CHICO — Annie’s Star Quilt Guild will be hosting “Harvest of Quilts X,” a quilting show featuring more than 200 locally sewn quilts at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds this weekend.
The show is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Parking is free and admission is $7.
For 38 years the guild has brought quilters and quilt artists of all ages and skill levels together for quilting-related activities, workshops, community service projects, camaraderie and bi-annual shows.
“We’re one of the bigger guilds around. We have about 180 members and it’s a pretty eclectic group in terms of the kinds of quilts we make. The show will include traditional, art, applique and modern quilts,” said Jo Schreiber, workshop chair.
In addition to the quilts, the show will also include a variety of vendors with quilting fabric, supplies and notions for sale. There are also jewelry vendors and Cello Chocolate will also have a booth. There will also be a food court.
“There will also be Fat Quarter towers and Pick A Prize where visitors can purchase tickets with a chance to win fabric or gift baskets filled with items donated by local businesses and sponsors. Also the guild’s Annie’s Attic and Boutique with items for sale. The Boutique will have new hand made gift items made by members such as table runners, embroidered towels and such,” said Schreiber.
The show will be the last chance to purchase raffle tickets for the guild’s 90-inch square opportunity quilt, “Stamp of Approval.” The drawing for the quilt made by guild members will be Sunday at the show.
While Schreiber arranges workshops for the guild members she is also the featured quilter for this upcoming show.
“It’s quite an honor to be nominated and voted Annie’s Star Quilt Guild’s featured quilter,” said Schreiber.
Since her selection a year ago, Schreiber has been working on and planning what quilts she’ll exhibit at the show. She has chosen 18 different designs and hopes to have an additional two ready when the show opens. Some of the works she’ll be displaying are new and some are ones she’s made in anticipation of the show and others are older.
Schreiber describes herself as a “traditional quilter” but says her taste in fabric is “eclectic.”
“I don’t stick to a certain genre of fabric. I like to break out of the box and I’m not exactly a pattern follower. I like to put my own spin on things,” said the 33-year quilting veteran.
Recently Schreiber said she’s “gone into modern, more minimalistic designs.”
“My favorite thing are the medallion patterns, generally a square center that radiates out with lots of symmetry,” said Schreiber.
Schreiber worked as a seamstress off and on for many years, sub-contracting for interior designers and making quilts in her of hours. Ten years ago she bought her first longarm sewing machine and went into the longarm quilting business. In 2010 she began a year-long journey into the history of the Civil War and fabrics with Barbara Brackman, a quilt historian and author, making a block a week. Three of Schreiber’s blocks were published in Brackman’s 2012 Civil War Sampler book. In 2017 Schreiber was awarded a first, second and best of show for two of her judged quilts.
Annie’s Star Quilt Guild members also make and donate quilts and quilted items to a variety of community organizations including Youth and Family Programs, Sutter Memorial Children’s Cancer Center, Meals on Wheels, Catalyst, North Valley Catholic Social Services and Salvation Army’s George Walker Adult Rehabilitation Program.
Through a special program called the Comfort Project the guild members have made and distributed “hundreds” of quilts to Carr Fire and Camp Fire survivors as well as to fire survivors in Lake County.
“Making comfort quilts is a huge facet of what our quilters do for people. For the Camp Fire we literally had quilters from all over the nation and other countries send us quilts to give survivors,” said Schreiber.
Annie’s Star Quilt Guild
“Harvest of Quilts X” show
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday
Where: Silver Dollar Fair Grounds
Admission: $7 per person — parking is free
More information: http://anniestarquilt.blogspot.com