Marie Johansen Inspires Centennial Quilt
Special Feature
When Marie Johansen told me about the Centennial quilt that she had successfully inspired, assembled, and arranged to have quilted, to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of her County Fair and County Courthouse in San Juan County, Washington. I knew that you would all enjoy seeing the photos and hearing Marie's story. - Patricia Cummings
Photos by Mark Frey
In Her Own Words
Lets see:
The idea for the quilt came to mind last December. The Probation Officer I work for is also the Chairperson for the Fair Board. This is the Centennial year for the County Fair and also for the County Courthouse where we work. I said something to the effect of: "Our group should make a quilt for the Fair..."
From there I thought ---hmm...100 years...100 blocks.
A friend and co-worker suggested using "themes" from the Fair Premium book (where you can see what categories you can enter). Deciding that this was a "do-able" thing, I set about figuring out how to arrange one hundred blocks on a quilt that would make a total size that would be smaller than Noah's Ark..... and came up with an eight inch (finished) block size.
Having just row after row of blocks could be rather boring though, especially with the size and substance vagaries that can happen in a group quilt. I decided to add a central medallion to provide more interest. (Marie asked each quilter to make a block or blocks of their own choosing).
I started with a photograph but that did not work out too well, since enlarged photographs that are already of poor quality and are very old, look atrocious. So I ended up by using the photos as a point of reference to paint the center pictures that are in the middle of the quilt.
Please click on image to see a larger view of center block.
The first flyers I prepared were handed out, beginning in early January 2006, at Quilt Camp. Our Guild officially supported the idea and spread the word. We have some wonderful, talented, fund raisers in the Guild, far better at it than I am ! They raised money for the materials and the machine quilting and most of what I need to begin producing greeting cards that have the image of the quilt.
When folks were financially able, they donated money to have their names added to the border of the quilt. This choice was optional.
Friend and expert long-arm quilter, Keri Stone, designed the quilting, and, I feel certain, "gave us a break," on pricing.
The youngest contributing quilter, Abbi Havenar, is six years old! She made a HAND-appliquéd cotton candy block! Several members made many blocks and supported my idea with lots of energy. Most folks made one great block each.
After the deadline, when I had all of the blocks in piles, the group laid them out and we decided on the most pleasing general placement, with an eye towards f-l-o-w and color, and busy versus simple. Next decision was sashing or no sashing .. .5 inch black was unanimous choice. After that I pretty much decided to put it together by myself, although there were many offers of help. We are all so pleased with the way it turned out. The finished quilt will make it's County debut at the Fair in a special Centennial Exhibit.
After that it will be permanently displayed in the County Courthouse (a marvelous vintage brick structure with a large brick wall inside that will be perfect for display)!
I came up either the idea of the greeting cards because I have made cards for years. I wanted to give each person who worked on the quilt a special thank you and a way to remember the project. From there, when I found out that one can't order simply fifty cards of a decent quality greeting card - I thought of how we could sell additional cards, and that maybe we should try to sell them at the Fair.
The proceeds of greeting card sales will be used to help the Guild sponsor activities and I will see if the library would also like to sell them for their own fund raising...(I love our library).
I was a co-founder of Rainshadow Quilting Arts Guild. My best buddy, dynamo Sarah Smith, (who now lives in Maine), and I got to thinking that it would be wonderful to not have to go off island every time we wanted to take a class from a quality teacher. Generally, because we live on an island, to take classes we have to travel off island (at least a five hour journey, round trip). In addition, we have to pay all of the to attendant fees for classes, lodging, and meals, in addition to class and ferry fees.
We figured that, especially since we live in a vacation wonderland, some teachers might actually want to come here. So, the Guild was founded a bit over four years ago to meet that need. The Guild has been fortunate to have wonderful presidents in these early years. Sarah was the first (no, I am not the type!), and the Guild is stronger with each passing year.
The name of the Guild was voted on from a selection...we live in the 'rainshadow' and the name works! We have an active and very talented group of quilters in the community (which is comprised of many separate islands, I should add).
Me? I started quilting thirty years ago (yikes). I was on hiatus for a short time as I made my way through the proverbial glass ceiling of a "real" career. After awhile though I realized that the shoes of career were a poor fit for me - and returned to my quilts (and a much lower-paying job). With renewed vigor, I have never stopped since. My passion is quilt history - and I adore traditional patterns. My own quilts tend to be traditional, generally with a twist of color (since color is my other quilt-y passion).
Recently, I decided to resign from a full-time, high-stress position with the District Court in our county to take a part-time, lower-stress job in the same Court so that I could really concentrate on the things that matter the most to me: my quilts and home. It's been a great change and I am becoming living proof that poverty really can be fun! (Have to keep working for health insurance, ya know)!!
Marie
Marie Johansen, working on the quilt in her home.
Click on photo for a larger view.
The quilt was made by quilters from ages six to eighty. Greeting cards that feature the image of this quilt.are now available @$3.50 per card, or five cards for $15.00. Contact Marie at: catz@rockisland.com All proceeds will fund guild activities.
Questions? Comments? Write to: pat@quiltersmuse.com