Hanging the Show

Day Three: The Lake Terrace Convention Center staff had the pipe and drape equipment erected when we arrived. While judging continued in the Garden Room and Executive Conference Room, teams began moving judged quilts to the exhibit hall on rolling carts.ID tags remained on the quilts to assure they were kept in order.

The cords that hold the pipes (which thread through the sleeves) had to be unwound from storage, and we used members and LTCC staff. Seeing the large exhibit hall with all these empty rows waiting for the quilts gave us a shudder--it seemed a daunting task to accomplish in the two days we had remaining before opening. But Linda Flanders and Pat Valadez had prepared a map showing a place for each of the 390+ pieces, and we began hanging. Extra-long quilts had to be pinned up until muslin could be placed on the floor to protect them. By the end of the day the judge had completed judging all 22 categories and only had the final special awards to be decided.
The boutique team began filling their room with handmade items we had worked on over the two years since the last show. Vendors will be arriving and setting up on Day Four, and Day Five becomes opening day!

Judging the Show

L to R: Gloria Green, Sharon Harris, Judge, Leslie Kiger, Vivian Plummer, Linda Flanders

 We have received all the quilts and have sorted them by category and entry number and laid them out on double or triple tables. Show Judge Lorraine Covington examines them while PBQ members help with moving them about from table to table as they are judged and placed with their category for hanging on the pipe and drape system at Lake Terrace. Actual hanging will begin Wednesday, working toward opening the show on Friday morning at 10:00 a.m.

Judge giving comments to scribes Rhoda Libiez and Donna Burges

Show Preparations

Our September 19 meeting was involved with assigning show duties, answering questions, receiving bags and labels to pin to quilt entries, making sure everyone knew their schedule. We pre-registered quilts from members, which will help reduce the load on check-in day. The registrars for the three off-site locations picked up all the paperwork for these quilts. Our space for receiving and judging will be less than we've had before, so care is being taken to keep the quilts in proper order for the hanging process.

We were reminded to distribute flyers and cards to advertise the show, sell the remainder of our raffle tickets and get the stubs and money turned in. 

It is exciting to know that we will have 19 vendors with fabric, thread, machines, patterns, etc. to tempt us. The catalog has gone to the printer showing 401 entries.  We're ready for a great show!

Remember to check the Schedule of Events back a couple of posts to see what lectures/demos or featured speakers you don't want to miss. Let's hope this fall weather continues!

Quilts for the Veterans Home in Collins

Jackie Page, assistant administrator at the Veterans Home in Collins, was present at PBQ's September 19 meeting to accept our gift of 15 colorful string quilts. Our member Dorothy Aultman makes and brings in these squares every month, and the (first Tuesday) Children's Quilt Group assembles, quilts, and binds them. Jackie said the residents were always cold and would enjoy these quilts, both for the warmth they provide and for the appreciation they represent for the residents' service to our country.

Schedule of Events at the Show

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AT THE SHOW 

All events free except where noted

*Requires $5.00 ticket

Friday, October 5

11:00	Choosing a Border Ollie Jean Lane	Garden Rm
12:00	Quilting with Your Embroidery Machine Sally Henderson	ExConf Rm
1:00	The Beauty of All Quilts Ann Fox	Garden Rm
2:00	Dyeing Fabric Mary Nell Magee	ExConf Rm
3:00	Care & Repair of Your Quilt Martha Ginn	Garden Rm
4:00	From Sweatshirt to Jacket Joan Harper	ExConf Rm
5:00	Paper Piecing Anne Esteve	Garden Rm
6:00-8:00	*Square in a Square Jodi Barrows	ExConf Rm

Saturday, October 6

11:00	Trunk Show Donna Burges	ExConf Rm
12:00	Braid Quilts Gayle Giannini	Garden Rm
1:00	Ghost Quilting Martha Ginn	ExConf Rm
2:00	T-Shirt Quilts June Burge	Garden Rm
3:00-5:00	*Custom Art Quilts Gail Bachorik	ExConf Rm
6:00-8:00	*String Quilt Revival Virginia Baker & Barbara Sanders	Garden Rm

Sunday, October 7

1:00	Strings Shirley Wiltshire	ExConf Rm
2:00	Rulers Elvia Edwards	Garden Rm
3:00	Trunk Show & Longarm Quilting Dea Crandal	ExConf Rm

Embroidery Machine Quilts; Combat Wounded Veterans

Betty Moore with an embroidered quilt

Betty Moore presented an informative program on embroidery machines at our August meeting.  She began by embroidering simple designs on towels or clothing, but has added newer machines and computer programs and makes a large variety of projects. She showed us how quilting (stitching through the top, batting, and backing) can be accomplished on the machines.

Several months ago Mary Nell Magee suggested a project of making a quilt to be donated to the Combat Wounded Veterans of SouthMississippi. Many members brought in patriotic fabrics, and several members made star blocks from these fabrics. Our member Bonnie Bolt designed the quilt and stitched the star blocks around a large patriotic center panel. Wanda and David Wallace quilted it and Lois Dedeaux added the binding. 

Wanda Wallace, Naomi Mathis, Donna Anderson, Bonnie Bolt, Mary Nell Magee

Donna Anderson (case manager) and Naomi Mathis (air force wounded warrior) came to our meeting from Biloxi, where they both work at Keesler AFB. They explained part of the mission of the Combat Wounded Veterans was "to assist veterans with financial needs during the transition from military service to civilian life and acting as a liaison with VA benefits." It was our pleasure to give the quilt to Donna Anderson and Naomi Mathis at our meeting. The quilt will be used as a fundraiser with all proceeds going to the programs of the CWVSM.

NICU Tour

Dr. White

Dr. Clint White, neonatologist, and Leigh Ann Leonard, pediatric nurse manager, accompanied a group from Pine Belt Quilters on a tour of Forrest General's new family-centered NICU this week. All preconceived notions of a preemie baby nursery were dispelled as we saw this state-of-the-art unit. Every measure has been taken to provide a comfortable, efficient, and welcoming atmosphere for the newborn and its family. Depending on the length of time the baby is early, all conditions of light, temperature, sound can be monitored and altered to mimic the time it missed in the mother's womb. Dr. White stressed the importance of rest and sleep, and these rooms provide quiet that is unusual for most hospitals. 

Isolette

Members of Pine Belt Quilters had made and donated isolette covers for the 19 rooms, and we were eager to see these in use.  We were glad to be asked to make these and we developed a pattern from a worn-out white/gray one. When premature babies are fighting for survival in a sterile, frightening environment, having colorful objects in their rooms can be a tremendous boost to the spirits of the family as well as the medical staff.  The covers are made of the three layers (just like a quilt), a colorful outer fabric, a layer of batting, and a gray inside fabric. (The gray helps the staff see the baby's true skin color.) The covers have several flaps which allow the baby to be tended to with very little disturbance.

Isolette with cover

Leigh Anne Leonard with Baby Wall mural

 The "Baby Wall: Life's Little Miracles," a large mural created for the Forrest General Healthcare Foundation, fills a hallway, providing a beautiful and whimsical way to raise funds for the NICU and families. Kym Garraway-Braley painted the mural and continues to add names of honorees or donors. Information is available about donations to the foundation at http://fghfoundation.com . Click on "Ways to Give" and then "Baby Wall."

Dr. White with Baby Wall mural