Dear Friends@Festival

Welcome to the spring 2022 edition of your quarterly ezine.

The recent war in Ukraine has been extremely upsetting to hundreds of millions around the world, and the Ukrainian people are suffering daily in ways many of us cannot even imagine or fathom. Quilters have always responded to major events with kindness, sympathy, and (of course) quilts! Read about how Gina Halladay and Beth Hawkins started their project Wrap Ukraine with Quilts. And how you can help…even if you don’t quilt!

In The Best of Suzy’s Fancy, our own Suzanne Labry tells us the story of quilter and teacher Ellen Harding Baker, who in the late 1800’s combined her passions into making a unique project. And how she used it to help teach her students about astronomy and the solar system at a time when women weren’t “supposed” to be interested in scientific things.

We also profile Dorie Hruska of Forever Quilting, who has dedicated her quilting, teaching, and writing career to searching for that perfect continuous path—and help others find it as well! Finally, Jill Finley of Jillily Studios takes us on her unconventional path to quilting and how it opened doors for her creativity, and even her own thriving business.

Of course, we’re very excited about our continued return to LIVE quilt shows, and we hope that many of you will be able to join us in Salt Lake City, Utah at the Salt Palace Convention Center (July 21-23, classes beginning July 21), and our return to Long Beach, California at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center (August 4-6, classes beginning August 3).

Both shows will feature scores of exhibitor shopping booths, hundreds of quilts on display, and a full array of classes and educational offerings. Plus, our Open Studios™ demo area!

You can find out all about the shows by visiting Quilts.com and clicking on the “Festival” tab. But you can also sign up to receive email news about Festival when there are new announcements! Just input your email HERE.

As always, if you have thoughts or story ideas for us, send it to festival@quilts.com. We hope that spring brings all of you a sense of renewal, resurgence, and recommitment to the things that make life wonderful. Like a certain art form and hobby that we all enjoy very, very much…

Sincerely,
Your Friends@Festival!