Bolts Of Fabric

Quilt display one of Dodge festival's big events

It is a place of color and history.

Multi-hued quilts hang on wooden frames alongside those of more muted tones. One quilt features a green tractor, a bright yellow school bus and a red, white and blue rocket ship. Another quilt, made in 1887, includes an embroidered bird and butterfly.

Together, these and other fabric works of art create a patchwork depiction of historical and present-day quilting.

And all are in the quilt and doll show that is part of Dodge's 125th anniversary celebration this weekend.

More than 340 quilts are part of the exhibition that fills the Dodge High School gym. The three-day show features quilts ranging from antique to modern. Full-size bed quilts, mini quilts, doll quilts and wall hangings are part of the display as well.

During the event, quilters in the Project Linus group will demonstrate the steps involved in making baby quilts, said Janice Ladehoff, one of the event's coordinators.

Project Linus is a non-profit organization that provides new, handmade blankets and afghans to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need. Quilts have been delivered to hospitals in Omaha and Fremont and domestic violence shelters.

The exhibit also features "Quilts Honoring Our Soldiers" and quilts that represent area churches. A quilt from Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Olean includes photographs of the building's interior and exterior.

Another display tells about a cooperative effort between Dr. John Makenda of Tanzania and area quilters.

"He sends fabric for us to sell for quilt-making and we send back 100 percent of the proceeds, which furnish desks for the Marlex Secondary School in Marangu, Tanzania," Ladehoff said.

Therein lies an example of the show's theme: "Quilts Comforting Our Community, Our Country and Our World."

"Quilters have an innate sense of charity and compassion and are so generous in sharing the quilts. Quilting touches people throughout the world," said June Vogltance, an event co-coordinator.

Vogltance also knows the role quilts have played in this nation's history.

"As people moved into this country, the women stitched quilts by hand using bits and pieces of worn out clothing," she said. "They made quilts for utilitarian purposes to keep themselves warm on cool nights and to bury their children in when they died because of the hardship of traveling across the country in covered wagons.

"Hand-quilting still exists, but the majority of the quilts are pieced, appliquéd and quilted by machine in beautiful, intricate patterns and because of this, quilting is alive and thriving," she added, "And proof of this is exhibited in the quilt show of Dodge's 125 celebration.

midwest livin': wrap yourself in bolts of fabric

I will have these glorious floor-to-ceiling windows in my new living room, and have decided to create the illusion of floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining room and bedroom by getting long curtains for other windows in my bedroom.  I think the large swaths of color and fun patterns will help open up the space a bit and add a nice element to the nest.  To add to my joy, my amazing Mom has told me she will make the curtains for me when I am back in the Northeast this summer.  Super fun times! In terms of what I am looking for, I am thinking mod.  I also want some sort of pattern couched in bright(ish) colors.  I don't need technicolor bright, but I want to add some lightness to the space.  I am guessing I will mix up the patterns in different rooms, but seeing as the living room and dining room are combined in this quasi-great space concept, I will likely try to stick with the same fabric in those spaces.  I will mix it up in the bedroom though, and as I was told by a wonderful friend of mine today, I can even make my own pillows - brilliant!   First off, I found this pattern on a mod fabric website today and really like it.  It is playful, bright, and a bit quirky.  One of the students I advise told me it looks a bit childish, to which I thought, "yeah, so!"  Real grown up, Z.  Real grown up.  Needless to say, I am looking for something similar to this and will start my looking when I get back to NH in early August.  Moms apparently has some spots to check out.  I am thinking there will be stuff like this - I would love to have curtains to put up so I can have some privacy while I am moving in (read: so I can wear whatever the hell I want in my own space whenever I want without reproach or scaring the neighborhood kids).   The next pattern I saw is super playful and would be fun for pillows.  Seriously, ducks, bunnies AND kittens?  The only sort of kitsch I would appreciate more would be a Westie print, but honestly, how much Westie is too much Westie?*  I feel like doing something fun like this would be a good start of ideas for pillows, which I will probably mix up and do a bunch of different patterns for.  I am also thinking of making a dog bed for Grrtrude.  And by "I will make" what I really mean is I will con a friend with a sewing machine to help me immensely with promises of food and drink.  We all do what we must to get by.

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