Flat-Iron Guild hosts 2014 Quilt Show in Thompson Falls

THOMPSON FALLS - Last weekend the Thompson Falls High School gymnasium hosted the 2014 Quilt Show.

The Flat-Iron Quilting Guild put on the two-day quilt show, whose theme was, “Come Fly with Us!”

On display at the quilt show were over 200 handmade quilts, the majority of which were made within Sanders County.

The Flat-Iron Quilting Guild has been putting on a quilt show for the last 25 years, bringing quilters and enthusiasts from across the region to Sanders County each year for the event.

Ro Fundum, the chair of the 2014 Quilt Show Committee, noted there were various demonstrations throughout the weekend, including demos on a variety of quilting tools and workshops on appliqué techniques.

The weekend also featured workshops, where children were able to decorate birdhouses with a variety of creative items.

“They are decorating them with all kinds of little crafty items,” Fundum said.

Many of the quilts on display were up for prizes and the Flat-Iron Quilting Guild awarded ribbons for several different creative categories. Table runners, wall hangings and various sizes of quilts were all in the running.

Additionally, there were categories for youth quilts, bed quilts, crazy quilts, lap quilts, baby quilts, art quilts, theme quilts and antique quilts.

The winners were determined towards the end of the day on Sunday.

Sunday also featured brown bag raffles, where various items were given out.

However, the biggest item up for grabs at this year’s quilt show was the raffle quilt, a quilt designed and created by members of the Flat-Iron Quilting Guild.

“The raffle quilt is made and designed by guild members, it is an original creation,” said Fundum.

The raffle quilt hung throughout the weekend at the entrance to the gym, greeting visitors to the show as they entered Thompson Falls High.

It is an impressive creation, which goes well with the theme of flight for this year’s quilt show.

The quilt itself featured hand-painted birds, including an owl, pheasant, blue heron, woodpecker, wood duck, red-winged blackbird and a bald eagle. The center of the quilt portrays a placid lake scene with an impressive mountain background, quite fitting for Sanders County.

Fundum added the guild had discussed doing a bird theme for the raffle quilt for years and this was the year they decided to run with that idea.

“The quilt was made with the specific purpose of being the raffle quilt,” Fundum said.

This year’s show transformed the gym at Thompson Falls High into an impressive display of diverse quilt designs and unique patterns.

Everything from colorful animal designs, to intricate and colorful patterns filled the gym from one end of the other.