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.

30th Annual West Branch Quilt Walk

Yesterday I was finally able to see the West Branch Quilt Walk, established 30 years ago by quilters wanting to raise money for the area's first Hospice care. I learned that it will also be the last one. The founders are getting up in years, and there are not enough younger folk willing to take on the project. A story too often told.

West Branch, MI is near the Ogemaw hills, Up North by Troll standards but a mere two and a half hours from Metro Detroit. It calls itself a Victorian town, and there are some lovely Victorian homes and buildings.

The quilts are displayed in various venues throughout town, from the library and city hall to the antique malls and even the jewelry store and wine store.

Some of my favorites were the Redwork quilts. This was a pre-printed panel beautifully embroidered and hand quilted.

A Redwork Sampler included patterns of all vintages.

 Embroidered, Pieced and Quilted by the Rifle River Quilt Guild

Botanical Redwork, Owned, Pieced and Quilted by Barb MacDonald of Oscoda.

A cute bluework featured a tea theme.

 Tea Party Time by Barb MacDonald, Oscoda

There were some lovely applique quilts as well.

 Pieced and owned by Barb MacDonald and quilter by Nancy Webster

 I loved this Sunbonnet Sue Sampler Owned, Pieced and Quilted by Beverly Baumgart, Alger and the The Pink Ladies Group.

It was a nice surprise to see some art quilts as well; by Joan Berg-Rezmer of Gladwin.

A lovely portrait of her husband by Cindy HeitMuller was quilted and thread work embellished by Jan Berg-Rezmer.

Vintage quilt tops pieced in the 1970s by Anna Baylis were quilted by Kathy Curtis and owned by Karen Beyerlein of Lupton.

 

And of course pieced quilts abounded. This pattern was one I also made, a late 1990s pattern from a quilt magazine.

 I'm a sucker for pansies.

Pieced and quilted by Treva Meyers, Clarksville MI 

and bought in 1984 by Terry Boyce of Rose City.

Another Barb MacDonald quilt showing great fussing cutting. Hot Flashes was all hand sewn.

 An amazing paper pieced work by Gerald Brauer of Greenbush.

Some lucky quilts were displayed on beds in a furniture store, like this Edyta Sitar umbrella pattern by Barb MacDonald.

 A state star sampler was huge.

So glad I had a chance to see this show, even if it is the last one. There is hope that reorganization and new leadership will birth a new show in the future.