The Best of the Valley Doll Exhibit

I thought I'd do something a little different for this post. The Best of the Valley Quilt Show in Lindsay, CA had the biggest doll exhibit I've ever seen at a quilt show. They had a huge variety. There was everything from elaborately dressed women, to stuffed animals and mythological creatures.

I would like to share some of them with you. I know that the pictures extend a little past the usual display area but they really need to be big so you can see the detail.

"Where the Wild Things Are" is one of my favorite children's books. I love the display with the book and the little boy from the story. The collection of pincushions is very cute too.

My favorites in this photo are the the Japanese dolls with the fan behind them. Each one is holding a fan in front of her face. I also love the texture and detail in the doll that is bent into a circle. I love the tree bark texture and the unusual shape.

Aren't these bats fun? They make me smile. They are so goofy looking.

The detail on the brown and teal doll in the center is amazing. She is just gorgeous. On the opposite extreme you have the cute crabs and lobsters in the foreground.

Look at the whimsical creature on the bike. The spokes are tiny beads. This doll was made by Susan Bellamy. She was the featured doll maker at the show. I plan to do a blog post in the near future on her exhibit. You won't believe the rest of her work.

I wish I could have taken detailed photos of every single doll on display. The workmanship of all of these pieces was exemplary. It was a very inspiring display.

Carol

Young Quilters

The display of Quilters under 18 Years of Age was right by our booth at the Best of the Valley Quilt Show in Lindsay, CA. I am looking forward to teaching my granddaughter, Tristyn to quilt. You can see her playing with thread and Perle Cotton Bubbles on the side of this page. She is also featured in my post about Perle Cotton Bubbles. She likes to carry pieces of fabric around the house. So I'm getting her used to all of that at a very young age (she's 17 months old).

I was very impressed with the work of the young quilters who entered their quilts at the show. I would like to share it with you here.

This first quilt was made by 11 year old Jada Wheeler from Bakersfield, CA. She plans to decorate her room with a jungle theme. Her grandma let her choose the fabrics for the quilt. I think this quilt is going to look great in her room.

Jada's Jungle by Jada Wheeler - Age 11

The next quilt was made by Evan Renee Carson of Porterville, CA who is 9.  It was sewn on her white Featherweight sewing machine. Her inspiration is to be just like her Grammie (Priscilla Girard) who Evan says is a great quilter.

My First Quilt by Evan Renee Carson - Age 9

Summer Sunset won a Third Place Ribbon. Abrielle Ward from Hanford, CA made this quilt. She is 13. It is her second quilt and is the first one she quilted herself. She started with Jelly Rolls. She said it was a fun and easy quilt to make.

Summer Sunset by Abrielle Ward - Age 13

Raine Palomino from Hanford, CA made Pandas at Play. She saw the pattern at Best of the Valley last year and decided to make it. Raine quilted it by herself. She is only 12 years old and did thread play, free motion quilting and some stitch in the ditch quilting. She is definitely a serious quilter. Her quilt was the Second Place winner. (Sorry the photo isn't clearer).

Pandas at Play by Raine Palomino - Age 12

This is Irelan Fletcher's "First Quilt." She is from Clovis, CA and is 11 years old. She made the quilt with her grandmother, Janet Fletcher and her friend Judy McDaniel. Irelan chose the fabric, sewed, cut, and pressed the half square triangles. She also sewed the short seams, created the design and free motion quilted the rose design on most of the blocks. Judy did the feathers in the borders and Janet sewed the long seams and binding. Irelan says she loves quilting! Her quilt finished in First Place.

First Quilt by Irelan Fletcher - Age 11

Last, but certainly not least is Payton's First Quilt. Payton Evan is 8 years old and is from Porterville, CA. In her artist's statement she said that her favorite part was pressing the fabric. She says her grandma pressured her when her hands were tired but told her "Don't stop, we are almost done." I met Payton at the show. She was so excited about her quilt. Hers won Best of Show in the Under 18 Category.

Payton's First Quilt by Payton Evan - Age 8

Congratulations to all of the entrants! These are some very talented young quilters. I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of their work for a long time to come.

Happy Quilting,

Carol