Jaime Koerner

    by Jamie Koerner
     The Blue Valley Quilt Guild will host its second quilt show, titled Old Traditions – New Trends, Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 29 and 30, at the Seward County Ag Pavilion.
     The more than 60-member guild hails from Seward, Butler, Saline and Lancaster counties.
     There are no prizes awarded at the show because it is solely a venue for the guild to display their creativity since the last quilt show hosted by the guild three years ago, Mary Robbins, secretary of the guild and co-coordinator of the event with Barbara Pike, said.
     "We want all of our quilts to be fresh," Robbins said. "We usually give members three years for another show. That is the plan if all of membership is willing."
     Two members of the guild, Pike and Carla Fiedler, made a quilt for a raffle at the show. Ticket are $1 and for sale now through the end of the show, when the guild will draw a name for the winner.
     Pike said that they used a pattern, but added additional fabric to add color and make the quilt "look scrappy."
     "The more types of fabric, the more scrappy it is," Pike said. "And the more interesting it is, too."
     Robbins said money from the raffle will pay for the pipes used to display the 300 quilts that are registered for the show this year.
     "We have a wide range from miniatures, bed size, traditionals and art quilts," Robbins said. "Some members are excellent at making art quilts that are meant to be displayed and some make quilts with old-fashioned patterns. It is whatever feeds your soul."
     She said at the show, the quilts displayed will range from parts of the quilt being started in the 1900s to some with the last stitches being made the night before the show and members have worked hard to complete the quilts.
     The event is organized to showcase the talents of each member, Robbins said.
     "It is an extremely talented and wonderful [guild]," Elaine Nielsen of Seward, guild member, said.
     Nielsen said that members of the guild use creativity in different ways, but all work to create unique expressions in their quilts that have different meanings.
     Nielsen said at the show, she will work as a white glove attendant, which means she will wear white gloves and explain the details of the quilts. The attendants wear white gloves to keep the quilts from getting dirty.
     Nielsen said she is looking forward to seeing all the beautiful quilts displayed and talking to those who come to see the show.
     "Quilts have been a long-time tradition in the U.S. and other countries and we feel that it connects us as women to those who have gone before us," Robbins said.
     She said quilting is an artistic and creative outlet because, unlike so many things, when a quilt is complete you don't have to redo it like other things in life, for example, cleaning.
     Robbins said people came from each coast to see the quilts at the last show.
     "We have many fine quilters and quilt teachers in Seward County and surrounding areas," Robbins said. "If you are interested in becoming a quilt maker you couldn't be in a better place."
     Robbins said without the facility where the show is held or the people in the community the show would not be possible.
     Pike said that everyone should come see the show because you won't know what it's like until you see it yourself.
     She said her husband went to a show with her in Omaha, but before they got there he wasn't interested in quilting.
     "He was amazed at the precision and detail," Pike said. "If nothing else, I think anyone there will appreciate the work that goes into quilting."
     There will be food for sale by a local group, quilt-related items and service vendors, dolls on display from the Seams Magical Doll Club of Seward and the International Quilt Study Center in Lincoln will be at the show to present.
     The Blue Valley Quilters Guild raises funds for and sponsors the event, but is also involved in other projects throughout the year including making quilts for the state patrol (Quilts for Cops) that officers use when children are involved in car accidents or taken from their home, making layettes for premature babies and baby-blanket size quilts for newborns at Memorial Hospital in Seward. In 2006, the Blue Valley Quilters Guild made a quilt for each baby born at Memorial Hospital that year.