wanda Harford or Shana Gardner. We appreciate all of the volunteers.
Quilts of the Plains helps the Wray Chamber of Commerce, in their mission to provide activities, such as Wray Daze and the Harvest Festival each year.
I just returned from a trip to the Quilt Market in Kansas City. While I was there, I made many new connections with some pretty amazing people and companies. One such person was Jim in the Colonial Needle Company booth. We got to talking about Precensia thread, and pretty soon the conversation shifted to our outdoor quilt show, Quilts of the Plains. Jim made a generous offer to send an item to our show… I just emailed him the details, and I’m sure he’ll be sending something way cool…. You’ll have to come and see for yourself. It may be an item for the silent auction, or maybe a giveaway… Hmmmm.
As I’ve said before, the show is coming up on June 23rd, 2012 in Wray, Colorado. The quilts for display will be dropped off at Rainbow Fabrics between June 18th and June 21st, however, I usually receive some out of town quilts early. This year is no exception… I’ve already got a few great quilts lined up in my studio, which I will enter into the show for some out-of-towners. They are planning to come to the show, but this simple act saves them a second trip to drop off their quilt at Rainbow Fabrics.
Add a comment to my blog about your experiences at Quilts of the Plains… What did you enter? Have you seen a favorite quilt on display there? Have you won a prize or ribbon? Whatever you can add to this discussion… others will enjoy reading!
Thanks for stopping by, and good luck finishing your projects. I’ll look for them in the show!
Well everyone… It’s right around the corner. Quilts of the Plains 2012, that is! There is a great webpage devoted to the upcoming outdoor quilt show in Wray. Please check it out at www.wraychamber.net/quiltsoftheplains.php and see for yourself. If you’ve entered quilts before, the procedure is the same as last year. There are seven different categories… so you’ll certainly have many things to enter. If you haven’t yet displayed your quilted items in this show… I challenge you to do it this year. Who knows… YOU might be the winner of the viewers’ choice top prize, and brand-spankin’ new Janome sewing machine.
There are some cool vendor booths, and YOU could be the winner of our great raffle quilt, which was donated by Quilters’ Anonymous. All you need to do, is buy that ONE lucky raffle ticket!
Here is an example of how the quilts are displayed along the Main Street.
Please help us to spread the word. Quilts of the Plains is awesome… and it’s less than four weeks away!
Hello everyone. I’ve had a great, albeit very busy, week in Wray, Colorado. With the help of many people, and many area businesses, we pulled off the 16th Annual Quilts of the Plains outdoor quilt show, this past Saturday, June 27, 2015.
Fellow Quilter 