Walla Walla Valley Quilt Festival, P. O. Box 1471, Walla Walla, WA  99362

 

 July, 2008  

 

*Exciting Festival News!  We have received a grant from the Washington State Arts Commission to help us bring  featured quilter, Nancy Chong,  to you.  Thanks to the Arts commission for their support.

 

Featured Quilter:

 

*Nancy Chong is an accomplished appliqué artist whose specialty is Hawaiian style quilts and two fabric appliqué quilts.  Check out her work at www.prqc.com and make sure that you come visit her at the SE Washington Fairgrounds, September 19 through September 21.  She will be there from 10 Am to 5 PM each day to visit, encourage and inspire each of you.  Make sure that you get these dates on your calendar.

 

Vendors:

 

*This year we are featuring not only an expanded merchant mall, but also a café area where you may re-fuel for more shopping.  Save those nickels, dimes and quarters to splurge on their exciting products.      

 

Your Work:

 

*We would really like to show your quilts.  Share your work with us and the people of the area.  You can go to our website and print off the entry forms or give me a call (541-938-6130) and I will mail one to you.  The website is:  www.wallawallaquiltfestival.org

 

QUILT CAMP:                                                            Page 2 of 4

 

On another note, a few of us on the Festival Committee recently assisted Walla Walla County Extension Office and instructor Sally Walter with “Quilt Camp”.  The Quilt Camp has been happening for about 6 years and is geared toward young people from about 9 to 14 years of age.  We had a full camp with ten youngsters this year and as usual, each of them went home with a finished pillowcase and a lap-sized quilt that was either finished or very close to being finished! 

Here is one of the many pictures that we took showing a couple of the quilts. 

We hope to be able to show all the “Camp” quilts at the Festival.  Another good thing is that Columbia County Extension Office also sponsored their very first camp for youngsters.  What a wonderful way to “hook” these young folks!  Thanks to everyone who supported and participated!!!

 

LODGING:

 

*The Best Western Walla Walla Suites Inn has been a great friend and supporter of the Festival for several years.  If you need lodging while 

                                                                                     

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visiting the show, please contact them at 509-525-4700 and tell them you are attending the Festival for a special discount! 

 

 

 

Your Help:

 

*Each of you is our best advertisements.  Please share this newsletter with all your friends and relatives and encourage them to make plans and visit the Festival.  Your support is what helps keep the Festival growing and getting better and better each year.  You are appreciated!

 

***Your comments and ideas about this newsletter are welcome.  Questions, concerns, ideas – let us know and we will see what we can do!  Our e-mail address is:  wwvquilts@hotmail.com

 

Don’t Forget:

 

          Festival Challenge:  Lunar Madness.  More info on website

 

          Block Challenge:  Fabric available from Pam Murray at 509-525-5436

 

          Festival Dates:  Quilt Walk Downtown – September 16 through September 21, 2008

 

          Formal Show Dates at Fairgrounds – September 19, 20, 21, 10:00 AM to 5 PM

 

Make sure to get these dates on your calendar!!!!

 

And last but not least, a few tips for quilters.

 

Ø    Last newsletter we talked about the reasons to wash your fabric before beginning to sew.  So now you have it washed what next???   Well, my personal preference is to iron with some spray starch.  This helps put some of the sizing back in the fabric that we washed out, it is easier to make accurate cuts, helps stabilize bias edges as they are sewn, and I think it makes quilt pieces easier to sew. 

 

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Ø    After your quilt is finished, cut a 3 inch  square from each fabric and put behind the label (of course you have labeled your quilt, right???) in case an emergency repair is needed down the road.

 

Ø    The rest of your left over fabric can be cut into squares to be used in a future “scrappy” quilt.  

 

Ø    If you need to stop a seam ¼” from a given point (the edge of fabric or some other point)  Use a piece of ¼” masking tape to accurately show you where to take a couple of back stitches and end the seam.

 

That’s it for now.  Look for one more newsletter in early September. 

 

KEEP QUILTING!!! 

 

Cathy Wiese

 

 

Walla Walla Quilt Festival

541-938-6130

P. O. Box 1471

Walla Walla, WA 99362

 

E-mail:  wwvquilts@hotmail.com

 

Website:  www.wallawallaquiltfestival.org