Pentwater Quilt Display a Success

On Saturday, July 13 the Centenary United Methodist Church of Pentwater, MI offered a quilt display in conjunction with the city's annual Art Fair. Quilts were brought out of closets and taken off beds, representing 19th through 21st century quilt making. About sixty quilts were arranged on the church pews in the sanctuary. The church building was erected in 1875, although the Methodist church in Pentwater was the earliest church in the area, back in the hey day of  lumbering in Michigan.

Pentwater is a resort town these days, with many retirees from all over. In summer the village blossoms with cottagers, summer folk, campers and the marina filled with Lake Michigan boaters. So it was not surprising that 19th c quilts showed up, like the two crazy quilts featured above. Three 1890s crazy quilts were brought to the show! The embroidery on these quilts was spectacular! 

One quilt even featured a photograph of the maker printed on fabric.

Many well loved Depression era quilts were on display. A Kit Quilt Trip Around the World was purchased for $5; it is on the left in the photo below. Later it's clone arrived!

Lots of strips and gingham in this Drunkard's Path! Perhaps shirts, aprons and dress materials?

 This faded Dresden Plate on a pale yellow ground has particularly fine quilting, noted by attendee Jeffrey Cunningham (originator of the Coppersville Farm Museum quilt show, "Quilts and Their Stories.")

This quilt interested me; the blue fabric predates the Depression Era pieced fabrics around it by quite a bit. But quilters have always hoarded fabric, and during the hard times anything was fair game.

Two Sunbonnet Sues came in. The pink sashed quilt was discovered under a bed mattress! The second Sue was made by the owner's mother and incorporated fabrics from the girls dresses.

This Carolina Lily variation is unusual as the flowers are green and the vases red. The stems are also unusual, going to one flower instead of one to each flower. 

A Gees Bend area quilt purchased in the early 1970s was also shared.

I will post more photos from the show next time!