Nebraska National Quilt Festival worth the drive

Lincoln, Nebraska is really just a hop and a skip away - well okay, about 2.5 hours driving. However, the quilt festival was worth the drive and side trips like to the International Quilt Study Center & Museum, and Stauffer's Cafe, and Havelocks Fire House Restaurant made it a very full day.

Parking is not the easiest thing to find around the Pershing Center in Lincoln - John hit the mark when he found the Eagle public parking facility about 1.5 blocks west on N Street. Someone write that down so that we all remember it - who knows, next year we might get a car caravan going up there. The quilts on display downstairs came from all over including a group from the Road to California - fiber artists across the country created their own vision of a "California Ice Storm". As you came into the Pershing Center there was a large group of quilts by Jennie Rayment "Tuck Twiddle, Roll & Fold". My pictures do not do them justice in regards to the manipulation, origami etc. involved in their production. Look towards the end with the two color quilts.

Another great group was from the "Fortune Cookie Challenge". The Subterranean Art Quilters were each given a fortune cookie to open and interpret in their own unique way. (long tall lady and lady with hat full of stuff).



This was the first year for the quilt show in Lincoln and though it wasn't as big as DesMoines, it had over 80 vendors and was well worth the trip - John even got to chit chat with Eleanor Burns. She was so shocked that I would let him carry a bag other than hers, that she autographed one of her bags for him and had him put my purchases in it. Not sure what all they spoke about while I was shopping, but I did buy one of her books that I did not have (50% off) and have her sign it so I would not feel so left out.

The International Quilt Study Center is showing Elegant Geometry, American and British Mosaic Patchwork (or what I would call English Paper Piecing) until January 8, 2012. Sorry, no flash photography and not enough lighting for my little camera, so I have copied a page from the display book just to wet your whistle of interest. Some of those pieces were very very very tiny. Don't miss the display if you are up that way. Visit their website for more information about events and such. http://www.quiltstudy.org/