From Tuesday, April 29 through Sunday, May 4, guests from across the country will gather in Archbold for the 38th annual Quilt Show at Sauder Village. Again this year, the talents of quilters from throughout the Midwest will be celebrated with a display of more than 400 quilts, unique quilting demonstrations, shopping, special exhibits, workshops and more!
“Our six-day Quilt Show celebrates the rich tradition of quilting while showcasing the fine craftsmanship of quilters from throughout the region,” shared Kim Krieger, Media Relations. “This special event is always a great way to start our Sauder Village season!”
During the annual Sauder Village Quilt Show, both traditional and modern interpretations of quilts will be represented. Each year the show is a new experience since once a quilt has been exhibited it cannot be re-entered into the Sauder Village Show. With 24 categories ranging from pieced, appliqué and mixed technique to art, masters, baby, miniatures and youth quilts – guests are sure to enjoy browsing the variety of quilts this annual event has to offer.
Other highlights of the popular week include live piano music and quilting demonstrations. Some of the demonstrations will vary by day and may include piecing, machine appliqué, embroidery, sewing with denim, English paper piecing and hand quilting. Guests will enjoy a special exhibit of Masters Class quilts, including quilts by guest artist Gyleen Fitzgerald on the stage in Founder’s Hall. There will also be a quilt raffle held for a chance to win a fun, twin-size quilt. Tickets for the “Queen of Diamonds” raffle quilt, created by the quilters at Sauder Village, are only $1.00 each and proceeds will benefit the Junior Historian Program at Sauder Village.
Another popular element of this event is the annual Quilt Challenge. This year’s theme is “Line Dancing”. Starting a year ago, entrants purchased a challenge packet and were given the challenge to take those fabrics and create a quilt working with only the designated geometric shapes and solid colors. These quilts will exhibit creativity in using lines to create eye-catching pattern and movement as well as depth and dimension with simple shapes. Always a crowd favorite, this spectacular display will include 22 unique challenge quilts in the lobby of Founder’s Hall.
As part of the Quilt Show, Sauder Village always brings in leaders in the quilting field and this year’s guest artist is no exception. Gyleen Fitzgerald of Churchville, Maryland. Gyleen’s quilts blend color, pattern and texture to provide a contemporary essence to traditional quilting. She shares her enthusiasm for quilting through interactive lectures and workshops. She has also written children’s books, poetry, quilt project books and magazine articles. Gyleen has appeared on The Quilt Show and Lifetime TV promoting finishing antique quilts and the new spirit of traditional quilting. It is an honor to have such a respected quilt artist involved at the 2014 Sauder Village Quilt Show.
For those with a passion for quilting that extends beyond the week-long show, Sauder Village offers a wide range of classes in quilting throughout the year. Threads of Tradition Quilt Shop at Sauder Village, open year round, is recognized as one of the most extensive quilting shops in the area with supplies, books and more than 3,500 bolts of fabric.
There will also be some quilting activities in the historic homes throughout the week. In the Stuckey home the costumed guide will be working on quilt piecing when she isn’t cooking. Young guests will be able help lay out quilt squares to help design a quilt in the Witmer-Roth home in Pioneer Settlement. Throughout the week guests will also have an opportunity to explore Historic Sauder Village to visit with costumed guides in historic homes, farms and gardens, and community shops. Guests can also watch the many craftsmen at work in the Village including the glassblower, potter, blacksmith, weaver, spinner and many others! A buggy or train ride, stop at the ice-cream parlor, Sweet Shoppe and Lauber’s General Store are also favorite activities for guests of all ages.
The Sauder Village Quilt Show runs Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. A special “Exhibit Only” admission pass is available for the annual Quilt Show for $11.00. The admission price for the Quilt Show and Historic Village is only $16.00 for adults and $10.00 for students ages 6-16 or, a two-day pass is available for $25 for adults. Again this year, children 16 and under are free every Sunday this season!
For more information about the 38th annual Quilt Show, special workshops or other events planned for the 2014 season at Sauder Village, call 800-590-9755, visit www.saudervillage.org, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @SauderVillage.