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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
Paula Ann Thomas works on a quilting project during QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest
QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle, included a juried show with over 350 entries.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest
QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle, included a juried show with over 350 entries.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle, included a juried show with over 350 entries.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
Vendors at QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest
Visitors view silent auction quilts at QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest
QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle, included a juried show with over 350 entries.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
Juliette Watts talks about one of her favorite quilts at QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest
A table in memory of Quilters Guild members who have passed away. The Birmingham Quilters Guild hosted QuiltFest June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
A quilting demonstration at QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle, included a vendors room with quilting supplies and other products.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle, included a vendors room with quilting supplies and other products.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest
QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle, included a vendors room with quilting supplies and other products. Oh Sew Pretty was among the vendors.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
Gift baskets at QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
A silent auction of quilts at QuiltFest benefited Meals on Wheels in Jefferson County.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle, included a vendors room with quilting supplies and other products.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest
QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle, included a juried show with over 350 entries.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle, included a juried show with over 350 entries.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle, included a juried show with over 350 entries.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle, included a juried show with over 350 entries.
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Sydney Cromwell
QuiltFest 2017
QuiltFest, held June 16-17 at Oak Mountain Middle, included a juried show with over 350 entries.
There's one day left to check out award winning quilts from the Birmingham Quilters Guild, vendors and demonstrations at QuiltFest, held at Oak Mountain Middle.
QuiltFest happens once every two years. Paula Ann Thomas, a Greystone resident who has been quilting for 40 years, said she enjoys coming to the event to meet others who share her passion for the hobby.
"It's very peaceful. I think we all have some talent within us, we just need to discover it," Thomas said.
"It's my therapy," agreed Quilters Guild member Faylenn McColeman, who has been quilting since the 70s. "I'm a snob. I only hand-quilt."
The QuiltFest has attracted more people over the years, McColeman said. There are 357 quilts on display in a juried show, with ribbons going to the best quilts in a variety of sizes. Some quilts also brought home awards for best original art, best handwork, judge's choice, viewer's choice and overall best in show.
Juliette Watts, one of the visitors to the show, said she grew up around her mother's quilting but didn't really take it up until she was an adult. Now she teaches quilting and is "so into it, I can't stand it."
In addition to the show, visitors can also bid in a silent auction for a number of small quilted pieces, with proceeds benefiting Jefferson County Meals on Wheels. A vendor room is also set up in the OMMS cafeteria, with quilting and sewing supplies for sale along with gift baskets and other products.
The Quilters Guild provides free demonstrations throughout the day on various techniques. Saturday's demonstrations include:
- 11 a.m. - Fabric Baskets
- Noon - Quilting Uses for Everyday Objects
- 1 p.m. - Friendship Quilts
- 2 p.m. - Art Quilts, Inspiration and Ideas
- 3 p.m. - It's a Design Choice!
The QuiltFest will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, with the silent auction closing at 4 p.m. Tickets are $7 for two-day admission, free to children 5 and younger. For more information, go to bhamquilters.com.