Ann at HMQS

Let me preface this by saying, if you ever get the chance to take in a national quilt show, it is possible the most interesting experience one can have.  There is something for everyone. 

 

This was my 5th year to attend HMQS.  My favorite part was and always is meeting other quilters: exchanging ideas and learning new techniques.  I roomed with another QOV quilter from northern Idaho.  We have only met through Quilts of Valor, on Facebook.  We formed a great friendship in just 4 days!

 

Left: Carla Gentry from Inland Northwest Quilts of Valor.  I am on the right.

There were 2 men quilters that were teaching classes this year. Carla and I found ourselves together in 3 of their classes. So interesting to take a class from very talented and artistic quilters: male or female.  Every minute of every class helped you to “think outside the box.” 

 

Dustin Farrell from Pennsylvania.  We does awesome quilts with glow-in-the-dark thread!

Walking down the isles of massive displays of quilts helped you see what other’s see in the world around them

HMQS was really fun this year because they honored Quilts of Valor.  They had a special QOV Challenge sponsored by Quilting Treasures Fabrics.  I entered the challenge and for the first time, had a quilt hanging in the show:

There were 33 entries and my personal favorite was this QOV:  I love the old fashioned look to it and think they used the fabrics in a great way:

The QOV’s were in a completely separate area from the rest of the quilts and were judged as a single group.

 

This was the winning QOV:

I have been quilting for 6 years and have a quilting studio where I quilt for customers on a regular basis; however, I always set aside time to quilt 2 QOV’s a month.

 

My husband and I live on a wheat farm in Southern Idaho.  I was raised in a saddle on a cattle ranch in the Raft River Valley.  We moved up here at 5400 ft. when we got married 37 years ago.  We have 3 grown children happily pursuing careers off the farm. 

 

We live on my husband’s grandfather’s homestead.  He raised wheat and operated a sawmill.  He logged timber from Black Pine Mountain and milled all the lumber that is inside our house to this day.  My studio is an old farmhouse we remodeled and the wood in those walls was “homemade” also.

So, this is it . . . where we live, farm and all my quilts are made.  The timber for the houses nestled in the trees came from the mountain 7 miles in the background.  Not too many of you have to drive 60 miles for groceries, the dentist, the accountant, etc.  We are 20 miles from our mailbox and the kids drove 28 miles to high school . . . one way.

 

An interesting fact is that we do have DSL high speed internet service and if it were not for that, I would not even know about Quilts of Valor.

 

I should be thanking Quilts of Valor as it has actually done a huge service for me!  Quilting those quilts has helped me get through cancer treatments, the death of my Dad, and helps me cope with my Mom’s failing health.   Truly, the best way to lift your spirits is through service to others.

If you want to see more of what Ann does - head over to her blog