Vintage Stars
75" x 84"
made by members of Country School Quilters, Montpelier, VA
Yes, this is a raffle quilt, but before I tell you about the quilt I want to tell you a little about the makers.
One of the best things that happened to me when I moved here in 1998 was finding the local Chapter of the Richmond Quilters Guild. That Chapter is Country School and has to be one of the best quilt groups in the Country. For as small Chapter we have a wide variety of skills, talent and ages. Members have always been inclusive to new people and very supportive of everyone. That's saying a lot for some of the award-winning talent that exists in the group. One of our members, Becky Brown, even won 1st Place at Paducah twice. But you would be a member for a long time before you knew that because very little bragging goes on in our meetings.
We are focused on quilting and fellowship. We don't overextend the group doing lots of outside projects which makes the ones we do very special. Probably the biggest charitable focus of the group is supporting the Virginia Quilt Museum. If you ever drive through Virginia on I-81, please be sure to stop over in Harrisonburg and visit the museum. It's fabulous. I can't wait to go see the current exhibit of kaleidoscope quilts!
The Museum has a quilt raffle fundraiser every 2 years that is a major fundraiser for the Museum. A couple of years ago our Chapter made the raffle quilt and it was based on a quilt that is in the Museum collection. Another Guild in Virginia will be providing the raffle quilt for this year.
But we still wanted to do more for the Museum and we have decided to have a Chapter raffle that is for the benefit of the Museum.
This quilt started with a lot of blocks made by Becky Brown and Betsy Scott. If you are doing Barbara Brackman's Civil War Quilt project you are familiar with Becky because she is the block tester. I can assure you that every block in this quilt is PERFECTLY pieced! It was quilted by Susan Caldwell, one of our best local quilters.
Because the Museum has an extensive Civil War quilt collection, it was appropriate to make this with Civil War reporduction fabrics.
To the Business
I decided to offer raffle tickets through the blog for anyone interested in purchasing tickets for the drawing for this quilt. The drawing is in November. Tickets are $1 and every ticket I sell will also be entered in a separate drawing for a prize package that will include some hand dyed fabric. The more tickets I sell the bigger the prize package will be! It will start with a set of 3 fat quarters and for every 50 tickets I sell, I will add something to the package.
How to Buy
If you would like to purchase one (or more) raffle tickets, post a comment here and I will email you my mailing address. You will send me a check (made out to Country School Quilters) for the tickets. I'll fill them out and enter you into my drawing and the raffle. If you want your ticket stub receipts please include a self-addressed stamped envelope and I will send the ticket stubs back to you. I will sell tickets through the blog through March 15 and do the prize package drawing on March 16.
Even if you don't want to buy tickets, I hope you have enjoyed another pretty quilt picture!
Vicki, I'm not able to reach you via email. Been trying for a couple of months. Hope all is well.
Posted by: Marilyn Wall | February 16, 2011 at 07:28 AM
Vickie,
I will be happy to buy $5.00 worth of tickets. I just saw more info on the Paula Nadelstern kaleidoscope exhibit that the Akron Art Museum will be hosting starting in June. It will be her quilts and actual kaleidoscopes. I would love to see some pictures if possible of the Virgina Quilt Museum exhibit as I am going to be involved in the marketing and community involvement for the AAM exhibit. Any ideas of how or who the show could be presented would help.
Posted by: patty | February 16, 2011 at 07:57 AM
Vikki,
I wanted to share your fundraising efforts with Craft Gossip readers. I linked to your post here,
http://quilting.craftgossip.com/?p=7342
I love the quilt and learning more about the makers.
Scarlett Burroughs
Quilting Editor, Craft Gossip
Posted by: Scarlett Burroughs | February 16, 2011 at 10:25 AM
Are you bringing tickets to Mid-Atlantic?
Posted by: Amy | February 16, 2011 at 11:11 AM
It is indeed a lovely quilt!
Posted by: elle | February 16, 2011 at 12:30 PM
That is a most worthy cause, Vicki. The Quilt Museum is on my list of places to visit! Count me in. Please email me your mailing address. I think I had it tucked away somewhere at one time... but in my current circumstance, I wouldn't even know where to start looking for it.
Posted by: Ivory Spring | February 16, 2011 at 01:38 PM
Thank you, Vicki, for blogging about our Quilt Chapter and our Vintage Stars quilt. All of the things you said about our members are so very true; we do indeed have a wonderful little group of very kind and talented people. I could go on telling about Betty and Linda who organize and 'put on' Quilt Bingo each July to raise money for the American Cancer Society. 16 games of Bingo and all prizes are quilts! Our members have also been sending Care Packages to our troops for almost 4 years. Yes, if there was a list of Best Quilting Groups, our little chapter would be at the top of the list. I'd like to add that I have NOT won Best of Show in Paducah, but 1st place twice, as well as some other awards.
Betsy Scott made MOST of the blocks for Vintage Stars, and she cut all the pieces, making for a much more succesful group project. THANK YOU, VICKI, for sharing this beauty with all your readers. Please help support our Virginia Quilt Museum.
Posted by: Becky in VA | February 16, 2011 at 02:03 PM
Hi Vicki
You said it perfectly....quilting and fellowship...while I love my quilting, the joy of spending time with like minded friends is immeasurable. Spending a block of time with them is a joy and to make things even better, whatever we've made while we chatted is like a little gift to take home with us. I'd rather do that than go out any day!
Darc
xxoo
Posted by: darcey | February 16, 2011 at 02:37 PM
I want tickets!!
I probably have your address somewhere in a old email but if you could send it to me again I'll get my check right in the mail. It's a beautiful quilt and I want it.
Posted by: Mary | February 16, 2011 at 03:37 PM
I would love a ticket (or 5).
Can people outside the US enter?
Posted by: Sarah | February 16, 2011 at 06:43 PM
Vicki, put me down for $20! I will mail you a check this weekend! I have your addy.
Posted by: Cindy Is Crafty | February 16, 2011 at 09:11 PM
Vicki, grateful thanks for highlighting the Quilt Museum project. And thanks for all the nice comments about the Country School Quilters. I do think it is a very special group.
Posted by: Marian Moody | February 17, 2011 at 12:31 PM
Hi Vicki, can people outside the US enter ? I can pay with Paypal.
Posted by: Beatrice | February 18, 2011 at 01:39 AM
Hi, Vicki,
That's a very handsome quilt. I'd like to buy some raffle tickets.
Toni
Posted by: Toni Mesplay | February 24, 2011 at 06:00 PM
Vicky, I was pretty sure I'd left a message that I'd like to by tickets but I don't see it here. I didn't get an email with your address so that should have been my clue!! izoofan2 AT hotmail DOT com
Posted by: Cherie Moore | March 04, 2011 at 12:35 PM