Today, Blue Ridge Quilters went on a scheduled field trip . . . at least six did ! And, boy did we have a time. We started at Bargain Barn Fabrics in Montvale where, in addition to purchasing fabrics for projects on-going and/or still in the planning stage, a small expression of gratitude was made to owner/operator Marietta Price for her faithfulness to the Guild, and in particular for coming to the rescue on March 14, 2020 when the scheduled speaker for our National Quilting Day celebration cancelled at the last minute because of Covid. Marietta stepped up on short order and presented a program on her art and quilting applications and experiences. Her expertise and presentation were very well accepted and much appreciated by all. The Guild members appreciate both Marietta’s talents and her willingness to “be there” when it counts. Not to mention having a wide variety of quilting fabrics at her fabric shop !

Marietta also conveyed her appreciation of the members of Blue Ridge Quilters and wanted us to know how highly thought of we are. Thank you again, Marietta.

We decided that since we all had an early breakfast, we should have our lunch prior to going to the Peaks & Pieces Quilt Show at Bedford Library so we wouldn’t be hurrying to finish in order to eat lunch ! So, our next stop was Dales Southern Style Diner, also in Montvale, where we enjoyed a tasty lunch and some quilter-style fellowship. I hear the fried green tomatoes are quite excellent, by the way.

Then on to the Peaks & Pieces Quilt Show at the Bedford Library which is always beautiful and beautifully displayed. We each picked up a clipboard at the check-in table and commenced to stroll around gazing at and appreciating the many quilts displayed. The Peaks & Pieces Guild of Bedford, Virginia is a small-ish group of very talented quilters who display and share their handiwork every year in the quilt show. Admission is free and photos are allowed. If you want to touch the quilts, they even offer rubber gloves to protect the quilts. There are at least half a dozen categories of quilts ranging from table toppers, wall hangings, lap size quilts, bed size quilts, hand quilted, machine quilted and just about anything you can imagine. They even offer a raffle quilt which is always beautifully done by members of the guild. If you are local and get a chance, drop by the Bedford Central Library and enjoy the results of love and hard work that is presented.

Pictured below, coming up the stairs to get a good view of all the quilts.

This was an actual in-person meeting held in Waldron Park at the picnic arbor; it was a perfect day for an outside meeting and 18 stalwart quilters attended. There was fellowship, a brief business meeting, a Christmas In July program with handouts for cool gift ideas, magazines and fat quarters for all and a few sweet treats, too. Then, there was Show and Tell, always beautiful to behold.

The photos are not in the order of appearance . . . but each picture has a caption. First up was Carolyn Zaleski who showed a table topper, a disappearing 9-patch pieced table runner and some really cute Christmas ornaments made by member Tina Dietz. Next was Julie Shelton who showed a giant pieced lap quilt using kitty cat fabrics, both front and back. Kitty Yates showed a hexi pieced table runner, some ball type folded flower ornaments, and a pieced 4-patch quilt with lattice work. I was intrigued with this quilt, both color-wise and pattern. Kathy Wickham showed a sweet pieced hexi Christmas ornament and a quilt she said she had improvised; it was clever and very pretty. She did not have quite enough fabric for the backing, so she pieced it and included a stray block from the front. Cathy Henderson had some lovely pillowcases for Ryan’s Case for Smiles. She also showed six (6) NICU quilts she had made and a very cute baby quilt. Then Betty Reynolds showed a dog bone shaped neck pillow she had made with soft fabric and stuffed with soft Poly Fill. She said it is so comfortable when sitting in a relaxing chair, to use with car travel or airplane travel, etc. Loretta Twiford showed a log cabin wreath made in a Bee several years ago, and a bargello holiday wall hanging. Gisela O’Connor was up next with a tree wall hanging, a log cabin table runner, a square candle quilt and a Santa panel quilt.

Saturday, July 17th, will be a field trip to Bargain Barn in Montvale and the Peaks & Pieces quilt show in Bedford. Members received a reminder email with suggestions for car pooling. See you there !