Program Change - Not a Problem

Program Chairs, Audrey and Anne, had set up the September program to feature Cleta Wietham (on the right in the picture below) to give us a trunk show of her work.  As Cleta is also showing her quilts at the Catholic Parrish during the Piotique Festival, she checked with the ladies about bringing in a change.  With her sister Rosella (pictured center) to help hold, Cleta brought to us the opportunity to see her good friend Edith Deters' (on the left) work.  Cleta told us that next to Edith - she was a kindergartener.  

Edith ONLY started quilting about 20 years ago.  She hand quilts all of her quilts, using an 18" tubular square frame and a size 9 needle.  When she has a quilt ready, she lays the backing on the floor, then the batting and then the top.  Takes about a day for her to pin the sandwich together.  Then she calls in the family members and has them baste it for her.  Edith marks her quilts as she goes, seems she dislikes marking.  After seeing the sizes of all of her quilts - easy to see why.

Hopefully the right name is with each quilt..........

Fan

Drunkard path style

Ocean wave

Clam - hand pieced as well as hand quilted

(If you want to see these pictures larger, click on one of them and you can see a whole line up of pictures larger, then click on the upper right corner on the "x" to close and come back to the article to read.)

This quilt Edith had bought the circles at an antique shop and with her older fabrics (which she loves) she put it all together in this fantastic quilt.  Wow.

Two for the price of one in this quilt, not only do you have all the lovely stars, but you have all the appliqued flowers.

As we watched Cleta and Rosella pull all of the quilts out of these white bags, someone finally asked what they were - they had snaps and strings on them and some had faded writing on one side.  In the past when there was paper ballots in voting - these were voting ballot bags that they would use to transfer the votes to the counting location.  After the voting was over, they were given away.  At the time Edith did not know what she would do with them, but they seemed a great thing to have - so she would take a few each time.  What a wonderful way to store your quilts.

Dresden

Scrap-aholic

Log Cabin

Another antique shop find of blocks made out of 1" squares and then Edith puts them together into a quilt.  Look at that border.

Edith did not get as many hexagon blocks at the antique store this time; however, with her fabric and her designing capability - ...........

even the edge is perfect.

This paper pieced quilt is what Edith calls the Indian Wedding Ring.

This quilt won 1st place at the Seneca 4-H fair

About 10 years ago, the Kansas City Star presented the quilt block patterns that make up this quilt. 

Check out the 1/4" borders included on this quilt.  Edith likes to take the darkest fabric and add the 1/4" or 1/2" borders to make the edges stand out.  Do you count 7 borders on this quilt?

 And this lovely quilt is Edith's State Fair Champion.  She designed it herself, taking different pictures and techniques she saw and putting them all together into this winner.  All of the applique is astounding to look at - and the quilting of course.

When Edith said come on up and take a close look, well - we did it in shifts........

Pictures aren't as good as the real thing, but for those of you that were not able to be with us - I hope you get an idea of what we saw.

Before Edith started to quilt - she did hardanger...........and what work - fabulous, marvelous, oh my...........no wonder she outshines in quilting.

Anyone that can do this kind of work in one textile area - is sure to shine in others as well.  The patience - several of us have done hardanger and are proud that we have a 3 - 4" patch of something - these were outstanding.

And yes, Edith does smaller quilts.  Below are two baby blankets done in the whole cloth,

 and this one is hexagon with fussy cut bears in the middle....

 and this baby blanket is appliqued bears. 

 

Cleta - we thank you for sharing Edith and her work with us. Thank you Rosella for helping to show off the quilts.  Thank you Edith for inspiring us to higher achievements.   And Cleta, we are looking forward to seeing what you call the kindergarten work of yours at the quilt show during Piotique.