Meet Bev Olson

I spent a few hours with my new quilt friend Bev Olson, touring her studio and poking into her wonderful collections.

Bev showing her heirloom and vintage linens

Her latest creation is a wood applique and embellished tree of life. She made the 'pennies' and embroidered them.

And then she embroidered and embellished the tree with animals and other details.

Bev is also an amazing crazy quilter. That is, she is not a crazy quilter (although that can be argued), but she is an amazing crazy quilt artist!

Bev uses all kinds of found objects, like this piece of shell

Bev's studio is the showcase for her many collectibles.

 

Knowing I love vintage linens she shared her family heirlooms featuring lots of embroidery and hand tatting.

 These cats are so cute!

 The smaller hens are egg warmers.

 I loved this 1950s handkerchief. I know I had Disney themed hankies as a girl.

Upstairs were more treasures. Including a quilt made with vintage heirloom blocks.

Bev had a set of three suitcases very like the set I received as a high school graduation gift!

 Then she opened the chest her father had made from apple crates.

 K-rations from WWII and lots of war mementos were inside.

Including flags that had been draped over family caskets. One had embroidered stars, the other appliqued stars.

There were Sweetheart pillowcases.

And a wonderful WWI souvenir silk handkerchief featuring President Wilson and vignettes with President Washington, General Lafayette, and the Statue of Liberty from 1919.

I'll end with another of Bev's sweet wool applique quilts featuring amazing vintage buttons.

I'll write another post about Bev's family photos including a set from the end of WWI.

The 2015 Annual Quilt Walk in West Branch, MI: Art Quilts and Old Quilts

I returned to my brother's cabin outside of West Branch, MI so I could participate in the 31st annual Quilt Walk which raises money for Hospice of Helping Hands. The quilts are displayed throughout the downtown area and includes locally made, antique, traditional, and art quilts.

I enjoyed seeing quilts by Jan-Berg Rezmer last year. This year I got to meet her! Her quilt Blue Season was in the American Quilt Society show in Grand Rapids this past August.

Jan-Berg Rezmer with Blue Season

  

Jan told me she was a painter before she started quiltmaking. Her quilts include abstract as well as representation art.

 This quilt was very cool!

 Her felted wool quilt won recognition at this year's American Quilt Society show in Syracuse!

Jan belongs to a local quilt guild. She made this lovely Sunflower quilt as their raffle quilt.

 The simple pieced background sets off the golden flowers nicely.

Antique and vintage quilts were displayed in several areas. 

The West Branch Historical Society had several interesting quilts. The top of the  quilt below was found in the basement of the Rose City, MI Methodist Episcopal church in 1991 and finished.

The Historical Society is in an old house that is nicely being restored.

 There were several crazy quilts.

 And a functional quilt made of wool.

The building has a nice wide porch with a rocker and a quilt. I would like to spend my evenings there!

I got to bring home my own old quilt! I found it at a thrift store for $10.00!

The top is in acceptable shape with a few tears, wear along several edges, and shifting cotton batting. But overall the fabrics are in good shape. I am guessing it was a kit quilt since it is not scrappy but uses a limited number of fabrics. The yellow calico seems transitional since the other fabrics have definite Depression era colors and prints.

There is a large sale of books, magazines, patterns, fabrics and other paraphernalia--all donation and all for Hospice. I brought home some old magazines and books myself.